This inaugural issue of our Rehabilitation Counseling newsletter is 70 years in the making. At this incredible milestone, we’re excited to have this time to reflect, celebrate and look ahead.
What started seven decades ago as a bold vision to train rehabilitation counselors who could change lives has grown into a nationally ranked, highly competitive and deeply impactful program. This year, we received more than 250 applications for just 40 spots, resulting in a 16% acceptance rate. That level of interest speaks volumes about the reputation of our faculty, the caliber of our students and the relevance of this work.
But numbers only tell part of the story. The real heart of this department lies in our people: Our faculty, students, alums and community partners who embody what it means to be a rehabilitation counselor.
In April, Rehabilitation Counseling honored its 70-year history with a special celebration that attracted former faculty and staff, as well as alumni, to mark this milestone.
As one of the first programs of its type in the nation, we enrolled our first students in 1955. Today, VCU ranks 4th among master's level rehabilitation and mental health counseling training programs.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Partnership helps student-athletes navigate life beyond sports
VCU student-athletes may be focused on winning now, but thanks to a partnership between Rehabilitation Counseling and Student-Athlete Support Services, they’re also preparing for life after sports.
Through career assessments and personalized coaching, the program helps student-athletes explore their strengths, interests and future possibilities – no matter where their athletic journeys lead.
From traumatic brain injury survivor to national advocate
After surviving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that changed her life, Kelli Talley, Ph.D., became a national leader in brain injury research and advocacy. From the classroom to Capitol Hill, she’s using her expertise — and lived experience – to drive change and expand health equity.
Joining national leaders at U.S. Capitol to advance brain injury care
Talley recently joined national leaders on Capitol Hill to help advance brain injury research, recovery and advocacy. As part of a panel hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America and the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, she shared how science and lived experience are shaping the future of care.
As legalized gambling surges across Virginia, so does the need for support when the fun turns harmful.
At VCU, Carolyn Hawley, Ph.D., and her team are working to close the gap with a growing statewide system of outreach, treatment and peer support for those struggling with gambling addiction.
Rewriting stories through trust and healing in Ethiopia
When associate professor Waganesh “Waggy” Zeleke, Ph.D., returned to Ethiopia as a Fulbright Scholar, she brought culturally rooted trauma care to communities of displaced families.
Her participatory research helped women reclaim their stories and fostered peer-led healing that continues long after her departure. “Once trust is built,” she said, “we can rewrite our stories together.”
Alum expands mental health access for Afghan community
With degrees in psychology and rehabilitation counseling from VCU, Marjan Habib is using her language skills and cultural understanding to make mental health care more accessible for Afghan immigrants in Northern Virginia. Now practicing as a licensed resident counselor, she’s helping break barriers and reduce stigma in her community.
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