From Washington to Illinois, Seeds are Planted By Nicholas A. Love
NLU’s Suzette Fromm Reed, Ph.D., recently took a trip to Washington, D.C., to begin an important conversation about healing traumas children experience, known as “adverse childhood experiences” or ACEs. She spoke to representatives from D.C. about using a community’s strengths to buffer such traumas. The opportunity to advocate before Congress about ACEs arose through an honor Fromm Reed received — induction to the American Psychological Association’s 2015-16 Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology. Fromm Reed has a keen sense for where her expertise is most needed. She originally joined National Louis University after a successful career utilizing her talents in the nonprofit sector, on the cusp of receiving a vice-president position at an agency. She saw something special in the heart of NLU’s mission and
vision; so instead of taking the career advancement, she took her career on a whole new trajectory.
Lucky she did, because Fromm Reed developed NLU’s Ph.D. in Community Psychology program. She describes the program in three words: “access, empowerment and diversity.” Community psychology, as Fromm Reed would have it, is in strong alignment with the heart of NLU. Like many NLU programs, Community Psychology, by design, makes room for nontraditional students — working adults with families, who are often unable to drop everything to pursue a Ph.D. When these established community leaders look to fine-tune their good instincts, the flexible, relevant programs at NLU provide the best practices in evidence-based research they are seeking. Students are even able to align their doctoral research with challenges they are already tackling. Two of the program’s outstanding grads have been recognized with NLU’s Reach Award. The first is Evelyn Chenier, a 2015 Reach Award recipient and the first woman awarded NLU’s Doctorate in Community Psychology. The second is Jacqueline Samuel, one of this year’s Reach Award recipients. Fromm Reed counts both these alums among the Community Psychology program’s super stars. She recently invited out- of-state research partners to explore the work Samuel does in her South Chicago neighborhood. The strategies Samuel uses are the kind of strategies Fromm Reed is hoping to see transform politics at the state level. “Jackie Samuel epitomizes everything we hope to do,” Fromm Reed said. Fromm Reed and the Community Psychology program help bring out the best in leaders by providing the specialized experience they need to hone their already hard-won skills. In Washington, D.C., Fromm Reed is planting seeds, but when it comes to Community Psychology, she’s helping seeds planted long ago to thrive and multiply.
“Jackie Samuel epitomizes everything we hope to do.” -SUZETTE FROMM REED, PH.D.
Jaqueline Samuel ‘11 and ‘15, 2016 Reach Award recipient
Evelyn Chenier ‘03 and ‘11, 2015 Reach Award recipient
7
National Louis University VIEW | Fall 2016
Powered by FlippingBook