Associate Professor of Psychology CJ Fleming has been recognized as a Faculty Career Champion within 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences, by the Student Professional Development Center, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 career services office.
With a passion for helping students connect academic concepts to real-world experiences, CJ Fleming’s commitment to career development has made a lasting impact on students pursuing psychology. The Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) created the Faculty Career Champions program to celebrate faculty whose exceptional commitment to enhancing students鈥 professional skills and expertise lead to successful outcomes for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 undergraduates.
Motivating students to discover their career paths
Fleming鈥檚 own journey into clinical psychology involved transformative internships, sparking her commitment to ensuring students have similar hands-on learning experiences.
鈥淲hen I came to 黑料不打烊 as a professor, one of my top priorities was to make sure that students had the same opportunities to discover psychology in the real world that I did,鈥 she said.
She emphasizes that students鈥 internships allow them to bring course material to life, fostering meaningful connections between classroom learning and their future careers.
Memorable moments in career progression
Fleming leads an internship course where students work on national and local mental health crisis lines, providing crucial support to those in need. This unique opportunity gives students practical experience and insight into the demands of mental health work.
鈥淪everal students have discovered their love of counseling and have gone on to apply to mental health graduate programs,鈥 she said.
For some, the course reveals that counseling is not the right path 鈥 a revelation she finds equally valuable. By providing students with an honest look at the realities of clinical work, she helps them make informed decisions about their futures.
Encouraging career development in the classroom
Fleming鈥檚 advice to faculty interested in incorporating career development is simple: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid!鈥 She believes career-focused elements in the classroom enhance, rather than detract from, academic learning.
鈥淚f we can help students see how they might use this information in their daily lives going forward, their investment only goes up,鈥 she noted, underscoring the power of connecting academic content with future career applications.
Collaboration with Career Services
Partnering with 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences Career Services has further enhanced Fleming鈥檚 ability to support her students.
鈥淲orking with this team has been a delight from start to finish,鈥 she said.
Her collaboration with the SPDC team has allowed her to better connect students and departments with career resources, creating a support network that bridges academic and career goals.
鈥淚 encourage everyone to get to know the SPDC team better!鈥 she said, recognizing the invaluable resources and connections this partnership has provided.
Through her dedication as a Faculty Career Champion, Fleming continues to inspire students in psychology to explore their career paths thoughtfully, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges and rewards that lie ahead.