Rachel Clark (she/her) is in the Online M.Ed. in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Military & Veterans program. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Penn State University, an M.A. in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from Colorado Technical University. After more than 20 years with the Department of Defense and 25 years as a military spouse, Rachel returned to graduate school, inspired by her experiences as a family caregiver and advocate for military and veteran families. Her counseling interests include trauma, moral injury, caregiver burnout, and helping individuals and families navigate life's most challenging transitions.
What's your favorite course (so far)?
Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues in Counseling (EDUC C43), hands down! After years of advocating for military families and caregivers, I came into this course with a pretty strong sense of what I thought was right. What I loved most was exploring situations where the answers weren't always clear-cut and realizing how much my perspective could change when I considered another point of view. It challenged some of my assumptions, and that's exactly what made it so interesting!
What's your favorite thing about William & Mary?
The professors, without question! From the very first day, they make you feel like you belong there and genuinely want you to succeed, rather than trying to weed you out. They bring a wealth of professional experience into the classroom, and there's something about the way they teach and connect with students that earns your trust almost immediately.
What's a fun fact about you?
I was on Clemson University's water-skiing team, and when I turned 40, I won first place at the National Scottish Highland Dance Competition. I'm still not sure which one surprises people more, and they were both super fun!
