Kimberly Hughes
Ph.D. - Counselor Education
Education
- 2027, William & Mary, Ph.D. in Counselor Education
- 2024, James Madison University, M.A. & Ed.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- 2009, Elon University, B.A. in Broadcast Communications
What kind of educational and professional experiences did you have prior to beginning this degree?
I graduated from Elon University in '09 with a B.A. in Broadcast Communications. After graduation, I worked in marketing for approximately 12 years with a focus on the retail and restaurant industry. Positioned within the account services department, my primary role was to operate as a conduit between the client and the agency. My work in marketing enhanced my ability to decipher the central need, break-down big tasks into actionable items and ultimately tell a compelling brand story.
Why did you choose this field, and what motivates you in this work?
My work in marketing centered on telling a compelling brand story to drive a transaction. I loved the storytelling aspect, but wanted to work toward a different purpose. My decision to pursue counseling was heavily anchored in my desire to support individuals in identifying, defining and telling their own stories. As an aspiring counselor educator, I'm excited for the opportunity to maintain a connection between academia and application: making sure that what's being talked about in the scholarship is applicable, relevant and accessible. I'm motivated by the fact that curiosity - and an eternal interest in learning - is central to this field.
What do you hope to be doing after graduation? In 10 or 15 years?
Ideally I would love to be a full-time counselor educator, while maintaining a part-time counseling practice. Additionally, I hope to maintain an active research agenda, building on my current interests in body dissatisfaction, liberation psychology/critical consciousness, sexuality and sexual temperament, and emerging therapies (i.e., psychedelics).
Why did you choose William & Mary and specifically your degree program? What sets this degree program apart from those offered at other colleges?
William & Mary has a well-recognized and reputable Counselor Education Ph.D. program - as a result, it was always at the top of my wish list when I was exploring possible doctoral programs. Beyond the respectability of the program, the accessibility of the faculty and collaborative approach to learning truly sets it apart. The faculty are not only willing but excited to collaborate with students, offering in-roads to research projects and extending support for conferences and manuscripts. Additionally, the faculty recognize students as future peers and coworkers. Thus, there's a collaborative approach to learning in the classroom. Consequently, learning feels purposeful and fulfilling.
What has been the most influential experience you've had so far in your program?
The main assignment of our Advanced Counseling Theories course was to write a conceptual manuscript, with the aspirations of submitting to a professional journal. The project was scaffolded, allowing the professor to offer constructive and substantive feedback along the way. As a result, a really big undertaking (in this instance, a manuscript) became accessible, digestible and achievable.
Is there any additional information you would want a prospective student to know about the School of Education and its degree programs?
I appreciate the awareness, collaboration and reflexivity exemplified by core faculty in the William & Mary School of Education Counselor Education Ph.D. program. It's a program truly invested in the well-being and success of the students. I've also appreciated that the program recognizes that being a student - while significant - is just one aspect of our identity.
