Extended Studies
Flying off to new experiences Johnmeyer. Connie Johnmeyer led a fascinating professional life “We had two sites, Park Hills and Sedalia, and we —one that offered opportunities to travel the world. And had no full-time people, only adjuncts,” she says of the now that she is retired from Central Methodist University, program. “Now, we have six full-time assistant professor she doesn’t plan to slow down one bit. positions, and four sites. We added Maryland Heights and Instead, she’s on to even more exciting adventures. Columbia.” A Fayette native, Johnmeyer attended Fayette High In addition to the rapid growth, Johnmeyer said MSCC School. During her undergraduate years, however, she recently applied for accreditation through Council for moved around to different colleges, including the UniverAccreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Prosity of Missouri, Alaska Methodist University, and the grams (CACREP), which will add great value and quality to University of Alaska Anchorage. When all was said and the developing program. done, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, a Master of Science Degree in Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. While working toward her Ph.D., she began teaching at Central. “I think the last three years of my Ph.D. classwork, I was teaching here – full time, actually,” Johnmeyer says. “I was going to school full time, teaching full time, and raising children. It was quite interesting.” At the end of her Ph.D., an internship was required, and after searching for the best option, she decided on one in the United States Air Force as a psychologist. “The deal with the Air Force is that you do your internship, and then you owe them three years,” she says. “So I owed them three years, but I ended up staying for 20.” During the first half of those 20 years, Johnmeyer Connie Johnmeyer, second from right, meets with some of her stusays she mostly managed mental health clinics, where dents before she retired, one of the interpersonal moments she will she conducted assessments and evaluations, and provid- remember. ed education. She experienced a lot of life during those “I love Central Methodist,” Johnmeyer says. “I like years, and fell in love with the Air Force—the people, the places she was able to travel, and the fulfillment of playing where they’re going, and I like where they’ve been. They have been steadfast in creating a very solid institution.” a role in something significant—something bigger than The friendships, the mission, and working toward herself. goals—those are what Johnmeyer says she’ll miss most The second half of the 20 years, however, was a much about CMU—a place where she has made many friends different experience. This was after the September 11 over the years, a place that feels much like home. terrorist attacks. As she turns to walk away from yet another big chap“The first half of my career, I felt like a regular psyter in her life, excitement and opportunity lie ahead. “I chologist in a big organization. The last half, though, was just crazy. Interesting, but crazy,” Johnmeyer says. “Just a have big plans,” she says. She and her sister would travel to Europe to walk lot of deployment, which is very disruptive to one’s life.” Spain’s Camino de Santiago—a feat that usually takes travDuring that time Johnmeyer was assigned overseas where elers about five weeks to accomplish. she served in Germany and Portugal. “We’re giving ourselves six because we’re old,” she In 2012, she wrapped up her 20 years of service and jokes. “But it’s going to be incredible.” returned home to Fayette. She decided to begin teaching As Johnmeyer takes these exciting steps, literally, as at CMU again, where she became a very valued, full-time a retiree, she says she’ll always look back and appreciate employee. “Five years later, here I am, retiring again,” the indescribable moments of human connection she felt Johnmeyer laughs. At the time of her retirement, she was during her career. the director of the Master of Science in Clinical Counsel“The string of interpersonal moments where I’ve coning program for CMU’s College of Graduate and Extended nected with someone, and just felt pure joy, or felt healing Studies, as well as an assistant professor. —those are the moments that have meant the most,” she A lot has changed and progressed for CMU’s MSCC says. “They’re the moments that kept me fed.” program, which started off relatively small, according to 40
Fall 2017
Central Methodist University Talon