Faculty Spotlight
RAISING UP THE NEXT
GENERATION
LaShondra Manning
Assistant Professor Psychology and Sociology Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Texas A&M University-Commerce Master of Arts, Community Counseling Stephen F. Austin State University Bachelor of Science, Psychology Stephen F. Austin State University
36
Hilltop
Fall 2017
“After praying for God’s will in my life, He revealed to me that, ‘my gift would make room for me,’ (Proverbs 18:16) and that I did not have to do an intensive search. If I would just stand still and see the salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13), my calling would become clear,” Dr. LaShondra Manning shared. “After a period of time, I realized my calling as a counselor and here I am, teaching others how to do something I love.” Dr. Manning graduated from Marshall High School in 2000, earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2004 and Master of Arts in Community Counseling in 2006 from Stephen F. Austin State University, and received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2016. Before becoming a professor, she served as a professional counselor in private practice for 11 years. “Teaching is rewarding because I have the honor to see students pursue their dreams. It is exciting to witness this growth process and know that I have the ability to impact students’ work with future counseling clients. The reason I became a counselor educator was because of the experiences I had as a graduate student. I had caring professors, who took an interest in me and helped mold me into the counselor I am today. I know that my purpose is to teach and pay forward to my students what my professors gave to me.” She was drawn to East Texas Baptist University in the Spring of 2015, after meeting Dr. Tom Haygood at a counseling conference in Austin, Texas. Dr. Haygood, a former psychology professor at ETBU, invited Dr. Manning to campus upon learning that she is a Marshall native. “Although I was unaware at the time, meeting Dr. Haygood was divine intervention. It was an honor and
blessing to become a professor at ETBU. Throughout my three years at ETBU, I have taught many students that are also from Marshall. I enjoy being able to serve as an example to them that an individual from a small-town can achieve his or her dreams.” Motivated to instruct the upcoming generation, Dr. Manning seeks to create a learning environment where students feel comfortable and safe to ask questions, challenge traditional practice, and begin a life-long quest for endless knowledge. “Counselors make a difference in the lives of others, but that difference begins with the teacher-student relationship. If I can help to transform students into ethical counselors with empathy, unconditional positive regard, and empirically-based counseling techniques, I have done my job and contributed to the field of counseling. I enjoy providing examples from my previous counseling experiences as a model of how the profession should be executed in an ethical manner within a diverse society. I find joy in knowing that I am still impacting clients, now indirectly, by preparing their future counselors.” By relating biblical principles and Scripture to the way that counselors should relate to their clients and client issues, Dr. Manning emphasizes the importance of integrating faith into the profession and into students’ lives as they execute the calling God has for them. “I aim to be congruent, genuine, and authentic as God made me because as His vessel, that’s what students will see in the classroom and clients will see in counseling sessions. It is in the acceptance of myself and how Jesus died on the Cross for my sins that keeps me grounded, humble, and capable to do my job as His servant in life and at work.”