91ֿ at Salem recently formed a Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board that will advise, assist, support and advocate for behavioral sciences programs, students and studies.
The board consists of faculty and administrative members from the local campus, as well as community volunteers who can share expert knowledge of the professional tasks and competency requirements for behavioral sciences occupations.
Behavioral sciences at Kent Salem include the human services program; psychology; and human development and family studies.
Advisory board members may offer suggestions to improve specific content area that could include industry standards; updates to curriculum; purchasing new instructional materials or equipment; classroom updates; and safety policies.
According to Kim Steele, the academic program director for the human services program for the 91ֿ Columbiana County campuses, it is important to have an effective communication channel between the local campus and behavioral sciences professionals within the community.
“We want motivated persons with a sincere interest in the program and who are willing to devote the energy and attention required to improve the education of future professionals,” she said. “It is important to appoint members who have earned the confidence of others in the community, because their good reputations will enhance the program’s standing in the community. Also, those who are knowledgeable about the target occupations of this field can really impact our students when they graduate.”
Aside from Steele, advisory board members from the Salem Campus include Dr. David Dees, dean; Dr. Celeste Oprean, assistant dean; Dr. Steve Toepfer, associate professor of human development and family studies; Dr. Rachel Blasiman, assistant professor of psychology; and Dr. David Larwin, senior lecturer of psychology.
Community members on the advisory board include Marci Patton, executive director of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Board; Tammy Garver, director of Help Me Grow of Columbiana County; Ann Weigle, program director for CASA of Columbiana County; John Hersh of Ozer Ministries/Tobin Center; Brenda Foor, coordinator at the Family Recovery Center; Jack Hile, Workforce Center manager at Ohio Means Jobs-Columbiana County; Tami Plunkett, case manager supervisor at Columbiana County Community Action Agency; Jessica Oats, clinical director at Comprehensive Behavioral Health; Rachel Ketterman, children services director at Jobs and Family Services; Steve Wagner, supervising psychologist at the Columbiana County Educational Service Center; Wes Vins, Columbiana County health commissioner; Karen Larwin, associate professor and evaluator for Youngstown State University and REM Consulting; Toni Maroni, administrator at the Essex of Salem; Jerry Semivan, director of psychotherapy at the Counseling Center of Columbiana County; and Jeff Bogniard of PsyCare.
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Photo: The Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board at 91ֿ Salem includes (from left) Wes Vins, Marci Patton, Tammy Plunkett, Jack Hile, Ann Weigle, Tammy Garver, Rachel Ketterman, Brenda Foor, Dr. Steve Toepfer, John Hersh, Dr. David Larwin, Kim Steele, Dr. Rachel Blasiman, Toni Maroni, Karen Larwin, Jerry Semivan and Dr. Celeste Oprean.