Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Terry

Jessica Terry, who earned her master’s in Clinical Mental Health/Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling in 2010, is The Patton College’s August Alum of the Month. She also became a certified rehabilitation counselor in 2010. For nearly two years, Terry has worked as the senior vocational rehabilitation counselor at Columbus State Community College where she collaborates with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) as a College2Careers counselor.

OOD offers College2Careers at 15 public colleges and universities in Ohio to ensure students with disabilities have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market. As a College2Careers counselor at Columbus State Community College, Terry assists students with disabilities with support including career exploration and counseling, assistive technology, resume and interview preparation, internships and permanent employment, assistance navigating OhioMeansJobs resources, and connection to an expansive employer partner network.

“I always knew I wanted to work in a field where I could help,” said Terry. “The best part about my position at CSCC is knowing that I am making a difference. Being able to provide individuals with disabilities that extra little push to help them reach their educational and employment goals is very rewarding.”

Terry was featured in a video by OOD (@1:07) for National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day (March 22) to honor Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Vocational Rehabilitation staff for their commitment to providing personalized services to help individuals with disabilities find and retain meaningful work. In the video, Terry described what she loves about her job: “As both a woman and a minority, I understand firsthand how difficult things can be when opportunities are limited and/or not easily accessible. Being able to help provide others with resources to meet both their educational and career goals is an amazing feeling.”

Terry chose The Patton College’s program because she had heard great things about it, and after vising and doing some research on Ohio University, she felt it was a great fit.

“My program at OHIO was instrumental in setting the foundation for my career in rehabilitation,” said Terry. “I could definitely name multiple things that my program taught me that prepared me for my career, but one major topic that comes to mind is ‘multicultural counseling.’ I have worked with so many diverse groups of people and I believe that it is imperative that you have an understanding of the different populations you will encounter in order to best serve them.”

Mona Robinson, professor in Counselor Education said, “In addition to her dedication and professionalism in providing quality care to her consumers, Jessica continues to demonstrate a true commitment to the field through her involvement in professional development activities. It has been a pleasure for me, over the past 10 years, to observe Jessica’s professional trajectory and to witness the recognition afforded to her by her clinical rehabilitation counseling colleagues. I have no doubt that she will continue to soar!”