Dianne McCarthy
Counseling, MED
Time for a Change
UNH Graduate Student Takes Road Less Traveled
Dianne McCarthy had an MBA and a successful career as finance manager at a major corporation when she started volunteering as a mentor to inner-city kids. Eight years later, she knew she had to make a career change, in spite of being a top earner at her company.
“My husband is a college counselor, so I knew what I was getting into in terms of a major shift in financial compensation,” said McCarthy. “But it was time to make a change. I researched graduate programs in counseling, quit my job, and here I am.”
The UNH Master of Education in Counseling Graduate Program held the most appeal to McCarthy because of the broad range of courses required for the program curriculum. The program offers a combination of research, theory, and field-based experience to its students, providing graduates a well-rounded view of the field.
“I look at life as being an opportunity to develop tools to keep in your toolkit. I knew from my volunteer experience to be the most effective counselor I can be to an inner city population, I was really going to need to develop a broad range of counseling skills. The UNH program stood above the other programs that I was considering.”
McCarthy is an intern at Haverhill High School and loves the diverse culture at her internship location. “Every day is different. One day I can be working with the captain of the cheerleading squad, and the next day counseling a student that has recently become homeless,” said McCarthy. “I love the challenges that comes with working in a place of such diversity…Though it’s mentally exhausting, it’s really rewarding.”
Students in the 48-credit hour master’s program begin the Manchester program in the summer session and complete a year of coursework. In addition to the coursework in the second year, students also complete a 600-hour internship at a public school. Most students complete the program in two years.
“I don’t regret making this drastic change to my life,” said McCarthy. “I love that I’ve shown my kids that you can change your career at any point in life, especially if you have the love and support of your family.”
McCarthy expects to complete her degree requirements in May of 2012, and hopes to find a permanent position working with at risk populations.
The University of New Hampshire Graduate School, Manchester Campus offers post-baccalaureate programs in applied professional fields. Centrally located in Manchester’s historic Millyard in the heart of the I-93 corridor, the Graduate School offers the expertise of University of New Hampshire faculty, contemporary curricula, modern educational facilities, convenient access, flexible schedules, and most important, a graduate degree from the University of New Hampshire, the state's flagship public university.
For more information on UNH’s Master of Education in Counseling program, contact Dr. Loan Phan at Loan.Phan@unh.edu, or attend one of our evening information sessions.
