30th Anniversary History Book

graduate PROFILE: Dr. Rosalyn Johnson

The only degree offered was a bachelor of arts in Human Services.

In 1990, the first graduating class consisted of nine seniors.

HOME: Miami, FL CLASS OF: 2009 PROFESSION: Coordinator of Outpatient Therapeutic Services/Clinical Supervisor HOBBIES: Going to the beach; shopping; working out; volunteering LAST BOOK READ: Management-related book about employee satisfaction, performance improvement, employee motivation FAVORITE MUSIC: R&B, hip-hop

That year, the college purchased the two locally historic buildings, housing the president’s office, student services and marketing, admissions and the Counseling Center in the D’Addario building. The Stoer building was home to three classrooms, a lecture hall, dining hall and faculty offices. Although the Academic Mentoring Program, including the learning specialists and peer mentors, wasn’t established until 1995, McDonough said the groundwork was in place because of the school’s leadership. Dr. Marsha Glines, Beacon’s president at the time, and then-Dean of Faculty Dr. Kathryn Jarvis “were demanding but understood us,” McDonough said. “They knew what could work for one student wouldn’t work for another, and they tailored [their teaching] to different students with different styles to help them succeed.” When Steve Adams of Casper, Wyoming arrived at Beacon in 1999 social life was limited by the small student population — about 56, as he recalls — and by the distances between student housing and the main campus. “Beacon had leased three different apartment complexes throughout Leesburg,” Adams said. Students lived in Blueberry Hill, Cluster Oaks and West Lake Village. “The college had two vans,” he said, “and they came to each apartment complex to pick up students who didn’t have cars and take them to and from the school. Adams graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts and a minor in education. By that time, Beacon had added an Associate in Arts degree in human services (1991) and minors in computer information systems, education and psychology (2002).

MOST MEANINGFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Earning my doctorate in counseling psychology PROFILE: Passionate about helping children and adults deal with their challenges. A lifelong “go-getter” who has achieved her dream career. WHERE IN LIFE DO YOU BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT BEACON? I believe that without Beacon I wouldn’t have been as aware of my strengths and weaknesses in regards to my learning disability. Beacon also helped me to use my learning disability to my advantage, rather than seeing it as a barrier, or using it as a crutch, as some people tend to do, when they have a limitation. However, I used my learning disability (which includes auditory processing difficulties) to fuel me to be even better and to go even further in life and in accomplishing my career goals and dreams. HOW DID BEACON GIVE YOU A FOOTHOLD IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD? Beacon helped me to understand better my learning disability and provided me with the skills to advocate for any accommodations I needed in graduate school as well as in the workplace. WHY DO COMPANIES BENEFIT FROM INTEGRATING INDIVIDUALS’ LEARNING DIFFERENCES INTO THE WORKPLACE? We have a lot to offer in terms of our skills and being able to teach others how to work with people who have learning challenges or who learn differently. We can teach others to be more about acceptance and patience and those characteristics that are needed to work with people who have learning disabilities.

When Adams returned to Beacon in 2006 to pursue a

PAGE 48