Tracey Robert, PhD, chair of Fairfield’s Counselor Education program, has been recognized by the American Counseling Association for her contributions to the counseling profession.
Last month, Tracey Robert, PhD, was recognized with the Arthur A. Hitchcock Distinguished Professional Service Award for her contributions to the counseling profession. The award, from the American Counseling Association, honors professionals who have contributed at the local, state, or national level, and who promote the well-being of others. Dr. Robert was cited in particular for her contributions to the licensure process in the state, to maintaining spirituality as central to the counseling process, and to developing career development opportunities for aspiring counselors.
Faculty members at Fairfield University commit themselves to service for others, a cornerstone of Jesuit values and at the core of Fairfield’s mission. The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions’ School Counseling program instills in students a belief in the commitment to serving a diverse society in both the prevention and remediation of personal challenges, and in the pursuit of the highest standards of excellence in the counseling profession.
Dr. Robert has been a champion of legislative initiatives. She was an advocate in partnership with the Connecticut Counseling Association to establish legislation to improve counselor preparation in Connecticut and has presented both written and oral testimony to the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Health Committee. With Dr. Robert’s support and service, the Connecticut Counseling Association passed legislation that added curricular requirements consistent with Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards. This important legislation added standards for clinical fieldwork, diagnosis and treatment, crisis counseling, and addiction counseling as well as continued education in ethics.
“We are very happy for Dr. Robert,” said Dean Robert Hannafin, PhD. “Tracey has dedicated her life to service to others and this recognition lets the rest of the world know what we at Fairfield have always known. We are very proud to call Tracey a colleague.”
Dr. Robert has also been a leader of professional counseling organizations for the past 30 years, including serving terms as president of the Association of Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC), the North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES), and the Connecticut Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (CACES).
