This month, the DeBaun Black Alumni Network at 91制片厂 continues its monthly series of Black Alumni Spotlights featuring some of our most accomplished Maryville Saints. This month let’s get to know Angela Casimere ’84.<\/p>\n
Degrees:<\/em> How did Maryville help me get where I am today?<\/em> What do I do now?<\/em> What are my goals and aspirations?<\/em> My words of wisdom for current students?<\/em>
\nPsychology, 91制片厂 (1984)
\nMaster’s Degree – Counseling, Lindenwood University (2008)<\/p>\n
\nAttending Maryville gave me insight into my inner strengths and how allowing others to help me through the good and hard times would play again over and over in my life. I came to Maryville to be a Physical Therapist. My own physical therapist had been such an influence in my life from age thirteen until age eighteen. A major issue became my own physical limitations that would not allow me to be successful in the PT Program. Maryville opened the door to meeting individuals, different cultures, and other careers that would change my life. It was the academic advice from professors like Dr. Shea and Dr. Gaines that helped me find my way to a career that would last a lifetime. When I needed support, made mistakes (even dumb ones), it was the Maryville staff that was understanding, resourceful, and inspirational.<\/p>\n
\nToday I am the Regional Director of Saint Louis Counseling\u2019s Florissant and Bellefontaine offices. I am also the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator for Saint Louis Counseling. This is my first year as a Breast Cancer Survivor. This two-year battle left many scars, but I won the war. I was a yearly supporter of Susan Coleman\u2019s Walk for Breast Cancer for 18 years prior, never thinking I would one day be wearing the survivor t-shirt. Now I am the person willing to talk to anyone about getting a mammogram and speaking truth to the power of prayer and resilience if you get a cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\nI would like to grow the staff of Saint Louis Counseling and our ability to reach populations (especially underserved populations) in the region I supervise. I would like to increase my role as a driving part of the leadership team of my agency. I want to complete the implementation of an agency-wide DEI Program. This will be an ongoing, expanding program. I will work with my fellow members of the DeBaun Black Alumni Network on our goals. Finally, I would like to create a process and program that would allow an education mentorship and vocational opportunity for the students of Maryville to work and learn about the vocation of counseling and social work.<\/p>\n
\nIt\u2019s OK to change your mind about what you want, who you are, and when you are going to do something. This is the outline for your life that only you can write. If you fail, it\u2019s not that it\u2019s OK. It just normal and everybody does it eventually. So don\u2019t spend time sitting in your failure. Spend time learning what went wrong and marching toward your success.<\/p>\n