Counseling Grad Student Moving Up the Ranks of Professional Association

After 10 years working in higher education, Lee Seguin ’21 (M.S.) chose Manhattan College’s mental health counseling graduate program to further his own education and continue his commitment to lifelong learning.

That commitment has resulted in an appointment as a student representative on the board of directors at the New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA).

Seguin attended an NYMHCA conference last spring with Jennifer Gullesserian, Ph.D., assistant professor of graduate counseling, leadership and education. After learning that the organization was seeking students to serve on the board, Seguin applied and was soon invited to join the board.

“My role at NYMHCA is to bring the student's voice to the state-level organization,” Seguin explained. “This year I'm tasked with developing a student committee which will examine the experience of our student members, and how we can offer more opportunities to engage our students more in their profession.”

Seguin began the mental health counseling program as a part-time student, working two miles north at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, where he oversees the department of Housing and Residence Life.

“Broadly, we're seeing an increasing need for mental health services at the college level. I want to broaden my own skill set in counseling so that I can expand on the services and support that I'm able to offer the students I work with,” Seguin said.  

Seguin plans to continue working in student affairs and to expand on the research and practice of mental health services on college campuses. His ultimate education goal is to pursue a doctorate in counseling psychology.