Pronouns: He/him/his
Title: Assistant Professor
Program: Professional Mental Health Counseling
Previous Institution and City: University of Missouri, St. Louis
What three words would you use to describe Lewis & Clark?
Professional, warm, family-like
What drew you to Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling?
The social justice emphasis of the graduate school, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, stood out to me the most. Learning about the school, the program, the faculty, and the students, I thoroughly observed the social justice mission and lenses infused within the program as well as the community. During my job search and job interview process, the more I learned about the strong advocacy and the multicultural foundation of the PMHC program at Lewis & Clark, the more I could envision myself thriving as an LGBTQ+ scholar/educator with research focused on LGBTQ+ mental health.
What do you find most interesting about your program? What makes it unique?
I find that the PMHC program is a good balance between high training standards and professionalism, and that the caring and humanizing provision of training and knowledge is the most interesting aspect of the program. Being a new faculty, I feel inspired to keep challenging myself to find that balance and translate it into my teaching and pedagogy. The diverse specializations and certifications (addictions, eating disorders, ecotherapy, and LGBTQ+) paired with a very strong practical training also makes the PMHC program at Lewis & Clark unique to me.
What are you enjoying the most about Lewis & Clark so far?
I truly appreciate the support and mentorship from the colleagues in my program and across the graduate school who have helped me to cope with the challenges of being a new faculty. Even though the mentorship system at Lewis & Clark is informal, it has a very familial feel to it. Whenever I reach out to my colleagues for help or advice, they are always there for me.
What are you looking forward to in your first year as a faculty member here?
I am looking forward to finding a solid footing as a faculty by the end of my first year. I still think it’s very challenging joining academia as a faculty member for the first time. Also, being foreign-born with an international background can complicate things at times for me to feel a sense of belonging. Therefore, I hope that I will succeed, or at least progress, in building a meaningful relationship with my colleagues and the Lewis & Clark community during the first year. I am also looking forward to helping my students grow and to inspiring them to become the best possible counselor that they want to be.
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
I have to confess that I have not explored the campus as much as I hope to. So far, I really like the walk along the S Visitor Drive from the Campus Safety toward the Watzek Library. I like the green and the atmosphere of the walk which helps calm me down. The other part I also like is the view from the 4th floor (where my office is) of the Rogers building on the grad school campus overlooking the mountain and the forest. I enjoy the refreshing view whenever I work in my office. I promise that I will commit to the exploration of the campus more, and that’s another thing that I am looking forward to in my first year as a faculty member here.
What is something you think your students would be surprised to learn about you?
I dreamed of becoming a professional singer when I was young/a child. It was my dream job for the first 16 years of my life before I pivoted to the psychology and counseling field. I still really enjoy music and singing karaoke from time to time.
On behalf of the entire Lewis & Clark community, we are thrilled to welcome Professor Ratanashevorn to the graduate school!
