Candice M. Fernandez
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Academic Counselor/ EAB Navigator App Administrator
Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College
09.2023 - Current
- Enhance student success by providing personalized academic guidance and support
- Conduct comprehensive evaluations of students' academic needs, recommending appropriate resources and services
- Utilize strong organizational skills to maintain accurate records of all student interactions and interventions
- Co-facilitate and create training sessions, training materials, and tutorials for students, faculty, and staff use on Navigate360 system
- Assist in the development of academic plans, setting achievable goals for students'' educational progress.
- Manage help desk and troubleshoot issues that people have with the app
- Assist in integrating HCCC departments to utilize the system to meet their individual departmental needs.
- Ensure data integrity and security by managing user access controls and permissions.
- Create and produce engaging and informative video content for the Academic Office's YouTube channel https://tinyurl.com/HCCCAdvisingvideos
Academic Advisor
Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College
01.2023 - 09.2023
- Conducted one-on-one advising sessions to help students explore their academic interests, set educational goals, and develop personalized academic plans
- Assess needs of students at-risk and create action plan to improve academic success
- Provide registration instructions for students and assist with student self-registration
- Assisted students in navigating university policies, procedures, and resources, providing clarification and guidance as needed.
- Assisted students in selecting courses to align with interests and abilities.
Research Assistant
Trans Embodiment Experience Research
02.2021 - Current
- IRB approved, Principal Investigator S.J Langer
- Assist in qualitative interview study of trans masculine perception and experience of phantom penis
- Maintained open lines of communication with project leads and team members for effective collaboration on common goals
- Utilized statistical software, Atlast.ti, for data analysis, generating accurate insights into complex datasets
- Reviewed documents and data to identify trends and patterns.
Art Therapy Intern
Creative Solutions, HeartShare St. Vincent
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Facilitated individual and family art therapy sessions via in-person groups and telehealth within the Coney Island Community
- Assisted lead art therapist in planning and conducting open group sessions for children and adolescents.
- Provided psychoeducation and support to clients' families, caregivers, and support networks
- Facilitated creative expression through the introduction of diverse artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and collage.
- Co-facilitate wellness community workshops and events in collaboration with HeartShare Surfside department and other community organizations to promote mental health and art therapy
- Created promotional material such as flyers and social media posts for Creative Solutions Instagram and monthly community newsletters.
- Recorded detailed session notes, tracking patient progress and adjusting therapeutic approaches as needed.
- Maintained accurate inventory of supplies to ensure adequate resources were available for planned activities.
Art Therapy Intern
HeART Studio, HeartShare St. Vincent
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Facilitated weekly open art studio art therapy groups for adolescents
- Utilized art-making as a therapeutic medium to foster self-expression, emotional processing, and personal growth
- Create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment that encourages self-expression, personal growth, and healing
- Co-facilitate mental health wellness workshops for families and adolescents engaged within HearthShare St.Vincent programs.
Case Planner/ Art Therapy Intern
Family Treatment Rehabilitation Prevention Program, HeartShare St. Vincent
09.2021 - 01.2023
- Promoted to full-time case planner after first-year internship
- Conducted thorough assessments, identifying client strengths and challenges to inform appropriate interventions.
- Utilized art therapy interventions in casework counseling for individual sessions and family sessions to promote healthy coping strategies, improving interpersonal skills, and enhancing self-esteem
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams, including social workers, psychologists, educators, and medical professionals, to ensure comprehensive care and support for clients
- Conducted home visits and fieldwork to assess clients' living conditions, safety, and well-being
- Empowered families with psychoeducational and skills to better understand and support their mental health and overall well-being.
Instructor
Hudson County Community College
09.2021 - 12.2022
- Instructed college level freshman course for pre-nursing students that focuses on the student's academic success
- Create assignments focused on goal setting, career exploration, nursing program expectations and application process, and informing of college policies and procedures
- Monitored student's success in the course and provided support and referrals to college resources.
Academic Advisor/ Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) Counselor
Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College
06.2018 - 12.2022
- Co-managed caseload of 900+ awarded students on academic programs, course selection, and degree requirements, ensuring timely progression towards graduation
- Promoted from Academic Advisor to CCOG Counselor in 11/2018
- Improve retention and performance with students on academic probation by assessing their challenges, making a plan of action and meeting monthly to reassess
- Analyze data and create monthly reports on caseload to assess overall student's success
- Facilitated workshops and information sessions on topics such as study skills, time management, and academic success strategies
Education
M.P.S. - Art Therapy
School of Visual Arts
New York, NY05.2023
B.A. - Art Therapy
New Jersey City University
Jersey City, NJ05.2018
A.F.A. - Studio Arts
Hudson County Community College
Jersey City, NJ05.2016
Skills
- Career Advising
- Academic Planning
- Student Advocacy
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Resource Utilization
- Individual Counseling
- Goal Setting
- Group Counseling
Presentations And Workshops
- Facilitator - Creative Wellness Workshop Series , Mental Health and Wellness Department, Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, NJ, 01/2024, Current
- Facilitator - Empowerment Stress Relief Workshop, Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, NJ, 07/2023
- Speaker – The Phenomenon of Phantom Penis in Trans Masculine and Non-Binary People, Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 07/2021
- Co-Facilitator – Special Projects, School of Visual Arts, Mountain Side Rehabilitation Program, New York, NY, 02/2021
- Co Facilitator – Special Projects , School of Visual Arts, Gilda's Club, New York, NY, 11/2020
Memberships Certifications Trainings
- Mandated Reporter Training, ACS Workforce Institute, New York, NY, 08/2022
- Telehealth Art Therapy Training, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, 02/2021
- Student Member, American Art Therapy Association, New York, NY, 04/2020
- LGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces Cert ., Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, NJ, 08/2020
Honors And Awards
- Fall 2020 Excellence in Service to Students Award, National Society of Leadership & Success, Jersey City, NJ, 12/2020
- Graduate Art Therapy Awards Scholarship, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, Fall 2020
- Presidential Scholarship, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ, Fall 2016
- Student of the Year, Hudson County Community College, Jersey City, NJ, Spring 2016
Timeline
Academic Counselor/ EAB Navigator App Administrator
Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College
09.2023 - Current
Academic Advisor
Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College
01.2023 - 09.2023
Art Therapy Intern
Creative Solutions, HeartShare St. Vincent
09.2022 - 04.2023
Art Therapy Intern
HeART Studio, HeartShare St. Vincent
09.2022 - 04.2023
Case Planner/ Art Therapy Intern
Family Treatment Rehabilitation Prevention Program, HeartShare St. Vincent
09.2021 - 01.2023
Instructor
Hudson County Community College
09.2021 - 12.2022
Research Assistant
Trans Embodiment Experience Research
02.2021 - Current
Academic Advisor/ Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) Counselor
Advisement Department, Hudson County Community College
06.2018 - 12.2022
M.P.S. - Art Therapy
School of Visual Arts
B.A. - Art Therapy
New Jersey City University
A.F.A. - Studio Arts
Hudson County Community College
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