Emerson Doner

I first attempted college in 2005; however, I was ill prepared and did not have the correct mindset as I attended to avoid losing my housing. I failed most of my classes, resigned, and then immediately jumped into the working world taking jobs that resulted in living paycheck to paycheck instead of obtaining a career. After working in an emergency department for many years I realized I needed a change and moved to the Virginia poison center. There I met my now wife who gave me the encouragement I needed to rejoin higher education. I joined with the intention of becoming an engineer but found quickly that it was not the path for me as I struggled with calculus. I did, however, find that helping my fellow students succeed and find the path that was right for them brought my heart joy. I switched majors to philosophy, which I had always enjoyed since taking an introductory course, and moved from community college to VCU. I found a path that would lead me to be the best advisor I could through the master’s in education counseling program, but I also discovered that my knowledge of diversity was sadly lacking having grown up in a primarily white community. Therefore, I minored in GSWS, which allowed me to take classes in African-American studies, Latina studies, and overall expand my knowledge of how our society had oppressed minorities. Having completed undergrad around the same time, I fathered my first child and entered VCU SOE to study education counseling specializing in college counseling and student affairs. I have spent the last year working for VCU’s university academic advising department working with undeclared majors. I have learned the systems used at VCU to perform academic advising services and developed connections around the campus, lesson plans, and group counseling programs that have been implemented on campus. The counseling skills I have honed through the last couple years have enabled me to be a holistic advisor aiding in my recognition of when to implement other VCU resources to aid student and give them the optimal chance to have the best college possible while be sensitive to their individual backgrounds.