INTRODUCTION
After high school graduation, I attended UCLA where I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. My Master of Science Degree is in counseling from California State University, Los Angeles. This degree gave me the interest to pursue a doctorate. I received my Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Michigan State University. This education background gave me the skills to work as the Coordinator of Research at the world-renowned Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, California.
It was at Rancho Los Amigos National Medical Center that I began publishing and making professional presentations - during this time, I gave professional presentations each year at annual conventions of the American Psychological Association, Western Psychological Association, the National Rehabilitation Association, the National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, and the California Association for Counseling and Development. After working in the medical industry, I became self-employed. My wife and I ran our own counseling agency for 10 years assisting injured workers to return to productive employment. I had the opportunity to serve as a part-time instructor at my alma mater (CSULA) in 1987 and found that I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of the faculty and staff and working with students. I have been a full-time professor at CSULA for the past 15 years, first as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor.
In 2004, I received the California State University (CSU) systemwide Wang Family Excellence Award for exmplary dedication, contributions, and academic achievement in teaching, and for extraordinary commitment to students, the university, and the CSU system.
I was listed as Marquis Who's Who in America as a subject of biographical record in 2004. In 1997, I received the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year from the CSULA Alumni Association. I received the Professor of the Year Award for 1996-1997 from CSULA. I also received the Rehabilitation Educator of the Year Award for 1996 from the National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector. I have received several other state and national awards for service in furthering the education of rehabilitation professionals. I was elected to serve 3 consecutive terms (nine years) on the Council on Rehabilitation Education's Commission on Standards and Accreditation, the national accreditation organization for graduate rehabilitation counseling programs. Currently and for the past 6 years, I am on the executive council of the California Association for Counseling and Development
TEACHING INTERESTS
I teach rehabilitation counseling courses to both graduate and undergraduate students who are majoring in rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation services at CSULA. The courses I teach involve medical aspects of disability, introduction to rehabilitation, proacticum, and internship. My goal is to interest students in providing the most effective services possible to clients and their families. Classes need to be interactive to maximize student learning. The program recently developed two concentration areas, one in student development(counseling in colleges and universities)and another in providing transition sevices to students who have disabilities. The division also offers a certificate in career counseling
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I have interest in a) counseling in higher education for students with and without disabilities, b) medical aspects of disabilities, and c) cultural diversity. My projects, publications, and presentations involve these areas. My textbook revised in 2002, Medical, Psychosocial, and Vocational Aspects of Disability has been used by over 85 colleges and universities in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, and closely allied fields.
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