SJC to Hold Human Services Event

July 17, 2013

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. July 18, 2013 St. Josephs College (SJC) will host the event, "Serving Our Veterans: New Territory for Human Services Professionals with guest speakers, Marcelle Leis 13 and Gary Richard 12 on Wednesday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. at its Long Island Campus in Patchogue, N.Y. This event will introduce the new Bachelor of Science in Human Services that was created to provide students with knowledge and experience in such disciplines as advocacy, assessment, interviewing, group facilitation, counseling skills, case management, program development and program evaluation. 

"A new degree in Human Services is coming at the best possible time, when there is increasing demand for services from veterans and their families, said Carolyn Gallogly, Ph.D., associate professor and department chairperson for Human Services. "These speakers will be sharing what they are seeing on the front lines of trying to respond to those needs." 

Marcelle Leis 13 is a retired Chief Master Sergeant and spent 24 years with the New York Air National Guard. During her tenure, she was deployed to Kuwait and was involved with critical domestic relief operations. Ms. Leis is presently pursuing a M.S. in Human Services Leadership at SJC and is a peer facilitator for the PFC Joseph Dwyer Veterans PTSD Peer to Peer Program in Suffolk County. 

Gary Richard 12 is a retired First Sergeant with 30 years of active duty in the U.S. Army. While with the Army, he was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Operation Desert Storm and Grenada. Currently, Richard works as a Suffolk County Veteran's Service Officer, where he is an advocate for veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Brookhaven, N.Y. Mr. Richard earned a B.S. in Human Services from SJC and is currently enrolled in the M.S. in Human Services Leadership program.

Prospective students are invited to attend to learn about the variety of undergraduate and graduate programs available for those who are looking to return to college. Admissions counselors and alumni of the human services program will be on hand to answer all questions and share their firsthand experiences.

For more information, call 631.687.4501 or visit www.sjny.edu.  St. Josephs College is accessible via the South Service Road of Sunrise Highway, just east of Exit 52 (Waverly Avenue).