Susana Contreras Bloomdahl, NCC, Ph.D.
3246 Alexander Hall
Murray State University
Murray, KY 42071
(270) 809-6968
OBJECTIVE
To help the counseling profession grow and expand by educating, training and advising young professionals in the field of education and mental health counseling.
EDUCATION
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Ph. D. in Counselor Education
Dissertation title: The Effect of Language Program Type on Latino Immigrant Adolescent Self-esteem
August 2003 –December 2007
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Masters of Education in School Counseling
August 2000 – May 2002
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Baccalaureate of Science in Psychology
Minor in Italian
August 1996 – May 2000
WORK EXPERIENCE
Murray State University, Murray, KY
Assistant Professor
August 15, 2008 - Present
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Graduate Assistantship
• Updated internship and practicum manual for masters and doctoral programs
• Developed school counseling certification/licensure manual
• Prepared department syllabi for CACREP
• Researched and compiled information on “becoming a school counselor with a masters in education”
• Found, retrieved and copied articles for Case Management course
• Found, retrieved and copied articles for Supervision in Counseling course
Fall 2003 – May 2006
Instructor:
Counselor Education 4003 Classroom Human Relations Skills
Fall 2003 - Spring 2006
Counselor Education 3053 The Helping Relationship
Fall 2005 – Spring 2006
Marian Central Catholic Middle School, New Orleans, LA
July 2002 – March 2003
School Counselor
• Individual and group counseling with students, ages 10-14, using Cognitive Behavior Theories.
• Consult with parents, teacher, and administration to discuss helpful strategies to use with the student for the student’s development.
• Clinical observations, developmental assessments, crisis intervention and preventive interventions for the well-being of the students.
• Coordinate Quiz Bowl, National Junior Honor’s Society, and Builder’s Club (a community service program) for the school.
Seton Resource Center, New Orleans, LA
August 2001 – May 2002
Mental Health Counselor
• Counsel individual students, ages 4-14, using Cognitive Behavioral approaches.
• Work with students in group therapy, role-play social activities and scenarios for life preparation.
• Consultation with families and faculty, discussing issues the child is experiencing to get added support for the child.
• Teach social skills, such as anger management, empathy and problem-solving, to students.
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
January 2002 – May 2002
Group Leader and Techniques Coach
• Lead a college classroom group to help counseling masters students gain expertise in group interaction.
• Observe and coach masters students, in and out of the classroom, to refine their individual counseling skills.
• Demonstrate individual and group therapy activities with college students as tutorial for other masters students.
PROFESSIONAL /ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIPS
American Counseling Association, July 2010 - Present
American School Counseling Association, July 2010 - Present
Kentucky Counseling Association (KCA), September 2008 – Present.
Western Kentucky Counseling Association (WKCA). September 2008 – Present.
National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates
- Board Eligible National Certified School Counselor, November 2002 – Present
Arkansas Counseling Association (ArCA)
- Student Chairperson, Fall 2004 – May 2006
- AR Association for Multi-Cultural Counseling and Development, Fall 2003 – May 2006
ACTIVITIES & OTHER LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Murray State University, Kentucky
• Faculty Senate representative, Fall 2008 – present.
• Library Liaison for the Educational Studies, Leadership and Counseling Department, Fall 2008 – present.
• Research Policy Committee, Fall 2010 – present.
• Multicultural Committee member, Fall 2008 – Fall 2010.
Murray State University, Kentucky
• ITV Ad Hoc Advisory Committee, Fall 2010.
Future Educators Association Summer Camp, MSU, Kentucky
• Presented a session on the School Counseling Profession, June 9, 2010.
Murray State University, Kentucky
• Graduate Kentucky: A Community Approach Regional Dropout Prevention Summit committee member, Spring 2010.
White Residential College, Murray State University, Kentucky
• Presented on conflict resolution skills for Conflict Management Program for residents, September 2, 2009.
• Follow-up on student leadership group, March 2, 2009.
• Led student leadership group to help resolve underlying issues that inhibited cohesion, October 27, 2008.
Future Educators Association Regional Conference, MSU, Kentucky
• Volunteer to judge middle/high school student created scrapbooks focused on “Preparing for a Successful College Career/College Life,” September 30, 2009.
Guidance and Counseling Alternative Certification, MSU, Kentucky
• Volunteer to observe three regional professionals seeking Alternative Certification in School Counseling, Fall, 2008 – Spring, 2009.
Murray – Calloway County Area, Kentucky
Murray-Calloway County Area Tech, Kentucky
• Volunteer for local 4th grade student Career Day visits, March 26 – 27, 2009.
Calloway County High School, Murray, Kentucky
• Volunteer for Calloway County High School Career Awareness Mock Interview Day, December 4, 2008.
KATE, Murray State University, Kentucky
• Volunteer for Student Technology Leadership Program showcase, December 3, 2008.
Rogers Public Schools, Arkansas
English as Second Language Academy and Crossroads Alternative School
• Mental health presentations to student population: managing stress, importance of good mental health.
• Physical health presentations to student population: awareness of tobacco messages in advertisement, dangers of substance abuse.
August 2003 – May 2004
PUBLICATIONS
Thorn, A. R. & Contreras, S. (2005). Counseling Latino Immigrants in Middle School. Journal of Professional School Counseling, 9(2), 167-170.
Manuscripts in Preparation or Review
Bloomdahl, S. C. (in preparation). The effect of language program type on Latino immigrant adolescent self-esteem.
Bloomdahl, S. C., & Navan, J. (under review). Student leadership in a residential college: From dysfunction to effective collaboration.
Bloomdahl, S. C., & Patterson, L. (in preparation). Administrative relationships: The school counselor and the principal.
Lee, S. M., Bloomdahl, S. C., Thorn, A. R., Ha, J., Nam, S. K., & Lee, J. (under review). Parent involvement in school: English speaking versus Spanish speaking families.
STATE PRESENTATIONS
Bakes, A. S., Bloomdahl, S. C., Gitonga, S. K. & Patel, S. H. Finding a Theory that Fits. Interest session for the Kentucky Counseling Association 53rd Annual Conference, October 21, 2010.
Bloomdahl, S. C. Self-Esteem in Latino Immigrant Students. Interest session for the Kentucky Counseling Association 53rd Annual Conference, October 21, 2010.
Contreras, S. Graduate Student in Counseling Organizational Meeting. Chair for student organization for the 60th Annual Arkansas Counseling Association Conference, November 10, 2005.
Contreras, S. Graduate Student Organizational Meeting. Chair for student organization for the 59th Annual Arkansas Counseling Association Conference, November 3, 2004.
Contreras, S. School Counseling: Showing Productivity in the School System. Presentation for the 59th Annual Arkansas Counseling Association Conference, November 5, 2004.
Contreras, S. Dynamics of Teaching Substance Abuse Issues to Hispanic Adolescents. Presentation for the 58th Annual Arkansas Counseling Association Conference, November 14, 2003.
LOCAL PRESENTATIONS
Bakes, A. S., Patel, S. H., Bloomdahl, S. C., & Gitonga, S. K. Practical applications of counseling theories. Invited panel speaker for the Western Kentucky Counseling Association Fall Meeting, August 27, 2010.
Contreras, S. Dangers of Substance Abuse in Adolescents. Workshop for Crossroads Alternative School, Rogers, Arkansas, November 5, 2003.
GRANTS AWARDED
College of Education Faculty Incentive Grant, $2000 – June, 2009.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Kentucky Counseling Association 53rd Annual Conference, Louisville, KY – October 20-22, 2010
Banner Training - Submitting Grades, MSU, KY – September 29, 2009
CTLT Teaching and Technology Forum 2009, MSU, KY – September 23-24, 2009
Western Kentucky Counseling Association Conference, MSU, KY – September 4, 2009
Blended Learning Workshop, MSU, KY – July 29, 2009
Digital Measures Workshop, MSU, KY – April 24, 2009
Western Kentucky Counseling Association Conference, Lake Barkley, KY – March 19- 20, 2009
Web Registration and Advising Training, MSU, KY – March 9, 2009
Tenure and Promotion Workshop, MSU, KY – March 4, 2009
Office 2007 Training, MSU, KY – January 9, 2009
Elluminate Workshop, MSU, KY – September 15, 2008
Western Kentucky Counseling Association Conference, MSU, KY – September 12, 2008
ITV Training, MSU, KY – August 19, 2008
Submitting Assignments and Gradebook Workshop, MSU, KY – August 13, 2008
Blackboard Basics Workshop, MSU, KY – August 13, 2008
GRADUATE COURSES TAUGHT
Murray State University
Practicum
Group Processes
Introduction to Guidance and Counseling
Effective Practices in School Counseling
Administration and Organization of Personnel Services
Behavioral Assessment and Intervention
Human Development
Advanced Practicum
Group Counseling
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES TAUGHT
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Helping Relationship
Classroom Human Relations Skills
LANGUAGES
- Bilingual in Spanish and English.
- Language proficiency in Italian
- Elementary knowledge of German and French.
HONORS/AWARDS
• Rene Matos Scholarship – The National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees, Fall 2003
• “Noted by a student, or students, as making a difference in their university experience.” - from the Office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Arkansas, May 2004