Today@Sam Article
ACE Course Strengthens Minds, Communities
Aug. 15, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Lidia Gutierrez
Wellness begins within, making mental health crucial to our overall well-being. As awareness of mental health rises, it’s essential for future counselors to not only learn but also apply their knowledge in real-world settings, where they can make a meaningful impact.
This is why Felicia Mirghassemi saw the opportunity to engage her counseling graduate students in a real-world setting, developing it as an Academic Community Engagement (ACE) course.
“I find the mission of ACE courses to be so impactful and inspiring,” Mirghassemi said. “When I begin teaching any class, the first thing I like to start with is why the students should care about what we are learning that day. ACE courses provide an opportunity to not just tell them the why, but to show them.”
Mirghassemi is a clinical assistant professor and a licensed professional counselor-supervisor. With a background in counseling and supervision at community mental health agencies, she joined Sam Houston State University two years ago. Since then, she has been actively involved in teaching ACE courses.
Her methods of research class changed when she put her students’ knowledge to the test by applying what they learned to help support local community mental health programs.
“I reached out to former colleagues, shared my idea, and had multiple directors interested in participating,” Mirghassemi said.
Mirghassemi’s class was able to partner with the largest provider in Texas, The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (HCMHIDD). This organization provides high-quality, efficient and cost-effective mental health services to underserved populations.
At the start of the semester, student groups interviewed each HCMHIDD program supervisor to understand their specific challenges and needs. Throughout the semester, they employed various research methods, analyzed data and designed tailored evaluation processes. At the end of the semester, the students presented their evaluation proposals to the program directors during a special presentation event at The Woodlands Center.
“I received very positive feedback about the community engagement addition to our course from students,” Mirghassemi said. “One theme that stood out to me across students was how this experience significantly boosted their confidence, as it allowed them to experience firsthand what it’s like to be a researcher in action.”
This experience was able to provide students the opportunity to translate the information they would learn in a lecture-based research class and turn it into practical application within community counseling services.
“At the end of their poster presentations, my students mentioned how proud I looked—and I genuinely was,” Mirghassemi said. “They really immersed themselves in the material and took the assignment to heart. It was truly inspiring to see their growth throughout our class.”
Academic Community Engagement (ACE) is a teaching method that combines community engagement with academic instruction. This pedagogy encourages students to use the skills, knowledge and dispositions learned in the classroom to collaborate with community partners to contribute to the public good. SHSU offers hundreds of ACE courses within an academic year.
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