Center for Writing alumni—Sara Van Wormer

11 Questions for Center for Writing Alums

Your name: Sara Van Wormer
Your email: saravw1@gmail.com
When did you work with us? 1999-2000
What was your role? teaching/research assistant
What education and/or occupation(s) have you pursued since working with us? I am currently a Professor of Psychology at Macomb Community College in the metro Detroit area. I was also appointed to the Michigan Board of Psychology for a 4 year term beginning in 2013. Prior to these positions, I worked as an outpatient mental health therapist for 11 years, specializing in young adults and adolescents.

Did your work with us influence your educational or occupational choices? If so, how? Yes, very much so. Above anything else, I learned how to be professional and work well with colleagues.
What are the most significant abilities, values, or skills that you developed in your work with us? Good organizational skills: how to communicate well with professional colleagues and faculty members. I also learned by observing the professional conduct and demeanor of the director and her administrative staff.
In your personal and professional life today, how do you find yourself using what you learned from working with us? Now that I work in higher education, I can call upon the communication skills I developed working at CISW. Much of my job centered on developing proper communication in efforts to coordinate faculty events. Now as a full-time faculty member, I can easily communicate with a variety of coworkers at our college.