Thomas University Professors Inspire Alumna To Do More
Post Published On:Ucher Dent is utilizing her degrees from Thomas University to help others in different ways.
She graduated from Thomas University with a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2004 and later returned to TU to earn her master’s in Community Counseling with a concentration in substance abuse in 2007. She was named the most outstanding community counseling graduate student.
Her Thomas University degrees have allowed her to take on different roles in law enforcement and counseling. She is currently a licensed Professional Counselor who works as a Forensic Community Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability.
In her role, she monitors individuals who the judicial system deems to have severe psychiatric disorders that can be treated by mental health intervention in the community. Dent also educates individuals about court procedures including plea bargains. Some of the individuals that she works with have felony or misdemeanor charges.
Although her primary job is working as a forensic community coordinator for the state, Dent said her Thomas University professors inspired and showed her—through their actions—the different impacts counselors can make on someone’s life.
“They consistently went above and beyond their duties,” she said. “They would invite students to their offices, long before practicums and internships were a standard part of the curriculum. We would shadow them, engage in conversations about various topics, and gain invaluable insights. Those moments deeply resonated with me and fueled my desire to help others. They weren’t motivated by money; their actions stemmed from a genuine love for people and a commitment to making a difference. This profoundly influenced my own aspiration to reach out and support others.”
Dent said her Thomas University professors pushed her to do more than what her degrees allowed her to do.
Now, she is helping others in a multitude of different ways.
She merged her faith and her love for helping others to become an ordinated minister, certified Anger Management Specialist 1, certified Reentry Professional, Master Addiction Counselor, and a certified Christian counselor.
“Thomas University professors really added substance and added to my Christian belief of wanting to help people and wanting to do good,” she said.
