November 19, 2018
Leah Mendez, MA, LPC, ATR-P, a 2018 graduate of Ursuline’s Counseling and Art Therapy master's program, has won the American Art Therapy Association’s 2018 Gladys Agell Research Award in recognition of excellence in research for her master’s thesis titled "Measuring Efficacy of Intensive Trauma Therapy Through an Attachment Potential Art Therapy Assessment.” She received the award at the annual American Art Therapy Association conference earlier this month.
What are you doing professionally now?
I am currently working with traumatized children and adolescents at the Christian Children's Home of Ohio in Wooster, Ohio. I serve as the art therapist and intensive trauma therapist for the children's residential center. I'm also working with other professionals on designing a new research project related to the population I work with.
What made you choose art therapy?
I was always passionate about art and psychology during undergraduate studies, and knew about Ursuline's Art Therapy program at the time, but didn't apply until a decade after graduation. It took me 10 years of working in other fields to realize I needed to take the plunge and apply.
Are you glad you attended Ursuline?
Ursuline provided the education and training I needed to do what I had long felt called to do – use creative gifts to help others. I wouldn't have been able achieve any sort of professional success or sense of personal fulfillment without the dedicated, caring faculty pouring their knowledge and wisdom into each student. I'm grateful to love what I do, thanks to Ursuline.
