City University in the News

City University of seattle adjunct professor
appointed to State Diversity Committee

City University of Seattle Counseling Center
Director Appointed to Board

City University of Seattle Adjunct Professor
Appointed to State Diversity Committee

City University of Seattle adjunct faculty member James Smith was recently appointed by Washington State Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen, Washington State Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, and Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Terry Bergeson to sit on the statutory committee to help close the academic achievement gap afflicting African-American children in Washington State. Smith was one of 15 people appointed to the committee.

The committee was formed to research strategies that will help narrow the teaching gap by developing teaching methodologies that create better learning opportunities for African American students, and enhance academic success. It is expected to report its findings back to the Washington State House and Senate, the Governor, and the State Board of Education next year.

After working as a senior-level corporate executive for a Fortune 500 company for 35 years, Smith, who had long been an advocate of education and diversity in the schools, went back to school in 2002. Already holding a M.B.A and a Ph.D., Smith pursued a teaching certificate in K-8 so he could work in the classroom.

Smith currently teaches six core classes in CityU of Seattle’s Master in Education program, as well as graduate-level courses for school counselors. He is involved in CityU’s Diversity Committee and was recently honored by the University for his extraordinary service. He currently serves on the Equity Committee for the State Board of Education and is a member of the Bias and Fairness Review Team for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, CityU’s Professional Education Advisory Board for the Guidance and Counseling Program, the Higher Education Commission for the Washington Alliance of Black School Educators, sits on the Auburn School District’s Diversity Committee, and serves as a Mediation Officer for the school district. He works on behalf of the Auburn School district in professional development and consulting in the areas of diversity, cultural competency, multicultural education, children at-risk, and he continues to substitute teach.

In addition to the statutory committee, Smith was recently appointed to the Washington State Education Association team that was part of a national symposium in Washington D.C. that focused on developing strategies for recruiting and training diverse teachers.

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City University of Seattle Counseling Center
Director Apponted to Board

City University of Seattle Counseling Center Director Appointed to Board
Karen Langer, Counseling Center Director at City University of Seattle, has been elected Western Region Board Director for the American Mental Health Counselor’s Association (AMHCA). The election of Langer to the regional board provides her with a seat on the national board of the national professional association for mental health counselors.

As the Western Region Board Director, Langer will represent mental health counselors from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming. Langer has served as the AMHCA Professional Development Committee Chair since 2006, and is the past president of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA).

Langer has been the Director of the Counseling Center at CityU since 1998. During her tenure, she has created, implemented, and managed the center and supervised the clinical staff. Langer holds a M.Ed. in counseling and guidance and a B.S. in child development and family relations from the University of Arizona. She also is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington.

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