ATLANTA – Dr. Laurie Lankin, professor emerita of counseling and human sciences in Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement, recently established the Lankin Endowed Scholarship in Counseling.
Inaugural recipients of the Lankin Scholarship are Auvronette Guilbeaux, Latessa Bayonne and Tyann Mosley, who are pursuing the College’s Ph.D. degree in counselor education and supervision.
“This scholarship established by Dr. Laurie Lankin is an amazing award that will help motivate and support doctoral students who are finishing their dissertation,” said Dr. Tyler Wilkinson, associate professor and program coordinator of the Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision. “This award will help students successfully finish their program and advance their careers.”
“We are so very appreciative of Dr. Lankin’s generosity and passion for investing in the next generation of counselor educators and supervisors. I am confident that our awardees will regard Dr. Lankin’s scholarship as an extension of Mercer University’s commitment to student success,” added Dr. Karen Rowland, professor and chair of counseling.
Dr. Lankin established the endowment to assist students who are pursuing the Ph.D. degree in counselor education and supervision and have completed all required work except for the dissertation.
“I set up this endowment because I was an ‘all but dissertation’ doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh for several years,” said Dr. Lankin. “I had run out of steam and money when I was awarded a small grant from the university that gave me the impetus to complete my dissertation. I thought back then that I would want to pass on the kind of support I received when I was able, and I am grateful that the time is now.”
Additional contributions to the fund may be made by contacting Shawna Dooley, associate vice president for university advancement, at dooley_sr@mercer.edu
Dr. Lankin worked at Mercer for more than 33 years, including more than 20 as a faculty member in the College of Professional Advancement. She came to the University as a licensed professional counselor and became director of the counseling center on the Macon campus. She was also coordinator of the human resources administration and development major upon its launch in 2009.
Prior to coming to Mercer in 1988, Dr. Lankin worked as a newspaper reporter, substance abuse counselor, human resources professional in city government and had a private counseling practice.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Mercer’s Ph.D degree in counselor education and supervision prepares professionals as practitioners, consultants, counselor educators, supervisors and researchers. For more information on the doctoral program, contact Dr. Tyler Wilkinson, associate professor of counseling, at wilkinson_rt@mercer.edu.
About the College of Professional Advancement
Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement is committed to serving post-traditional learners. Undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered to adult learners seeking professional advancement into leadership roles in and beyond their communities. Programs provide students with distinctive, multidisciplinary experiences that integrate theory and practice. In addition to providing general education and elective courses for various colleges and schools at Mercer, the College of Professional Advancement offers degree programs in areas including technology, public safety, public and human services, leadership and administration, health care and liberal arts. Programs are offered on Mercer’s campuses in Atlanta and Macon, as well as Regional Academic Centers in Douglas County and Henry County, and online. To learn more, visit professionaladvancement.mercer.edu.
