Four school counselors - all Monmouth alumni - sing praises of their alma mater

Monmouth, Ill. (01/30/2026) — Celebrated Feb. 2-6, National School Counseling Week's theme is "School Counselors Amplify Student Success," highlighting their role in academic, career and social-emotional development.

With a rich history in providing many of its graduates with a top-notch education in how to educate students, Monmouth College has several alumni who hold school counselor roles or have held them in the recent past. Four of them - John Hickling '92, Stephanie Kennedy Woodard '03, Betsy Mahrt Elver '04 and Jenna Carson Purlee '04 - recently detailed the education they received at Monmouth, where they're at now, and their "sales pitch" for how they share the value of a Monmouth degree.

Why Monmouth?

"I stress Monmouth's personalized learning, strong faculty-student relationships and abundant opportunities for development - all within a supportive community," said Hickling, who's a counselor with Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools. "Monmouth gave me the ability to think critically, write effectively and approach problems reflectively. These skills have carried through every stage of my career. I've found that colleagues with liberal arts backgrounds are often the most creative and thoughtful professionals."

Elver said she followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Abby Mahrt Powell '01.

"I visited her a couple times and loved the campus and culture," she said. "My time at Monmouth taught me how to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, think critically, and keep things in perspective."

Elver has had a handful of students show strong interest in Monmouth, and some have attended.

"I always encourage my students to consider attending smaller colleges and highlight my experience at Monmouth," she said. "I talk to students about the small class sizes, personal connections you make with your professors, and opportunities to participate in clubs and athletics."

Purlee works with younger students at Olentangy Berlin Middle School in Delaware, Ohio, but she estimates she helped 50 students choose Monmouth during her eight years at nearby Knoxville High School.

Her message to students, she said, was that "Monmouth truly invests in its students as whole people. With small class sizes, supportive faculty and a strong sense of community, students are challenged academically while being known, mentored and encouraged to grow personally and professionally. It's a place where students develop critical thinking, leadership and communication skills that prepare them not just for careers, but for meaningful lives."

Even though Purlee grew up in Monmouth, she said her own school counselor "definitely played a role in encouraging me to apply" to her hometown college. "Knowing I was interested in going into education, they recognized that Monmouth's programs, small class sizes and supportive environment would be a good fit for my goals. That guidance helped reinforce my decision and ultimately led me to choose a college that aligned well with both my academic and career interests. Monmouth's holistic approach helped me develop the skills needed to support students academically, socially and emotionally."

Woodard shows off her alma mater in her Galesburg school district office, and it certainly comes up.

"I talk about postsecondary planning with students regularly. I have a Monmouth College pennant hanging in my office, and I'm happy to talk about my experiences. I'm always excited to share in their excitement when they've received their acceptance letter from Monmouth or earned a scholarship that helps make college possible. When a student knows we're going to share an alma mater, that's a fun shared experience."

Like Purlee, Woodard grew up nearby, attending Galesburg High School, so Monmouth's location was a plus.

"I had planned to be a teacher and major in education, and Monmouth College has a great reputation in that field of study," she said. "Since I also loved history classes, it seemed like a perfect fit to become a high school history teacher. However, in addition to academics, I got very involved in volunteer work and other student organizations. It was because of my cocurricular involvement that I decided to switch my career path."

After graduating, she worked at Monmouth in student activities before working with TRIO programs at local colleges. "I've always felt passionate about working in education and making a difference," she said.

Monmouth memories

The counselors were asked to detail some of their fondest academic memories at Monmouth.

"I had so many great professors," said Hickling. "A few favorites include Mike Sproston, Ira Smolensky, Dick Griffiths, John Luebke, Susan Holm, Doug Spitz, George Arnold and Frank Sorensen. And I can't forget Dean Jackie Condon."

"Professor Lyle Welch was one of my favorite professors and served as my adviser," said Purlee of the former math professor. "He was incredibly supportive and approachable, and he took a genuine interest in my academic and professional growth, which made a lasting impact on my college experience. One of my favorite classes was speech with Professor Doug Rankin, as it helped me build confidence in public speaking and communication - skills that have been invaluable in my career as a school counselor."

"I had so many wonderful professors," said Elver, who majored in English. "My two most memorable were Craig Watson and Mark Willhardt, both in the English department. Dr. Watson was my adviser and managed to be simultaneously intimidating and endearing. His passion for American literature was contagious and his class solidified my choice to major in English. Dr. Willhardt (now Monmouth's dean of the faculty) was the cool uncle of the department. His classes were engaging and he had a gift for connecting with students."

Woodard enjoyed her history classes, but equally important to her were her cocurricular experiences.

"I had the opportunity to take on several leadership roles that helped me grow both personally and professionally," she said. "Those experiences allowed me to develop skills that are essential for school counselors, who often wear many hats and manage responsibilities that aren't always visible to those outside the school. My education at Monmouth, combined with my professional experiences prior to entering school counseling, prepared me for the demands of this role, where no two days are the same."

Working nearby, Woodard says she hears from Monmouth often.

"The college does a great job communicating with area counselors regarding new academic programs and scholarship opportunities," she said. "Recently, I was asked to be a part of Monmouth's Counselor Advisory Board, which has allowed for networking between area counselors as well as Monmouth staff. I appreciate knowing that I can always count on Monmouth to provide support and opportunities to area students."

Hickling, who came to Monmouth as a student from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and majored in vocal music education with a minor in Spanish, closed with a nugget of general advice to today's high school students.

"Learn as many skills as you can," said Hickling, who said he uses his foreign-language skills almost daily. "I've been marketable as a teacher and school counselor due to my number and variety of endorsements. Keep learning and growing."

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