The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology To Graduate More Than 490 Doctoral And Master Candidates At Its 30th Commencement Ceremony

CHICAGO, June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP), a leading nonprofit graduate school devoted exclusively to psychology and behavioral and health sciences, will graduate more than 490 doctoral and master degree candidates from 15 different psychology programs offered by TCSPP on Friday, July 11 at the Arie Crown Theater.  The commencement ceremony will feature Melba Vasquez, Ph.D. as the speaker.  Dr. Vasquez will also, along with TCSPP Trustee Chair Emeritus Ricardo Grunsten, receive an honorary degree. The Chicago School is celebrating 35 years with more than 5,000 alumni.

"Our 30th commencement is a milestone," said Dr. Patricia Arredondo, Chicago Campus President. "We're a strong and steady institution with many accomplishments in education for the nation's psychologists and behavioral scientists. To reflect some of The Chicago School's best attributes in those we honor, we've invited Dr. Vasquez and Mr. Grunsten, who are each quite accomplished in their individual fields."

Dr. Vásquez is past-president of the American Psychological Association (APA), the first and only Latina to serve in that position in the association's 122-year history. She is also co-founder APA Division 45, the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues. After teaching middle school, Dr. Vásquez obtained her doctorate from the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked at the counseling centers at both Colorado State University and the University of Texas at Austin, and has taught courses in the psychology doctoral programs at both universities. Currently, she is in private practice. Dr. Vásquez has held multiple leadership roles during her career, including as president of the Texas Psychological Association and Society for the Psychology of Women (APA Division 35), and on several APA Boards. She also cofounded the National Multicultural Conference and Summit, and has coauthored four editions of Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide (with K. Pope).  She is a Fellow of 10 APA Divisions, and has received over 40 awards for distinguished professional contributions, career service, leadership, advocacy, and mentorship.        

Founder and president of GSP Marketing Services Inc., Ricardo Grunsten joined TCSPP's Board of Trustees in 1990 and became its chairman in 1997, leading the institution to great success. During his tenure, TCSPP grew from a small, local school with one campus to a nationally recognized institution with more than 4,500 students, campuses in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, and a robust online campus that spans the globe. Also during his tenure, TCSPP's Chicago Campus was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the U.S. Department of Education for six consecutive years. The annual Richard Grunsten Award honoring students for their service learning, volunteerism and community involvement, was established in 2013 by TCSPP Board of Trustees to honor Grunsten's 22 years as a trustee and 13 years as Chairman. He retired from the TCSPP Board in 2012.   

Representing her fellow graduates, Megan E. Shaal, a doctoral student in Clinical Forensic Psychology, will also speak.  Graduating with a 4.0 grade point average, Ms. Shaal currently resides in Pueblo, Colorado where she is completing her American Psychological Association-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo (CMHIP), Colorado's primary forensic hospital.

"Megan is a perfect example of someone who has taken what she's learned and soared," said Dr.  Arredondo.  "We are proud of her, as we are of all our graduates and their successes."

About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Founded in 1979, and celebrating 35 years, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) is a nonprofit, private graduate school devoted exclusively to psychology and related behavioral and health sciences. It serves more than 4,300 students across campuses in Chicago; Los Angeles and branches in Irvine & Westwood); and Washington D.C.  as well as online/blended programs. The institution is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and its Clinical Psychology doctoral program in Chicago is accredited by the American Psychological Association. A member of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, TCSPP is recognized for its distinguished service and outstanding contributions to cultural diversity and advocacy. The community service initiatives on the Chicago Campus have also earned recognition on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for six consecutive years, and the Los Angeles Campus gained its first award in 2013. With more than 20 graduate degree programs, thousands of hours of real-world training, and a wealth of international opportunities, TCSPP is a leader in professional psychology education. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu.

Contact: Lisa Riley
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312.410.8963    

SOURCE The Chicago School of Professional Psychology