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Evangel prof selected to speak at her doctoral graduation ceremony

Published on Jun 6, 2016 by Paul K. Logsdon

PHOTO: Hope (Arnzen ’11) Ortego couldn’t make the trip to Virginia, but watched her mother — Evangel professor Christine Arnzen — speak at her graduation, live via the Internet.  

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – “I want to inspire all of my students to pursue learning opportunities regardless of age and experience,” said Christine Arnzen, assistant professor of psychology at Evangel University, upon the recent completion of her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision.

Arnzen was selected to speak at the commissioning service for the School of Psychology and Counseling at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. There, she gave an account of her journey.

2016-05.26 Dr. Arnzen at Regent
Evangel University professor Christine Arnzen recently graduated with her doctoral degree from Regent University. Celebrating with her were her husband, Jim Arnzen, and two of their three daughters — Haven and Hannah. // (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

“Even though I had 25 years of clinical experience, the doctoral program sharpened my competence in the field of counselor education and supervision,” said Arnzen.

After earning her bachelors degree in psychology and business management from Evangel in 1985, Arnzen earned her masters in clinical psychology and has enjoyed a fulfilling career as a Licensed Professional Counselor.

She began her teaching career as an adjunct professor at Evangel in 1997. From 2002-2012, she also served as the director of clinical services and lead therapist for the National Institute of Marriage in Branson, Mo.

In 2012, Arnzen joined the Evangel University faculty full-time, as an assistant professor of psychology, and worked concurrently on her Ph.D. program. Her dissertation was titled The Effect of Marital Intensive Therapy for Severely Distressed Couples.

Investing in others

“I believe education is a privilege and needs to be invested in the next generation,” she said. “Investment includes teaching, spending time with students, advocacy for the profession and attending to society’s mental health needs.”

In addition to teaching full-time at Evangel, Dr. Arnzen practices what she teaches by serving as a board member for Missouri Mental Health Counseling Association and as a board member for Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“I used to think leadership was for important people,” she told her fellow graduates. “I now believe leadership and service is a response to God. While service is important, it does not make me more valuable or important; rather service is about being available and obedient.”

Christine is married to Jim Arnzen, a 1985 EU graduate, and together they have three grown daughters — EU graduates Hope ’11 and Hannah ’15; and Haven, a current EU student.

For more information on the counseling program at Evangel, contact Dr. Arnzen at arnzenc@evangel.edu