Tom Stanger, Ph.D., Director
John W. (MAC) MacDevitt, Ph.D
Mary Etchison, Ph.D.
Cathy Greer Cole, M.S.W
Tammy Clisch
Senior Secretary II/Office Manager
Counseling and Consultation Services staff members share the philosophy that counseling is a valuable tool for students to come to grips with their emotions, to cope with troubling current situations, to empower themselves, and to facilitate healthy choice making and growth for the future. This philosophy requires that both the counselor and the client (our name for the students who use our service) work hard to find out what the client's goals are, to see how counseling might help the client to reach those goals, and to develop a plan together. This collaborative work with your counselor is at the heart of all good counseling relationships.
Tom Stanger earned his doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Florida in 1993, where he specialized in learning theory and techniques to enhance the development of a healthy sense of self. His earlier education took him to rural southern Africa for four years, and upon his return to the States, counseling in a high impact wilderness program with Cuban refugees and juvenile delinquents for three years. After earning his degree, he worked and continued to learn about doing therapy in a university counseling center in Boone, N.C. for eight years, most of which time he served as the director of clinical services, coordinator of the groups program, and clinical supervisor for therapists in training. His travels finally landed him at NMU, where he became the director of Counseling and Consultation Services in 2001. Tom's main focus in therapy is on discovering under-utilized potential within individuals to enhance the ways that people value themselves and the relationships that affect their quality of living. Tom specializes in the challenge of helping people get unstuck from the effects of depression, anxiety and trauma, as well as facilitating therapy groups to create a human laboratory with unique opportunities for significant life learning.
Originally from Great Neck, N.Y., John "Mac" MacDevitt earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology at the University of Utah. He interned at the University of Utah Counseling Center and then worked for two years in rural mental health in Liberty County, Mont., before completing his dissertation and becoming a psychologist at NMU. Besides individual personal counseling, Mac likes doing career counseling and couples counseling, and his favorite professional activity is leading personal growth groups. Mac enjoys writing and has published some short stories.
Mary Etchison is originally from Rhode Island and has her Ph.D. in counseling education and counseling from Idaho State University. She began working at Northern Michigan University in 1986 as an assistant dean of minority student services. She joined the Counseling Center staff after completing her master's degree in agency counseling in 1989. Some of her special interests include personal growth counseling, ethnic and cultural identity development, relationship counseling, career counseling and group work.
Cathy Greer Cole is originally from Marquette, Mich. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and social work from the University of New Hampshire in 1984 and received her masters in social work from Smith College School of Social Work in Massachusetts in 1989. Cathy has worked with a wide variety of populations in various treatment settings from experiential wilderness-based therapies to psychiatric inpatient and outpatient clinics. She worked for 10 years for Community Mental Health in Colorado as a child and family specialist and psychotherapist before returning to Marquette in 2000. Cathy worked as a mental health consultant and private practitioner in Marquette prior to joining our counseling staff full time in 2006. Cathy provides personal growth counseling in both individual and group modalities.
"To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun."
Katherine Graham
