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You Visit Tour. Webb Lion Fountain. June 1 2017. Photo David B. Hollingsworth

Tonelson Award Presented to Education College's Garrett McAuliffe

Garrett McAuliffe, University Professor of counseling and human services, received the A. Rufus Tonelson Faculty Award at the Faculty Awards and Retirement Dinner on May 3.

Presented by the Old Dominion University Alumni Association, the honor rewards commitment to excellence in research, scholarly activities, teaching and service. As recipient of the annual award, McAuliffe was recognized as the faculty member who best exemplifies the qualities and the professional excellence epitomized by the late Rufus Tonelson, who was one of ODU's first students as well as a former teacher and administrator. He received a check for $2,000 and a non-reserved parking pass for the 2011-12 academic year.

McAuliffe is the author of six books, including his most recent, "Handbook of Counselor Preparation." He is a national leader in teaching and learning for adults, especially in experiential approaches to instruction. He specializes in cultural diversity, constructivism, counselor education and career decision-making.

McAuliffe joined the Darden College of Education in 1988. His teaching has been described as "legendary" by a former dean. He has helped put ODU on the international map with his research in multicultural, career decision-making and adult development. His commitment to service has been extensive and includes his department, college, university and the greater Hampton Roads community.

He produced a comprehensive set of DVDs on working with diverse clients in 2008. "Culturally Alert Counseling: Demonstrations of Key Practices with African American, Asian, Latino/Latina, Conservative Religious, and Lesbian/Gay Clients" is available in a boxed set, and includes resource guides and a book, "Culturally Alert Counseling: A Comprehensive Introduction," for which he served as editor and contributor. The six-DVD set, guides and book are published by Sage Publications.

A course he created last year for the American Psychological Association, like the DVDs and book, is designed to teach how "to seamlessly infuse culture into counseling sessions," McAuliffe said following its release. "This is something that's needed today as the counseling field embraces clients from all groups in our society."

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