Graduate Assistant Focus | Autumn Smith

"I chose to pursue my education as a counselor at Hood because I appreciate its proximity to D.C., its affordable tuition and its small class sizes."

Autumn Smith, M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program

Counseling, Clinical Mental Health (M.S.)

Department

Psychology & Counseling

Graduate School
Graduate Student

Counseling, Care & Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Behavior Graduate Programs
Graduate School
Graduate Student
Psychology

11/25/2024

Autumn Smith is a current student in Hood College’s clinical mental health counseling program and is the Graduate School’s current student success coordinator. Smith grew up in Montgomery County and earned an individualized Bachelor of Arts from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. In her position at Hood, Smith works to ensure that all graduate students have the resources they need to successfully complete their degree. We spoke with Smith about her experiences balancing her role in the Graduate School with being a full-time counseling student.

Tell us about your educational and career background.

I’ve lived in various parts of the U.S. at different points in my life, but I’ve spent most of my life in Maryland and Virginia.

I graduated from high school in 2019, and after working as a camp counselor at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico over the summer, I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where I predominantly focused on history.

Due to the disruption of Covid, I completed my undergraduate degree at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. My undergraduate thesis focused on the presentation of religious trauma within the queer community, a topic I retain clinical interest in.

What drew you to attend Hood college and pursue counseling as a degree?

My upbringing emphasized the importance of service to others, a value I’ve retained as an adult. I struggled with my own mental health as a teenager, and I experienced deeply transformative change as a result of my own experience with therapy. I chose to pursue my education as a counselor at Hood because I appreciate its proximity to D.C., its affordable tuition and its small class sizes.

What do you enjoy most about your time at Hood?

I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to be part of the tight-knit community within the counseling program as well as the broader Frederick community. While Hood is significantly larger than my undergraduate alma mater, it’s still small enough that I’m friends with a significant percentage of my fellow counseling students.

How do you feel Hood has prepared you for your future goals in your life and career?

I’ve been privileged to learn from many top-notch professors during my time at Hood, and my adviser and professors have helped me secure a field placement that’s directly connected to my clinical interests. I’ve been particularly privileged to work alongside Dean April Boulton, Ph.D., to support my fellow graduate students in their academic journeys.

You recently applied to be a student delegate for the COP29 conference. Could you describe the impact this has for you and others?

I feel incredibly honored to have represented the Episcopal Church in COP29’s virtual space. While scientific insights are an incredibly important element of our response to the ecological crisis, it seems to me that the public discussion around decarbonization has focused almost exclusively on scientific facts, which, while important, often fails to appeal to people’s hearts.

Given the significant role religion plays in shaping people’s worldviews, there’s a significant space for faith-based climate advocacy, and the UN observer status held by many major religious bodies makes our advocacy especially impactful.

Are there any fun facts or hobbies you would like to share about yourself?

As you might expect from a 24-year-old who joined a church’s delegation to a major climate change conference, I’m a bit of a hippie. I grew up working with wood, I love backpacking and playing the banjo, and I recently took my first blacksmithing class!

Inspired by Autumn's story? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s graduate programs, including the clinical mental health counseling, by clicking here.