The University of St. Thomas

News and Events

UST Interprofessional Center for Counseling & Legal Services 
Announces the New Psychological Services Director

 

The University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services is pleased to announce the selection of Patricia Stankovitch, Psy.D. as the new Psychological Services Director.

Pat says it is the mission of the University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services (IPC) that drew her to working with the organization. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the IPC. My job as Director of Psychological Services incorporates so many functions that I love to do with respect to work in one job:  mentoring students, providing services to clients, teaching, and helping to market/build a strong referral base. In addition, after working with underserved populations in Hennepin County, I developed a strong desire to find a way to help make a contribution to our community.”


Pat began her professional career in the corporate world – serving as Director of Human Resources for three companies in the Twin Cities.  She then made a mid-life career change into Counseling Psychology.  Prior to working with the IPC, she has provided psychological services to adolescents and adults at three university college counseling centers, a county outpatient mental health center, and a community mental health center.  And for the past 4-5 years she has taught undergraduate psychology at three community colleges in the MN State College and University system.

The biggest challenge at the Interprofessional Center for Pat is coming to understand both the similarities and differences among the three professions represented at the IPC - law, social work, and psychology – particularly in the area of the respective ethics codes which each professional is required to follow.

Pat’s perfect Saturday is a warm, sunny morning in spring, summer or fall, where she begins her day by eating breakfast on the patio while reading the newspaper and visiting with her neighbors who also come out to enjoy the beautiful morning. She would then take her dog for a walk around the lake near her home and spend the afternoon reading and practicing piano.  Later in the day she would get together with friends for a casual supper and great conversation. 

‘How Are the Children?’ Juvenile-Justice Symposium at St. Thomas School of Law, March 5

 

How the Minnesota legal and social-service communities can pull together to help at-risk youths is the focus of an upcoming juvenile-justice symposium at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

The public symposium, “How Are the Children? Exploring the Impact of Poverty, Violence and Incarceration,” will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the School of Law in downtown Minneapolis.   

The title, “How Are the Children?” comes from the Kenyan tradition of Harambee, a concept that calls for the betterment of each member of the community for the collective interest of all. Harambee is the Swahili word for “pulling together.”

The symposium is hosted by the university’s Community Justice Project which is part of the Legal Services Clinic and will feature keynote speaker Mary Johnson, founder and director of the Minneapolis- based From Life to Death: Two Mothers Healing Group.  She will share her story of faith and forgiveness following the 1993 death of her only child and the courageous meeting she had with the young man who took her son’s life.

The symposium will include lunch and four panel discussions.  The panel topics are:  Youths and Mental Health Issues, Youth-on-Youth Violence, Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction, and Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Adjudications.  Professionals from the legal and youth-services fields will lead the discussions.

The public is welcome.  Cost of the symposium is $20, which includes CLE credits for lawyers, pending approval.  Those interested in attending can register online at www.stthomas.edu/law/rsvp or mail before March 1.  For more information, call (651) 962-4960.

This event is co-sponsored by: Lawyers’ Council on Social Justice, The Mission Advisory Committee, the Criminal Law Association, St. Thomas More Society, Women Law Student Association, ABA Student Division, Native American Law Student Association and Black Law Student Association.

UST Interprofessional Center for Counseling & Legal Services
Announces New Social Work Services Director

The University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services is pleased to announce the selection of George Baboila MSW, LICSW as the new Social Work Services Director.

George served on the Behavioral Science Faculty at the University of Minnesota/Methodist Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program prior to arriving at the IPC Summer of 2007.  He has served as adjunct faculty for the School of Social Work for the past 12 years.  George received his B.S. from St. John's in Minnesota and his M.S.W. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.


George finds it exhilarating working at the IPC and enjoys working full-time with Social Work students as well as collaborating with other professions.  His biggest challenge thus far is keeping track of the multiple ethical codes within the IPC.

George's perfect Saturday would be waking up early to walk the dog, picking raspberries from the backyard and making Sour Cream Raspberry Muffins while waiting for his family to awaken.

Drawing of George by his daughter at age seven

UST Interprofessional Center for Counseling & Legal Services
Announces Legal Services Clinic Fellow for 2007


The Legal Services Clinic of the UST Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services is pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Nicholas Halbur as our newest Legal Services Clinic Fellow.  

Mr. Halbur (class of 2006) was chosen from an outstanding field of ten applicants from UST Law students anticipating graduation in the spring as well as past UST Law graduates now practicing law in the community.  "We were once again blessed with the enviable challenge of selecting from an excellent pool of well qualified candidates so clearly committed to the Center's mission of providing services based on the principles of social justice and Catholic social teaching." said Virgil Wiebe, Associate Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Center.  Mr. Halbur is our first fellow to have already practiced law for nearly a year.  Professor Wiebe added that among Mr. Halbur's many qualifications which impressed the selection committee included his commitment to the role of servant leader, public service and social justice work, experience in elder law, and demonstrated potential as a teacher and supervisor of clinic students.


The fellowship is designed for recent graduates of the University of St. Thomas School of Law who have shown a demonstrated commitment to public service and social justice.  Appointments are for one year, with the expectation that appointments will be renewed for up to three years. 

The University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services houses three programs: Legal Services, Social Work Services, and Psychological Services.  The Center is a collaborative effort between the University of St. Thomas Schools of Law, Social Work, and Graduate Professional Psychology.   The Legal Services Clinic provides legal representation to working poor and low-income clients in three practice areas; community justice, elder law, immigration law.

Fellows have an opportunity to gain significant legal practice experience, develop ties to other public interest lawyers and organizations, and assist in the supervision of law students.  Mr. Halbur will work closely with the Elder Law Practice Group, under the leadership of Professor Jennifer Wright.  Mr. Halbur will also have the opportunity to work with faculty and students in both the Community Justice Project and Immigration Law Practice group.  He will also collaborate with staff and students in the Social Work Services and Psychological Services components of the Center.