VITAE Nicole J. Hunka Department of Applied General and Technical Studies University of Akron. Akron, Ohio Email: njh7@uakron.edu Phone: 972.6837 EDUCATION: 2011 Ph.D. Counseling Psychology University of Akron. Akron, OH - Dissertation: Pedometer Use as a Motivational Tool for Physical Activity in Bariatric Surgery Patients. - APA approved internship: Health Psychology 2000 M.A. Community Counseling West Virginia University. Morgantown, WV 1997 B.S. Psychology Slippery Rock University. Slippery Rock, PA. 1995 12 credit International Exchange University of Teesside. Teesside, England CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: 8 /2015 to present Instructor of Social Science (NTT). University of Akron. Department of Applied General and Technical Studies. Akron, OH Current Course List: Human Relations (HR). Death and Dying (DD) Integrated Human Behavior and Health (IHBH). Death and Dying for Health Care Professionals (DDHCP) Teaching Responsibilities: 12 credit load per semester. Onsite, Online, Distance Learning courses. Textbook selection. Syllabus / test development / grading. Student advisement, consultation and related office hours. Incorporation of technology (including Springboard) for all classes. Ongoing course development and innovation
Research / Scholarly Activity: Co-presented (poster) at the Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) Conference (April, 2016). Minneapolis, Minnesota. Impact of Classroom Dynamics Death Education Courses. Continued data collection / analysis for IRB approved study: Facilitating College Student Success: Theoretical Integration for an Academic Goal-Setting Intervention. Department Service-Related Activities: Co-Lead Faculty (psychology courses): Human Relations, Death and Dying courses, Integrated Human Behavior and Health. Committees: General Education Review (Learning Outcomes): Course Tags (Learning Outcomes) Program Assessment: Certificate Development: Faculty Search: Assessment. (Member, Spring 2015 - present). Academic Affairs. (Member, Spring 2015 - present). Developed and submitted proposals providing evidence of specified General Education learning outcomes represented in the Death and Dying and Human Relations courses. Addressed future assessment of these outcomes. Developed and submitted proposals providing evidence of specific courses meeting the Learning Outcomes under the Tags of: Complex Systems Affecting Social Issues, Domestic Diversity, and Critical Thinking and Complex Reasoning. Continuing assessment of Learning Outcomes for Department s associate degree programs Continuing collaboration with faculty on a developing a Certificate in Death Studies. Search, interview and selection of Human Relations instructor. PREVIOUS TEACHING EXPERIENCE 1 / 2014 to 8 / 2015 Visiting Assistant Professor, Social Sciences. University of Akron. Department of Applied General and Technical Studies. Course List: On-site teaching only. (See above, not including DDHCP) Teaching Responsibilities: (See above, not including Distance learning).
Curriculum Development Proposal submitted for university Retention & Completion initiative (04/14). Title: Social Cognitive Interventions for Academic Success. Research: Obtained IRB approval for goal-setting / student success research study. Presented initial study results at the 2015 American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto. 2004 to 2005 and 2006 to 2013 Senior Lecturer, Social Sciences. University of Akron. Associate Studies Department. Course List: Death and Dying. Human Relations Teaching Responsibilities / Activities: Taught between 2 and 8 credits per semester. Onsite only. Syllabus / test development / grading. Student advisement, consultation and related office hours. Use / implementation of Springboard. 2009-2010 Adjunct Faculty (Psychology). Cuyahoga County Community College. Liberal Arts Dept. Parma, OH. Course List: General Psychology. Abnormal Psychology. Course Delivery / Format: Traditional classrooms for both Abnormal & General Psychology. Taught an online section of General Psychology (via Blackboard). Taught one section of Seniors to Sophomores (high school students). Teaching Duties and Responsibilities: Taught 3 9 credits per semester. Syllabus and test development. Grading. Blackboard trained / implemented. Student advisement / consultation for academic career issues. Encouraged critical thinking regarding research methods / findings. 2005 2009 Group Leader. Northeast Ohio Medical University. Rootstown, OH. Course: Medical Interviewing Teaching Duties and Responsibilities: As a supplement to the course lecture, co-led small groups focusing on listening and communication skills for medical students. Interactive approach based on group discussions and role plays. Feedback / grading.
2002-2004 Teaching Assistant. University of Akron. Department of Counseling. Akron, OH Course: Group Counseling Presentation of Gestalt, CBT and other models of group counseling. Interactive class discussions and demonstration of techniques. 1999-2000 Teaching Assistant. West Virginia University. Depart. of Counseling. Morgantown, WV. Course: Human Sexuality Led small groups of students that expanded on lecture topics. Creative class activities to promote exploration of views. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: Medical Center Fellowships and APA Internships 2006 2009 Health Psychology Fellow. Akron General Medical Center. Department of Psychiatry. Akron OH Bariatric Service: Pre-surgical, psychological evaluations. Diagnostic formulation. Report writing. Pre and post-surgical counseling Participated in bi-weekly, multidisciplinary treatment team meetings. Support groups and professional presentations on bariatric surgery. Department Research Projects / Presentations: Topics included: -Standards for pre-operative bariatric psychological evaluations. -Social-cognitive influences to consistent physical activity. Outpatient Therapy Service: Comprehensive cognitive and psychological testing. Diagnostic formulation: Report writing & debriefing. Therapy addressing a wide range of bio-psycho-social issues. Departmental research and book chapter publication: Topic: Chronic Pain Consultation / Liaison Service (CL): Comprehensive psychological testing and assessment for issues including: - Dementia vs delirium vs pseudo-dementia, Competency, Malingering, - Psychotic and somatic disorders. Treatment recommendations and report writing. Worked closely with providers of diverse specialties. Conducted medical student seminars: Psychometrics. Supervised pre-doctoral health psychology interns.
2005-2006 Pre-doctoral Health Psychology Internship. Henry Ford Hospital. Psychiatry Department. Detroit, MI Transplant Service: Comprehensive, pre-transplant psychological evaluations. Follow-up counseling, pre and post-operatively. Consultation / Liaison Service (CL): Worked closely with medical professionals within diverse disciplines. Assessment and recommendations for competency, dementia vs delirium vs pseudo-dementia, malingering, psychotic and somatic disorders. Counseling Service Group and individual counseling Diagnostic formulation, treatment, disposition referrals. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: Community Mental Health 2010-2014 Therapist. Reserve Psychological Consultants. Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Adult, outpatient counseling for clientele presenting with a wide range of DSM diagnoses. Assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, documentation, referrals. 2010-2014 School-Based Therapist. Pastoral Counseling Service. Akron OH School-based counseling services for children of diverse backgrounds Serve children K- 6 th grade, at a local, inner city charter school. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for behavioral / emotional issues CEU presentations on relevant clinical topics. 2010 Mental Health Assessor. Berea Children s Home and Family Services. Cleveland, OH. In-home, mental health assessments. Adults and court referred teens. Diagnosis, treatment recommendations and referral for services 2004-2005 Child-Centered Recruitment Worker. A Child s Waiting Adoption. Copley, OH. Counseling and placement of teenaged foster children. Home-study reports. 2002-2003 Counselor (Practicum). University of Akron. Clinic for Individual & Family Therapy. Akron, OH Provided individual counseling addressing personal, psychological, and academic issues of students and community members.
2000 2001 Substance Abuse Therapist. Gaiser Addiction Center and County Prison. Butler, PA Substance abuse counseling within prison and residential care settings. 12 step model. Disposition / after-care referrals. 1999 2000 Counselor (Practicum). Valley Health Care System / Short-term Unit. Morgantown, WV. Individual and group counseling for adult clientele. Crisis intervention services. 2000 Counselor (Practicum). Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center. Butler, PA Dual Diagnosis, Partial hospitalization treatment for adult clientele. Individual and group counseling. CLINCAL EXPERIENCE: College Counseling and Consultation 2003-2004 Counselor (Practicum). University of Akron. Counseling, Testing & Career Center. Akron, OH. Individual counseling for students personal, psychological, academic and career Issues Career and personality testing, assessment, and documentation. Outreach programs / presentations (i.e., test prep, managing anxiety, etc). 2004 Counselor (Practicum). Cleveland State University. College Counseling Center. Cleveland, OH. Individual counseling for students personal, psychological, academic and career issues Outreach programming (test prep, anxiety management, etc). 12-week college-prep workshop for Cleveland area high school students. 2003-2004 Athletic Pre-Performance Workshop Presenter. University of Akron. Athletic Department. Akron, OH. Developed and presented various workshops on mental skills (cognitive) training and pre-performance preparation for Men s & Women s Track & Soccer teams / athletes.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: Hunka, Nicole. Integrated Behavior and Health. Presented at the Stark County Chapter of Medical Assistants Fall Seminar, Stark State College, Ohio. October 22, 2016. Kennedy, E. and Hunka, N. The Impact of Classroom Dynamics on Death Education Courses. Poster presented at the 38 th Annual Conference of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 15 th, 2016. Hunka, N. and Kennedy, E. Facilitating College Student Success: Integration of SCT, Reality Therapy, and Retention Theory. Poster presented at the 123 rd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. Toronto, Canada, August 6 th - 9th, 2015. Hunka, Nicole. Bullying: A Psychological Perspective of Participant Roles, Effects, and Comprehensive Theoretically-based Interventions. CEU training for mental health clinicians, Akron OH. August, 2013 Hunka, Nicole. Psychological Evaluation of Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Need for Standardization (A Follow-up). Presented at the 12 th Annual Research and Scholarly Activities Day of the NEOUCOM Department of Psychiatry. AGMC, Akron Ohio, June 13, 2008. Hunka, Nicole. Psychological Evaluation of Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Need for Standardization. Presented at the 11 th Annual Research and Scholarly Activities Day of the NEOUCOM Department of Psychiatry. Summa Health System, Akron Ohio, June 21, 2007. Rachel L. Huhra, Nicole Hunka, James R. Rogers, Amanda Warbel, & Cynthia Yamokoski. Finding meaning: Theoretical perspectives on client suicide. Poster presented at the 37 th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology, Miami, FL., April 14-18, 2004. Hunka, N., Rogers, J., Scheel, K., & Warbel, A. Supervisee Needs in Work with Suicidal and Homicidal Clients. Presented as part of the Division 17 Roundtable at the APA Conference, Toronto, August 2003. Rogers, J.R., Soyka, K.M., Hunka, N.J., & McBee-Strayer, S.M. Assessing the Content-Related Validity of the SBQ. Poster presented at the 35 th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology, Bethesda, MD, April 10-13, 2002. McBee-Strayer, Hunka, N.J., Soyka, K.M., & Rogers, J.R. Factor Structure of the RFL in an LGB Sample. Poster presented at the 35 th Annual Conference of the American Association of Suicidology, Bethesda, MD, April 10-13, 2002. Hunka, N., and Huhra, R. The Psychosocial Needs of Professional Caregivers. Poster presented at the Attending to Psychosocial Issues Near the End of Life: A SPSSI-Sponsored Conference. Cleveland, OH, February 2-3, 2002. Hunka, N. (2001). Preparing general teachers for inclusive classrooms: Assessing the process. Results presented at Council of Exceptional Children Conference, Morgantown, WV., November, 1999.
COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS: Hunka, Nicole. Bullying: A Psychological Perspective of Participant Roles, Effects, and Comprehensive Theoretically-based Interventions. Presented to Elementary School teaching staff. Akron OH. August, 2013 Hunka, Nicole. Relapse Prevention and Coping with Lifestyle Change. Presented at Parma Community General Hospital Bariatric Support Group Meeting, Parma, Ohio. June, 2011 Hunka, Nicole. Relapse Prevention and Weight Loss Surgery. Presented at Akron General Medical Center Bariatric Informational and Support Group Meeting, Akron, Ohio. June 2007 / 2008, Feb, 2009. Hunka, Nicole: Cancer and Fear of Relapse. Presented at Akron General Medical Center s Conversations on Cancer Program. Akron, Ohio. June, 2008. Hunka, Nicole. Understanding and Managing Grief and Loss in Adoption. Presented to foster and fosterto-adopt parents. Caring for Kids Network. Akron, OH. June 2007. Hunka, Nicole. Psycho-social issues and cancer: Managing and coping with symptoms. Presented at cancer support group. Green, Ohio. 2007. DISSERTATION AND ARTICLES Hunka, N. (Dissertation, 2011). Pedometer Use as a Motivational Tool for Physical Activity in Bariatric Surgery Patients. http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi/hunka%20nicole.pdf?akron1321374425 Hunka, N and Gilbertson, A. (2009). Psychological Influences and Interventions of Chronic Pain. In J.B., Allan, E.M., Wolf, & L., VandeCreek (Eds.), Innovations in clinical practice: A 21 st century sourcebook, vol., 1. (pp.5-26). Sarasota, Fl. Professional Resource Press. Lombardi, T.P., and Hunka, N.J. (2001). Preparing general teachers for inclusive classrooms: Assessing the process. Teacher Education and Special Education, 34, 183-197. PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE: Licensed Professional Counselor (PC). Ohio: #C.0601048. (Active status) PROFESSIONAL GROUPS / AFFILIATIONS (National): American Psychological Association. National): American Associate of Death Education and Counseling. (Local): Palliative Care Advisory Committee. (Affiliated with Northeast Ohio Medical University).