同情处于危机中的人

是什么驱使一个人过着积极亲社会的生活，而另一个人却过着犯罪的生活？ It’s a question that has always fascinated Michele Squires ’02.

“I’ve always been interested in psychology and behavioral sciences,” Michele said. “What is it that influences people to go one direction versus another? I’ve always been fascinated with the answer to that question.”

Michele has continued to pursue that topic since graduating in 2002 with a degree in 刑事司法 from 皇冠体育. In doing so, Michele has been enabled to follow a career path doing work that she finds most fulfilling—helping people feel more comfortable, heard, and understood. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at an addiction treatment center in Memphis, Tennessee, and is the 2024 recipient of Mount Mercy’s Misericordiae Award as an alumni leader.

“I’ve always felt really drawn to people in crisis,” she said, “and really enjoy the role of helping people to find a solution.”

米歇尔是土生土长的加州人，当她的丈夫在当地得到一份工作机会时，她来到了锡达拉皮兹。 柯克伍德社区学院（Kirkwood Community College）的刑事司法入门课程激起了她对刑事司法的兴趣，一位教授向她指出了Mount Mercy大学刑事司法项目的方向。

40岁的她不是一个传统的大学生。 随着她深入自己的研究领域，她很快发现自己更倾向于刑事司法学位的康复和治疗方面。

“I was more fascinated with that side of the fence once I understood it more and saw that it could influence the direction of people’s lives” Michele said.

Looking back at her time at Mount Mercy, Michele appreciated the wisdom and support of the entire criminal justice department at the time, especially Associate Professor of 刑事司法 Deb Brydon, who encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree.

“I certainly felt more prepared after my education at Mount Mercy,” Michele said. “我真的很感激。”

自毕业以来，米歇尔一直在非营利组织和营利性组织工作，帮助那些发现自己处境不太理想的人。 她的第一份工作是在锡达拉皮兹的爱荷华之心担任中途之家顾问，在那里她帮助受毒瘾影响的家庭团聚。 At the same time, she earned a master’s degree (remotely) in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.

The job was a perfect fit, but when her husband was offered a new position, she moved with her family to Memphis, Tennessee — an area with one of the highest crime rates in the nation. 新的城市和不同的犯罪环境给了她一个机会，让她真正投入到以解决方案为基础的工作中，并深入研究这些社会问题的根源。 她在孟菲斯的工作

包括在社区矫正项目中担任治疗主管； diverting individuals out of incarceration, Program Director at a large regional behavioral health hospital, adjunct professor at Memphis Theological Seminary where she developed an addiction-focused counseling curriculum, Clinical Director at a women’s addiction treatment center, and Executive Director of Chemical Dependency for a multi-hospital healthcare organization.

自2019年以来，她一直担任第一步康复中心的首席临床官，该中心为成瘾和共存疾病的个人提供免费治疗。 米歇尔不仅监督临床服务，还帮助培训和发展新的咨询师。

Reflecting on her work with people experiencing addiction and co-occurring disorders, Michele said “Meeting people in their pain and walking beside them is really the closest thing that I believe I have felt to God’s grace. Walking beside someone who is experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their life has been such an honor.”

“I’ve gained a lot of knowledge in my field... but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new from the clients I serve. They really teach me about resiliency and hope, and I think that’s because I remain teachable. No matter how much you think you know, remain teachable.” — 米歇尔·斯奎尔斯2002年

米歇尔因她在自己选择的领域的工作和成就而获得荣誉。 2002年，她从Mount Mercy毕业的那一年，她获得了Mount Mercy社区矫正刑事司法奖。 此外，她在2015年获得了田纳西州酒精和药物滥用顾问协会（TAADAC）的年度专业奖，并在2020年获得了西田纳西州酒精和药物滥用顾问协会（West TAADAC）的年度专业奖。

Looking back at her career, Michele urges today’s students to remain open and teachable throughout their lives.

“I’ve gained a lot of knowledge in my field, book knowledge and knowledge actually providing direct care to clients, but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new from the clients I serve,” she said. “They really teach me about resiliency and hope, and I think that’s because I remain teachable. No matter how much you think you know, remain teachable.”

It’s an approach that has served her well through an accomplished career, and Michele appreciates Mount Mercy for laying the foundation for her success.

“Mount Mercy has really changed the whole trajectory of my life,” she said. “Personally, professionally, spiritually—all directions at once. I had no idea that it was going to do that, so I’m really grateful.”