Dr Carlita Cotton: "Committed and I ain't tired yet." Born in segregated Alabama, Dr Cotton has turned her life's experiences into a tool to teach and unite all.
- Professional counselor and bilingual educator withexpertise inmulticultural competencies in counseling practice and ingraduate-levelcollege level teaching.
- Accomplished professional with management experience inhigher educationand Program Administration and Evaluation.
- Certified Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Teaching Fellow
- Experience in Research and Analysis, Diversityand InclusionTraining, Case Management and Addictions/Crisis Counseling with adults and adolescents;
- Excellent analytical and communications skills; proven leadership in directing staff and line organizations; supervision of pre-service teachers and school counseling intern (undergraduate and graduate-level).
- Skilled at learning new concepts quickly, working well under pressure, and communicating ideas clearly and effectively.
- Strengths include problem solving, conflict resolution, intervention design and implementation for adolescents, public speaking, grant writing, academic and technical writing and productivity improvement.
- Enthusiastic and experienced in overseas travel; global-minded and multiculturally sensitive.
- Elected official in the Mansfield Democratic Town Council and Zoning and Planning Commission, for Mansfield, CT.
- Licensed and ordained Methodist clergy in good standing.Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions,includingbasic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on human culture.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
GoodwinUniversity
Assistant Professor, Social and Educational Sciences Department.
Psy112 & 300-level Course Coordinator
Fall 2013 – present
Instruct undergraduate students, using the principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Additional duties asGoodwinCertified On-line Instructor,Course DeveloperandUniversal Design for Learning (UDL) certified teaching fellow,as aMember of the General Education Department Social and Educational Sciences faculty development training force.
Member and Co-chair of Educational team for the Intercultural Inclusivity Committee, Goodwin College
Courses:Introduction to Psychology, Psychology of Motivation and Emotion, Introduction to Sociology, Cross cultural Psychology, Psychology of Personality and Introduction to Human Development.
Adjunct Professor, General Education Department,
Fall 2011 – Fall 2013
Instruct undergraduate students, using the principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Additional duties asGoodwinCertified On-line Instructor.
Courses: Introduction to Psychology, Tools for Success/Foundational Course, Introduction to Human Development, and Introduction to Sociology.
Charter Oak State College
Lead Professor,PsychologyDepartment
Fall 2015 – present
Instruct undergraduate students, using the principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Courses: Psychology of the Exceptional Child and am the Lead Instructor for Learning and Memory.
University of New Haven
Adjunct Professor, Psychology Department
Spring 2010
Introduction to Psychology.
Eastern Connecticut State University
Adjunct Professor, Psychology Department
Fall 2010
Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology
COUNSELOR:CLINICAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Clinical/Service Delivery Responsibilities:Counseling InternSupervisor,Graduate-level Teaching Assistant, Crisis and long-term counseling(including intakes, insurance and billing paperwork, long andshort-termtreatment plans and providing DSM IV diagnoses).Masteryof principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.Mastery in fieldof human behavior,performance, personality, and ability; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Counseling Competencies and Core Skills:
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families
- Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods
- Developtherapeutic and treatment plans
- Consult with school and social services professionals to discuss therapies, treatments, counseling resources, or techniques
- Analyze data such as interview notes, test results, and reference manuals to identify symptoms andmake diagnosis
- Evaluate the results of counseling methods
- Select, administer, and interpret psychological tests to assess intelligence, aptitudes, abilities, or interests
- Counsel students regarding educational issues such as course and program selection, class scheduling, university social life adjustment, study habits, and career planning
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations
- Confer with other counselors, and educators to resolve students' behavioralor academic problems
- Identifytreatment options fordomestic abuse or other family problems affecting students' development
- Assess needs for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training
- Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services
- Compile and studyoccupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
Clinical Areas of Expertise:
Assessment–BehavioralAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderBehavioral Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Secondary SchoolClassroom and Behavior ManagementPositive Behavioral Interventions and SupportsPastoral and Crisis Counseling
Counseling Psychology Educationand Supervision(undergraduate andgraduate-levelstudents)
Primary Clinician,Intensive Outpatient Evening Program,Natchaug Hospital,Mansfield Ctr, CT,2010-2011
Clinician Duties:
- Provide psycho-educational and bio psychologicaltherapy inthegroup counselingmilieu.
- Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling
Clergy/Pastoral Counselor and Assistant to the Pastor,Allen Chapel AME Church;Stanley Chapel AME Zion Church-Willimantic,Bethel Mission AME Church, Hartford CT,2003–present
Clergy Duties:
- Prepare and deliver sermons and other talks
- Organize and lead regular religious services
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching
- Pastoral visits tohomes, hospitals, and prisons
- Train leaders of church, community, and youth groups
- Administer religious rites or ordinances
Interim Rector,St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Storrs, CT, June – December 2008
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
United States Air Force, Ret.:
Manager, Supervisor and Educator in the United States Air Force: Russian Linguist; Strategic Debriefer; Combat Interrogator
Russian Language Analyst and Supervisor/Joint Military Awards Director
- Coordinated with analytic counterparts to ensure accuracy in reporting. Led andmanaged staff of 8 team members; responsible for training and evaluating their performance, provided feedback to division-level management and quality control of transcripts and reports; implemented performance enhancement plans and administered training to team members
- Editing, processing, and approving military awards for a 900-member organization; envisioned and initiated a streamline accountability computer database procedure that resulted in increased timeliness and efficiency in the entire division-level awards and recognition program
- Rewrote and published operating procedures, trained staff and resolved conflicts between team members and division-level staff
- Directly supervised and directed the administrative and operational activities of 10 clear voice linguists assigned to a 24-hour watch
- Designed a structured On The Job Training program to raise the skill-base of the work section
Human Resources Intelligence Strategic Debriefer/Interrogator
- Hand-picked to plan and lead human resources intelligence collection operations in a selectively manned unit
- Authored intelligence information reports on foreign military forces and new technologies; contributed directly to the national database and major customer products; supported U.S. and allied operational forces
- Trained and exercised as a wartime interrogator
- Assistant System Administrator and Production Manager; developed, authored, evaluated and managed strategic intelligence collections guidelines for 30-member branch, to include anticipating and eliminating conflicts and providing feedback to senior-level managers.
MansfieldCTPublic OfficialPositions
Alternate, Zoning and Planning Commission, Mansfield, CT, 2017–2019
Full Seat, Zoning and Planning Commission, 6-year term, Mansfield, CT, 2019 – present
Mansfield Democratic Town Committee,March 2018–Present, Elected fora 2nd2-yearterm
Member,CRCOG Regional Planning Commission, 2019–present
Justice of the Peace, Mansfield, CT, effective January 1, 2021