Meet the Team

Donald (Don) Andrus

Past Student

I am a Retired Army Veteran with 26 years of faithful and honorable service. I am currently a Graduate Student and Research Assistant at the University of Texas at El Paso, in the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program.

What brought me to the field of rehabilitation counseling was the opportunity to work with disabled veterans as a Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Moreover, to help Veterans with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, job seeking skills coaching, and independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment.

My current research areas of interest include: Psychiatric, stigma (self / public); treatment engagement, reduction & intervention; advocacy. Again, I want to help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently and to help clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment.

I hope that the experience I gain from working in Dr. Kosyluk’s research lab, combined with my academic training, practicum, internship and community service initiatives will help prepare me for my future as a rehabilitation counselor, educator and researcher.

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Projects:
1. A Randomized Controlled Trial of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Peer-to-Peer Program on the U.S.-Mexico Border
2. Honest Open Proud to Reduce the Self-Stigma of Mental Illness in the College Population