From Enrollment Services to Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor: Madge Quesenberry’s Story

TAKOMA PARK, MD – Madge Quesenberry is an alumnus of Washington Adventist University (WAU) and former Assistant Director of Enrollment Services (1999-2007). Madge was also a recruiter to Adventist Academies throughout the US and Canada along with other faith-based Christian schools and public high schools. While holding these positions, she obtained her Master’s in Business Administration (2004) through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) at WAU.

After many years of working in marketing for corporate America and then with WAU, her life took a different direction. Her mother became ill and she found herself as her caregiver. It was a time of great reflection and challenge. She left WAU and worked briefly for the College of Southern Maryland and then went to Prince George’s Community College as an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses in Critical Thinking, First Year Experience for Freshmen and math courses.

In early 2008, Madge received a call from Dr. Grant Leitma, Department Chair for Psychology at WAU. Dr. Leitma told her about a new program that he wanted to get started at the university in the area of counseling psychology. He asked if she would be interested in enrolling in the first master’s level classes that would begin in a few months once the program was approved through the State of Maryland. Because Madge had worked closely with prospective students while guiding them in their college career choices, he thought she would make a great counselor. In 2010, Madge along with seven other students graduated from WAU’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies with a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, which ultimately led to her obtaining her (LCPC) Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor certification with the State of Maryland.

For the past ten years, Madge has been in private practice in the Southern Maryland area working with clients in the areas of addictions, women’s issues and clients coping with terminal illness of self and/or loved ones, as well as, other major depressive disorders. Madge also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the SGPS Department teaching various psychology courses for their graduate and undergraduate programs.

“I chose Washington Adventist University because it first met the requirement for me of being a faith-based institution of higher learning. WAU not only cultivated my mind to think analytically and clinically, but also spiritually, without me having to compromise my faith!”

Madge also remarked, “It has been one of the most rewarding times of my life to have been an SGPS student at WAU with professors who not only shared their academic and professional knowledge but also showed great determination towards excellence, compassion and personal regard for each and every student, all while training us in a profession that God has called us to do at this time in earth’s history.”