Andrew Phemister is a tenured, Associate Professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. (MSU, M). He moved to Mankato and joined the Rehabilitation Counseling Program here in the fall of 2001. He has been a Rehabilitation Counselor since 1992 and has worked in private and public-based agencies where he served people with disabilities. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) as well.
Andy completed his doctoral studies in Rehabilitation Counselor Education at Michigan State University in the summer of 2002. Previous study and degree completion include a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling (1992) from Southern Illinois University (SIU) at Carbondale, as well as a Bachelor's degree (1987) from SIU.
Dr. Phemister has been in involved in several professional activities since coming to MSU, M, including acting as the current chairperson for the Cultural Diversity Committee and a volunteer-member for the International Committee, both in the College of Allied Health & Nursing. He also served as Communications Chair for the Minnesota Rehabilitation Association (MRA) and Co-Editor for their regional newsletter The Spotlight. Andy has served as an Editorial Consultant for both, the Journal of Rehabilitation and the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, as well as Educational Consultant to the Minnesota Rehabilitation Counseling Association (MRCA). Additionally, Andy is a member of several professional organizations including the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) and the Rehabilitation Counselors & Educators Association (RCEA).
His research efforts and publications focus on the sociological and psychological influences that may impact adjustment to disability. Andy is particularly interested in the application of counseling theory and how perception may affect the motivation, self–determination, and adjustment of individuals with disabilities. Dr. Phemister has presented or guest lectured on a number of topics including Objective Self-Awareness, Stigma, and Disability, Factors Impacting Clinical Judgment, Rehabilitation Counseling Ethics, Diverse Experiences with Disability, and Professional Writing.
