Monday, Wednesday, Friday • College Center 117 • noon to 1 p.m.
Earning her Associate of Arts (A.A.) with Emphasis in Psychology from Inver Hills Community College is only the beginning for Stephanie Moore-Johnson. A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Stephanie, 50, is a nontraditional student and passionate advocate for people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. She is graduating from Inver Hills in spring 2016, following through on a college education she started more than 30 years ago.
“I went to Rochester Community and Technical College right after I graduated from John Marshall High School in 1984,” Stephanie said. “When I decided to resume my college career, all my credits from RCTC transferred to Inver Hills.”
Stephanie visited the Inver campus with her stepdaughter, Elizabeth, a nuclear engineer, U.S. Navy veteran and prospective student. They met with Milissa Troen, a counselor at the college.
“That meeting with Milissa really inspired me to go back to school,” Stephanie said. “I’ve always loved psychology and I knew the time was right for me to not only earn my two-year degree, but also to continue on and earn my bachelor’s degree in psychology. From there, I’m going to law school. I am very active in alcohol and drug addiction support groups and recovery. Having my law degree will help me greatly in my work.”
Five offspring at Inver Hills
Stephanie is following in the footsteps of her children. All five have graduated from or are attending Inver Hills.
- Danyelle, 27, went on to study criminal justice at St. Cloud State University.
- Joe, 26, went on to study accounting at Hamline University.
- Elizabeth, 25, is studying engineering at Inver.
- Jake, 23, went on to study business law at St. Olaf College.
- Luke, 23, is studying business at Inver.
Stephanie resides in Farmington, Minnesota, with her husband of 10 years, Thomas, a 49er and heavy equipment operator. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys playing golf with her sons, recreational running, and taking care of Mia, her 3-year-old granddaughter.
Psychology B.A. completion program
A member of Phi Theta Kappa with a 3.97 G.P.A., Stephanie will have enough credits to graduate from Metropolitan State University with her B.A. in Psychology in spring 2017. Inver Hills and Metro State offer students the option of earning their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology on the Inver campus. If you complete your A.A. in Psychology at Inver, you can go directly into the B.A. completion program and fulfill the requirements for your psychology major.
Student Addiction Awareness Meetings
Working with Jon Jensen, psychology instructor and student addiction awareness small community faculty advisor, Stephanie has created a student addiction support group on the Inver Hills campus. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 117 in the College Center.
“My job is focused on listening and providing information on the many resources available for students with alcohol and drug abuse issues,” said Stephanie, who overcame her own addiction to alcohol and knows firsthand the crucial importance of having a safe place to go for help and understanding.
“The first thing people struggling with addiction need to know is that they are not alone,” Stephanie added. “Our student addiction awareness meetings are peer-led and confidential. The meetings offer a safe, comfortable setting for students to discuss their alcohol and drug-related questions and challenges while finding the support they need to maintain sobriety.”
Jon Jensen noted that emerging economic conditions combined with an influx of retiring baby boomers are creating more multigenerational family units, which can lead to more chemical dependency issues, both legal and personal, for people of all ages.
“The student addiction awareness meetings are a great resource for students to connect with a support network of their peers,” Jon said. “Students struggling with addiction—from alcohol to heroin—can find the resources to better understand their problems and recover. The meetings can also help people who have friends or family members with addiction issues. ”
Stephanie emphasized that everyone is welcome at the meetings. Her purpose, backed by her own experience, is helping troubled students confront their addiction, find their inner strength and start down the road to recovery.
“You are not alone and you are not different,” she said. “We are here to listen and offer our support.”
WHAT: Student Addiction Awareness Meetings
WHEN: Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday • noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: College Center 117 • Inver Hills campus
To learn more about Student Addiction Awareness Meetings at Inver Hills, contact:
Jon Jensen
Psychology Faculty
Student Addiction Awareness Small Community Faculty Advisor
651-450-3482
Office: Fine Arts 155
Stephanie Moore-Johnson
Student Addiction Awareness Small Community Student Peer
For more information about earning your A.A. in Psychology at Inver Hills, contact:
Pamela Fergus
Psychology Faculty
651-450-3651
Office: Fine Arts 182
DECLARE YOUR MAJOR
Amanda Barklind
Academic Advisor
651-450-369
Admissions Team
651-450-3000
Toll-free: 866-576-0689
College Center
