Rebekah Smart Assistant Professor 714-278-7341 Office: EC-656 rsmart@fullerton.edu

Personal Biography

I have been a therapist and supervisor for seven years, and have taught counseling classes in two programs before coming to Cal State Fullerton. I now have the opportunity to shift my career emphasis and spend more time focusing on students and research, and I am very happy to join the program at CSUF. The most exciting thing about the counseling field is the opportunity it presents for personal growth-not only for our clients, but for ourselves as well. My hope, personally and professionally, is to treat all individuals with respect and compassion, and to value the complexities we all have because of our unique characteristics, family lives, and cultural contexts. I also have a personal and professional interest in social justice issues.

Born a U.S. citizen but raised outside theUnited States, I grew up with a sense of being both an insider and an outsider. As a child and teenager, I became fascinated with the civil rights and workers movements in the U.S. and the women's movement worldwide. These interests didn't fully take shape until I began college in my mid-twenties. I attended a women's college and became further invested in feminist theory and the issues affecting women across cultures. I received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, supplemented by a certificate in gender studies, at the University of Southern California.

Currently, I commute from Los Angeles, usually by train (it really does work!). I live with my husband, David, and our two fabulous pets, Woodrow (a golden retriever) andBhaji (a very large cat). Walking, hiking, and yoga are favorite pastimes, as well as travel, food, cooking, and being with friends.

Teaching

Most of my teaching experience has been in clinical application courses and the supervision and training of both master's-level and doctoral-level counselors. I have an equal and compelling interest, however, in theory and research, and in my first year at CSUF I have the opportunity to teach in all three areas. Teaching in the counseling field is incredibly stimulating and has always been a growth process for me.

Research

My doctoral research was in eating disorders in college women across three ethnic groups. This project grew out of my preoccupation with women's issues, cultural issues, and feminist theory, and I continue to research and present in this area. A broader, more dominant focus for me, however, is the manner in which gender and culture issues intersect. This includes exploring how ideas about "masculinity" and "femininity" affect the well-being of both men and women across cultures and sexual orientations.

Clinical

I am a licensed psychologist and have worked in a variety of settings, predominantly with adults. Most recently I worked in the counseling center of a large university, doing individual and group therapy, community outreach and consultation, and supervision of practicum and intern trainees. My specialty is women's issues and eating disorders.