Ginamarie ScherziGinamarie Scherzi, M.S.

Full-time Lecturer


Personal Biography

I am a full-time faculty member in the Department of Counseling and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I hold various positions in the department including Lecturer, Admissions Coordinator & Prospective Graduate Student Advisor. I am grateful for the position that I have here at California State University Fullerton because it is a wonderful place to work. I am also an alumna of the program and I loved every moment that I spent in it. It is an amazing program that facilitated my growth and development as a person and a therapist. I enjoy sharing information about the program as well as the counseling profession with all of our prospective students.

My counseling interests include the benefits of a collaborative treatment approach to address issues of substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness and trauma. Social justice issues are also very important to me. I have worked in community mental health settings and Orange County Collaborative Courts. My clinical experience includes individual, group and family therapy. I believe that the most beautiful thing about being a therapist is holding hope for clients until they can have hope for themselves. 

I currently teach two sections of Leadership and Personal Development COUNS/HUSR 350 each semester. My undergraduate students are from various departments in the University because my class meets an upper division GE course requirement. The diversity of my students is something that I treasure. I learn so much from them as they share their lives and experiences with me. 

I feel honored to teach my students the importance of being kind and ethical leaders. This type of leadership is what the world desperately needs right now. I enjoy seeing my students grow, develop and realize the impact they can have on the world. I have hope that there will be positive change in the world because I know that my students will make a difference in the lives of everyone they meet. 

I totally believe that having gratitude is the key to our happiness. I also believe that random acts of kindness have the power to change the lives of those who receive them as well as those who give them. 

I like to spend my free time with my friends, my dog Lucky who I rescued two years ago, kickboxing and going for long walks. I currently advocate for people to adopt older dogs because they are incredible and a true example of unconditional love. I love the arts and try to experience them whenever I can. I enjoy learning new things, photography, all types of animals and spending time in nature. 

I will end with one of my favorite quotes which gives me hope that even those with the hardest hearts have the ability to change and experience love. 

“No one is born hating another person...People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” ~ Nelson Mandela.