Albertus Professors Contribute to Book on Pathways to Better Health
Two Albertus Magnus College professors share their knowledge and expertise in a new book entitled Contemporary Issues in Human Services: Special Topics for Clinical Practice, Public Health, and Social Justice. According to the Routledge website, the forthcoming book is available for pre-order in August 2025 —just before Albertus celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
Rebecca Arnold, Ph.D., ATR-BC, ATCS, CLAT, is the director and clinical coordinator of the Albertus Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling (MAATC) program; and Neda Moinolmolki, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Psychology at Albertus. For Dr. Arnold, her chapter on therapy, grief, and creativity provided an opportunity to expand upon her doctoral research — specifically related to an ethical therapeutic practice.
“Ethical practices are a large part of the MAATC curriculum, including the use of art making as a reflective practice. The chapter is based on my own creative experiences after the death of my mother — which also adds a human quality to who therapists are and how we can’t separate ourselves from the work we do. [This is]Something I strive for students to embrace — their humanness,” shared Dr. Arnold.
Dr. Moinolmolki applied her more than 10-years of research-based scholarship, including working with recently resettled refugees. Much of her background is guided by what’s known as “strength-based approaches” in investigating the ecological predictors of psychological well-being, health, and financial security among recently resettled families.
“This chapter’s theoretical framework was informed by an empirical study initiated by a former Albertus Magnus student (now an alumna), centered on language accessibility of US hospital websites. This idea came to fruition after the student heard some of my shared class stories of real-world medical traumas refugees had disclosed to me. Not only did that student complete her project, but she also presented it as a poster at the Connecticut Psychological Association’s Annual Convention in November 2023,” Dr. Moinolmolki highlighted.
Both professors are respected women in their fields — something that does not go unnoticed at Albertus Magnus College, founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of Peace as New England’s first residential Catholic college for women. Over its first century of excellence, Albertus has pioneered online learning and is proud that half of its students are First Generation — the first in their families to earn a college degree. Contributing to this book only further sets the Albertus Example.
“I think it’s much more than just contributing to our craft that differentiates us here at Albertus; rather, it is our Falcon faculty community’s unique ability to model and inspire students to see themselves as agents of change,” said Dr. Moinolmolki.
“When students see their faculty contributing to the literature in this way, we are not only modeling a professional identity, but also adding to the growth of our respective fields,” Dr. Arnold added.