PhD Grad James Cartee Hopes to Help College Students Attain Mental Health Services
James Cartee has been in the business of communication for a while now and has even been teaching in the field at higher education institutions for several years. But, four years ago, he decided it was time to take the next step and follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father and become a Volunteer.
So, he applied and was accepted to the College of Communication and Information’s PhD program, which he graduated from this spring. In March he successfully defended his dissertation, Help-Seeking Tendencies and Motivations Among College Students in The Utilization of Professional Psychological Services.
The dissertation focuses on why college students do or do not seek out mental health services, and how to help them overcome roadblocks to getting those services. He hopes to use this research to establish a consulting business that would connect his research with the people and institutions who could use it.
“It’s doable, it just takes a little time asking the experts. I’m just interested in helping people,” he said. “I have a heart for people who are struggling to get help and how can we get them help and what keeps them going. That’s the main part of my research.”
As someone who worked in industry and academia for a decade prior to returning to school for his doctoral degree, Cartee said there were challenging moments. He was awarded a fellowship and taught undergraduate courses at CCI all while continuing his other teaching work and finding moments to spend with his family.
He credits his wife, Lisa Cartee, with being a strong supporter of his educational goals as she worked full-time and cared for their two young children throughout his time in the PhD program. Together they have a 1-year-old son, Jace, and a 3-year-old daughter, Annabelle. While Cartee has lots of goals for his postdoctoral future, an immediate one is to spend a lot more time with his children.
“I really owe my success to my wife, Lisa, she’s a champion. If anybody deserves the degree it’s her,” he said. “I couldn’t do all the things I am passionate about without her. My dissertation is dedicated to her.”
Though he is leaving behind school, Cartee said he’s definitely not leaving behind the relationships he formed with both faculty and other students in his cohort. Though he began his program with a concentration in public relations, it became apparent that his research aligned better with communication studies and the research faculty in the School of Communication Studies were conducting. His research interests overlapped with the work of Assistant Professor Quentin Bernhold, Associate Professor Jenny Crowley, and Associate Professor Laura Miller, who was his advisor.
“It’s been an exceptional experience and there’s a lot of people I’ll miss when I go on to the next phase,” he said.
PhD Grad James Cartee Hopes to Help College Students Attain Mental Health Services written by Hillary Tune and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.