The Center for the Study of Narrative (CSN) at Mercer University, was founded in January 2014 by Dr. Don Redmond through the generous support of the Georgia Compassion Project, Mercer University President William Underwood, Mercer’s Board of Trustees, Provost Scott Davis, and Dean Priscilla Danheiser and faculty from the College of Professional Advancement.
The Center enables Mercer students and faculty to develop narratives based on research conducted and interviews with groups in Georgia. In its commitment to remaining a valuable entity, the Center’s faculty and student collaborators draw from a variety of disciplines and perspectives utilizing principles of narrative theory and therapy. The first narrative interview took place on January 9, 2014, at King’s Bridge retirement community in Atlanta.
CSN is inspired by the work of Erik and Joan Erikson, the developmental and wellness model from the field of counseling, and the positive psychology movement led by Martin Seligman and others. Further, CSN is also indebted to the following individuals for inspiring the pursuit of an interdisciplinary academic model for research and outreach:
Michael White, David Epson, and the Dulwich Centre in Adelaide, Australia
Molly Andrews and her collaborators at the Centre for Narrative Research in East London
Dan McAdams at the Foley Center for the Study of Lives at Northwestern University, Chicago
William Randall at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Narrative at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada
CSN targets several areas of Mercer’s ‘Inspire’ strategic plan and the imperatives of:
Being an intimate and diverse community of gifted scholars committed to changing the world
Being a place of discovery and innovation
Being a global university
Being relevant
Achieving meaningful outcomes
Within these strategic initiatives, CSN in particular adds to Mercer University’s efforts to:
Explore ways to more directly engage staff in activities that are changing the lives of students and faculty
Meet the criteria for further Carnegie Reclassification as a Doctoral/Research University – Higher Research Activity (R2)
Develop a wider array of relationships with institutions of higher learning throughout the world
Help to promote the fact “…that all members of the University Community have the broadest possible latitude to think, to listen, and to express themselves.”
Our Team
Meet our 2019-2020 Student Fellows and Narrative Interviewers:
Toni F. Monroe is an Associate Professional Counselor (APC), certified nationally and internationally in addiction treatment. Ms. Monroe’s primary area of emphasis for more than 30 years has been trauma-focused treatment of addiction in families. Currently, she is an executive director of a residential substance abuse treatment program for men. Toni has helped to develop different programs to address addiction in inpatient and outpatient settings. Throughout her career, she has taught other professionals how to empower individuals to meet the challenges of addiction and trauma through different therapy modalities including narrative therapy. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Mercer University and has served as a digital storytelling specialist and narrative interviewer with CSN for several years.
Dr. Marlon C. Williams is a doctoral candidate in Mercer University’s Counseling Education and Supervision Ph.D. program. He recently earned a certificate in his specialty, Sports Counseling and Student-Athlete Mental Wellness. A writer since the age of 14, his love of crafting poetic works taught him firsthand the healing power of “storytelling.” Marlon’s background as a standout college football player at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his general life experiences fuel his passion for assisting athletes and others with improving their lives using narrative therapy.
Dr. Caroline Fernandes is a second-year Ph.D. student in Counselor Education and Supervision as well as an international trainer and research assistant. She is a holistic counselor providing service at a private practice and an acute inpatient behavior health center. Her expertise lies in transpersonal psychology, eastern healing modalities in psychotherapy, and childhood trauma. “Storytelling is an intrinsic part of my childhood. My grandmother would tell me stories about spirituality and friendships in three different languages, emphasizing the meaning of words, languages, and non-verbal expressions.” At CSN, her work includes advanced interviewing and digital storytelling about refugees and survivors of suicide. Dr. Fernandes focuses on adversity, resilience, and transformation in relaying these experiences.
John Mark holds a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and a Master of Divinity in Christian Education. He is currently a doctoral student working toward a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Mercer University. John Mark recognizes the importance of narrative in a variety of settings. His career path provided opportunities to explore the impact of storytelling in diverse environments, including churches, colleges, newspaper companies, and advertising agencies. With a driving interest in the interdisciplinary connections of narrative theory and research, John Mark is convinced that how we tell our stories shapes the trajectory of our lives.