November 14, 2011
Adrienne Mitchell ’93 discovered her calling in the fourth grade when an aunt explained what psychologists do. A few days later, the young Mitchell used her newfound knowledge to mediate a fight between two classmates.
“Even as a fourth grader, I think I understood how I could help people as a psychologist,” says Mitchell.
Mitchell has remained true to her childhood vision. She majored in psychology at Winona State (where she was the university’s first female African-American Student Senate president) and went on to earn her master’s at Howard University and doctorate in clinical psychology at George Washington University, both in the Washington, D.C. area.
Today, Mitchell travels the world from her Washington base to provide counseling to military families, many with a member who has recently returned from active duty.
“I always had an interest in helping military families. Sometimes we civilians don’t fully appreciate what they experience.”
