Psychology

Jan Torres
Professor of Psychology
Office: 1338
307-382-1759
jtorres@wwcc.wy.edu

I'm a native of Rock Springs and am married to Jerry. I've been at WWCC for 37 years and have had every job at the place, starting as a mailroom clerk without a high school diploma.  I worked in the Business Office as a secretary and was the Financial Aid Director for 10 years while working on getting my degrees.  I was the Director of the Student Development Center when I took the psychology position in 1990 -- so I've been teaching for 17 years now.  I love what I do -- and can't wait to get here in the morning.  The night before first classes, I can't sleep for the excitement.  And, that's the truth.  The day I don't love it, I'll retire.

I have a BA in Psychology and an MS in Counseling from UW.  I'm both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor and had a private practice for several years (part time).  Currently, I chair the Southwest counseling Board of Directors and have been a board member there since 1994.  I also serve on the Wyoming Council of Women's Issues (current secretary) and was appointed to the State Board of Education three years ago. 

One of the most exciting things about teaching is student advisement and I spend a lot of time getting to know my advisees and what their goals are.  Consequently, I've had a lot of success in helping them locate part-time jobs in social services while they attend WWCC,  at various sites around the county and love helping them with transfer to various universities.  I keep in touch with many of them, years after they've been my advisees and could probably tell you where many of them are and what they're doing --
 

Susan Bates
Instructor of Psychology
Office: 1424
307-382-1778
sbates@wwcc.wy.edu

Hello, I’m Susan Bates, Instructor of Psychology. After an eleven year career in banking in the 1970s and ‘80s, I switched to the social services, working at a drug and alcohol rehab center, as well as a women’s health clinic, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In 1990, I moved to Wyoming to be with my partner (Communication Professor Chris Kennedy) and worked in WWCC’s Student Development Center for sixteen years as an administrative assistant and part-time instructor.

I earned my Associate of Arts degree from WWCC, and my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Counselor Education degrees from the University of Wyoming.  I am currently registered as a Nationally Certified Counselor.

When I am not at work in the classroom or online, teaching psychology and women’s studies courses, I am often serving on boards and volunteering for the YWCA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters organizations. Besides teaching and volunteering, I like to read, exercise, enjoy the arts, and travel to foreign countries.

If you have any questions about WWCC’s Psychology program, please call me at (307) 382-1778.