Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Thurman Webb.
Hi Dr. Thurman, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My journey to the professorship has been one impacted by individuals who believed I could occupy the space before I believed it. As an undergraduate student at Tennessee State University, I majored in Physical Therapy with the hopes of working with athletes in some fashion, with no real plan or drive to accomplish this idea.
As a sophomore in college, I was driven by what sounded good and would culminate into a “decent” living, as opposed to what resonated with what I considered to be my purpose. Chance would have it, that one day I was talking with a high school friend, who was attending TSU as well, on our way to class and she stopped by to see her academic advisor. After her meeting, her adviser Dr. Peter Millet asked me why I was waiting outside his office. I expressed to him that I was waiting on my friend, and for whatever reason, he asked me what my major was.
I told him PT, and he asked when I would be graduating, to which I responded “I’m really not sure.” He pulled me into his office, pulled up my transcript and proceeded to tell me that I had accumulated enough college credits to declare myself a sophomore; however, I wasn’t any closer to graduating than I was as a freshman. We talked for an hour or so and he discerned that many of my interests and thought processes seem to favor the field of psychology. He asked if I would like to major in psychology, to which I replied, “That’s cool if it will get me to graduation.” Dr. Millet promised me that if I followed his academic advice without any deviation, he would get me to graduation.
That was the start of my journey in the field of psychology and I haven’t looked back since. After graduation I left to work with professional athletes in the area of business management and community relations; however, through all the travels and networking associated with the job I was encountering youth who found it easy to talk with me about a plethora of issues they were experiencing. These types of experiences allowed me to nurture my natural interest in psychology, specifically interest surrounding some of the core tenets that support counseling. After a few years of working in that capacity and having experiences with people in what I considered to be honest and naturally therapeutic, I decided I needed to go back and get a Masters in Counseling Psychology, concentration school counseling.
After enrolling in the MS in professional school counseling program at Tennessee State University, my academic advisor Dr. Jeri Lee quickly became my mentor in the field of psychology/counseling. After a semester of working with her, she expressed to me that she could see me one day as the coordinator and a professor in the professional school counseling program at TSU. This was a big surprise to me because I had NO intention of going for a doctorate or working as a professor; however, her declaration was the seed that grew into what I represent today. After graduating from the program, I worked as a Licensed School Counselor for roughly 10 years, utilizing much of what I had learned from my mentors, my MS program, and my experiences.
During my time as a School Counselor, a friend of mine, who had completed the MS program with me, mentioned that she was going to apply to a doctoral program and that she thought I would be a good candidate for the program. I told my mom, who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, about my friend’s idea of becoming a doctor (Ph.D., EdD), and she mistakenly thought I said I was going to apply to the program to become a doctor. This misinterpretation created the biggest smile I had seen on my mothers face since she had been diagnosed with cancer. At that moment I knew that my plan to express how ridiculous it would be for me to pursue a doctorate, was foiled. It had just been revised to encompass a plan for completion that would support the smile I was fortunate enough to be experiencing in the present.
In order to diversify my “portfolio,” I decided to pursue a doctorate in leadership with the hope of using it to bring about social change in the fields of education and psychology. Through all the obstacles that plague my mother (Hilda M. Thomas) through her battles with cancer, she was committed to seeing me walk across the graduation stage as a doctor, in part because, as she stated: “I haven’t missed a graduation yet.” After I graduated with my doctorate from Walden University, which she attended, my mother passed away a month later.
After receiving my doctorate, my old mentor (Dr. Jeri Lee) asked if I would like to come back and teach as an adjunct professor in the professional school counseling program. This opportunity would be the catalyst for all my ideas that catapulted me toward the space I occupy now as a tenured professor at Tennessee State University. Ironically enough, I occupy the same office as my original mentor Dr. Peter Millet (who is the Executive Vice President of Meharry Medical College) who introduced and started me on my psychology trajectory. Not to mention, I am working as the coordinator/professor in the professional school counseling program, just as my mentor, Dr. Jeri Lee, predicted. Talk about a full circle.
Throughout my professional career, I have gone on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (therapist) in addition to being a Licensed Professional School Counselor, as well as a National Certified Counselor. I also decided to go back to school and obtain a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. These credentials assist me with operating my consulting firm (Centered Person Consulting) that is geared toward individual and organizational performance. We address individual and organizational needs through what we call “mental performance coaching.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. After graduating with a BS in psychology and going to work for a well-known entity in professional sports, I thought for sure I had reached the pinnacle of fulfillment. However, after a few years of working in the business management and community relations space, I knew that I was not maximizing who I was and that something had to change. Leaving what many consider to be the “dream job” to pursue what I believe was part of my purpose, was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
Leaving a high-status job to start from square one in a new professional area, was met with ridicule, skepticism, and feelings of devaluation. I had developed a plan to complete my masters and obtain my license in two years, and I knew it would take much of the money I had saved to execute this plan while maintaining a roof over my head. Needless to say, it worked out, but this was one of many obstacles I would have to face. Working within a school system and having to address the hardship children experience is something I don’t think any counselor really gets accustomed to, and I was no different. Dealing with issues ranging from mental and physical abuse to academic and economic hardship on a regular basis, led me to the understanding that I would have to expand my abilities to meet the demands and needs of the marginalized communities I both represented and frequently encountered.
Going through the process of completing my doctorate program while working full-time and supporting a family (wife and two children ages 2 and 9 months) was extremely taxing. There were many days I only functioned on three and four hours of sleep, but for me, in those moments it didn’t matter. I can honestly say that the thoughts of my mother’s smile were enough to combat any doubt or exhaustion I experienced along the journey. This was especially true because she was battling cancer and never complained to me during her fight. I would always think to myself, “how can I complain about what’s happening to me on this journey to a doctorate and she has never complained to me in the fight for her life. As you can imagine my complaints paled in comparison.”
Working as an adjunct professor while maintaining a full-time job, in an effort to establish myself in the higher education realm, was a grind. This required me to engage in research, attend conferences, and present and publish, all while working as a full-time school counselor. This was a different kind of grind than obtaining the doctorate, but a grind nonetheless. I finally was able to understand what others meant when they said “once you get the doctorate, you have to support the doctorate.” There is a responsibility in having a doctorate, and when you embalm yourself with that understanding, the maintenance of maintaining the integrity of the terminal degree is its own burden.
Being an African American male in the field of psychology, attempting to overthrow people’s controlling images (stereotypes) can be physically, mentally, and socially exhausting. The assumptions people have made about me based on my tattoos, skin color, and/or upbringing, have often left me feeling overlooked and underestimated. That feeling is why I work extremely hard to show up competent and confident as much as possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Centered Person Consulting provides Mental Performance coaching that helps individuals and organizations develop critical thinking skills in order to expand the boundaries of their existing capabilities. Through the use of the Socratic Method, we enhance your learning abilities which will positively impact your personal growth, leadership, process and procedural intuitiveness, and relationship goals.
We believe cultivating the awareness that assists individuals and organizations with recognizing what is absolutely best for them. We are experts in creating awareness and increasing mental performance for productivity. As your Mental Performance coach, we help you discover what your own personal “best” might be. It is our goal to equip individuals and businesses with the tools necessary to diversify their thinking to enhance individual and collective perspectives in a way that will challenge and break through self-imposed limitations.
We specialize in Personal Growth, Communication, Relationships, and Leadership
What matters most to you?
I often tell my mentees and clients that progress is the goal, not perfection. With that being said, progress matters to me. I love to see individuals make progress toward their desired goals. One of the most impactful ways to achieve this progress is “accurate communication.”
Many of the issues plaguing society today are exacerbated by poor communication. Assisting individuals and organizations with learning how to communicate or teaching them what communication is and how to execute accurate communication through alternate forms of communication is both fun and rewarding for me.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@centeredperson.com
- Website: centeredperson.com
- Instagram: @centeredperson
Image Credits
Harifah Hendrickson (RiFocused)
