“Dr. Mary Olufunmilayo Adekson is truly a highly committed, passionate, empathic, dedicated counselor educator and counseling professional. Her persona is characterized by her very strong humanistic and spiritual foundations. Throughout her professional career, she has devoted her life to educating students and other counselor educators and professionals about the diversity and multicultural world of people. Dr. Adekson’s commitment to her profession is evidenced by her publications in the counseling field, such as: Yoruba Traditional Healers of Nigeria; Reclaiming the Lost Generation: Strategies for Working with African-American Males; Positive Strategies for Working with Adolescents at Risk and other significant publications affecting the knowledge base and counseling skills of professional counselors, students, counselor educators and others. Her impact on the counseling world is further evidenced by her years in the teaching and training of graduate counseling students, conducting workshops and presentations. As a professional counselor and counselor educator, Dr Adekson has affected the lives of many aspiring counselor trainees through her mentoring activities. She is tireless in her commitment and pursuit in researching and providing knowledge and information about the importance of understanding the critical role that culture plays on the behavioral, psychological and spiritual functioning of people across-cultures. Dr Adekson’s years of experience in the counseling profession have positioned her to provide expert training and education on diversity and multiculturalism to those seeking her services.” – Dr. Jake A. Johnson
“After more than thirty years since we last met at a professional association’s conference where we were engaged in academic exchanges, I met Dr Adekson again early in June 2014 at a conference in Toronto, Canada, where opportunity was presented for us to share a common platform to make presentations. Dr Adekson impressed the audience, in her presentations, by her scholarship in research and her depth of knowledge in counselling and the inter-relationship of mental health, culture and healthcare delivery. Dr. Adekson’s knowledge and understanding of multicultural issues related to mental health is profound. Her understanding of the critical role culture plays in human functioning has made her an advocate for cultural sensitivity and or cultural infusion in the effective delivery of mental health services. Dr. Adekson’s research and many years of experience in the counseling profession have also positioned her as an expert in the provision of training and education on diversity and or multiculturalism. She would, no doubt, be a huge resource to those needing her services.” – Dr Olaniyi Bojuwoye
“Dr. Adekson has been my number one mentor throughout my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th semesters at Empire State College. Dr. Adekson has brought about a spiritual awakening within my-self through her capacity to create a positive change in myself and those whom she comes in contact with. Furthermore, Dr. Adekson has the capability and expertise to steer college, university, school administrators and employers to help retain and empower their minority faculty, teachers and workers. God’s grace has truly been blessed upon her. Dr. Adekson has a special God given gift that enables her as professional healer to in turn enable others to do the same. I can’t in my life ever remember meeting and working with such a stellar, beautiful, caring and grateful human being.” – Timothy Whipple
“With today’s society and its integrating communities whether it be racial, or even social class, a sound understanding and multicultural education is key in expanding a person own knowledge on how to communicate and interact with others of different backgrounds. Dr. Mary Olufunnmilayo Adekson is one of the leading educators, counselors and advisors in this particular area addressing many of the quintessential norms and misunderstandings by informing those she teaches the ways and customs of others from different backgrounds. As a previous student of Dr. Mary Olufunnmilayo Adekson from St. Bonaventure University I can truly say I have never been as enlightened by another teacher due to her enormous wealth of knowledge and experience in this area. Dr. Mary Olufunnmilayo Adekson worked with me by teaching me and addressing the many different cultural differences between my culture and other’s. I have become today a much more multicultural sensitive counselor due to her teachings and advisement on how to address and understand the cultural ways and actions of the people I now counsel. As a African American male who just received a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling under the tutelage of Dr. Adekson I am helping fill a void of non African American Counselors, as well as adding to a small group of competent and multicultural sound counselors. Prior to my knowledge and understanding of multiculturalism I was blind to the many details that would help me build a better understanding and rapport with my clients. Dr. Mary Olufunnmilayo Adekson teachings have been a blessing and have helped changed my views, and perceptions, and have given me a more accurate and advanced understanding of how to communicate properly and appropriately with others from different cultures.
Thank you Mary Adekson, Friend, Advisor, Educator, Counselor and much more.” – Keith Windsor
“Dr. Adekson’s knowledge and understanding of multicultural issues extends well beyond the classroom. She not only teaches cultural sensitivity and understanding, she lives it. Her interactions with others demonstrate a higher-order appreciation and respect for the intrinsic value attached to the human condition, regardless of race, religion, custom or creed. Dr. Adekson is an asset to our multicultural reality and anyone who has the good fortune to tap into her knowledge base will find themselves richer for having done so.” – Colleen M. Chahal, M.S.Ed.
“I have known Dr. Adekson for four years. I have had the privilege to be one of her students in both my undergrad and post grad career. It is under her expertise that I came to understand how I, a Native American can live in a world that is very different than the one I grew up in. Dr. Adekson has a way of bringing out the best in each of her students and grooming each student for the world around them.
Dr. Adekson is the true definition of diversity. Coming from another country herself, and not allowing this to become a stumbling block, but excelling in all areas of her life. Dr. Adekson has become my mentor by becoming an example of what human life is. Meeting people where they are in life and helping to bring out the best in everyone she touches. Her experience in the mental health counseling field has proven to be a solid resource for her students to draw upon when the need would arise. I feel very privileged to have been taught by one of the greatest.
It is under the teachings of Dr. Adekson that I have been able to grow and become a mental health counselor. I hope in time to return to the reservation bringing the education that was given by Dr. Adekson to help others of my tribe. One of the best gifts Dr. Adekson has given to me is the gift of hope. It is this gift I want to give to others that feel there is no hope left.” – Donna Cummings
Dr Adekson understands the important value of diversity and inclusion in the education system. She has worked diligently to apply systems at St Bonaventure University for students to feel supported in an academic setting. Dr. Adekson’s plethora of knowledge from counseling and diversity is unmatched. I know from my professional and personal experience that Dr. Adekson is a resource and asset to any institution she has the ability to work with because she is truly working to make the place better for the future.” – Mark Fabbi
“Dr. Mary O. Adekson is tremendously versed in the challenges faced by cultures coming together in this “melting pot” of the United States. She is also incredibly knowledgable in how cultural conflict plays out in her native homeland of Nigeria. Dr. Adekson helped me better understand the need for cultural sensitivity as I prepared for a career in counseling. She knows how to navigate the often times rough waters of working in a setting that can be difficult, at best, for someone of a completely different cultural background. She also is not ashamed to bring her tremendous faith in God into her work, but in a way that is grounded in love and truth.
Thank you Dr. Adekson for your love and support.” – Christopher Anderson, M.S.Ed.
“Dr. Adekson is a woman of divinity, dignity, and integrity; a woman with a sincere and humble heart. Dr. Adekson has a determined mindset to help minorities of all ethnicities during their college experience. She has each individual’s best interest in mind and will go above and beyond for them, but they have to extend a receiving hand.
From personal experience I write very highly and speak with absolute certainty when I say she was my biggest supporter on campus. She took me in as her own child and guided me through my entire freshman year of college. The campus that I was in didn’t reflect students of my background to the extent that others were represented. This was something that Dr. Adekson worked very hard at trying to change. If I needed someone to speak to early in the morning, late at night or during the middle of the day, she made herself available to me. Dr. Adekson gave great advice and more importantly, was a woman of action. In addition to her encouraging words, she drove me anywhere I needed to go whether it be to Walmart or to attend a church service and when other students needed letters of recommendation she jumped right in to give them one. I expressed to Dr. Adekson that I wanted to get off campus and study abroad the second semester of my freshman year and she supported my decision and when I expressed that I wanted to transfer to another university she supported me during that process as well.
From the time I studied abroad in Costa Rica to the time I received my acceptance letter to Syracuse University Dr. Adekson kept in contact with me. To know that a thousand miles away from home someone from my college campus cared so much about my well being was a heartwarming feeling. I transferred into Syracuse University when I finished my freshman year and I am now entering my junior year here and I proudly say that Dr. Adekson still makes time to call me to check in on me. It is with great pleasure that I write this testimonial regarding Dr. Adekson. I strongly encourage students, administrators, principals, and employers to make use of the resources that Dr. Adekson has to offer, just talking to her can help you far more than you may believe.” – Jasmine Nicole Mangum
“Dr. Adekson has been a great mentor and a mother to me for the past 4 years. Her continued support and counselling have tremendously helped me through trying times. Aside from being compassionate and understanding, she also has a deep commitment in fostering an atmosphere of diversity and inclusion in all organizations and institutions she’s worked with. At St. Bonaventure University, she motivated me to be self-reliant, resilient and at the same time maintain a strong sense of service and involvement in the entire campus community.
I’m grateful to God for Dr. Adekson’s life and service, because so many lives have been enriched and blessed by her work.” – Albert Kallon.
“I have been blessed to know Dr. Adekson for the past 7 years as a professor, mentor, and role model. I remain amazed by her master ability to teach not only in the classroom, but through her actions every day. Dr. Adekson has a thorough understanding of multi-cultural diversity and a passion to stay up to date in her research. As a student of hers, I was able to gain a greater scope of cultural sensitivity and apply it to my practice, in which I serve populations of all backgrounds. Dr. Adekson presents difficult material with the proper respect, sensitivity, and humor that allows for deep understanding. She invests energry and enthusiasm in those she teaches and remains connected for consultation. Dr. Adekson’s years of experience, passion to teach, and warm personality make her the perfect choice for your venture.”
– Kathleen Crowley, LMHC