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Connor Orr ’25, M.A. ‘28, has known for years that counseling would be his career. A psychology major and criminal justice minor as an undergraduate, he’s now pursuing a master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Lenoir Rhyne University while serving as a graduate assistant in the Office of Admission and a graduate resident assistant in residence life.

“I started going to counseling sessions my sophomore year of high school,” he said. “Even though it wasn’t for long, it gave me a lot of respect for the field. By junior year, when I took Advanced Placement psychology, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

Orr’s interest in helping students navigate life transitions has roots in his own early experiences. He moved from Connecticut to North Carolina in eighth grade, leaving a small private school for a larger public one. “The first year was rough,” he said. “I didn’t like stepping out of my comfort zone at the time, but it ended up being part of my love for traveling and trying new things. Adjusting to college life and finding my people here at ������Ƶ felt a lot like that.”

Orr chose Lenoir Rhyne for both the undergraduate and graduate experiences, citing hands-on learning opportunities as memorable and influential. His undergraduate study abroad semesters at Ulster University in Northern Ireland and the University of Eastern Finland were formative. “I loved traveling, getting ahead in school and making connections.” 

He was also drawn to the graduate counseling program because of its strong outcomes. “I knew the program has a high pass rate for the licensing exam, so that was a draw for me,” he said. He has found the program’s early and intensive hands-on experience invaluable. “Every class I’ve taken incorporates real-world scenarios. We do role plays and practice sessions you just can’t get from textbooks. Plus, my undergrad internship at a mental health clinic gave me a head start for what I’ll be doing in my grad internship in summer 2028.”

Recent program outcomes confirm its effectiveness: more than 96% of graduates earn counseling licensure, and 93% are employed in the field within six months of graduation.

Orr’s graduate assistant roles also connect to his counseling focus. In the Office of Admission, he works with social media and online programs, while his residence life responsibilities include supervising a group of resident assistants and participating in their recruitment and selection. “Part of it connects to counseling — I help residents with mental health challenges and assess who might be a good fit for leadership roles,” he said.

Looking ahead, Orr hopes to work with high school and college students. “Those are the groups I relate to the most. I want to help people navigate transitions and challenges, just like I’ve learned to do myself.”