Idaho State University

Christine Brower, MPA, CND Director

When I was a second year college student, I identified my first career goal.  I wanted to help people get their education.  I understood that education can move people out of challenging situations and into a new life, as it was doing for me.

Here at Idaho State University, I completed the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and the Master’s in Public Administration.  I went on to Utah State University for graduate study in Sociology. 

Now, as the Director of the Center for New Directions, I have the opportunity to fulfill my early goal and help people reach their goals.  It is a sweet deal.

Cathy Brydon, LCPC, CADC, NCC

Cathy Brydon was raised in Pocatello, Idaho and graduated from Pocatello High School.  After high school she moved to Oregon and received a RN degree.   Cathy later moved back to Pocatello to finish her bachelor’s degree in nursing from ISU.  She was later recruited by a Psychiatrist in Idaho Falls to do medication management, assessments and drug and alcohol counseling utilizing her RN license.   She followed through with an alcohol and drug counseling license at ISU and then entered the Master’s of Counseling program at ISU. 

Cathy is the single parent counselor at Center for New Directions and works with the START program students as well.  She enjoys all outdoor activities, playing games, reading and hanging out with her cats.  Her parents both attended ISU as did her youngest brother and her son.

Amy M. Christensen, LPC, START Counselor

Amy Christensen has expressed her desire to serve her community in a variety of ways over the course of her career.  Following her AmeriCorps service, Amy focused on her passion for supporting families in her community.  That service continued to be important as a Literacy Consultant for Head Start, Director for an afterschool program for at-risk adolescents, and a Parent Educator and Nurturing Families Facilitator and Trainer.  As part of a natural progression for her personally and professionally, Amy returned to school to further her education and obtained a Master of Counseling degree in Mental health from Idaho State University.  Having passed through a number of transition herself, Amy views her current position as the START counselor as an exciting opportunity to support others as she has been supported.

Marlene Darling, LPC, NCC

A native Californian, Marlene was born and raised in San Francisco, and received her BA in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley. She lived in New Orleans and North Carolina before moving to Idaho in 1993. She received her Masters of Counseling degree at ISU, works with the COT nontraditional occupation students as the Equity Counselor, and is working on receiving her Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Her key interests in counseling are career, wellness, and spirituality. Marlene loves the outdoors and is an avid skier, road cyclist, hiker, and camper. She is a certified ski instructor (Alpine, Nordic, and Children) and teaches at Pebble Creek Ski Area. She has practiced Raja Yoga since 1982, is a certified hatha yoga instructor, and is currently teaching for ISU Sport Science and Physical Education.

"Her motto is 'If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space!'

Dianne Norton, LPC, NCC

Dianne Norton is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been working at the Center for New Directions at Idaho State University for many years. She has a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling and specializes in career counseling.

Dianne loves career counseling, finding it extremely rewarding to help people find work that is meaningful to them and that allows them to be happy and financial self-sufficient. She enjoys working with a wide variety of people, finding the difference between people fascinating.

Dianne is married and has four grown children and 4 grandchildren. She enjoys designing quilts, photography, scrapbooking, gardening and traveling.

Kim Colman, BS

My name is Kim Colman, I grew up in Blackfoot, Idaho, but I was born in Colorado and I spent the majority of my younger years traveling. I have been to about 20 out of the 50 states and I still love to travel in my spare time. I graduated from Blackfoot High School in 2006 with my diploma. I attended ISU from 2006 to 2011, when I received my Bachelor's degree in Health Education, with an emphasis in addiction studies. I decided to go back to ISU and get a master's degree in counseling. I am currently in my second semester at ISU in the counseling program, with my area of study being in marriage and family. I am doing my practicum site at Center for New Directions on the ISU campus; I am so excited to get an experience that I will probably never get again, in career counseling.

Rebecca Gardner, BS

Rebecca grew up in a rural area of California and when she started high school, she began moving to different places with her family every few years. She has had the opportunity to travel to other countries because of living overseas and that was a great opportunity to see new places and interact with other cultures. She eventually found her way to Idaho, where she received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Brigham Young University Idaho. Towards the end of her undergraduate experience, she decided that she wanted to pursue a master's degree in counseling. She considers herself fortunate to have been accepted to Idaho State University where she is currently pursuing a Masters of Counseling degree in Mental Health. Rebecca is in her second semester as an intern at Center for New Directions. She is looking forward to her continued work in the field of counseling and hopes that she will be able to contribute to the profession now and in the future.

Brady Cook

Brady Cook is a proud Idaho Native. He was born and raised on a farm outside of the small town of Rupert, Idaho. After taking some time off between high school and college, where he had adventures traveling through the southern states of the U.S., Brady came back to ISU and earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology at Idaho State University. He then went straight into the Master of Counseling program and is emphasizing in Student Affairs, where his love for the students and campus culture has grown exponentially. He is currently in his last semester of the counseling program, and in his second semester interning at the Center for New Directions. Brady looks forward to his career as a counselor working in student affairs and the opportunities he will have in associating with students in all fields of study.

Yvonne Perez, Idaho Career Pioneer Network Facilitator

Yvonne was born and raised in American Falls and has lived in Pocatello since 2002. She received her Bachelors of Science in Political Science, with a minor in Spanish and a Masters of Public Administration at Idaho State University. Yvonne is currently the CPN facilitator for the Idaho Career Pioneer Network (CPN). She has served in this role since 2010. Prior to CPN, Yvonne worked with AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty and help those in disadvantaged circumstances. Yvonne is passionate about serving her community and continues to volunteer with several local organizations that focus on community development and social justice.

Stephanie Foreman, Administrative Assitant

My name is Stephanie Foreman; I was born in Ohio but have lived in Pocatello for most of my life. I have 5 children and enjoy spending time with them. I love to fish, camp and cook. I am currently enrolled at ISU and am working on my degree in Administrative Management. I really enjoy school and plan to continue my education. I love working for the Center for New Directions.