Inky Johnson to address Counselors, Public at Carson-Newman Saturday

The Mountain Counseling Association will hold its annual conference at Carson-Newman College Saturday, February 25. Former University of Tennessee football standout Inky Johnson will deliver the keynote address.

C-N’s Schools of Education and Nursing & Behavioral Health are co-sponsoring the event. Some 200 attendees will have the opportunity to select from more than 20 topics on a variety of counseling subjects during three breakout sessions.

“We are so appreciative of the support we have received from our Carson-Newman colleagues,” said Dr. Mike Bundy, assistant professor in the school counseling program. “We have fifteen faculty and students giving presentations, and we are working with several campus offices to make this a success.”

C-N’s Dr. Bill Blevins will examine the impact being made on counseling through neuroscience. Dr. Deborah Buchanan, of Austin Peay State University, will share what her students have learned through working with children of military families. The University of Tennessee’s Dr. Jeannine Studer will offer assistance in facilitating harmony with young people in crisis. A full schedule is available at http://www.smokymountaincounseling.org/

Inky Johnson’s life changed in 2006 during a routine tackle in a game against Air Force. While medical personnel tended to his motionless form on the field, the team physician noticed a droopy eyelid, indicative of severe nerve damage. The doctor’s quick identification of Horner’s Syndrome helped surgeons save Johnson’s life.

While plans for the NFL evaporated, hope did not, he notes in his new book, Inky: An Amazing Story of Faith and Perseverance. He says many friends and teammates expected the end of football would be harder for him than it was.

“People were coming into the room and were all sad because of everything that happened,” he recalled in an interview with UTSports.com. “I just had to let them know that I was going to be all right. There’s a life after this. Life goes on.”

Such a change in plans can be taken in stride, the author has said.

“I never one time stopped trusting and believing in God… (I’m) using my situation as inspiration, motivation and encouragement to people as they face things in (their) life.”

Keynote address tickets ($10, including continental breakfast) for the general public will be available at the door of Stokely Memorial Cafeteria. For more information, contact Bundy at 865-471-2085 or mbundy@cn.edu.