My name is Ian MacFarlane, and I’m a research assistant professor in the Genetic Counseling Master’s Program in the Genetics, Cell Biology and Development Department at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota in the Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology program (which sadly closed). I first learned about genetic counseling in graduate school, and while I am not a genetic counselor, I have collaborated with them extensively on research, training, and service projects over the years. When the chance to help train new genetic counselors was presented to me, I enthusiastically joined.
My previous positions have been at liberal arts colleges, where I taught primarily mental health and research-focused courses in psychology departments. I’m trained as a researcher and as a psychotherapist, but my first love is teaching. In my current position, I balance mentoring students through their research theses, supporting faculty research projects, conducting my own studies, teaching a variety of courses, and departmental service.
I’m originally from Minneapolis, MN, but have lived in several different regions of the country. After a year living in in Logan, UT, where I completed my doctoral internship at Utah State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, I took my first faculty position at Austin College in Texas. After sweltering in the heat for 4 years, I took a position at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania to get back to the land of forests, hills, and snow in the winter. After a few years, my winding road came back to Minnesota when the opportunity arose to join the Genetic Counseling Program.
When I have down time, I enjoy pursuing nerdy pass times (especially those related to science fiction/fantasy), getting my hopes up only to see them dashed as a die hard MN Vikings and Timberwolves fan, and spend a lot of time with my partner being bossed around by our 3 rescue cats. If I wasn’t a psychologist, I think I would have made a heck of a wizard, but my career aptitude tests in junior high recommended I explore being a file clerk or librarian. I do love organizing and documentation, but have focused these skills toward a career as an educator.