Title: Direct Support Professional

Company: Looking Upwards

Location: Charlestown, RI

Education: BFA, Human Service, Substance Abuse Counseling, Rhode Island College (2017 – 2019);

Associate’s Degree Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling, Community College of Rhode Island (2014 – 2017);

Associate’s degree Gunsmithing/Gunsmith, Professional Careers Institute (1991 – 1993)

Career History: Direct support professional, Looking upwards (2017 – present);

Field Supervisor, NITHPO Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office (1989 – 2005);

Small weapon expert, US Army (1981 – 1990)

Gregory Stanton, Direct Support Professional at Looking Upwards, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of human service.

Helping others has been a calling for Mr. Stanton for decades. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1981 to 1990 as a small weapons expert, he received an associate’s degree in gunsmithing from the Professional Careers Institute. Prior to completing his military service, he began working as a field supervisor for the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Prevention Office (NITHPO). He made the decision in his 50s to return to school in order to expand his efforts on helping others. In 2017, he received an associate’s degree in substance abuse and addiction counseling from the Community College of Rhode Island. He followed this with a BFA in human service and substance abuse counseling from Rhode Island College in 2019.

Mr. Stanton has served in his current role since 2017, and in 2019 was recognized as the Direct Support Professional of the Year. His line of work includes taking care of mentally challenged adults, providing education and food for them, hygiene care and emotional support. He attributes his success to his ability to giving his best at everything he does. He believes that a person should always be the best they can be. Looking toward the future, Mr. Stanton sees himself as being a counselor in the chemical dependence field.