Dating in college with the hopes of building a sustainable relationship nowadays takes serious effort and a strong consideration of your selection process. In this week’s episode, we continue our love series titled, “Relationships That Matter” with André Carpenter, Assistant Director for Student Outreach and Support at the University of Southern Florida, St Petersburg (USFSP), along with his wife, Dr. D’Wan J. Carpenter, who practices Osteopathic Medicine. After nearly 20 years of marriage, this college couple shares why they value the importance of faith, self-love and the honesty of a supportive village before the pursuit of dating and/or marriage. André is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, André is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor in Ohio, Florida and Louisiana. He is a Xi Tau Chapter Initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and as the founder of Fokus4Ward LLC, he offers counseling and consulting services. Married 19 years to his wife, Dr. D'Wan Carpenter, they have four children and are the cofounders of “Marriage F.I.R.E. Works,” a 16-week faith-based marriage coaching program. Dr. D’Wan is dually board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and she earned her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (formerly UMDNJ-SOM). She has added the practice of lifestyle medicine into her practice helping patients embrace whole food lifestyles, focus on the roots of health including sleep, stress reduction, healthy social connections, and reducing risky habits. One of her many passions includes helping high achieving moms prioritize themselves and their well-being in order to flourish in their home and work. In addition to being a loving wife, mom, and cofounder of Marriage F.I.R.E Works, she is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. To learn more about The Carpenters’ work, email them at marriagefireworks@gmail.com or visit their website at MarriageFireworks.com.