Degree(s) and Year(s) Degree(s) Conferred: Ph.D., 2017; M.S., 2008
Graduate Academic Program(s) at Penn State: Counselor Education
Current Professional Title: Assistant Director for the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs
Current Employer: The Pennsylvania State University
Briefly describe your professional career, including your employment history and notable accomplishments
Following my master’s degree, I worked as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Georgia Department of Labor. In this role, I assisted students of East Coweta High School, Newnan High School, Northgate High, Central Educational Center, as well as several alternative schools with their transition from high school to post-secondary education. Subsequently, I entered a Ph.D. program in counselor education with a focus on multicultural, career, and rehabilitation counseling. I worked as an Alumni Career Counselor for Penn State Alumni Career Services while completing my doctoral studies.
Following graduate school at Penn State, I was employed by the University as the Assistant Director for The Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs. Currently, I work alongside the Assistant Dean for Graduate Educational Equity and play a significant role in the University’s efforts to recruit a diverse graduate applicant pool and increase retention of underrepresented minority graduate students across the university. In addition, I work with the Assistant Dean to design, administer, coordinate and evaluate comprehensive recruitment programs and retention activities that enhance the professional development of underrepresented graduate students, including mentoring and networking programs, and professional development conferences, seminars, and workshops.
Please list honors, awards, and professional achievements
My research interests cover the intersections of race, supervision and counseling practices. I have co-authored an article focusing on racial/ethnic differences in transitional vocational rehabilitation. I also coauthored two book chapters which focused on clinical supervision in rehabilitation counseling practice and addressing the challenges of people with disabilities. I was a Holmes Scholar throughout my entire academic tenure as a graduate student at Penn State and I also received the R. Mae Shultz Scholarship, from August 2013-2016, from the College of Education.