EXPERTISE
School Counseling Professional Identity
Social Justice Advocacy
Social/Emotional Learning
Wellness
FACULTY PROFILE
"I am an Assistant Professor for the Counseling Masters’ Program (School Counseling) in the Division of Psychology and Counseling. I received my Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of South Carolina in May 2016 and my Ed.S. in Counselor Education in January 2000 also from the University of South Carolina. Prior to becoming a counselor educator, I was a National Board-Certified School Counselor serving as a middle and high school counselor as well as a director of school counseling for 16 years.
My research and scholarship areas of interests include social justice advocacy, social and emotional development, wellness, school counseling professional identity, and the use of data in creating comprehensive school counseling programs. I have presented at various state and national professional conferences to bring about an awareness of these important topics to both school counselors in-practice and in-training.
Currently, I serve on the Professional School Counseling Journal Editorial Review Board, the ASCA RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) Review Team, and the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis School Counseling National Advisory Committee. Additionally, I am a member of various professional organizations including the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES), the Illinois School Counseling Association (ISCA), and the Illinois Counseling Association (ISA)."
- Leonis S. Wright
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Hannor-Walker, T., Pincus, R., Wright, L.S., Rock, W., Money-Brady, J. & Bohecker, L.(2022). School Counselors and Administrators Agree: Time and Testing are Barriers.
International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 18(2). 1-18.
Wright, L.S., Borland, J., & Can, A. (2022). Addressing the career needs of transgender and gender expansive students. Journal of Counseling in Illinois, 7(1). 61-70.
Pincus, R., Ebersol, D., Justice, J., Hannor-Walker, T., & Wright, L. (2021). School counselor roles for student success during a pandemic. Journal of School Counseling, 19(29). 1-35.
http:/www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v19n29.pdf
Pincus, R., Hannor-Walker, T., Wright, L.S., & Justice, J. (2020). COVID-19’s Effect on students: How school counselors rise to the rescue. National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Bulletin 104(4) 241–256. DOI: 10.1177/0192636520975866
Wright, L.S. (2020). Understanding the call of social justice advocacy: A phenomenological study of high school counselors. Georgia School Counseling Association Journal. 25. 18-33.
BOOK CHAPTER
Witherspoon, S. & Wright, L.S. (2018). Organizational change and online education at HBCUs: Mentoring supportive and resistant faculty. In Faculty mentorship at historically Black colleges and universities. (pp. 243-263): IGI Global.
GRANT
Hollis, A.C. & Wright, L.S. (2019). 1890 Research and Extension Program at SC State University-Research Development Grant (RDG) Full Proposal Accepted on using Horticulture therapy program with at-risk youth by USDA/NIFA. $500,000.00 funded for three years.
ACCEPTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Wright, L.S. & Cheatham, C.B. (2022). COVID-19 and Beyond: Addressing Equity-Based Career Development. ISCA Conference. Tinley Park, IL.
Can, A., Cheatham, C.B., & Wright, L.S. (2022). Navigating the Road to the Doctoral Degree for School Counselors. ISCA Conference. Tinley Park, IL.
Wright, L.S., Borland, J., & Can, A. (2022). College & Career Readiness for LGBTQ Youth. ASCA Conference, Austin, Texas.
Wright, L.S., Borland, J., & Can, A. (2021). Career Development of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Students. ISCA Conference. Tinley Park, IL.
Can, A., Borland, J., & Wright, L.S. (2021). Addressing the Needs of Transgender Expansive Students’ Career Development: Practical Applications for School Counselors. ICA Conference, Lisle, IL.
Wright, L.S., Money-Brady, J., Justice, J, & Eberson, D. (2021). Promoting Mental Health While Advocating for School Counseling. ASCA Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Hollis, A.C., Wright, L.S., & Giddings, C. (2021). The Effects of Horticultural Therapy on At-Risk Youth Living in a Rural Community. American School Counseling (ACA) Conference, Virtual.
Wright, L.S. and Hollis, A.C. (2020). “Using HT to improve students' self-esteem, wellness, and resilience”. Palmetto State School Counselor Association (PSSCA) Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Felder, L., Wright, L.S., & Huger, D. (2020) “Job Search and Interviewing Tips for Graduate Students”. Palmetto State School Counselor Association (PSSCA) Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Wright, L.S. (2019). Why data? A closer look at the ASCA national model. ASCA Conference, Boston, Mass.
Wright, L.S. (2019). Why data? A closer look at the ASCA national model. SCCA Conference, Hilton Head, SC.
Cohen, M. and Wright, L.S. (2019). An innovation approach to group counseling: Loving self through literature. PSSCA Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Wright. L.S. (2018). Understanding the Call of Social Justice Advocacy. Southeastern Cross-Cultural Issues in Counseling and Education Conference, Savannah, Ga.
Wright, L.S. and Witherspoon S. (2018). School Counselors and Advocacy: Understanding the Impact of Data Driven Programs and School Climate, SACES Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Oberman, A. and Wright, L.S. (2018). Teaching the ASCA Model and the School Counselor-in-Training, SACES Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Wright, L.S. (2018). Why data? A closer look at the ASCA national model. PSSCA Annual Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC.
Evans, K. M., Cook, C., Gordon, L., Rogers, T., Wright, L.S., & Mosley, Y. (2015). How racial identity advocacy projects help students take action. Southeastern Cross-Cultural Issues in Counseling and Education Conference, Savannah, Ga.
Wright, L. S. & Mosley, Y. (2014). Creating New Generations of School Counselors: Empowering them to impact the World. Session presented at the annual Palmetto State School Counselor Association, Myrtle Beach, SC.
WEBINAR
Justice, J., Money-Brady, J., Pincus, R., Rock, W., & Wright, L.S., (2020, August 5). Tools and Considerations for School Counselors and Principals: Reopening after COVID-19 [Webinar]. ACES Secondary School Counselor Work group.