Tonya Davis, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCSP

Department Chair, Associate Professor

Research interests:

Psychological /Psychoeducational Assessment, Biometrics, Health disparities, Technology/Virtual Reality Interventions and Mental Health, Strength-based coaching.

Education

• B.S., Sociology, Auburn University
• M.S., Counseling Psychology, Alabama A&M University
• M.A., Educational Psychology/School Psychometry, University of Alabama
• Ph.D., School of Psychology, University of Alabama

Courses Taught:

• Professional Orientation and Ethics
• Counseling Techniques
• Personality Assessment

Leatha Bennett, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Research interests:

Racial Micro-aggressions, Early language development, School readiness/ Learning Theories

Education

• B.S., Psychology, Tougaloo College
• M.S., Developmental Psychology, The Ohio State University
• Ph.D., Washington State University

Courses Taught:

• Lifespan Developmental
• Personality Theories

Shannon LaFramboise, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Research Interests:

Influences of diagnosis/mental distress on higher levels of care, perceptions of practicing professionals in the field of psychology, trauma-informed approaches to care and treatment, understanding the impact of trauma, exploring factors influencing domestic violence, and suicide prevention and intervention

Education

• B.S., Psychology/Faulkner University
• M.A., Clinical Psychology/Austin Peay State University
• Ph.D., Counseling Psychology/Tennessee State University

Courses Taught:

• General Psychology
• History and Systems
• Seminar in Psychology

Adrienne Vaughan-Parham

Undergraduate Coordinator, Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Retention and Student Success on First Experience HBCU Students, Organizational Development/Consumer Motivation, Qualitative Measures of Intimacy & Infidelity in Marriage, Implications of Mens Mental Health on Academic Performace, Social Justice Factors Impacting African American Women, Qualitative Measures of Resiliency on Professional Black Women.

Education

• B.S., Psychology, Oakwood University
• M.S., Counseling Psychology, Alabama A&M University
• Ed. D., Counseling Psychology

Courses Taught:

• Behavioral and Inferential Statistics - Elementary Statistics
• Research Psychology
• Experimental Psychology
• Group Dynamics, Counseling Techniques

Jo Lauren Weaver, Ph.D., LPC, NCC

Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Mindfulness-based interventions, adolescent and young adult social media use, restorative justice in schools, perinatal mental health, creativity in counseling and counselor education.

Education

• B.A., English, University of Alabama
• M.S., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of South Alabama
• Ph.D., Counseling and Counselor Education, University of Florida

Courses Taught:

• Group Dynamics
• Professional Orientation and Ethics
• Psychopharmacology
• Practicum
• Internship I

Dr. Lillian Smith

Education

Assistant Professor

• B.S., Communicative Disorders, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
• M.S., Counseling Psychology, Alabama A& M University, Normal, AL
• Ph.D., Professional Counseling, Mississippi College, Clinton, MS

Courses Taught

• Intro to Rehabilitation Counseling
• Medical & Psychological Aspects of Rehab
• Counseling Internship

Derrica Battle, Ph.D.

Education

Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator

• B.S. Psychology , University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of North Carolina at Pembroke 
• Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Courses Taught

• Professional Orientation in Counseling
• Counseling Internship

Courtney Potts

Assistant Professor

Education

• B.A. Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
• M.A. Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
• Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Courses Taught

• Jobs Placement & Development
• Vocational Assessment
• Case Management
• Research & program Evaluation in Counseling

Kawana Williams, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Education

• B.A., Music, Fisk University, Nashville, TN
• M.A., Community Counseling, St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL
• Ph.D., Counseling Education and Supervision, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL

Courses Taught