CRER Phone Directory

Dr. Daniel Lustig, Ph.D, CRC, is the Director for the Center for Rehabilitation and Employment Research, as well as Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research at The University of Memphis. Prior to his current employment he taught at Auburn University in the Department of Rehabilitation and Special Education, worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist with the Veterans Administration, and as a vocational evaluator with the State of Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation and the Milwaukee Center for Independence.

Dr. Lustig is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and continues to provide vocational expertise in a consulting capacity to several local and federal agencies. Dr. Lustig has published over fifty articles related to topics in rehabilitation counseling.

Dr. Stephan Zanskas, Ph.D., CRC, is the Co-Director the Center for Rehabilitation and Employment Research, as well as Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research at The University of Memphis. He earned his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from Michigan State University.  He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan and Wisconsin and a nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.  Dr. Zanskas has extensive experience as a rehabilitation counselor in private for profit, non-profit, and public employment settings. He has held employment as a work adjustment specialist, vocational evaluator, job placement specialist, hospital based rehabilitation counselor, chemical dependency counselor, therapist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, clinical supervisor and administrator.  His research interests include psychosocial adjustment to disability, disability management, ethics, and professional issues.

Dr. Richard K. James, PhD, is a Professor in the Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research Department, and the Program Coordinator of the School Counseling concentration at the University of Memphis. Dr. James provides extensive counseling experience and psychological assessment expertise to the Center. Prior to his roles at the University of Memphis, Dr. James worked both as a School Counselor in Illinois and as a Counselor in the Federal Correction System and community mental health centers, and served as the Director of a nationally validated Title III ESEA program for the socially mal-adjusted and emotionally disturbed children. Aside from his work at the Center and as a Professor, Dr. James is involved extensively with school counseling programs in Tennessee and trains police officers in Crisis Intervention with the mentally ill. Dr. James has published a number of articles related to School Counseling and Crisis Intervention, including the acclaimed book Crisis Intervention Strategies, and co-authored one of the most used Counseling Theories textbook, Counseling and Psychotherapy.

Dr. David F. Roberts, PhD, CRC, CVE is the Coordinator for the Training and Technical Assistance Project at the Center. As the Coordinator, Dr. Roberts conducts research as well as designs in-service training for the Department of Rehabilitation Services staff. Prior to his role at the University of Memphis, Dr. Roberts provided the state of Tennessee his expertise in Vocational Rehabilitation as the State Director for the Tennessee Technology Access Project, which implemented state-wide assistive technology programs for persons with disabilities. Dr. Roberts served as the Director of Rehabilitation and Vocational Evaluation in Amarillo, Texas, and prior to his duties as the director, he worked as a Vocational Evaluator and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Texas. Dr. Roberts has published over a dozen articles and presented papers related to Rehabilitation Counseling and Rehabilitation Education throughout his career; he maintains his affiliations with several professional Rehabilitation Associations, including serving as board member for one and journal editor for another.

Dr. Lavonnie Perry Claybon, Ph.D. is the Director of the Mid-South Access Center for Technology, where she is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and evaluating a comprehensive Assistive Technology Program that provides services to individuals of all ages with disabilities. For over 27 years, Dr. Perry Claybon has worked as an expert in the fields of education, human development, budgetary management, assistive technology, and professional development and training. She has presented at local and national conferences in her various fields of experience. Her publications include an article on diversity and an interview published in the HR Executive Magazine. Aside from her work in human resources, assistive technology, and human development and job training, Dr. Perry Claybon has taught land-based classroom and online classes with focal points on education technology, teacher education, research, and learning disabilities for the University of Memphis, George Washington University, and Drexel University.

Tommy Winston, Jr. M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling, is a Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Specialist with several years of experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation. He has experience with working with individuals with disabilities. That population includes individuals with hearing impairments, visual impairments, and various physical and/or psychosocial disabilities. Prior to coming to Memphis, Tommy worked with individuals with disabilities in the states of Mississippi and Arkansas. Currently, Tommy works at Mid-South Access Center for Technology with individuals who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities to access tasks using assistive technology strategies and/or devices.

Mary Washington, M.A. CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience in various settings, including public schools, hospitals, clinics, and early intervention. She has experience with both children and adults with various speech/language disorders, including oral motor disorders, mealtime/feeding, severe speech impairments, non-verbal disorders, autism, and verbal apraxia of speech. She worked with children with a variety of disabilities (including cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and stroke) at the Shrine School. Her primary interests are early language development, augmentative communication, assistive technology, and apraxia of speech. Ms. Washington retired from Memphis City Schools, where she served as chairperson of the Assistive Technology Team. She was published several articles and presented at regional and national conferences. She maintains a professional membership in the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association and the Special Interest Division 12, Augmentative-Alternative Communication. Ms. Washington earned her Bachelor of Science Education and Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Memphis.