Counseling Faculty

Pamela A. Cogdal Chair and Clinical Professor Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1989 pcogdal@memphis.edu Research: Career and work-life balance, practice outcomes, assessment, suicide prevention, and couples/relationship issues. Dr. Cogdal is the Chair of the Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research Department and the Counseling Division Director.
Michelle Brasfield Associate Professor Ed.D., University of Memphis, 2015 rmwelch@memphis.edu Research: Burnout and vicarious traumatization, wellness intervention, college and career readiness, and creative counseling for youth. Dr. Brasfield is Coordinator of the School Counseling program.
Melanie Burgess Assistant Professor Ph.D., Old Dominion University, 2019 M.Burgess@memphis.edu Research: School counselor preparation and clinical supervision, evidence-based practices in PK-12 settings, and assessment. Dr. Burgess is Co-Coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Claire Dempsey Associate Clinical Professor Ed.D., University of Memphis, 2015 mcwllams@memphis.edu Research: Child sexual abuse prevention, coping skills of child sexual abuse survivors, women with fertility roadblocks, and collaboration between school and clinical mental health counseling. Dr. Dempsey is the Counseling Practicum and Internship Coordinator.
Frances Ellmo Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Memphis, 2020 fellmo@memphis.edu Research: Stigma related to addiction and justice-involved client populations, as well as counselor training in this area. Additional research interests include trauma-informed care and creative therapeutic interventions.
Taneshia Greenidge Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Florida, 2019 tgrnidge@memphis.edu Dr. Greenidge is the Co-Coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Patrick D. Murphy Assistant Professor Ph.D., Auburn University, 2018 pdmurphy@memphis.edu Research: Counselor training and supervision, especially around multicultural competencies with a focus on intersections of identities. Additional research interests include engaging with veterans/military personnel with counseling and crisis intervention.
Eraina Schauss Associate Professor Ph.D., George Washington University, 2011 eschauss@memphis.edu Research: Child cognitive, behavioral, emotional and neurodevelopment, family systems therapy, career development and coaching. Dr. Schauss is the Coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The Brain Lab
Steven L. West Professor Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2000 slwest@memphis.edu Research: Access to care, substance misuse and addiction, military and veteran health, moral injuries, and disability science. Dr. West is the Coordinator of the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling program, and Coordinator of the Disability Support Services certificate program. West Lab
Stephen Zanskas Associate Dean and Professor Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2007 szanskas@memphis.edu Research: Development of consultation skills in graduate rehabilitation counseling education programs, psychosocial aspects of disability, and professional issues. Dr. Zanskas is the Interim Dean for the College of Education.