Dr. Akay-Sullivan has worked in several clinical settings with a variety of age groups including young children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in helping individuals to recover from maladaptive perfectionism, anxiety, and trauma. As a Registered Play Therapist, Dr. Akay-Sullivan also enjoys helping caregivers to gain better parenting skills and improve their relationships with their children. Dr. Akay-Sullivan’s research areas include effectiveness of trauma-focused interventions such as Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), effectiveness of play therapy, treatment of maladaptive perfectionism, and the use of psychophysiological tools in counseling.
Dr. Julie Combs
Julie Peterson Combs is Professor of Educational Leadership at Sam Houston State University. Previously, she served as a school principal and teacher at award-winning public schools. She teaches Academic Writing, Research Methods, Proposal, and Leadership Theory to doctoral students and supervises dissertation research. In addition to maintaining an active research agenda, she has co-authored The Trust Factor 2nd ed. (Routledge) and Foundations of Academic Writing 2nd ed. (ICPEL Publications). She was most recently recognized as Distinguished Professor.
Dr. Matthew Fuller
Dr. Matthew Fuller is a Professor of Higher Education Leadership and Director of the Doctoral Program in Higher Education Leadership at Sam Houston State University. He is also the Director of the Center for Assessment, Research, and Educational Safety (C.A.R.E.S.) at Sam Houston State University. Dr. Fuller has worked in higher education since the 1990s in a variety of administrative and professorial capacities. Dr. Fuller’s research interests focus on culture and leadership in educational organizations, threat assessment, assessment and accountability, law, behavioral intervention, and educational safety. Since 2005, he has served as the Principal Investigator of the Survey of Assessment Culture, an international, longitudinal survey of higher education faculty, administrators, and student affairs staff members’ perspectives on cultures of assessment. As Director of C.A.R.E.S., he leads a team of researchers in developing research on educational safety and threat assessment models. He is the PI on a statewide, census-style study of Texas educators’ needs pertaining to educational safety and victims’ services. Dr. Fuller has also advised policy makers on scholarly works and research into school and university safety, legal issues, history of higher education, and financial aid policy. He has authored numerous books, monographs, and articles and presented on a variety of topics throughout his career.
Dr. Yvonne Garza-Chaves
Yvonne Garza-Chaves received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of North Texas with a specialty in Play Therapy. She is currently a full professor, and her current service post is doctoral director of the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She has 28 years of clinical experience working with children and families in the areas of both outpatient and inpatient mental health, to include work with juvenile offenders, children and adolescents in schools, and contract work with cancer patients. She has served on the board of the local, and state, play therapy associations and is on several committees for the national play therapy association. Dr. Garza-Chaves has consulted with half a dozen school districts in Texas, has been a guest lecturer across universities, and serves as a mentor to many doctoral students. Dr. Garza-Chaves has published in state and national journals and has been an invited lecturer/researcher across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She has been a past recipient of the TCA Professional Writing Award and a past recipient of the TAPT Nancy Guillory Award. Her research interests include play therapy, sandtray therapy, multicultural counseling, and supervision.
Dr. Megan Garzaglass
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, certified early childhood–12th grade special education teacher and certified school counselor. I have my master’s degree in counseling and my PhD in counselor education and supervision. I have provided counseling services for nearly 7 years. I have worked with all types of races, populations and ages children- adults. I have worked with youth and young adults for approximately 25 years in school, residential treatment, private care, and outpatient settings. I have experience with experiential and person-centered therapy, have used ARET techniques for over 4 years and am the creator and founder of Aquatic Relational Experiential Therapy. Some of my specialties are working with adults focusing on life coaching as well as working with athletes and focusing on life blocks to personal performance. I have worked with families and youth for over 15 years and also developed and organized parent trainings. I believe everyone is capable of creating their own future and with the correct tools, support and commitment to self, anything is possible. My Pronouns- She, her, hers
Dr. Janene Hemmen
Janene W. Hemmen, Ed.D. has served since 2018 as the Program Coordinator for the School Leadership with Principal Certification program at Sam Houston State University. Prior to the program coordinator position, she was an adjunct for the program starting in 2011. Dr. Hemmen earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Secondary Teacher Education minor at Iowa State University in 1984, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification from Sam Houston State University in 2004, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University in 2009. Education and literacy have always been passions for Dr. Hemmen. Her formal educational career began as a secondary English teacher in Texas. She served secondary English students in three school districts over the course of 12 years. During this time, she worked as a Department Chair, Professional Development/Teacher Support Teacher Leader and Professional Development Consultant. These roles helped develop Dr. Hemmen’s leadership understandings and skills as well as her understandings of early literacy development and teacher and school leader coaching.
Dr. Susan Henderson
Dr. Henderson has worked in a variety of clinical settings to help individuals, couples, and families. Her research interests involve helping others fulfill their potential, whether that be clients or students. Dr. Henderson’s research is focused on family related topics such as improving family functioning and the interaction of mental health issues (e.g., suicide, substance use) and family relationships (e.g., attachment). She is also interested in helping improve the effectiveness of future counselors as this relates to supervision and training. Finally, she is interested in giving a voice to those who are marginalized (i.e., groups excluded due to race, religion, gender, age, or cultural).
Dr. Peggy Holzweiss
Peggy C. Holzweiss is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership department at Sam Houston State University and holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the faculty, she served in higher education administrative positions for 18 years in the areas of student activities, student government, residence life, campus programming, assessment, and academic affairs. Her research interests include playful instruction, distance education, and professional development for higher education administrators. Dr. Holzweiss has been recognized with a variety of awards including a Teaching and Learning Catalyst Award from Anthology, SAAHE Educator of the Year from Texas A&M University, the College of Education Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching from Sam Houston State University, an Outstanding Staff Award from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, the Randy Matson ’67 Association of Former Students Award from the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M, and three NASPA Excellence Awards.
Dr. Maribeth Jorgensen
Dr. Maribeth F. Jorgensen is a counselor educator, licensed and board-certified counselor, and serves as Director of Clinics and Centers. She primarily teaches research methods, family systems, community counseling, internship, practicum, and law and ethics. Dr. Jorgensen believes it is imperative to remain connected to the clinical field, so she maintains an active caseload. She conducts and disseminates research on topics such as researcher identity development, grief and loss, sport counseling, and law and ethics.
Dr. Cynthia Martinez-Garcia
Dr. Cynthia Martinez-Garcia is a Professor at Sam Houston State University in the Educational Leadership Department. She has been in academia for the past 16 years. Currently, she serves as the Educational Leadership Doctoral Director and Superintendent Coordinator. During her tenure at SHSU, she has served as the Principal Coordinator and as an Assistant Department Chair. Prior to becoming a professor, she served as a Texas Elementary Assistant Principal and Teacher for 10 years. In 2007, she was awarded the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association’s Assistant Principal of the Year for Region 2. She is a certified Texas Reading Teacher (Grades 1-8), Bilingual/ESL Spanish Teacher (Grades 1-8), Principal (PK-12), and Superintendent (EC-12). Her dissertation on Texas teacher turnover was a top 10 Dissertation Finalists for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education/ETS Dissertation Competition in 2008. Her research interests focus on teacher/principal development, growth, mentoring, retention, and success, student achievement, and diversity in education/academia. As a first generation student and a student of color, she is passionate about assisting and mentoring other first generation and underrepresented students. She credits her success as an educator and professor to her mentors who have encouraged and assisted in her educational and academic journey.
Dr. Ricardo Montelongo
Ricardo Montelongo, Ph. D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Sam Houston State University. He teaches in the Higher Education Administration, Higher Education Leadership, and Developmental Education Administration programs. Ricardo’s primary research interests include college student involvement; the impact of Latina/o/x college student organizations; diversity issues in higher education; and spirituality in higher education. He also studies (critical) digital pedagogy and online teaching and learning. He has twenty years professional administrative experience in student success, academic advising, academic enhancement, Student Support Services/TRiO, institutional research, career development and residence life. He received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University and a M.S. in Student Affairs Administration and B.S. in Psychology both from Texas A&M University. Dr. Montelongo is active in ACPA College Student Educators International and was co-chair of its Latinx Network from 2011-2013. His personal website is located at https://ricmontelongo.com
Dr. Seth Olson
Dr. Olson has been a counselor educator for over 15 years. He also has been a licensed counselor for over 10 years. Dr. Olson is passionate about clinical practice, particularly in the areas of couples counseling, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Olson focuses his research in areas related to mental health practice such as state licensure reciprocity, issues of professional competence, and impact of anxiety on marital satisfaction. Seth Olson CV
Dr. Clare Resilla
Dr. Clare A. Resilla is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership. Her research interests focus on Emergent Bilingual students’ academic achievement and women in educational leadership. She authored two book publications and several research manuscripts on Emergent Bilingual. She is an Editorial Advisory Board Member of the Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Research and Evaluation and an Editor of Korero Journal. Dr. Resilla is an executive board member of the United Federation of Filipino-American Educators, Houston Chapter. She was a former school principal in Houston, Texas. Dr. Resilla was named the 2022 Sam Houston State University’s Distinguished Educator of the Year.
Dr. Kathleen Rice
Dr. Kathleen Brown Rice is a Licensed Professional Counselor (SD, TX), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NC), National Certified Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor. She has worked as a professional counselor in various clinical settings assisting clients with mental health, trauma, and substance abuse issues. Dr. Rice’s research focuses on counselor supervision and training with an emphasis in ethical considerations, the implications of historical/generational trauma, and the impact of substance abuse on individuals, families, and the community. She also incorporates the use of biomarkers in her research to understand emotional regulation, risky behaviors, and resiliency.
Dr. Patrick Saxon
Dr. D. Patrick Saxon is a Professor in the Educational Leadership Department. He served as the Developmental Education Administration Doctoral Program Director for more than 10 years. He has published extensively in the field of developmental education and is a coauthor of the book Attaining Excellence in Developmental Education. He serves on the Journal of College Reading and Learning Editorial Review Board and is a Fellow of the Council for Learning Assistance and Developmental Education Associations. His research interests include developmental education and corequisite course efficacy and cost, as well as student academic and affective support services. He has served as a Title III External Evaluator, and has performed consultant and evaluation studies of developmental education and support service programs at several higher education institutions over the years.
Dr. Gabriela Silvestre
Dr. Silvestre received her doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh in Administrative and Policy Studies in Education with a concentration in Higher Education. She also has a master’s degree in International and Development in Education, from the University of Pittsburgh. She received a Fulbright Scholarship from 1999 through 2001, so she can pursue her master’s degree. Gabriela Silvestre has held leadership and teaching positions for over fifteen years in various institutions. She is currently a master’s Program Coordinator and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Higher Education Administration Program at Sam Houston State University. Dr. Silvestre worked at different universities, such as Saint Cloud State (MN) (Master’s Coordinator and Co-Director of TPI), at the University of Pittsburgh (PA), and internationally, at Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Argentina), where she was the Director of the Pre-University Degrees and Laboratory Schools. Dr. Silvestre is firmly committed to promote the success of BIPOC students in higher education. She identifies as Latina within the Latinx complex, and she is originally from Argentina. Her pronouns are She/Her/Hers/ Ella.
Dr. Jeffrey M. Sullivan
Greetings! I’m Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan and have been a faculty member at SHSU since 2011. I earned my LPC in 2011 and am currently an LPC-Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist. I follow a social constructivist approach to counseling, focusing on solution-focused and narrative strategies, while also implementing responsive matching, adjusting my approach to best meet client needs. My teaching and supervision style is student-centered, focused on helping students build upon their strengths to meet their professional goals. My research interests are driven by my personal, professional, and clinical curiosity, and include understanding issues of play therapy and counseling through a post-modern lens using both quantitative and qualitative research designs.
