Dr. Gibson: 2020 ACA Extended Research Award recipient
Donna M. Gibson, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, interim associate dean for academic affairs, department chair and professor in the Department of Counseling and Special Education, will receive the American Counseling Association’s Extended Research Award for 2020.
The Extended Research Award recognizes an ACA member who has conducted and published high-quality basic or applied research over an extended period of time on issues of significance and interest to the counseling profession. For over a decade, Dr. Gibson’s research interests and publications have included a focus on leadership and professional identity development specific to the counseling profession.
"My research provided empirical support for developmental processes related to the professional and leadership identity of counselors, students, and educators. Parallels were observed in the development of both counselors and counseling leaders that led me to provide recommendations for training, mentorship, and professional development. In essence, it explained how counselors find meaning in what they do and how they do it in the profession. Finally, it validated that leaders grow from their professional identity as counselors when they engage in their professional community and organizations," said Gibson.
The ACA is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. It is the world's largest association, with over 50,000 members, exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings.
Gibson will be recognized at the ACA 2020 Conference & Expo in San Diego, April 16-19.