Sheila Witherspoon PhD

About: 

Dr. Sheila Witherspoon is a veteran academic program leader, counselor educator and supervisor, and online teaching and learning expert in instructional design, course development, and subject matter expert who teaches, designs, and develops curricula and Key Performance Indicators for CACREP-accredited programs to support the learning outcomes of master’s and doctoral-level learners for face-to-face, hybrid, and online delivery. Dr. Witherspoon has also been a liaison for the accreditation board, CACREP, a fieldwork coordinator, and a former professional school counselor who provides an environment for pre-service school and clinical mental health counselors to grow and develop their counseling dispositions.

Dr. Witherspoon’s research interest is in online teaching and learning in counselor education and supervision programs, with a special interest in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), of which she is an alumnus of one (With Bulldog Tenacity!) and HBCU faculty development professionals’ online teaching and learning training of HBCU pre-doctoral learners to explore how more African American online doctoral instructors affect African Americans online learner’s doctoral program completion.

Dr. Witherspoon gives back to her community by participating in counselor education, digital learning, and civic organizations such as the American Counseling Association, HBCU Faculty Development Network, New Brunswick Education Foundation (New Jersey), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Education: 

• Certificate of Graduate Study in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, University of South Carolina, 2006
• Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, University of South Carolina, Department of Education Studies, 2005
• M.Ed., Counselor Education, South Carolina State University, 1998
• B.A. Political Science, Pre-Law, South Carolina State College, 1987

Classes Teaching: 

Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling I

Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling II

Professional Associations: 

• American Counseling Association
• Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors
• American School Counseling Association
• Black Doctoral Network
• Center for Innovative Faculty Development, Southern Regional Education Board
• HBCU Faculty Development Network
• New Brunswick Education Foundation (NJ)

Publications: 

• Witherspoon, S. & Wright, L. (2017). Organizational Change and Online Education at HBCUs: Mentoring Supportive and Resistant Faculty. Edited Chapter in Faculty Mentorship at Historically Black Colleges/Universities, Dr. Cassandra Sligh Conway