J. Kelly Coker, PhD, MBA, LCMHC, QLS, BC-TMH, NCC
Position:
Professor of Counseling and Faculty Director of Assessment and Student Learning Outcomes
Contact Information:
kcoker@paloaltou.eduFaculty Status:
Full Time Core
Programs:
Master's
Education:
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from UNC-Greensboro (CACREP Accredited)
MBA from Walden University
MA in Agency Counseling from Appalachian State University (CACREP Accredited)
Biography:
Dr. Kelly Coker (she/her/hers) is a professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and also serves as the Faculty Director of Assessment and Student Learning Outcomes at PAU. Dr. Coker has been a counselor educator for more years than she can count and as part of this work, has published and presented a lot. She loves to encourage emerging counselors to be their best selves and to always strive to meet their clients where they are. Dr. Coker is particularly excited these days by considering how lifespan development through a cultural and contextual lens can directly inform our work with clients. On a personal note, she is also a fierce and loyal wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt, and friend. She believes in advocacy, taking an anti-racist stance in education, society, and life, and acknowledges that she is humbly still learning, growing, and evolving.
Areas of Interest:
Online learning, Tele-mental health counseling, Assessment and Accreditation in Higher Education, Lifespan Development
Talks and Lectures:
Coker, J. K., Cannon, K. B., Dixon-Saxon, S., & Roller, K. (April 20, 2022). Rethinking Lifespan Development [Audio Podcast, M. Lamar, Producer]. Retrieved from: https://concept.paloaltou.edu/resources/the-thoughtful-counselor-podcast.
Creating a Culture of Assessment: Collaboration between two Academic Departments. 60 Minute Presentation. Presented at the WASC Accreditation Resource Conference (ARC). San Francisco, CA. (Coker & Gomez) April 2022
Online Deliberate Pedagogy: Experiences of Students Learning Counseling Skills Virtually. Presented at the Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference (Chen, Coker, & Wathen) Feb. 2022
The Consideration of Lifespan Development Through a Cultural and Contextual Lens. 80 Minute Panel Discussion. (Coker, Dixon-Saxon, Cannon & Roller). Accepted presentation for ACES Conference. Atlanta, GA. Oct. 2021
Translating Counseling Skills Training: Technology and Pedagogy for the Quality Virtual Classroom. 50 Minute Education Session. (Chen, Wathen, & Coker). Accepted presentation for ACES Conference. Atlanta, GA. Oct. 2021
The Past, Present, and Future of Online Counselor Education. Keynote Panel at the Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference (Snow, Coker, & Hinkle). Feb. 2021
Students' Experiences of In-person and Online Clinical Residencies: Outcomes from a qualitative study. Presented at the Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference (Chen, Coker, Sheperis & Wathen). Feb. 2021
Distance Counselor Education: Past, Present, and Future Presentation for ACES National Conference Seattle, WA (Coker & Snow). Oct. 2020
Distance Counselor Education: Past, Present and Future Accepted Presentation for ACES National Conference Seattle, WA (Coker & Snow). Oct. 2019
Transparent counseling pedagogy (TCP) and other best- practices for techniques-based courses Presentation for CMHC and Beyond Virtual Conference-The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Virtual (Coker & Thompson), April 2019
Measuring student learning in CACREP accredited counseling programs: Beginning with the end in mind Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES) conference. (Coker & Sheperis) Santa Rose, CA. Nov. 2018
Student Learning Outcomes: Necessary but not Sufficient Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) conference. (Sheperis & Coker)
Richmond, VA, Sept. 2018
Selected Publications:
Coker, J. K., Cannon, K., Dixon-Saxon, S., & Roller, K. (2022). Lifespan development: Contextual and cultural dimensions. Springer Publishing Company.
Bond, J. C., & Coker, J. K. (2022). The impact of twin separation on adult experiences. Journal
of Human Services, 41(1), 10-21.
Simmons, R., Coker, J. K., Hanks, B., Sheperis, D., & Bohecker, L., (2021). Mothering identity experiences: A backwards glance. The
Family Journal, 1-9.
Coker, J. K., Snow, W., & Hinkle, S. (2021). The past, present and future of online counselor education. Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision, 1(1), 39-41.
Chen, S. Y., Coker, J. K., Wathen, C., & Sheperis, D. (2021). Effects of clinical skills training: Technology and pedagogy for the quality virtual classroom. Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision, 1(1) 49-52.
Ju, J., Merrell-James, R., Coker, J. K., Ghoston, M., Casado Perez, J., & Field, T. (2020). Recruiting, supporting, retaining underrepresented doctoral students from diverse backgrounds. The Professional Counselor, 10(4), 581-602.
Snow, W.H. & Coker, J. K., (2020). Distance education: Past, present and future. The Professional Counselor, 10(1), 40-56.
Sheperis, D., Coker, J. K., Haag, E., & Salem-Peace, F. (2020). Online counselor education: A student-faculty collaboration. The Professional Counselor, 10(1), 133-143.
Russo, J., Coker, J. K., King, J. H. (2017). DSM-5 and Family Systems. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.Snow, W.H. & Coker, J. K., (2020). Distance education: Past, present and future. The Professional Counselor, 10(1), 40-56.
Sheperis, D., Coker, J. K., Haag, E., & Salem-Peace, F. (2020). Online counselor education: A student-faculty collaboration. The Professional Counselor, 10(1), 133-143.
Coker, J. K. & Dixon-Saxon, S. (2020). Counseling in clinical mental health and private practice settings. In D. Capuzzi and D. R. Gross (Eds.). Introduction to the Counseling Profession (8th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Dixon-Saxon, S. & Coker, J. K. (2019). Stress and trauma: Coping in today’s society. In D. Capuzzi and D. R. Gross (Eds.). Youth at Risk: A Prevention Resource for Counselors, Teachers, and Parents (7th ed). Alexandria, VA: .American Counseling Association.
Coker, J. K., & Dixon-Saxon, S. (2019). Curriculum development in counselor education. In L. R. Haddock and J. S. Whitman (Eds). Preparing the Educator in Counselor Education: A Comprehensive Guide to Building Knowledge and Developing Skills. New York, NY: Routledge.
Russo, J., Coker, J. K., King, J. H. (2017). DSM-5 and Family Systems. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Websites and Other Relevant Links:
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) www.cacrep.org
PAU Department of Counseling Homepage