Research & Projects

Current Research

“Exploring self-efficacy as it relates to career development for youth of color in poverty."

Matthew Diemer, Ph.D.
Aaron Smith (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Lily Ortega (1st year M.A. Counseling Student)

Faculty and student’s presented at the Great Lakes Regional Counseling Psychology Conference at Ball State University on March 27 & 28, 2009:

“Understanding the Influence of Sexual Identity on Help-Seeking Behavior and Service Delivery Process”

Monique Padilla (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.

“University Athletes’ Psychological Status:  A Study of The Effect of Demographics, Sport, and Athletic Program”

Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.
Brian T. Stevens (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Astin D. Steward

“The Multiculturally Competent Training Program:  Rethinking Training Environments at the Macro-level”

Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.

“Fostering Resilience within the Urban School Setting”

Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.
Sharea Ayers (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)

“Adult-Child Sexual Contact:  Examining the Impact from a Developmental Perspective”

Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.
Shavonne Moore (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Lisa Pohl (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Kristen Zupek (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)

“The Religious Trainee:  A Training Asset or Liability?”

Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.
Aaron V. Smith (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Chelsea L. Greer (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Molly Heyn (Western Michigan University-doctoral student)

“Counselor Trainees with International Origins:  Identifying Components of Cross-culturally Sensitive Training Environments":

Robbie J. Steward, Ph.D.
Kaiyao Ni (1st year M.A. Counseling Student)

Presented at the 2009 American Counseling Association Conference in Charlotte, NC on >March 19-23, 2009:

”Acculturation Experiences of University International Students:  A Study of Inter-group Comparisons”

Douglas M. Neil, Ph.D.
Saliha Kozan (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student)
Gitima Sharma (2nd year M.A. Counseling Student/unable to attend conference)
Kaiyao Ni (1st year M.A. Counseling Student/unable to attend conference)

Dr. Diemer has successfully obtained several grants over the past year. Several of his grants include: Co-Principal Investigator.

• Development of the Work Volition Scale. (2008-2009). Funded by the American Psychological Foundation: Counseling Psychology Fund ($1,500). (Principal investigator R.D. Duffy; Co- investigator J.C. Perry).

Principal Investigator

• Predicting vocational interest-college major correspondence among youth of color in poverty using the Kuder Career Search with Person Match. (2007-2008) Funded by Kuder, Incorporated Research Grant Program ($7,550). (Co-investigators Q. Wang & A.V. Smith).

Co-Investigator.

• Midwest Regional Educational Laboratory (MREL): Using multiple levels of data to address educational issues in the region. (2007-2009). Funded by Learning Points Associates ($1,068,898). (Principal Investigator/Project Director B. Schneider).

Second-year Counseling student, Kristin Zupek, is currently doing her practicum at Holt Junior High School. Under the supervision of Jann Lehman, Kristin and her research team received a $1,500 grant for the development of a comprehensive program to connect at-risk students, (specifically K-8), and their families to school. The program is sponsored by the Holt Public School District offering sessions at Holt Junior High School on Monday nights beginning in January.

Areas of Research

Dr. Robbie Steward

Her research interests focus on counseling supervision, identifying trainee and training environment variables associated with facilitating the development of optimal levels of counseling competence; multicultural counseling/training, and academic persistence and success of at-risk students.

Areas Of Expertise:

• Counseling supervision
• Influence of race and culture in psychology
• Academic persistence/success

Dr. Matthew Diemer

His research examines the impact of sociopolitical and cultural forces on adolescents, with a particular focus on the development of critical consciousness. He is currently exploring the applications of critical consciousness to facilitate the career development of oppressed groups. His work also explores career development among diverse populations and constructions of work and educational opportunity among urban adolescents.

Areas Of Expertise:

• Counselor training and supervision
• Influence of race and cultural issues in psychology
• Career development
• Critical theory and pedagogy
• Social justice

Dr. Douglas Neil

His research interests include predictors of racial identity and attitude development, the relationship between ego-identity and racial identity development, counselor supervision, and multicultural counseling and training. He is currently exploring the constructs of white racial identity development and white racial consciousness.

Areas Of Expertise:

• Counselor supervision
• Multicultural counselor development
• White racial attitudes and consciousness
• Ego-identity formation

Aside from their individual research interest, the Counseling Program faculty are also involved in Programmatic Research.

Previous Projects

Diemer, M.A., Wang, Q. & Smith, A.V. (2008, August). Vocational interests and college major selection among Youth of Color in Poverty. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Ray, G.C. & Diemer, M.A. (2008, June). College Insider: An online resource for students, parents and school counselors. Poster presented at Michigan School Counselor Association's Nuts and Bolts Conference, East Lansing, MI

.Diemer, M.A. (2008, March). Societal constraints & individual resources in the career development of Youth of Color in Poverty. In N. Fouad (Chair)., Contextual influences in Vocational Psychology: A 3-D Model. Symposium held at the International Counseling Psychology Conference, Chicago, IL.

Diemer, M.A. (2008, March). Sociopolitical development and occupational attainment among Poor Youth of Color. Poster presented at the International Counseling Psychology Conference, Chicago, IL.

Kedzior, C. (2008).  The effects of divorce, separation and marital conflict elementary and middle school students from a school counselor's perspective:  A qualitative study.  Poster presentation at the Michigan School Counselor Association (MSCA) Nuts and Bolts Conference.  Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI, June 6.

Moore, S. (2008).  The interpersonal impacts of sexual assault on adolescents.  Poster presentation at the Michigan School Counselor Association ()MSCA) Nuts and Bolts Conference.  Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI, June 6.