Dr. Kenya Bledsoe is an associate professor in counselor education at the University of Mississippi. Her research focuses on school counseling supervision, evidence-based school counseling, educational equity, and the professional development of school counselors. She also looks at anti-racist and socially just counseling practices, with a special focus on those approaches which aim to achieve equitable educational and mental health outcomes for historically marginalized and underrepresented students.
Research Interests
- School counselor professional identity development regarding school counselor supervision
- Evidence-based school counseling and the impact on underrepresented student groups
- Anti-racist school counseling instrument development
Biography
Dr. Bledsoe is an active member of numerous professional national, regional, and state counseling organizations, including the Evidenced Based School Counseling American School Counseling Association, the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling, the Magnolia State School Counseling, and the Mississippi Counseling Association. She serves on the editorial board for the Professional School Counselor journal. Dr. Bledsoe is an advisory council member for the Evidence-Based School Counseling Conference and serves as the 2024 Leadership Fellow. Dr. Bledsoe was the 2022 American Counseling Association Dr. Judy Lewis Counselors for Social Justice Award recipient. Dr. Bledsoe's contributions to the counseling field extend beyond her research. She has presented at international, regional, and state/local conferences, showcasing her expertise and commitment to counseling. Her multiple peer-reviewed publications are a testament to her dedication to advancing the field.
Courses Taught
- COUN 603 Counseling Skills
- COUN 663 School Counseling Internship
- COUN 661 School Counseling Practicum
- COUN 630 Foundations of School Counseling
Education
M.S. Counseling and Guidance, Mississippi State University (2001)
Ph.D. Counselor Education, The University of Alabama (2019)
EdS Counseling, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2005)