معرفی
Dr. Jennifer Foster is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the School Counseling Program at Western Michigan University's Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology. She holds academic leadership roles including editorial board membership for Counseling and Values and serves on WMU's Institutional Review Board. With a Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida, Dr. Foster specializes in childhood trauma, trauma-informed practices, and anti-racist approaches in education. Her work emphasizes prevention of abuse, resilience-building, and culturally responsive interventions.
Dr. Foster has authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications across journals such as Counselor Education and Supervision and Journal of Mental Health Counseling. Her research spans topics including trauma narratives, group interventions for survivors, and cross-cultural child protection strategies in India. Notable contributions include developing trauma-informed school programs and analyzing male experiences of sexual abuse through narrative analysis.
- Education:
- Ph.D., Counselor Education, University of Central Florida
- M.S., Counseling, Palm Beach Atlantic University
- B.A., Psychology, Cedarville University
Her awards reflect recognition for both scholarship and advocacy, including the Journal for Specialist in Group Work Research Article of the Year (2019) and College of Education Multicultural Advocate Award (2019). Dr. Foster's community engagement includes consulting for trauma recovery programs and advising on trauma-informed school policies. She has secured $15,000+ in research grants exploring child abuse prevention in international contexts.
Her work uniquely integrates creativity and spirituality in counseling practices, demonstrating how artistic expression can aid trauma recovery. Current projects focus on building anti-racist frameworks in school counseling to address systemic inequities affecting vulnerable youth.
