Jennifer Scaturo Watkinson

Jennifer Scaturo Watkinson is a Professor of Counselor Education and Program Director of School Counseling at Loyola University Maryland with 14 years of prior experience as an elementary school counselor. She specializes in mentoring school counseling professionals to implement data-driven ASCA National Model programs while shifting focus from non-counseling tasks to evidence-based mental health interventions for youth.

Her educational background includes:

• Doctorate of Philosophy in Counselor Education from University of Maryland at College Park (2000)
• Master of Science in School Guidance and Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University (1993)
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Loyola College in Baltimore (1991)

Dr. Watkinson holds Maryland certifications as Advanced Professional School Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Supervisor (#507). Her research centers on youth mental health—particularly for marginalized populations and student athletes navigating college recruitment—with emphasis on transforming school counselor practice through visioning and leadership development.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on school counselor preparation and practice evolution, with recent works (2022-2025) addressing English language learner support, mindfulness in supervision, and mental model transformation. These publications reveal increasing integration of data-driven approaches and preventive mental health frameworks across school counseling contexts.

Recognition includes:

• 2014 Faculty Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship (Loyola University Maryland)

As Principal Investigator, she secured a $1.1 million Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program grant (2013) with Harford County Public Schools that expanded counseling services and professional development. Additional funded research includes two 2012 Loyola University Maryland grants ($6,000 total) for elementary counselor visioning training. Over eight years, she has mentored numerous school counselors in transformational leadership and tier II interventions.

Watkinson co-leads a collaborative school/university partnership with Maryland school districts focused on implementing data-driven counseling models and mental health support systems, serving as a primary platform for her engaged scholarship and professional development initiatives.