Valerie E. Dixon

Valerie E. Dixon serves as Chair of the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University. She holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Administration from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, an Ed.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Florida State University, and an M.A. in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida.

Her research focuses on underrepresented populations—including persons with disabilities, multicultural groups, and offenders—as well as counseling supervision and staff development. She has secured over $4 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education and led her previous program to CACREP reaccreditation for eight years. Dr. Dixon has authored a textbook, numerous peer-reviewed articles, and over 35 conference presentations.

Awarded the national Sylvia Walker Education Award, she has held leadership roles in the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA) including Past President, President-Elect, and founding faculty advisor for SARCA. Licensed as a clinical counselor in multiple states, she is also a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor and vocational expert for the Social Security Administration.

Her professional experience includes 18 years in human services/rehabilitation counseling, including roles as program director and counseling supervisor. She developed region-wide staff training programs for vocational rehabilitation counselors and healthcare professionals.