Leonis S. Wright, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Office Location: G326
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2:30 pm to 4:30pm, in person and virtually
Phone: 708-534-4906 ext. 4906
College: College of Education and Human Development
Department(s):
Expertise
Education
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, May 2016 (CACREP Accredited)
University of South Carolina
M.Ed./Ed.S. in Counselor Education, December 2000 (CACREP Accredited)
University of South Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Public Relations, May 1988
University of South Carolina
Biography
Dr. Leonis S. Wright, PhD., LPC, NCC is an Associate Professor and the MA in Counseling Program Coordinator. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of South Carolina in May 2016. Prior to becoming a counselor educator, she was a National Board-Certified School Counselor serving as a middle and high school counselor, as well as a director of school counseling for 16 years.
Her research and scholarship areas of interests include social justice advocacy, social/emotional and career development, wellness, school counseling professional identity, and the use of data in creating comprehensive school counseling programs. Dr. Wright has presented at numerous state and national professional conferences to bring about an awareness of these important topics to both school counselors in-practice and in-training. She has also authored and co-authored various journal articles focusing on social justice advocacy and mental health issues.
Additionally, Dr. Wright is a member of ACA, ACES, ASCA, and ISCA. Her involvement with these organizations includes, but are not limited to, serving as a reviewer for both ASCA’s RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) application process and their flagship journal entitled “Professional School Counseling.” Dr. Wright also chaired the Illinois School Counseling Developmental Model’s Revision Task Force.
Dr. Wright is very passionate about the role and purpose of counselors and serves as a true advocate for the profession. As a Counselor Educator, she is always delighted to have the opportunity to share her expertise, and to inspire others who are also interested in pursuing this helping vocation.
Publications
Wright, L.S., Giddings, C.M., & Hollis, A.C. (July-August 2025). The root of the matter: Horticultural counseling can lead to academic success in rural schools. ASCA Magazine
62(6). 24-28.
Guzman, Y.Z., Can, A., Wright, L.S., & Tadros, E. (2025). Wearing many hats: The lived experience of professional school counselors. Journal of Applied Disciplines.
Wright, L.S., Fine, D., & Oglesby. A. (2025). Answering the call: Social-emotional learning and culturally responsive practices. In Ockerman, M. & Perry, K. (Eds.) The ABCs of SEL for
school counselors and administrators: An adaptive, balanced, and collaborative approach. Corwin Press
Wilder, C., Cazares-Cervantes, A. & Wright, L.S. (2024). Introduction to school counseling. In Wilder, C. & Money-Brady, J. (Eds.) School counseling applied. Kendall Hunt Publishing.
Holstun, V. & Wright, L.S. (2024). Christian integration and the CACREP alliance. In J.A King & K.M. Ford (Eds.), Christian integration in counselor education. Kendall Hunt
Publishers. ISBN 979-8-3851-2564-7
Hannor-Walker, T., Pincus, R., Wright, L.S., Rock, W., Money-Brady, J. & Bohecker, L. (2022). School counselors and administrators agree: Time and testing are barriers.
International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 18(2). 1-18.
Wright, L.S., Borland, J., & Can, A. (2022). Addressing the career needs of transgender and gender expansive students. Journal of Counseling in Illinois, 7(1). 61-70.
Pincus, R., Ebersol, D., Justice, J., Hannor-Walker, T., & Wright, L. (2021). School counselor roles for student success during a pandemic. Journal of School Counseling, 19(29). 1-35.
http:/www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v19n29.pdf
Pincus, R., Hannor-Walker, T., Wright, L.S., & Justice, J. (2020). COVID-19’s Effect on students: How school counselors rise to the rescue. National Association of Secondary
School Principals (NASSP) Bulletin 104(4) 241–256. DOI: 10.1177/0192636520975866
Wright, L.S. (2020). Understanding the call of social justice advocacy: A phenomenological study of high school counselors. Georgia School Counseling Association Journal. 25.
18-33.