Carmella Hill

Ms. Carmella Hill is presently an instructor in the Counseling Program. Ms. Hill completed her Master of Education in Community Agency Counseling at Cleveland State University and is currently working to complete her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Kent State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (Ohio). Ms. Hill is currently a member of American Counseling Association (ACA), and serves as President of the Ohio Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling. She has clinical experience working in community mental health centers, and residential treatment facilities. Ms. Hill has presented at the state, regional, and national levels and is responsible for teaching classes within the community and core counseling curriculum.

Kyoung Mi Choi

Dr. Kyoung Mi Choi is an assistant professor in the Counseling Program. Dr. Choi earned her bachelors degree in Educaion from the Korea National University of Education.  She completed two masters degrees - Masters of Science in Counseling and Master of Arts in International Relations from Syracuse University.  Dr. Choi received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Syracuse University. She has experience working and/or studying in several countries including Korea, Egypt, India, Nepal, Switzerland, France, and Bangladesh. She has  experience in student affairs, college counseling, clinical counseling, and school counseling. Dr. Choi was named an International Fellow in the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). She has presented at the state, national and international levels. She is responsible for teaching classes within the student affairs and college counseling curriculum, and other courses throughout the curriculum.

Victoria Kress

Dr. Victoria Kress is a professor in the Counseling Program and serves as the Coordinator of the Clinical and Addiction Counseling Programs, and Community Counseling Clinic Director. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working in various settings including community mental health centers, hospitals, residential treatment facilities, private practice, group homes, and college counseling centers. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with supervisor credential (Ohio). She has worked as a counselor educator at schools such as John Carroll University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Kress’ areas of interest with regard to research and clinical work are: non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, sexual assault and child sexual abuse, child abuse, developmental/complex trauma, and counselors’ use of the DSM. She co-authored a book about the DSM, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles. She was the 2008 recipient of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision’s Distinguished Mentor Award, and has received two YSU awards: the Distinguished Public Service Award in 2007, and the Distinguished Scholar Award Youngstown in 2003. She was also the 2003 recipient of the Ohio Counseling Association’s Research and Writing Award.  Dr. Kress is the current President of Chi Sigma Iota - International.

Don Martin

Dr. Don Martin is a professor in the Counseling Program and currently serves as the School Counseling program coordinator. He earned an M.S. from Radford University, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from University of North Texas. He is currently licensed as a clinical counselor and approved supervisor in Ohio. He has over 30 years of clinical experience working in various settings including community mental health centers, hospitals, university counseling centers, private practice, and private practice. He belongs to the American Counseling Association, American School Counseling Association, the Ohio Counseling Association, and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. He has published more than 50 articles in scholarly journals. His counseling licenses and certifications include the following: Professional Clinical Counselor with supervisor credential (Ohio and Virginia), School Counselor Licensure (Florida), and Teaching Certificate-K-12. He was the recipient of the YSU Distinguished Scholar Award Youngstown in 2003 and 2010, and the 2007 recipient of the Ohio Counseling Association’s Research and Writing Award.

Kenneth Miller

Dr. Kenneth Miller is a professor in the Counseling Program. He holds an M.S. Ed. in Counseling from Purdue University - Calumet and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Purdue University. He has over twenty five years of professional experience. Dr. Miller is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Psychological Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the American College Counseling Association, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, the Ohio Counseling Association, the Eastern Ohio Counselors Association, and the Ohio Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.He regularly engages in scholarly activities that include publications as books and book chapters, refereed articles in counseling, psychology, and education journals, and technical reports. He has made 95 conference presentations and secured over $700,000 in grant awards. His licenses and certifications include Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor-Supervision Credential (Ohio), National Certified Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and Fellow and Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and Psychodiagnosticians.

Matt Paylo

Dr. Matthew Paylo is an assistant professor and serves as the coordinator of Student Affairs and College Counseling program. He received his M.A. in Community Counseling from Slippery Rock University, and his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Virginia. His most recent work experience was as the Mental Health Director of Services at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. He has provided counseling services to adults, families, children, and adolescents. His counseling has taken place in prisons, residential treatment facilities, day treatment programs, schools, homes, and in college settings. He has worked as an Adjunct Counselor Educator for the University of Virginia and has supervised mental health counselors, psychologists, social workers, and school counselors. He is currently licensed as a Licensed Professional Clincial Counselor in Ohio and holds membership in American Counseling Association and its divisions. He has several publications in the field of counseling and his areas of interest are Advocacy and Social Justice, Child and Adolescent Treatments, Residential & Prison MH Treatment, Moral Development, Quantitative Research in Counseling, Spirituality, and Clinical Supervision.

Jake Protivnak

Dr. Jake Protivnak is an associate professor and serves as the Chair of the Department of Counseling, Special Education, and School Psychology; and the coordinator of the Counseling Graduate Program. He received his M.Ed. in Community Counseling from Kent State University, and his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Ohio University. He has experience providing counseling services in clinical mental health, school, and college settings. He has worked as a counselor educator for Ohio University, University of Dayton – Capital, and the Methodist Theological School of Ohio. His licenses and certifications include the following: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor – Supervising (Ohio), Licensed School Counselor (Ohio), and a National Certified Counselor.  He has several publications in scholarly counseling journals and over 50 presentations at the state, regional and national levels. He is an editorial board member for the Journal of Mental Health Counseling.  He was the 2007 recipient of the OCA Herman J. Peters Award, Past-President Award, and the 2010 Ohio Association for Counselor Education and Supervision's Outstanding Mentor Award. He has also received the YSU Distinguished Professorship Award for Teaching. He is the current faculty advisor of the Eta Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, and a past-president of the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA).