Jan Powers, PhD
Jan Powers is an assistant professor and program director in the Department of Education’s School Counseling and Preventive Mental Health master’s program. As a veteran educator and school counselor she’s spent time working in schools in Texas and Iowa before completing a doctoral program in Counselor Education and Supervision. She has earned multiple degrees from both the Universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa.
Dr. Powers’ research interests are trauma-informed practices in schools including the intersection of trauma, resilience, and culture. She is passionate about building career counselors and the role of school counselors as transformative leaders through the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) model and advocates for the promotion of social justice in schools.
Through her involvement in community based participatory research as a school counselor, she assisted with the development of We Can! Building Relationships and Resilience, in cooperation with Creighton University, The University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Powers has provided professional development in trauma-informed practice and building resilience in schools, families, and communities.
She is a member of the American School Counseling Association, Nebraska School Counselor Association, American Counseling Association, National Catholic Educational Association and is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Catholic Education.
Her other interests include music (former music teacher), art (holds a certificate in Art Therapy), and gardening, which she was able to use in her former role as school counselor.