With more than 25 years immersed in education, communication, and counseling across Europe, Asia, and North America, my work bridges academic inquiry and social innovation. Holding a PhD in Education, I integrate insights from psychology, sociology, and leadership development to advance counseling as a global profession and advocate for mental health services that are accessible, ethical, and culturally attuned.
For more than 15 years, I have led international initiatives bridging education and workforce development, reducing mental health stigma, and fostering cross-cultural collaboration. My contributions include developing counseling programs internationally, particularly in countries where counseling is emerging as a recognized profession. I have partnered with universities, government agencies, and global organizations such as WHO and UNESCO to promote ethical, accessible, and resilient counseling practices – tailored to diverse cultural and systemic contexts.
In my native country, Romania, I founded the first national counseling association and established the country’s first counseling journal. I also launched the first professional certification in career development and collaborated with universities to establish counseling centers and develop master's-level training programs.
As a published author in Europe and the United States, my work covers career development, education, communication, organizational development, multiculturality, diversity, and the internationalization of counseling. As a featured keynote speaker, I have shared my expertise and advocacy at conferences across Europe, Asia, and the USA.
Through my teaching, research, policy advocacy, and writing, I remain committed to expanding the reach and impact of counseling services worldwide and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health.
Adjunct Faculty
School of Counseling, Psychology, and Therapy (CPT), Counseling Division
- PhD in Education, "Al.I.Cuza" University, Romania.
Coming from a family of educators, I began my teaching career as a certified primary school teacher at 18. Over the years, I have taught students across the full K–12 spectrum and worked in academia for more than 25 years. Education has been both my vocation and my compass, guiding my belief in its power to transform lives and foster equity.
My teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in the constructivist approach and a strong commitment to social justice principles. I see education as a transformative journey where learners actively build understanding, challenge biases, and develop cultural competence. I aim to create inclusive, democratic learning environments that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and respect for diverse perspectives.
In practice, I use interactive strategies—discussions, experiential activities, case studies, role-play, and technology—to engage students and promote ownership of learning. In the classroom, I cultivate a respectful, optimistic, democratic, and growth-oriented atmosphere, emphasizing the unique skills, abilities, and strengths of each student. My goal is to create an encouraging climate that enables students to explore their beliefs, face challenges, take risks, and grow. I believe that learning through experience is the most impactful method, promoting greater transferability and application of lessons beyond the classroom.
In summary, as an instructor, I have a duty to my profession, students, and myself. This duty involves continuous improvement, self-evaluation, mentorship, and leading by example. My teaching philosophy is grounded in valuing and promoting diversity and setting high standards for both students and me. I strive to create a positive learning environment that fosters critical thinking, reflective skills, and respect for diverse perspectives.
My academic focus spans the intersection of education, counseling, and social justice with an emphasis on international and multicultural contexts. I specialize in developing and advancing counseling as a global profession—particularly in countries where it is emerging—through program development, policy advocacy, and cross-cultural collaboration.
- Meaning-Making and Well-Being in Times of Change
- Educational and Career Counseling Across Lifespans and Cultures
- Professionalization and Innovation in Counselor Education (for countries where counseling is not a recognized profession)
Books:
- 2023: Manualul consultantului în carieră. Caiet de exerciții (Career Consultant’s Handbook; Exercises), Institutul European Publishing House, Romania. (book)
- 2018: Counselors’ Role in the Local and Global Community (Co-Editor). Editura Universitara Publishing House, Bucharest, Romania.
- 2018: Career Development. A Handbook for Practitioners (Editor). CHIADO Publishing House, Lisbon, Portugal.
- 2018: Career Development. A Workbook for Practitioners (Editor). CHIADO Publishing House, Lisbon, Portugal.
- 2013: Counseling around the World: An International Handbook (co-author), Editors: Hohenshil, T., Amundson, N., Niles, S., American Counseling Association, Alexandria, VA, USA
- 2011: Essentials of Cross-Cultural Counseling (co-author), Editors: Gerstein, L., Heppner, P., Aegisdottir, S., Leung, A., Norsworthy, K., SAGE Publications, USA.
Articles:
- The benefits of group counseling in career and educational settings. Online group work as an alternative intervention in a post-pandemic world. Journal of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Vol. XIII (LXXIII) No. 2/2022
- Stress and burnout for helping professionals. Counselors navigating the COVID pandemic. Journal of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Vol. XI (LXXIII) No. 2/2021, pag. 128-134.
- Szilagyi, A., Jansel, E.A., & Stickl, J (2016). Counseling between an Occupation and a Profession: Elements of Professionalization. Romanian Journal of Counseling, 2(2), 115-127.
- Szilagyi, A., Petrini, M. – Meeting the Career Counseling Needs of European Union in Recession, Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal. Vol. V, no. 41, March 2014 (pages 1-10).
- 2022: Talking about Revolution. Conversations from the bed of Procrustes. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the COVID-19 Pandemic - Customer Care and Expo Conference, Bucharest Romania (Keynote speaker)
- 2021: Being a Giver and Burnout: Navigating Trauma in the Wake of a Pandemic. East Texas Food Bank Annual Conference, Texas, USA. (Keynote speaker)
- 2019: Webinar: Journey towards professionalization in counseling: A pioneer’s story in Romania. The Counseling Research and Leadership Lab (CRLL) at Oregon State University (OSU). https://youtu.be/xAdGI6q7SUQ?si=Aeq5B--0eiYgkuxm
- 2019: Jobs or Careers? The Heroic Mindset in the Age of Acceleration. ONE EUROPE international conference. Oradea, Romania. (Keynote speaker).
- 2016: The School Counselor’s Roles in a Global Society: Peer-Supervision as an Option for Professional Sustainability, First Annual Conference on Guidance and Counselling. Lusaka, Zambia. (Plenary Speaker).
- 2016: Counseling. Elements of Professionalization. International conference “Psychology of Sexuality. Scientific Quest, Theory and Practice”. Kyiv, Ukraine. (Keynote speaker)
- Award of Excellence, In recognition of the outstanding contribution to the development of counseling in Romania and Europe, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania
- NBCC International Fellow
- Associate Professor, POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, Romania
- Founder and Vice President, Romanian Counselors Association
- Board Member, Surry County Mental Health Association, Winston-Salem, NC USA.
- Executive Coach, SkillCycle, USA.
- Human Growth and Development
- Counseling Theories
- Professional Orientation and Ethics
- Career Counseling and Development
- Trauma and Resiliency