Kalesha D. Jenkins, PhD is a licensed professional counselor and counselor educator who specializes in multiculturalism and social justice. She recently completed her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Jenkins has a passion for working with underserved populations, in the community and in the classroom. She promotes inclusion through teaching, scholarship and leadership. She has received multiple awards and achievements including National Board of Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Award, 2021 College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services Outstanding Doctoral Student Award and Seton Hill University’s 2021 Distinguished Alumna Leadership Award/Young Alumna Achievement.
Kalesha D. Jenkins, PhD
Antioch University New England
Educational History
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Cincinnati- 2020
Dissertation: The Self-Awareness Process in Multicultural Counseling Competency: An Exploratory Qualitative Inquiry
Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, University of Cincinnati- 2016
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology/Business Minor, Seton Hill University-2008
Teaching Statement
My teaching philosophy and practices utilizes a multicultural/transcultural theory, relational-cultural framework and emancipatory communitarianism to build connections with students that challenges imbalanced power dynamics in the classrooms. Through my teaching practices and research, I facilitate discourse for understanding diverse ideologies through multicultural competency development, particularly through self-awareness. I believe relational discourse through awareness helps build diverse and inclusive growth-fostering environments. I use strategies that discuss the current multicultural literature such as acknowledging our own biases and prejudices and promoting a culturally sensitive environment for students. Through my research, clinical practice, and counselor education training, I have been trained to use decentralized and critical educational tactics to embrace multiculturalism and address power dynamics within the structured, standardized classroom.
Self-Awareness in Multicultural Competency Development; Multicultural Research Methodologies; Racial, Historical, and Generational Trauma in Clinical Counseling Practices
West-Olatunji, C., & Jenkins, K. (in press). Introduction to Crisis and Trauma. In Butler, S.K., Filmore, J., & Locke, A. F. (Eds.). Introduction to 21st century counseling, (pp. xxx) San Diego CA: Cognella Publications.
Sharma, J., McDonald, C. P., Bledsoe, K. G., Grad, R. I., Jenkins, K. D., Moran, D., O’Hara, C., & Pester, D. (2021). Intersectionality in Research: Call for Inclusive, Decolonized, and Culturally Sensitive Research Designs in Counselor Education. Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation, 1-10.
Tang, M., Montgomery, M., Collins, B., & Jenkins, K. (2020). Integrating career and mental health counseling: Necessity and strategies. Journal of Employment Counseling.
Jenkins, K., & Jarrett, J. (2021). Self-awareness as a foundation for multicultural competency development: Findings from a transcendental phenomenological study. Oral Presentation. American Counseling Association Virtual Conference.
Jenkins, K., & McGee, N. (2019). Using Relational-Cultural Theory to build connections in practice. Oral Presentation. All Ohio Counselor Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Jenkins, K., Tang, M., Collins, B., & Ai, Y. (2019). Multicultural counseling development through relational-cultural theory framework: Teaching multicultural development through authenticity. Oral Presentation. American Counseling Association National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Jenkins, K., & Tang, M. (2018). Preliminary findings from a pilot study about self-awareness development in multicultural training. Oral Presentation. North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jenkins, K., & Tang, M. (2017). Enhancing self-awareness within multicultural training. Oral Presentation. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
Jenkins, K. (2019). The state of being well: Understanding trauma to inform care, a multifaceted perspective. Oral Presentation. Greater Cincinnati Counseling Association Fall Event in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Distinguished Alumna Leadership Award/Young Alumna Achievement: 2021
CECH Outstanding Student Award: 2021
National Board of Certified Counselors Minority Fellow: 2019
Omicron Delta Kappa: Alpha Theta Circle: National Leadership Honor Society Inductee: 2018
2021-22 President, Greater Cincinnati Counseling Association
2020-22 Co-Chair Research and Publication Subcommittee, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Diversity and Inclusion Interest Network
Committee Member, Research and Knowledge Committee, American Counseling Association
Emerging Reviewer, Journal for Multicultural Counseling and Development
Committee Member, Diversity Committee, Association of Research and Assessment in Counseling
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