Counselor, Leadership, and Special Education
The faculty of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education are well-known scholars and practitioners who actively mentor candidates.
Counselor, Leadership, and Special Education Degree Paths
Counselor, Leadership, and Special Education Faculty and Staff
Paul Hard
Department Chair | College of Education
Dr. Paul F. Hard, LPC-S, NCC is the Department Head of the Department of Counselor, Leadership, and Special Education. He is a past president of the Alabama Counseling Association (2005-2006) and former member of the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (2007-2011) and has over 31 years of experience in clinical mental health work. Dr. Hard is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and also holds advanced degrees in theology with 25 years of ecclesiastical experience.
Faculty’s Expertise: Ethics in Counseling, Licensure Regulation, Best Practice Issues, Supervision and Training, Multicultural Tssues, LGBTQ+ Issues in Therapy, Social Justice and Advocacy, Complicated Grieving, and Spirituality in Counseling
Sara Bicard
Professor | College of Education
Dr. Sara Ernsbarger Bicard is a professor of special education at Auburn University at Montgomery. She has served in a variety of educational and community settings as a special teacher and behavior analyst. Her research and publications in leading journals such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Phi Delta Kappan focus on positive behavioral and academic interventions to support students with disabilities and improve classroom outcomes.
Faculty’s Expertise: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Inclusive Special Education, Behavioral Intervention Strategies, Teacher Preparation and Professional Development
Ashley Brown
Assistant Professor | College of Education
Dr. Ashley B. Brown, a native of Montgomery, AL, earned a BA in Psychology, an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Auburn University. She is an Associate Licensed Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. Her research interests include multiculturalism, emotional intelligence, leadership, and career exploration.
Faculty’s Expertise: Multiculturalism, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, and Career Exploration
Eric Darch
Associate Professor | College of Education
Dr. Eric Darch has over 20 years of Title 1 public school experience serving as a teacher and school counselor within all grades PK-12. He is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Nationally Certified School Counselor (NCSC). His professional interests include: the role of the school counselor, children and adolescents, ethics in school counseling, translating research to practice in the school setting, behavior management, and multicultural and linguistically diverse students. He has several publications and has presented on these topics.
Faculty’s Expertise: School Counseling, Counselor Ethics, Children and Adolescents, Behavior Management
Yuh Guo
Associate Professor | College of Education
Dr. Yuh-Jen Guo has been a counselor educator since 2008. He graduated from Auburn University and have worked and taught in several states. He is a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist.
Faculty’s Expertise: Stress, Trauma, Crisis Counseling, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Counselor training, Clinical supervision
Kate Simmons
Professor | College of Education
Dr. Kate D. Simmons is a Professor of Special Education where she specializes in instructional strategies that enhance academic and behavioral outcomes for students with exceptionalities. With over five years of experience in public education, she has authored 19 peer-reviewed articles, two book chapters, and delivered over 71 presentations at various professional conferences while at AUM. Dr. Simmons has secured multiple grants, including for AUM’s Virtual Avatar Laboratory (VAL), has held chairs in the Special Education Programs Caucus (SSEPC) for over 11 years, and served on 66 committees inside and oustide of the university.
Faculty’s Expertise: Behavior Management, Curriculum Design, Virtual Worlds, Direct Instruction
Jana Sparks
Associate Professor | College of Education
Dr. Jana’ Sparks joined the faculty following eighteen years in the public school system, during which she held roles as Principal, Assistant Principal at both the elementary and middle school levels, and Coordinator of the New Teacher Mentoring Program. Dr. Sparks has taught all of the Master’s and Educational Specialists level courses that provide opportunities for future leaders and instructional leaders to enhance their personal and professional career. She currently serves as the Program Coordinator for the Instructional Leadership department.
Faculty’s Expertise: Educational Leadership, Mentoring Programs, School Improvement, Innovative Leadership, Staff Development
Tamela Thomas
Assistant Professor | College of Education
Dr. Tamela C. Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Leadership at Auburn University at Montgomery. Her research and teaching focus on action research in K-12 education, emotionally intelligent leadership, and women in educational leadership. She brings extensive K–12 teaching and leadership experience to her work with graduate students and school leaders.
Faculty’s Expertise: Instructional Leadership, Emotionally Intellect Leadership, Action Research in K-12, Women in Educational Leadership
