Meet Ann-Marie Pence, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology 

First, tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Dallas with my husband and my dog. Our kids are grown and attending college. I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and completed my Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. I received a Master of Science in Speech Pathology from the University of North Texas. Initially, I worked several years in rehab, and then transitioned to home health, hospitals, early intervention, public schools, and private practice. Throughout my 25+ year career, I have completed additional education in autism, auditory impairment, and assistive technology.

Why did you choose to study speech-language pathology?

I have always had a passion for studying communication and language. As a child, I watched my mother teach school and came to know the speech therapist who worked with her. I was fascinated by the process of helping children improve their speech and language.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

At this time, I do not serve as a classroom teacher. I am primarily a clinical educator at the UNT Speech and Hearing Clinic. I have the unique opportunity to continue my work with clients in need of speech therapy while educating graduate students about that process. I enjoy working with clients of all ages who have a diversity of needs and diagnoses. I value the opportunity to help clients gain functional, spontaneous communication and independence.

What do you hope your students gain from your courses?

I hope that students can learn from my experience as a speech therapist in the field, as well as benefit from my modeling and guidance while working with clients. I value the opportunity to stimulate their creativity and problem-solving skills to help clients.

What did you do before pursuing a career in academia, and why did you decide to pursue teaching?

I have always practiced as an SLP and that aspect has not changed in my capacity as an assistant clinical professor.

When you’re not teaching, what do you enjoy doing?

I love to travel and spend time with my family. I enjoy reading and relaxation time.

Meet Melissa Gaa, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation & Health Services 

First, tell us a little about yourself.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor. I have a private practice in Grapevine, Texas, and have been working with individuals, families, and couples for more than 10 years. I am a native Texan, married, have two daughters and two dogs.

Why did you choose to study rehabilitation counseling?

I actually have a degree in counseling and my background is in clinical mental health. I’ve always wanted to be in the helping field.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I enjoy mentoring and collaborating with students. It’s exciting to see future clinicians getting prepared to go out into the world to make changes for others.

What do you hope your students gain from your courses?

A better understanding of the field and more confidence in helping others.

When you’re not teaching, what do you enjoy doing?

I love traveling and spending time with my family.

Meet Rosalind Evans, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work 

Why did you choose to study social work?

I was drawn to social work soon after I learned about the field’s history and impact in a psychology course at my community college. I was interested in advocating and providing support to children and families of vulnerable and oppressed populations so there was a natural alignment of values. Through courses on human behavior and development and social justice, I was able to see how a social work degree could provide me with an education to combat inequality in systems and institutions and become a change agent.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Teaching allows me to connect with students and learn about their educational and career goals and dreams. I enjoy having the opportunity to support them throughout their academic journey. Through my teaching, I am able to instill knowledge that will guide them in future practice. In my courses, I intentionally incorporate topics to equip students with skills like self-awareness that allow them to identify their strengths as well as tap into techniques that can help them focus on their health and wellness. These skills can support them, especially as they navigate the early years of their careers, and assist in preventing potential burnout or compassion fatigue.

What do you hope your students gain from your courses?

I hope students gain two things when they leave my classroom: A greater awareness of the course material that can aid them in their future careers and a passion for client advocacy. I tell social work students that they are practicing with a diverse range of clients that can include individuals, families, groups, communities, or even organizations. Social work is a field that assists people in an ever-changing society, which means social workers have to be lifelong learners who are informed of how these changes can impact their clients and the systems the clients engage with. In addition, social workers practice from an evidence-based approach. Therefore, in my courses, I discuss the importance of research and being knowledgeable of updated policies and practices that can guide their work with clients.

What did you do before pursuing a career in academia, and why did you decide to pursue teaching instead?

Prior to my career in academia, I served as a mentor to youth at risk in Oklahoma. I would visit middle schools, high schools, and alternative high schools to facilitate groups with those in our program, share resources, and be a pillar of support. The program focused on teaching them skills that would aid in their growth and development such as emotional awareness, how to identify their strengths, and ways they could work towards achieving their goals. While I truly enjoyed working in this role, I aspired to further my education and pursue a doctorate to expand my knowledge base and sharpen my skills to conduct research - with the ultimate goal being to then share that expertise with others.

When you’re not teaching, what do you enjoy doing?

When I am not teaching, I prioritize spending time with my loved ones. I enjoy exploring new cafes for boba tea, namjooning, playing video games, and catching up on my favorite anime shows. I can also be found with my head buried in a new book or working on research.

Do you have any fun facts that others may not know about you?

I love traveling! I have visited 23 U.S. states, 1 U.S. Territory, and 4 different countries.

Meet Dr. Jamar Booth, Lecturer, Department of Rehabilitation & Health Services 

First, tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Jamar Booth, and I was born and raised in South Carolina. As for my academic background, I earned my doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Iowa. Both my master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Activity Management were merited at South Carolina State University. I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and have satisfied all requirements for the designation of National Certified Counselor (NCC).

My clinical experiences have centered on the person with disability achieving their educational, vocational, and other major life goals. My teaching experiences are varied and span nearly a decade. I have taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

My current line of research applies the biopsychosocial framework to investigate the relationships among various predictor variables and quality of life, as an outcome, for persons with chronic illness and disability

I am an active member of several national and international organizations, such as the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), Chi Sigma Iota, Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International (CSI), and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES).

Why did you choose to study rehabilitation counseling?

Rehabilitation counseling is a dynamic counseling specialty that is often overlooked and misunderstood. Ideally, my story would have been that I always knew that my career of choice would be grounded in advocacy efforts for persons with chronic illness and disability. Instead, my entry into the profession was a matter of serendipity. I chose to study rehabilitation counseling after a series of life events that altered my initial educational and career goals. Networking with mentors introduced me to the field. Learning about and witnessing the profound impact of rehabilitation counseling kept me here. I speak for many rehabilitation counselors when I say that the field found me.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Teaching is a profession that facilitates the opportunity to have a lifelong impact on the students. I often reflect on messages/words of wisdom from my former teachers, even as far back as grade school. Many of those messages helped me to get through challenging times. To know that I could positively impact a student’s life well beyond our time together is priceless.

What do you hope your students gain from your courses?

As a part of my teaching philosophy, I hope that students experience both personal and professional growth. This means that they not only acquire the requisite knowledge, but that they continually evaluate, assess, and self-reflect upon their personal values, beliefs, and worldviews and consider how they may impact the contexts and clients they serve. Independent of course subject, I hope that students think critically and meaningfully about the content to connect it to their “why” or purpose for entering the helping profession.

What did you do before pursuing a career in academia, and why did you decide to pursue teaching instead?

I decided to pursue teaching immediately following my master’s program. Motivated to conduct research on some of the limitations observed within the service-delivery systems for clients, a doctorate made perfect sense. I also felt that I could utilize my experiences to connect with future students who might struggle with any perceived disconnect between counselor training and practice. I would like to add that my professors at the time served as great models of the flexibility higher education could afford.

When you’re not teaching, what do you enjoy doing?

When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my significant other and our two-year-old daughter. I have diverse interests in podcasts and am a fan of a few professional sports (e.g., basketball, football, boxing).

Do you have any fun facts that others may not know about you?

Despite having earned a doctorate, I have a difficult time identifying fun facts about myself. One that stands out, though, is that I traveled abroad to study the Humanistic Origins of Counseling situated in Greece.