Stephanie Smith-Durkin

Dr. Stephanie Smith-Durkin considers herself a quadruple Monarch. She earned her Bachelors, Masters, and PhD at Old Dominion University. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at ODU. Here, she works to effectively prepare counselors for culturally affirming and antiracist professional practices and ethical behaviors. Dr. Smith-Durkin is a former school counselor with nearly two decades of dedicated service in the field of education, working with children and their caregivers. Her passion for fostering social justice, championing diversity, and nurturing affirming relationships has been the cornerstone of her career.

Aside from working as an inspiring counselor educator, Dr. Smith-Durkin is a dedicated member of the Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) School Counseling Task Force, secretary for the Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling, and faculty advisor for the ODU chapter of Counselors for Social Justice. Dr. Smith-Durkin’s research is centered on topics about PK-12 student mental health, education equity, social justice, multiculturalism, antiracism, culturally affirming counseling practices, and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Resident in Counseling in Virginia. Dr. Stephanie Smith-Durkin’s expertise shines as she continues to shape the next generation of school counselor advocates as well as provide trainings to develop socially conscious counseling professionals.