About Lipscomb
Department of Psychology and Counseling
Graduate Faculty/Staff
One of our department's biggest strengths is our faculty. The members of Lipscomb University's faculty are highly-qualified professors and working clinicians with a variety of professional and educational backgrounds. The departmental faculty consists of seven doctoral-level professors (six full-time, one part-time). We supplement this group with excellent part-time and visiting faculty who are in full-time clinical/counseling practice. These individuals are all experts in the area they teach and bring a wealth of professional experience to the classroom. The university has awarded these faculty 6 Outstanding Teacher awards, 2 Baker Awards, and 1 Outstanding Advisor Award for their excellence in teaching and advising.
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Graduate Program Director & Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Morris joined our faculty in July 2009 after 10 years of teaching in the Psychology and Counseling Programs at Freed-Hardeman University. His doctorate in Educational Psychology (with an emphasis in Counselor Education) is from University of Mississippi. He teaches Counseling Theories and Capstone Seminar. |
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Melanie Morris, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Morris coordinates the Practicum and Internship process for the M.S. in Counseling program and supervises practicum/internship students. Dr. Morris received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Mississippi and is a licensed psychologist. She came to Lipscomb after several years of teaching at Freed-Hardeman University.
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Elena Zemmel Administrative Assistant
Elena Zemmel has served as the administrative assistant for the Department of Psychology since 2005. She coordinates the application and admissions process for the graduate program (among many other things).
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J. Dale Alden, III, Ph.D., HSPP Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Alden teaches Introduction to Psychopathology, Psychological Assessment, and Neuroscience for the graduate program. He is a Licensed Psychologist who specializes in clinical neuropsychology and maintains a private practice in Columbia, TN. His education includes a M.S. in Counseling from Abilene Christian University, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology/Neuropsychology from Virginia Tech, and a specialization in Neuropsychology/ Geropsychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. |
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Chris Gonzalez, Ph.D., LMFT
Chris Gonzalez joined our faculty in Fall 2010 after completing his Ph.D. in Family Social Science from University of Minnesota. He teaches Introduction to Counseling skills for the graduate program and Abnormal Psychology and Introduction to Psychology for the undergraduate program. His research explores family and spiritual influences on positive youth development. He is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. |
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Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Hamley teaches Grief/Crisis Counseling and Multicultural Issues in Counseling. He has been awarded three "Outstanding Teacher" awards by the university for excellence in teaching. He has an M.A. in Psychology from M.T.S.U. and an Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology from Tennessee State University. Dr. Hamley is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and Fellow in Thanatology. |
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Shanna D. Ray, Ph.D. Dr. Ray teaches the Survey of Psychology and Developmental Psychology courses for the graduate program. She also coordinates the Masters' Thesis process for students in the M.S. in Psychology program. Dr. Ray has an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from M.T.S.U. and a Ph.D./M.S. in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Ray's research explores how people's reasoning about God and Satan varies across the lifespan and among people from diverse religious backgrounds.
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Douglas Ribeiro, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Ribeiro joined our faculty in Fall 2012 after completing his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. He teaches Introduction to Psychopathology and Adaptive Behavior and supervises students completing their practicum experience in counseling. His therapeutic approach is grounded in humanistic and multicultural theories. His research interests include culturally responsive counseling interventions, resilience among immigrant groups, and mixed (Quantitative & Qualitative) methodology in research design.
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Denis' Thomas, Ph.D. Dr. Denis' Thomas joined the faculty in 2012 after several years on faculty at Lindsey Wilson College. She earned a degree in journalism from Abilene Christian University and a master's degree in school counseling from Middle Tennessee State University before earning a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Tennessee. She has worked as a school counselor, play therapy counselor and grief counselor, and she especially enjoys counseling children and adolescents. She is a licensed counselor in Kentucky and a National Certified Counselor. |
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Professor of Psychology and Counseling
Dr. Turner teachers Personality Theories and Research Methods & Statistics and Faith Integration Seminar for the graduate program. Because of his excellent teaching and advising, he has been awarded three "Outstanding Teacher" awards and one "Outstanding Advisor" award by the university. His education includes an M.A. in Bible from Southern Christian University, an M.S. in Public Health from University of Western Kentucky, and an M.A./Ph.D in Experimental Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Turner's research is in the area of health psychology.
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