Congratulations to Dr. Shawn Spurgeon, who was awarded the CED Alumni Excellence Award at the Initiation Ceremony for the Upsilon Nu Chi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, held on March 3, 2017.

Dr. Shawn Spurgeon earned his doctorate in Counseling and Counselor Education from UNCG in 2002. He has been a Counselor Educator for 15 years and is currently an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Spurgeon has worked in a variety of community mental health settings for 18 years and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Dr. Spurgeon is a proven, dedicated leader. He has served as the faculty advisor for the Upsilon Theta chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, as well as the President of Chi Sigma Iota International, President of the Southern Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (SACES), and President of the Association of Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC). He was the first recipient of the Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship Award. In addition, he has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Counseling Research and Practice and The Professional Counselor.

Dr. Spurgeon’s research interests include: African American males and wellness throughout the lifespan, professional counselor identity development, adverse childhood experiences, and resiliency in foster children.

Thank you, Dr. Spurgeon, for your many meaningful contributions to the counseling field. You are an inspiration!