Counselor, Leadership, and Technology
The faculty of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education are well-known scholars and practitioners who actively mentor candidates.
Counselor, Leadership, and Technology Degree Paths
Counselor, Leadership, and Technology 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
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
Lessie Garcia-Lattimore
Administrative Associate | College of Education
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
Timothy Lewis
Associate Professor | College of Education
Dr. Timothy Lewis is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Auburn University at Montgomery. He specializes in instructional design, educational technology integration, and accreditation processes, with a focus on preparing future-ready educators and leaders. His work bridges higher education, K–12 schools, and professional training, aligning technology initiatives with national and state standards. Dr. Lewis is also engaged in curriculum innovation, accreditation support, and professional development across diverse educational and training contexts.
Faculty’s Expertise: Instructional Technology, Educational Leadership, Accreditation (CAEP, SACSCOC), Instructional Design, Curriculum Development, Digital Learning, Teacher Preparation, Professional Development, Learning Futures, Educational Standards Alignment (ISTE, IBSTPI, AECT, ATD)
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
Lei Wang
Assistant Professor | College of Education
Dr. Lei Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology at Auburn University at Montgomery. Her research focuses on instructional design, educational technology, and the integration of generative AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality into K–12 and higher education. She has developed validated assessment tools, such as the Learning Resources Rubric (LRR), to enhance learning resource evaluation and instructional practices. Dr. Wang also explores digital storytelling, civic education, open education, and global teacher competency as pathways to engage diverse learners and foster reflective thinking.
Faculty’s Expertise: Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Generative AI in Education, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Digital Storytelling, Civic Education, Assessment and Evaluation, Open Education,Teacher Education
