Attallah College of Educational Studies is pleased to welcome Carla Smith, Ph.D., as an instructional assistant professor of school and clinical counseling. Dr. Smith brings more than two decades of experience as an educator and professional school counselor, most recently serving as counseling faculty and program coordinator for the school counseling program at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. 

Dr. Smith earned her doctorate in counselor education and supervision from the University of the Cumberlands. She began her career as an elementary teacher in Texas and later became a professional school counselor, serving in public schools and with the Department of Defense. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Texas, where she mentors counselor associates toward full licensure. 

At Chapman this fall, Dr. Smith will bring her expertise in school and clinical counseling as she teaches courses on human development, mental health in schools, partner abuse, and fieldwork. 

Reflecting on her transition from K–12 schools to higher education, Dr. Smith shared, “After serving many years as a school counselor, I became a cluster leader in my district for a group of elementary schools. I realized how much I enjoyed working with the new counselors in my cluster each year. That experience encouraged me to further my own education and start working with future school counselors from the very beginning of their graduate career.” 

Her teaching is shaped by 23 years of experience in education, where she saw firsthand how much the needs of schools and students have evolved. She emphasizes advocacy as a cornerstone of counselor training. 

“We must advocate for our students because we could be the only person in that role,” Dr. Smith said. “We also must advocate for our profession to help others understand why our roles are essential.” 

For those considering school counseling or school psychology, Dr. Smith offers encouragement, “Although handling challenging situations daily can be difficult, it remains the best job in the world. We may be the only mental health provider a student ever has access to, and that is why we do what we do. We have the honor of not just helping but also being that one person who can make a difference in the life of a student.”