COE Faculty Profile

Angela D. Coker, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Division of Counseling & Family Therapy

Email: cokera@umsl.edu
Office: 407 Marillac Hall
Phone: 314-516-6088

EDUCATION:

Dr. Coker received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Counseling from The Union Institute and University, her M.S. in Counselor Education from the University of Wyoming, and her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Brooklyn College. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri, and a National Certified Counselor.

RESEARCH & TEACHING :

As a researcher, it is important to me that I do work which is socially responsible and relevant. I am a counselor educator who is an interdisciplinarian. The common thread of my writing extends across three disciplines: Counselor education, African American studies, and women's studies. I am interested in examining how race, gender, and class issues influence an individual's perceptions and usage of counseling services. I am also committed to examining issues that impact the African American community, in addition to exploring how counseling can be used to address those concerns.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

• Peer-reviewed Journal Articles:
  Mintz, L. B., Awad, G. H., Hix, R., Bledman, R. A., Coker, A. D., & Kashubeck-West, S. (under review). The weighing and body monitoring among women:  The normative influence of scale number on psychological state.
• Coker, A. D., Meyer, D., Smith, R., & Price, A. (under review).Using social justice group work to empower pregnant homeless women: Perspectives on developing multicultural competencies.
• Coker, A. D., Meyer, D., Degges-White, S., Vereen, L., & Akos, P. (under review).Themes in counselor education dissertation research: A preliminary study.
• M. Enriquez, M., Cheng, A., Kelly, P. J., Witt, J., Coker, A. D., & Kashubeck-West, S. (accepted pending final revisions). Development and feasibility of an HIV and IPV prevention intervention among low-income mothers receiving services in a Missouri child care center. 
• Coker, A. D., Huang, H. & Kashubeck-West, S.  (in press). Multicultural research: Lessons learned about recruiting African American women.
• Huang, H. & Coker, A. D. (in press). Examining issues affecting African American participation in research studies.
• Durodoye, B. A. & Coker, A. D. (2008). Crossing cultures in marriage: Implications for counseling African American/African couples. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 30, 25-37.
• Loder, T. L., Sims, M. J., Coker, A. D., Collins, L., Brooks, M., Voltz, D., & Calhoun, C. (2007,Winter). On becoming and being faculty-leaders in the field of urban education and also being African American...seems promising: Reflections from African American women and men in the academy. Advancing Women in Leadership Online Journal, vol.27. http://www.advancingwomen.com/awl/winter2007/Loder.htm
• Bryant, R. M., Coker, A. D., Durodoye, B.A., McCollum, V. J., Constantine, M.G., Pack-Brown, S., & O'Bryant, B. J. (2005). Having our say: African American women, diversity, and counseling). Journal of Counseling & Development, 83, 313-319.
• Coker, A. D. & Bryant, R. (2003, Fall) Counseling African Americans: Understanding racial tasks and cultural values.American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences - AABSS Journal, 7-18.
• Coker, A. D. (2003). African American female adult learners. Journal of Black Studies, 33, 654-674.

BOOK:

• Pope, M., Pangelinan, J., & Coker, A. D. (under contract). Experiential activities for teaching multicultural counseling classes and for infusing multicultural issues into core classes. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

• Coker, A. D. & Lemberger, M. E. (in press). Examining Social Privilege. In C. F. Salazar (Ed.). Group work experts share their favorite multicultural activities: A guide to diversity-competent choosing, planning, conducting, and processing. Alexandria, VA: Association for Specialists in Group Work.
• Holcomb-McCoy, C. & Coker, A. D. Cross-cultural consultation (2008).  In C. C. Lee, D. A. Burnhill, C. P. Hipolito-Delgado, M. Humphrey, O. &, M. H. Shin (Eds.), Elements of culture in counseling: Foundations & practice (pp. 177-192). Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson.
• Coker, A. D. (2008). Thinking about self and career development:  A career group activity for girls. In L. L. Foss, J. Green, K. Wolfe-Stiltner & J. L. DeLucia-Waack (Eds.). School counselors share their favorite group activities: A guide to choosing, planning, conducting, and processing (pp. 91-92).  Alexandria, VA: Association for Specialists in Group Work.
• Coker, A.D., Loder, T.L., Sims, M., Collins, L., Voltz, D., & Coker, M. (2007). Lifting as we climb:  Six African American women reflect on creation of an intellectual community. In. R. Martin (Ed.), Transforming the academy:  Struggles and strategies for the advancement of women in higher education, Vol. II. (pp. 95-107). Tehachapi, CA: GrayMill.
• Coker, A.D. (2006). In big mama''s house:  Intergenerational issues. In S. M. Hobson & L. A. Carlson (Eds.), Critical incidents in counseling children (pp.147-149). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  Coker, A. D. (2004). In response to a critical incident in group work - cutting off:  It just feels impolite. In L. E. Tyson, J. Whitledge, J. & R. Perusse (Eds.), Critical incidents in group counseling (pp. 261-263). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
• Coker, A. D. (2004). Counseling African American women: Issues, challenges and interventions strategies.  In G.R. Walz, & R. Yep (Eds.), VISTAS: Perspectives on Counseling 2004 (pp. 129-136). Alexandria, VA:  American Counseling Association and Counseling Outfitters/CAPS Press.

ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY:

• Coker, A. D. (in press). Planning for group work. In B. Erford (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Counseling. Alexandria, VA:  American Counseling Association.

GRANTS:

• Grantee (2008-2009). The Intersections of Technology and Service-learning: Enhancing Counseling Students'' Learning and Professional Identity.  Innovations in Technology and Teaching Grant, University of Missouri - St. Louis (funded $2500.00).
• Co-Investigator (submitted with Drs. Rhonda M. Bryant & Delila Owens (February, 2008). 21st Century School Counseling Supervision: Are We Addressing National Standards? Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). (funded, $1176.00).
• Grantee. Service-Learning Grant (2007). Center for Teaching and Learning. University of Missouri - St. Louis (funded $500.00).
• Co-Investigator (Submitted with Drs. Maithe Enriquez, Patricia Kelly, The University of Missouri - Kansas City and Susan Kashubeck-West, & Sharon Johnson, The University of Missouri - St. Louis). Reducing HIV Infection and IPV in Low-Income African-American and Hispanic Women.   This grant was submitted to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) as a R01 AIDS-related grant (not funded).
• Co-Investigator (Submitted with Drs. Maithe Enriquez, Patricia Kelly, University of Missouri - Kansas City and Susan Kashubeck-West, & Kim Steiglietz, University of Missouri - St. Louis), National Institute for Health (NIH) - P20 Health Disparities Grant: Empowering African American and Latina Women Against HIV/AIDS - 500,000 - (Oct., 2006 - not funded).
• Co-Investigator (Submitted with Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, The University of Maryland, College Park), Female Counselor Educators seeking tenure and motherhood: A content analysis. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). (April, 2005 - funded $750.00).
• Principal Investigator (Submitted with Dr. Jane Roy, The University of Alabama at Birmingham), Health Risk Behaviors of School Teachers. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Development Grant Program (May 2004 - funded $10,000.00).
• Principal Investigator, Counseling African American Women. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Vice President''s Office of Diversity and Equity (funded 4,000.00 - May 2003).

REPRESENTATIVE INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS (Peer-Reviewed):

• Mintz, L., Awad, G., Hix, R., Bledman, R. A., Coker, A. D., & Kashubeck-West, S. (2008, August). Weighing and Body-Monitoring Behaviors among Women and Their Psychological Impacts. The American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
• Kashubeck-West, S., Coker, A. D., Awad, G., Hix, R., Bledman, R. A., & Mintz, L.  (2008, August). Psychometric Evaluation of Body Image Measures in African American women.  The American Psychological Association Annual Convention.  Boston, MA.
• Awad., G., Bledman, R. A., Coker, A. D., Hix, R., Kashubeck-West, S. & Mintz, L. (2008, August). The Effect of Acculturation on African-American Body Image.  The American Psychological Association Annual Convention.  Boston, MA.
• Loder, T., Brooks, M., Calhoun, C., Collins, L., Sims, M. J., Coker, A. D. (2006, November). On Being African-American Faculty-Leaders in Urban Education...Seems Promising. National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) Annual International Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
• Coker, A. D., Butler, K., Bryant, R., Edwards, Y., Bryan, J., McCollum, V. (2006, April). HIV/AIDS and the African American Community: How can counseling be used to address this issue? An update from the field. American Counseling Association, Canadian Counselling Association Annual Convention. Montreal, Quebec.
• Daniels, J., Pack-Brown, S., D''Andrea, M., Coker, A. D., Meyer, D., Schulte, D., Ivey, A., Toperek, R., Tosada, T., & Perez-Viera, P. (2006, April). Describing exemplary practices in promoting multicultural counseling and advocacy competence:  Research supported endeavors. American Counseling Association, Canadian Counselling Association Annual Convention. Montreal, Quebec.
• Holcomb-McCoy, C. & Coker, A. D. (2006, April). Counselor Educators Seeking Motherhood and Tenure: A Content Analysis (Poster Session). American Counseling Association, Canadian Counselling Association Annual Convention. Montreal, Quebec.
• Coker, A. D., Loder, T. L., Sims, M., Collins, L., Voltz, D. & Coker, M. (2005, April)
  Lifting as We Climb: African American Women Faculty Create an Intellectual Community Against the Odds. The American Educational Research Association Meeting (AERA). Montreal, Quebec.

REPRESENTATIVE NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS (Peer-Reviewed):

• Coker, A. D.  & Huang, H.  (2009, March). Culture, Connections and Counseling:  A comparative look at African American and Asian American Women. American Counseling Association Annual Conference.  Charlotte, NC.
• Coker, A. D. & Pope, M. (2007, October).Counseling African Men on the Down Low:  Considerations for Individual and Couples Therapy. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference (ACES). Columbus, OH.
• Coker, A. D., Meyer, D., Smith, R. & Price, A. (2007, October).  Group Work with Homeless African American Women.  Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference (ACES). Columbus, OH.
• Martin, R., Andrzejewki, J. R., Alessio, J. C., Watters, K.., Guilfoyle, K., Hackney, C. E., Land, L. D., Coker, A. D., McCall, A. L., Green, A. L., & Philipsen, M. L. (2007, April). Transforming the Academy:  Struggles and Strategies of Women in Higher Education. The American Educational Research Association Meeting (AERA). Chicago, IL.
• Bryant, R.M. & Coker, A. D. (2007, March).  Counseling Women across the Lifespan: Feminist and Counseling Considerations (Pre-Conference Learning Institute). American Counseling Association Annual Conference, Detroit, MI.
• Coker, A. D. (2005, October) The Impact of Race, Class, and Gender on the Lives of Diverse Clients: Reflections from the field.  Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.
• Coker, A. D., Holcomb-McCoy, C., Day-Vines, N., Bryan, J., & Bryant, R.M. (2005, October). (M)othering and Counselor Education:  Women of Color Discuss Balancing Responsibilities and Stereotypes (Roundtable Discussion). Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.
• Coker, A. D. (2005, April). Qualitative Research with African American College Women (Poster Session). The American Counseling Association National Conference. Atlanta, GA.
• Coker, A. D., Ellis, C., Bryant, R., Holcomb-McCoy, C., Covington Rush, L., & Butler, K. Morris-Billings, M.(2005, April). A Roundtable Discussion on HIV/AIDS and the African American Community: How can counseling be used to address this issue? The American Counseling Association National Conference. Atlanta, GA.
• Coker, A. D., Loder, T. L., Sims, M., Collins, L., Voltz, D. & Coker, M.  (2004, October). Lifting as we climb: Six African American women explore the creation of an intellectual community. The 30th Annual Fall Conference of the Research on Women and Education SIG of the American Educational Research Association, Cleveland, OH.
• Coker, A. D. & Durodoye, B. (2004, April). Counseling African American Women: Issues Challenges, and Interventions. American Counseling Association National Conference. Kansas City, MO.
• Durodoye, A. & Coker, A. D. (2004, April). African Americans and Africans:  Understanding Intercultural Dynamics in Counseling. American Counseling Association National Conference.  Kansas City, MO.
• Coker, A. D. (2003, November). Counseling African American Women Dealing with Sexual or Reproductive Health Issues.  The SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health & Sexual Rights National Conference. Atlanta, GA.
• Bryant, R., Coker, A. D., Constantine, M., Durodoye, B., McCollum, V., O'' Bryant, B., & Pack-Brown, S. (2003, March). Having Our Say: African American Women, Diversity, and Counseling.  The American Counseling Association National Conference. Anaheim, CA. 
• Coker, A. D. (2003, February). African American Women and the Utilization of Counseling Services.  The American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences Sixth Annual Meeting (AABSS). Las Vegas, NV.
• Bryant, R., Coker, A. D. (2002, October). African American Women, Diversity, and Supervisors: Celebrating Our Past While Shaping our Future. The Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference.  Park City, UT.

REPRESENTATIVE REGIONAL PRESENTATIONS (Peer-Reviewed):

• Coker, A. D., Huang, H, & Kashubeck-West, S. (2009, February). The Recruitment and Retention of African American Research Participants: Lessons Learned in the Field Conducting Body Image Research with African American Women. Program accepted for presentation at the Seventh Qualitative Research Conference.  St. Louis, MO.
• Coker, A. D., Kashubeck-West, S. & Huang, H. (2008, October). Conducting Body Image Research with African American College Women:  Considerations in Methodology.  North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Indianapolis, IN.
• Coker, A. D. , Calhoun, R., Fross, M., Bone, A., Burns, M., Marler, K., Reed, L., Portwood, P., Trumpet, J., & Hiatt, D. (2008, October). Enhancing Professional Identity, Multicultural Competencies, and Client Advocacy Through Service Learning. North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Indianapolis, IN.
• Coker, A. D. & Meyer, D. (2006, October). Examining Counselor Education Doctoral Research Trends: Advocacy for the Profession. North Central ACES annual conference.  Kansas City, MO.
• Coker, A. D.  & Frazier, M. (2004, November). One Potata, Two Potata, Three Potata, Four:  African American Girls and the Development of Positive Self-Esteem and Body Image.  The Alabama Counseling Association 38th Annual Conference. Huntsville, AL.
• Morris-Billings, M. & Coker, A. D. (2004, November). Counseling African American College Students.  The Alabama Counseling Association 38th Annual Conference. Huntsville, AL.
• Elliot, G., Anderson, G., Stowe, A. & Coker, A. D. (2004, November). Creating Safe Spaces for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth in Our Schools and Colleges: An Update from the Field. The Alabama Counseling Association 38th Annual Conference. Huntsville, AL.
• Coker, A. D. (2004, September). Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Principles of Empowerment:  Promoting the Use of Counseling in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS Among African American Female Populations.  The Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES).  Athens, GA.
• Coker, A. D. & Moore, J. (2003, November). Multicultural Counseling & Development: Learning Across Differences. The Alabama Counseling Association 37th Annual Conference.  Birmingham, AL.
• Coker, A. D. (2003, September).  Genderized Racial Tasks:  Factors Related to the Development of Positive Self-Esteem in African American Teenage Girls. The Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference (SACES).  Chattanooga, TN.
• Coker, A. D. (2003, September). Working with African American women in focus groups:  Some therapeutic Outcomes (Poster Session). The Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference (SACES).  Chattanooga, TN.
• Coker, A. D. (2002, November). Racial Tasks of African American Clients: Understanding Historical Cultural Values as a Means of Developing Appropriate Counseling Interventions. Alabama Counseling Association 36th Annual Conference. Mobile, AL.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

• Secretary-Elect 2010-2011, North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
• Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal for Specialists in Group Work (January 2005 - January 2008)
• Chi Sigma Iota Faculty Advisor (2008 - Present). University of Missouri - St. Louis.
• Reviewer (2009). Served as a program proposal reviewer for the 2009 ACES conference.  San Diego, CA.
• Reviewer (2008). Served as a program proposal reviewer for 2009 ACA conference. Charlotte, NC.
• Reviewer (2007). Served as a reviewer for 2008 ACA proposal submissions. American Counseling Association (ACA) - Honolulu, HI.
• Member, American Counseling Association (ACA) Research and Knowledge Committee. (July 2003 - June 2006)
• Reviewer (2005). Served as a reviewer for 2006 ACA proposal submissions. American Counseling Association (ACA) - Montreal, Canada.
• Reviewer (2004). Served as a program proposal reviewer for individual paper presentations. American Educational Research Association (AERA) - Montreal, Canada.
• Reviewer (2004). Served as a program proposal reviewer for individual paper presentations. National Multicultural Summit and Conference, Hollywood, CA.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• Recipient (2009). Chi Sigma Iota Chapter Development Grant. Greensboro, NC.
• Participant (2008). The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's New Connections Research Training Program. San Diego, CA.
• Nominee (2008), Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). Professional Advancement Award.
• Recipient Outstanding Professional Teaching Award (2007). North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES).
• Recipient (2007). Gerald and Deanne Gitner Excellence in Teaching Award.  University of Missouri - St. Louis.
• Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award (2007). College of Education, Division of Counseling and Family Therapy.  University of Missouri - St. Louis. 
• Faculty Fellow (2007). Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship, Center for Teaching and Learning. University of Missouri - St. Louis.
• Scholar - New Faculty Teaching Scholars Program (2007-2008).  University of Missouri - St. Louis.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE & CERTIFICATION:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) State of Missouri Division of Professional Registration Committee for Professional Counselors

National Certified Counselor (NCC) National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Member, American Counseling Association (ACA)
Member, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
Member, Association for Group Specialists (ASGW)
Member, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ)
Member, North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES)  
Member, Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society for Counselors (CSI)
Member, The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

• Counselor Training/Supervision
• Cross-Cultural Studies
• Race
• Social Class
• Social Justice
• Women's Issues