COE Faculty Profile

Charles D. Schmitz, Ph.D.

Dean and Professor

Division of Counseling and Family Therapy

Email: Charles_Schmitz@umsl.edu
Office: 201 Education Admin. Bldg.
Phone:314-516-5109

Charles D. Schmitz, Ph.D. has been Dean and Professor of Counseling and Family Therapy in the College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis since 1996.  Prior to that he was Dean and Professor at Baylor University in Texas.  Before assuming the Baylor deanship he served in a variety of capacities at the University of Missouri-Columbia during a 23 year career including Professor of Educational and Counseling Psychology and Associate Dean.  He holds the Ph.D., M.Ed., and B.S. Ed. degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Dr. Schmitz has been a highly successful faculty member and administrator in higher education for 37 years. His teaching has focused on the areas of counseling psychology and leadership development. During his distinguished career he has published over 100 articles and manuscripts; delivered well over 500 public speeches, professional presentations, and workshops; and has traveled throughout the world. He has appeared on radio and television, and has been frequently quoted in the print media.

Dr. Schmitz has received over 30 awards and honors in his career including Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Educator Award, Advisor of the Year, and selection to Outstanding Young Men of America and the Directory of Distinguished Americans.  He is the former Editor of the Journal Teacher Education and Practice. He is most proud of receiving the Award for Outstanding Achievement and Meritorious Service to Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1998 and the Mission Award from the Gallup Organization in 1991.  On April 20, 2007 he was honored by the faculty of the College of Education with the prestigious Medal of Distinction for  Sustained and Distinguished Contributions in Higher Education Leadership. His service on boards, commissions, and advisory groups are too numerous to mention, but demonstrate significant leadership in marriage and family relationships, the education of children, community collaboration and partnership, and technology innovation and implementation.

With more than 25 years of research experience on successfully married couples and their own 41 years of successful marriage, Dr. Schmitz and his wife Elizabeth know what makes marriage work. From their research they have discovered seven pervasive characteristics present in all successful marriages. Their new book, Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage (© 2008)  (http://www.goldenanniversaries.com) exposes their secrets for success through poignant, real life stories, garnered from hundreds of interviews with happily married couples as well as from their own 41-year marriage.

• Administration/Leadership Development
• Counseling and Career Development
• Educational Reform
• Marriage and Family Relationships
• Moral and Character Education
• Urban Education