Department
Counseling

Program
Mental Health Counseling

Office Location
Fowler Hall (FH)  118

Email Address
kendra.smith@gallaudet.edu

Dr. Kendra Smith is native of Washington, D.C. She has been a faculty member in the Department of Counseling since fall 2006. Prior to that she was a mental health counselor at Gallaudet University's Mental Health Center. Dr. Smith has presented at international and national conferences on such topics as cross-cultural issues in supervision, ethical responsibility of clinical supervisors, and counseling college students. Her doctoral dissertation was on "The Experiences of Deaf Counselors in Developing Their Professional Identity".

Dr. Smith teaches Orientation to Mental Health Counseling, Adult Psychopathology, Basic Research Methods for Counselors, and fieldwork practicum and internship.  She is also director of the Mental Health Counseling program.  Dr. Smith is a past member of the Board of Directors of Deaf Abused Women's Network in Washington, DC, and served on the Subcommittee on Mental Health, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the State of Maryland. She was also the chairperson of the Mental Health Special Interest Section of ADARA from 2001-2007.

Dr. Smith's teaching philosophy begins with learning. She considers herself a lifelong learner. Like Etienne Wenger, Dr. Smith believes that learning is a process of "becoming," not just an accummulation of knowledge and skills. We "become" through active participation in various communities of practice within our lives, including in this case, the practice of counseling. To this end, Dr. Smith continually studies, reflects on, and participates in the field of counseling and counselor education. Her goal is to share with students her passion for learning and her genuine engagement with them in the learning process.

National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board of Certified Counselors

Licensed Professional Counselor, Washington, DC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, State of Maryland

Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), National Board of Certified Counselors

• Selected Publications