Dr. Shirlene Coopwood is an Associate Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Counseling at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Dr. Smith holds a doctorate in Guidance and Psychological Services with a specialization in Counseling Psychology. She is also a Master Trainer for the National Board for Certified Counselors – International (NBCC-I)’s Mental Health Facilitator Program. Dr. Smith has extensive experience in the delivery of psychological services, education, and administration both in the United States and Belize. She has contributed greatly to the development of counselling and psychological services in Belize. She was instrumental in the development of the first Community Counseling Center in Belize and in the development of Belize School Counsellor Association and continues to be active with professional development for our Belizean School Counsellors.
Her psychological services experiences involve working with adults, school-aged children, children labeled as ‘at-risk’, inpatient and outpatient mental health, and incarcerated individuals. Dr. Smith has facilitated numerous professional development workshops on counseling and counseling related issues in Belize, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. With over 25+ years of experience as a workshop facilitator/trainer, Dr. Smith has delivered workshops/presentations on topics such as stress management, building healthy work relationships, conflict resolution, work-life balance, resiliency, HIV/AIDS, mental health, counseling, and wellness. Her scholarly work includes publications on school counseling in Belize, spirituality in school counseling, mental health issues in school counseling, cultural competence, international immersion, disability in women, and funded grants in the areas of program development, academic advising, teenage pregnancy, and suicide prevention. Dr. Smith was Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) 2018 recipient of the Outstanding Tenured Counselor Educator Award.
Prior to her tenure at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Dr. Smith served as the Dean for the Faculty of Nursing, Allied Health, and Social Work at the University of Belize and the Country Coordinator/Tutor for the Master’s in Counselling Programme at the University of the West Indies. Her wealth of experience also included her position as Deputy Director for the Department of Human Services in Belize where she developed and implemented numerous programs to advance the well-being of marginalized individuals. She also served as a Psychologist at the Central Louisiana State Hospital in Pineville Louisiana.