Michelle Cox, PhD

Michelle R. Cox, PhD has been teaching in APU’s School Counseling and School Psychology program since 2003 with more than 20 years of educational counseling related experience, including educational counseling, CalWorks counseling, career counseling, and vocational rehabilitation counseling.

Cox was an associate counselor for Victor Valley College for over 10 years years and assisted in the development of the CalWorks program at Chaffey College as its first CalWorks counselor. She taught in the Educational Counseling Program at University of La Verne and also has years of experience as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, helping clients who have suffered injuries and require services to return to suitable and gainful employment. She established her own career counseling service, providing job-seeking skills to clients, as well as assistance in the development of professional résumés.

Active in school communities, Cox as served as an elected school board member and president of the Adelanto School District Board of Education. Prior to that, she served as a school site council member, school district multicultural committee member, and substitute teacher for several school districts.

She has a research agenda that focuses on issues related to systemic oppression in schools and child mandated reporting. She is also viewed as an expert in grief and trauma impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and published a textbook on Grief and Trauma Counselor Education, and an autoethnography on Grief and Racial Trauma during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Education

• PhD, Counseling Studies, Capella University
• MA, Education: Educational Counseling, California State University, San Bernardino
• BA, Communications, University of La Verne

Credentials/Certifications

• California Pupil Personal Services Credential, School Counseling

Academic Area

• School of Education

Expertise

• Promoting School Counselor supports for Black American students
• Creating a sense of belonging for K-12 students through Teacher Diversity Training
• Cultural Bias in Mandated Reporting
• Systemic Racism Experienced by Black American Students in Schools
• Issues related to Grief and Trauma due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Courses Taught

• EDCO 533 – Counseling Theories and Techniques
• EDCO 549 – Career Development Theories and Techniques
• EDCO 555 – Group Counseling Skills
• EDCO 575 – Clinical Practica
• EDCO 579 – Sociocultural Competence
• EDCO 592 – Foundations and Ethics in Research