Faculty Spotlights

EDUCATION:

• Ph.D., Counselor Education, University of New Mexico
• M.Ed., Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Miami
• B.A., Psychology, Southern Methodist University

TITLES:

• Associate Professor, Department of Counselor Education
• School Counseling Program Coordinator

SELECT RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

• *Campbell, K., Bowers Parker, H., Villares, E., & Brigman, G. (2025). Advocating Student-Within-Environment in Action: The Lived Experience of Grade Six Students’ Participation in a Small Group Intervention. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2025.2543695
• Bowers Parker, H., Villares, E., & *Kwok, S. (2025). Elementary Special Education Students’ Engagement in the Exceptional Student Success Skills Program: A Mixed-Methods Study. Counseling Scholarship & Practice in Educational Communities. 1(1), 1 – 31. https://doi.org/10.7275/cspec.2289
• Villares, E., Bowers, H., Brigman, G., & Bottini, C. (2024). The effects of Student Success Skills on attendance and emotion regulation. Journal of Counseling & Development, 102(2), 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12503
• Lemberger-Truelove M., & Bowers Parker, H. (2023). An Evidence-Based Systems Approach to School Counseling: Advocating Student-Within-Environment.

NOTABLE AWARDS (LAST FIVE YEARS):

2025	Scholar of the Year	College of Education, Florida Atlantic University
2020	Researcher of the Year	College of Education, Florida Atlantic University

RECENT PROJECTS:

• Villares, E., Bowers, H., Mariani, M, & Peluso, P. (2023). Wellness Advocates for Educators and Students. $5,989,554.10. S. Department of Education Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant. Co-Principal Investigator.

THOUGHTS TO SHARE:

I’m Dr. Hannah Bowers Parker, Associate Professor and School Counseling Program Coordinator here at FAU. My work focuses on preparing future school counselors who are ready to make a real difference in the lives of K–12 students. I’m especially passionate about training counselors to use data-informed practices, deliver evidence-based interventions, and advocate for the success of all students academically, socially, and emotionally.

At the heart of everything I do is the belief that school counselors are uniquely positioned to help all students thrive from pre-kindergarten through college. School counselors are not just student advocates and academic advisors; they are the school-based mental health professionals who serve every student, every day. From addressing emotional regulation in elementary school to postsecondary planning in high school, school counselors are on the front lines of student success.

That’s why training matters. In the School Counseling program here at FAU, we emphasize evidence-based practice, data-driven decision-making, and tiered models of support. Our goal is to ensure that every school counseling graduate from FAU is prepared to implement comprehensive and effective programs that truly change outcomes for kids. Supporting the development, well-being, and long-term success of all K–20 students starts with equipping school counselors to lead, advocate, and deliver the interventions that help every child reach their potential.

EDUCATION:

• Ph.D., Counselor Education, Florida Atlantic University
• M.Ed., Counselor Education, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Florida Atlantic University
• B.S., Counseling Psychology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

TITLES:

• Associate Professor, Department of Counselor Education, specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

RESEARCH:

• Innovative Approaches to Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation for Individuals with Disabilities
• Advanced Technology Applications in Job Skills Training, including Augmented Reality and Virtual Interventions
• Enhancing Therapeutic Alliance and Client Engagement in Rehabilitation Counseling
• Community-Based Initiatives for Veteran Support and Mental Health
• Culturally-Responsive Counseling and International Rehabilitation Practices

RECENT PUBLICATIONS (PAST YEAR):

• Torres, A., Kearney, K., Downey, A., & Tedesco, C. (2023). Self-determination development among college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A longitudinal study. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. 38(2), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576221133491
• Torres, A., Kaya, C., & Akinola, O. (2023). Investigating measurement invariance, validity, and reliability of the 8-item vocational rehabilitation engagement scale with a sample of multilingual clients. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552221147217
• Kearney, K., Torres, A., & Quezada, S. (2023). Teaching young adults with visual impairment and intellectual/developmental disability how to determine appropriate job fit. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-230038
• Torres, A., Freeman-Costin, K., Frankel, K. M., & Garbett, D. (2024). Community Engagement Methods Related to Veteran Studies: A Scoping Review. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 16(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.54656/jces.v16i2.504

NOTABLE AWARDS (LAST FIVE YEARS):

2023	Presidential Award for Outstanding Faculty-Led Community Engagement	Florida Atlantic University
2023	Researcher of the Year, Assistant Professor	Florida Atlantic University, College of Education
2021	Researcher of the Year, Assistant Professor	Florida Atlantic University, College of Education
2017	Outstanding Dissertation Award	Florida Atlantic University, College of Education

RECENT PROJECTS:

• Torres, Ayse (Principal Investigator). ACCESS-Technology: Advancing Career Choices for Employment Success in Technology. U.S Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Funded. $9,961,460. October 2024-2029.
• Torres, Ayse (Principal Investigator). XR-ENABLE: eXtended Reality to Empower Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for Employment. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILLR). Field Initiated Program (FIP). Funded. $600,000. September 2024-2027.
• Torres, Ayse (Principal Investigator). Augmented Reality Enhanced Supported Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Switzer Research Fellowships Program. Funded. $70,000. September 2023.

THOUGHTS TO SHARE:

The underlying theme of my research encompasses life transition counseling among vulnerable populations. Throughout our lives, we experience many transitions; some are predictable, such as transitioning out of school, entering into adult life, and some are unpredictable, such as acquiring a physical or mental disability due to a traumatic accident. There are also major transitions that impact communities at large, but are not well-understood, such as military veterans’ reintegration into civilian life. Adaptation to changes can be challenging and may lead to less than optimal mental health, which is detrimental to the individuals’ wellbeing. Appropriate rehabilitation services to help prepare individuals for change or adaptation are critical, especially for individuals with disabilities and their families.

My research has evolved in the following areas: youth with disabilities entering into workforce, veterans reintegrating into civilian life, and community-based programs for people with disabilities.