College of Education & Human Services

Leslie O'Ryan

Leslie Whisinnand O'Ryan

Professor

Phone: (309)762-3999 ext. 62239
Fax: (309)762-6989
E-Mail: LW-O-Ryan@wiu.edu

Office Hours: By Appointment and Tuesday 1:00-3:00 PM, Wednesday 1:00-3:00 PM, Thursday 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

I received my M.S. degree in Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and earned my Ed.D. in Counselor Education from the University of South Dakota. My 20 + years of direct clinical experience include work with adolescents, adults and family in the areas of substance abuse counseling and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. I additionally have worked in the areas of employment assistance counseling, college counseling, community mental health counseling, where I served as the director of the day treatment program, and in the field of career as a college counselor and interim director for career development. I am licensed in Illinois as a LCPC and am certified as a NCC. I routinely teach in the areas of career counseling, lifespan development, counseling practicum and internship. I am the past-president of the Illinois Association for Adult Development and Aging, on the editorial review board for the Journal of Exceptional Experiences in Psychology and serve as a co-advisor for the Xi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota.

A primary scholarly interest of mine is intercultural counseling and counselor education. My travels have taken me to Scandinavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Ireland, Czech Republic, England, Mexico, Turkey, Europe and more recently to Kenya, where I provided education and consultation services regarding substance abuse treatment. Other research interests of mine include career counseling as it pertains to social justice issues for diverse populations, adult development and wellness, aging and spirituality, head injury and the application of deep ecology to international spirituality and religion.