LaConia Nelson

Dr. LaCoñia Nelson’s formal training is in counseling and educational leadership where she has served in various roles over her 25+ year career. Dr. Nelson has been a Teacher, Special Education Chairperson, School Counselor, College Access Coordinator, 504 Coordinator, Grant Coordinator, district wide Special Education Supervisor and Counselor, district wide Transition Coordinator, and Critical Prevention Intervention (CPI) Trainer. She is currently the Director of Special Populations at a public charter school in Texas, and is the proud proprietor of a counseling and consultation practice. At Walden, Dr. Nelson teaches graduate school courses in the School of Counseling Department.

Dr. Nelson’s current research interest focus are in the educational gap between minority and majority students that continues to exist as well as social justice for residents of low income neighborhoods. She has worked to make a short-term supply source into a legally recognized 501c3 non-profit organization to assist hurricane victims. In 2017 and 2018, Dr. Nelson led several holiday and back-to-school community giveaways where over 1100 hurricane victims and other less fortunate community neighbors were helped in some way with food, clothing, toiletries, household items, furniture, and/or housing vouchers. She is currently working to help another low income community build a community resource center to educate and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Courses Taught
COUN 6250 - Group Process and Dynamics
COUN 6316 - Techniques of Counseling
COUN 6401S - School Counseling Practicum
COUN 6500S - School Counseling Internship 1
COUN 6501S - School Counseling Internship 2
COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling
COUN 6753 - Career Counseling
GRHP 6100 - Group lab
HUMN 9001 - Dissertation

Directed Student Learning

"The Lived Experiences of Black Male Students With Non-Black Teachers and Staff in New Orleans." (February 28, 2022 - August 3, 2024). Advised (Committee Member): Emmanuel Paul

"Lived Experiences of Non-Licensed African American Pastors Providing Counseling for Race Related Mental Health Issues to Their Parishioners." (February 28, 2022 - August 18, 2023). Advised: Brian Sutton

"Cultural Competence: Minoritized Student Experiences with Faculty in Counselor Education and Supervision Programs." (June 1, 2021 - March 28, 2023). Advised: Mariangelly Sierra

Education
PhD, Walden University
MEd, Prairie View A&M University
MA, Prairie View A&M University
BS, University of Houston

Presentations
Nelson, L. R. (2018). Counselor Symposium, "Counseling as a Related Service," Region 4 Service Center, Houston, TX, United States.

Nelson, L. R., Powell, L. (2017). Lone Star State School Counselor Association Annual Conference, "Embracing the Change," Lone Star State School Counselor Association, Frisco, TX, United States.

Nelson, L. R., Powell, L. (2015). Texas Counseling Association (TCA) 59th Annual Professional Growth Conference, "Understanding and Using CBT in the Classroom," Texas Counseling Association, Galveston, TX, United States.

Courses Taught

COUN 6250 - Group Process and Dynamics

COUN 6316 - Techniques in Counseling

COUN 6401S - School Counseling Practicum

COUN 6500S - School Counseling Internship 1

COUN 6501S - School Counseling Internship 2

COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling

COUN 6753 - Career Counseling

HUMN 9001 - Dissertation

Education

BA, University of Houston

MA, Prairie View A&M University

MEd, Prairie View A&M University

PhD, Walden University

Public Service

Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated, Member - Houston

Awards / Honors

Teacher of the Year, Houston Independent School District, 2005

Publications

Hickman, G. P., Heinrich, R. S., Sabia, M., Nelson, L. R., Travis, F., Veri, T. (2017). Predicting High School Freshmen Dropout through Attentional Biases and Initial Grade Point Average. Journal of At-Risk Issues

Presentations

Nelson, L. R. (2018). Counseling as a Related Service. Region 4 Service Center

Nelson, L. R., Powell, L. (2017). Embracing the Change. Lone Star State School Counselor Association

Nelson, L. R., Powell, L. (2015). Understanding and Using CBT in the Classroom. Texas Counseling Association