Dr. Beach received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2006, his M.R.C. from the University of Kentucky, and his B.A. from Georgetown College (Ky.). He is currently a VR Administrator in the Program Planning and Development Branch of the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. Dr. Beach is the former Director of Residential Services, Job Placement and Research at the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center in Thelma, KY. He has been a member of National Rehabilitation Association, National Association of Rehabilitation Leadership and the Kentucky Rehabilitation Association since 1996, currently serving as KRA President, National Association of Rehabilitation Leadership Board Member and National Rehabilitation Association Board Member.

Dr. Beach’s research interests include program evaluation for rehabilitation facilities, behavioral techniques utilized in rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation continuing professional training, asset accumulation of persons with disabilities, counselor mentoring and rehabilitation leadership.

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Malachy Bishop, Ph.D., CRC
Professor, RC Doctoral Coordinator
mbishop@uky.edu
Vita (PDF)

Malachy Bishop, Ph.D. (Rehabilitation Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is a professor in the Rehabilitation Counseling program and is currently the coordinator of the rehabilitation counseling doctoral program. Dr. Bishop’s clinical background includes rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation psychology and neuropsychology in physical medicine and rehabilitation and other health care settings, and vocational assessment. Dr. Bishop has authored over 75 journal articles, book chapters, and monographs in health care and rehabilitation counseling. He conducts research in psychosocial and employment-related aspects of chronic neurological conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain injury; self-management and treatment decision making; quality of life; and adaptation to disability.

Dr. Bishop's current research includes projects on treatment adherence and self-management in MS, a national assessment of the specialized housing needs of adults with MS (funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society), and participation in a National Institutes of Health P20 grant for the Center for Biobehavioral Research on Self-Management of Cardiopulmonary Disease. Dr. Bishop has received the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association’s Research Award five times and was the 2005 recipient of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education’s New Career Award. Dr. Bishop is the Director of Graduate Study for Rehabilitation Counseling.

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Ralph M. Crystal, Ph.D., CRC
Wallace Charles Hill Professor of Rehabilitation Education
crystal@coe.uky.edu
Vita (Word)

Dr. Crystal is the Rehabilitation Counseling Program Coordinator. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Pace University (1970), master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from New York University (1972), and doctoral degree in rehabilitation psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1977).After completing his master's degree he worked at a facility serving persons with physical, mental, and learning disabilities with regarding to vocational assessment, vocational counseling, job training, and job placement.  After completing his doctoral degree he was employed at the University of Michigan where he served as research director of a rehabilitation research institute with a focus on the evaluation of public rehabilitation programs.  He was also on the faculty of the rehabilitation counseling program.

In 1981 he was appointed as coordinator of the rehabilitation counseling program at the University of Kentucky and served in that capacity for 24 years.  In 1995 Dr. Crystal was instrumental in establishing a distance education program in partnership with the two state rehabilitation agencies in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  This program has evolved into a nationally recognized web based program.

Dr. Crystal has published in the area of rehabilitation program evaluation, consumer satisfaction, and forensic rehabilitation practice. At present he serves as chair of the College of Education Faculty Council and is Vice Chair of the university Institutional Review Board, which oversees research at the university.  Dr. Crystal also maintains a private rehabilitation practice.

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Sonja Feist-Price, Ph.D., CRC
Professor
smfeis@uky.edu
Vita (Rich Text File)

Dr. Feist-Price received her doctorate in rehabilitation counseling and administration from Southern Illinois University in 1992 with a specialization in gerontology. In 2006, Dr. Feist-Price completed a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Feist-Price has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor serving an injured worker population and individuals with mental illness. Dr. Feist-Price is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Kentucky and Louisiana. Dr. Feist-Price is an HIV prevention researcher, and has presented her findings at numerous national conferences, as well as international conferences in Israel, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand. Her research has resulted in her being named 2002 Researcher of the Year by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.

Presently, Dr. Feist-Price is the Director of Graduate Studies in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program, and Director of African American Studies and Research Program.

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Debra Harley, Ph.D., CRC, LPC
Provost's Distinguished Service Professor
dharl00@uky.edu
Vita (Word)

Dr. Harley is an Associate Faculty with the University of Kentucky Center on Research on Violence Against Women, and Affiliated Faculty with the African American Studies Research Program, and the Gender and Women’s Studies Program.

She received her doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University in 1992.  Before joining the faculty at the University of Kentucky she taught at Eastern Illinois University.  Her research interests include ethics education, cultural diversity, and rehabilitation in addiction. Dr. Harley has published over 80 articles in professional journals, multiple book chapters and an edited book.

Dr. Harley is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Certified Professional Counselor. Dr. Harley is past Editor for the Journal of Rehabilitation Administration, and the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling. Dr. Harley was a Mary Switzer Scholar, and recipient of the Sylvia Walker Education Award as well as the Provost's award for Outstanding Teaching. In 2006, the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE) recognized Dr. Harley as the 2006 Rehabilitation Educator of the Year. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Comission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and the Council on Rehabilitation Education.

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Jackie Rogers, Ph.D., CRC
Adjunct Assistant Professor
jackie.rogers@uky.edu
Vita (PDF)

Dr. Rogers is the Rehabilitation Counseling Distance Education Program Coordinator. She completed her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2001 and has a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and has over 20 years experience in both public and private rehabilitation agencies providing direct services to individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Rogers is the Co-Principal Investigator for the Master’s training grant for distance education students. Her research interests are in the area of employment of Social Security Disability recipients, job placement of individuals with disabilities, and vocational evaluation.

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Kathy Sheppard-Jones, PhD, CRC
Adjunct Assistant Professor
kjone@uky.edu

Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Ph.D. (Educational Psychology, University of Kentucky) is an adjunct assistant professor in the Rehabilitation Counseling program. She is also the training and adult services director at the Human Development Institute, Kentucky’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. In that role, she oversees HDI’s Graduate Certificate in Developmental Disabilities.

She is also responsible for several projects in collaboration with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Kentucky Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Kentucky Department of Medicaid, and the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Her research interests include quality of life and consumer satisfaction. Dr Sheppard-Jones has received the AUCD Young Professionals Award for contributions to the field of developmental disability.