Skip to main content

Laura Dawson-Fend, PhD, LPC, NCC

Assistant Professor
Core Counselor Education Faculty
Co-Chapter Faculty Advisor, Delta Sigma Mu, a Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota

Contact Information

fend

Assistant Professor
Core Counselor Education Faculty
Co-Chapter Faculty Advisor, Delta Sigma Mu, a Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota

Biography

Dr. Dawson-Fend graduated with her Master of Arts in Community Counseling at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2008. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Texas Tech University in 2014. Laura is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and has spent much of her career working within underserved settings including rural communities, with severe and persistent mental illness, juvenile justice centers or working in medical clinics addressing the intersection of mental health, addictions, and homelessness. Dr. Dawson-Fend is currently an Assistant Professor and core faculty member with the Community and Trauma Counseling program at Thomas Jefferson University. Laura has published on issues such as Veterans Transitioning to the University campus, Rape Culture, and Technology Assisted Distance Supervision and is in the process of getting a chapter on Intersectional Feminist approaches to Crisis and Trauma.

Publications

Selective Publications

Books & Book Chapters

Green, L. & Dawson-Fend, L. (2016). Perceptions of new mothers and new professors in academia: Stories from the frontlines. In Shuler, M., Keller Dupree, E., & Cook, K. (Eds.),Transformational learning experiences: A conversation with counselors about their personal and professional developmental journeys. Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books.

Most Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications

Research Projects in Progress

Dr. Dawson-Fend is interested in continuing to research in the areas of trauma, crisis, human trafficking, effective models for working with law enforcement to prevent burnout and PTSD and working on the gap between what we know about trauma and effective interventions to treat and prevent trauma. Doctor Dawson-Fend is also working on a chapter about feminist techniques to use when working with those in crisis or experiencing trauma for a textbook.

Research & Scholarship

International Presentations

Green, L. &Dawson-Fend, L. (2016). Student Veterans Transition to College: Counselors as a Front-Line Support. American Counseling Association and Canadian Counseling Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada.

Presentations

  • Dawson-Fend, L. (2023). Introduction to Human Trafficking and the Complex Trauma of Survivors. International Association for Resilience and Trauma in Counseling. (Online).
  • Dawson-Fend, L. (2023). Just Call Me Nobody: Dissociation and Human Trafficking. Philadelphia Trauma Treatment Conference, East Falls, Pennsylvania.
  • Dawson, L. & Green, L. (2014). Human Trafficking in the 21st Century. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, Dallas, Texas.
  • Dawson, L. & Green, L. (2014). The Counselor as a Friend to Law Enforcement: Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health Services and Law Enforcement. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, Dallas, Texas. Green, L. & Dawson, L. (2014). Collaboration to Support Military Families: Effective Methods for Practitioners. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, Dallas, Texas.
  • Dawson, L. & Green, L. (2014). I Thought Slavery was Abolished with the End of The Civil War? Modern Day Slavery in the 21st Century. Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Green, L. & Dawson, L. (2014). Serving Those Who Serve: Counseling Student Veterans in Colleges and Universities. Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Dawson, L., Berry, S., & Poulsen, N. (2014). Crisis Assessment for Social Service and Education Professionals. 28th Annual Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse. Prevent Child Abuse Texas, San Antonio, Texas.
  • Dawson, L (2014). Childhood Lost: An Introduction to the Impact of Human Trafficking on Children. New Mexico Counseling Association Annual Conference. NMCA, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Good, K., Davis, R., & Dawson, L. (2014). Authentic and Real Assessment vs. the Scantron/Pearson Bubble. New Mexico Higher Education Assessment and Retention Conference. New Mexico Higher Education Assessment Association, Inc, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Crews, C., Froeschle, J., Parr, G. & Dawson, L (2013). Counselor Educator Essential Technologies for Use In the Counseling Classroom, In the Field, and In the Cloud. Association of Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference. ACES, Denver, Colorado.
  • Berry, S., Crews, C., & Dawson, L. (2012). Stories from the Trenches: Professional School Counselors Working in Crisis Situations. Texas Counseling Association, Galveston, Texas.
  • Dawson, L., Berry, S. & Crews, C (2012). Law Enforcement Perceptions of Human Trafficking in Texas: A Grounded Theory Approach. Texas Counseling Association, Galveston, Texas.
  • Berry, S., Dawson, L., & Crews, C (2012). Crisis Management: The Intersection of Three Perspectives. Texas Counseling Association, Galveston, Texas.
  • Green, L.A. & Dawson, L. (2011). Instructional Strategies for Diverse Postsecondary Learners Using Universal Instructional Design. American Counseling Education and Supervision Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Harpster, A., Hoffman, G., Green, L.A. & Dawson, L (2011). Supervision Issues in Distance Counseling. Texas Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors Mid-Winter Conference, Austin, Texas.
  • Harpster, A, Hoffman, G., Green, L.A. & Dawson, L (2011). Solution-Focused Techniques in Supervision. Texas Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors Mid-Winter Conference, Austin, Texas.

Seminars

Dawson-Fend, L. (2016). An Introduction to Human Trafficking for School Counselors. Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas.

Invited Presentations

  • Dawson, L. (2014). Human Trafficking and Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking. Arise Sexual Assault Advocate Training, Clovis, New Mexico. 
  • Dawson, L. (2012). Introduction to Sex Trafficking. Introduction to Women’s Studies, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.

Leadership & Advocacy

Local

  • Co-Faculty Advisor, Delta Sigma Mu Chapter, Chi Sigma Iota (9/2023-present)
  • Joint College of Health Professions Curriculum Committee (term 2023-2025)
  • Joint College of Health Professions Student Affairs Committee (term 2023-2025)
  • Faculty Committees as needed in Community and Trauma Counseling Program

National

  • International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation
  • International Traumatic Stress Society
  • American Counseling Association (ACA)
    • Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES)
      • North Atlantic Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (NAACES)
    • Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ)
    • International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC)
    • International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC)
      • Journal Reviewer
      • Professional Development Committee
    • Military and Government Counseling Association (MGCA)
  • American Mental Health Counseling Association
    • Counseling Compact Task Force
    • Public Awareness Committee
    • Conference Committee
  • Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
    • Grant Reviewer
Go back to Community & Trauma Counseling