Mrs. LeAnna Hensley is the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences for the Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs.  In her role, Mrs. Hensley works with graduate students in Counselor Education and Communication Sciences and Disorders, specifically working with students during their CSD externships and COU practicum/internship experiences.

Mrs. Hensley received her Master’s Degree and Rank I in School Counseling.  She has over 23 years of experience in the K-12 setting. She is excited to use her own experiences to help support EKU students during their clinical rotations.

Dr. Jeon is an Associate Professor in Counselor Education at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Jeon is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Counselor in Illinois and Kentucky. Dr. Jeon has been a professional counselor over years, having served as a school counselor and a clinical mental health counselor, and as a private practitioner. Her general areas of counseling competence include counseling children and adolescents, families, and adults. She also worked as a consultant for companies, schools, and parents in which consultees are trained how to utilize basic counseling skills with their areas of focus. Particularly, she is interested in counseling children using play therapy and sandtray. Her experience in play therapy is diverse ranging from child-centered, Gestalt, Adlerian, and Theraplay. Currently, she is interested in integrating play therapy and sand tray with EMDR for trauma and grief counseling, facilitating parental involvement in child therapy process, and utilizing expressive arts in supervision.

Hello! My name is Dr. Greg Sandman. I am an Assistant Professor at Eastern Kentucky University.  I am a licensed professional certified counselor (LPCC) in the state of Kentucky.  I hold hold a BA from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, an MSEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Wyoming. I joined the faculty at EKU in 2022 and enjoy having great colleagues to work with! My specializations are the LGBTQ+ community, spirituality, and addictions counseling. I currently serve as the Faculty Advisor to the Clinical Coordinator and I serve on a number of committees. My current research is involved with LGBTQ+ youth, gatekeeping issues in Counselor Education, and multicultural issues in counseling.

Angela Spiers, Ed.D., LPCC-S (KY, SC) CPC (NV) NCC, ACS originally from Canada, Dr. Spiers moved with her family to the United States 16 years ago where she completed her doctoral degree. Dr. Spiers has been a counselor, educator, and mediator supporting clients and families since 1993. Her dissertation led to her 2014 publication of “A Qualitative Study of Mother Doctoral Students in Counselor Education: The Impact of Mentoring, Wellness, and Self Efficacy on Persistence and Retention.” Dr. Spiers earned her master’s degree in education specializing in Counseling and Adult Education from Brock University in St Catherine’s Ontario Canada. During this time, she piloted a project entitled SMILE (Students Mentoring in Life and Education) program that has positively supported thousands of students through leadership and mentoring and continues to make a positive impact on students’ lives to this day. Dr. Spiers continues to present state and nationally on the topics for best clinical counseling practices. Dr. Spiers continues to work in clinical mental health in private practice where she is in network with several insurance companies, telehealth and Employee Assistance Programs supporting clients with multiple clinical issues, including working with clients with addiction issues, couples, and veteran families. She is currently interested in research around issues to improve counseling practices, telehealth, and supporting families.  

Maria Bane, PhD, CCC-SLP earned her doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and a certificate in Clinical Research Design from the University of Kentucky in 2021 under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Stemple. She completed her clinical fellowship in the acute care setting and has expertise in the areas of voice and swallowing. Maria is currently an Assistant Professor at Eastern Kentucky University in the Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs, where her duties include teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels, clinical instruction, and research. Using quantitative and qualitative approaches, her research focuses on identifying the active ingredients responsible for efficacy of behavioral interventions, evidence-based practice, and evidence-based education of future speech-language pathologists. Her research and teaching have been recognized by ASHA’s Advancing Academic Research Careers Award, EKU’s Faculty Excellence in Research Award, EKU’s Faculty Teaching Award, and a CTSA TL1 Predoctoral Training Grant.

Dr. Cranfill received her doctorate from the University of Kentucky in Rehabilitation Sciences. Her research interests include neurogenic communication disorders, quality of life issues related to chronic communication disorders, and social networks. Dr. Cranfill teaches coursework in neuroanatomy, dysphagia, aphasia, and professional issues. Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Cranfill worked in a variety of clinical settings, including public schools, home health, hospitals, First Steps, and outpatient clinics. Dr. Cranfill is serving as the Past-President of the Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Charles Hughes, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-F, is an Assistant Professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. He teaches a variety of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. As a Board Certified Specialist in Fluency (BCS-F), he specializes clinically in the area of stuttering. His main research interests are related to listener perceptions, family experiences, and clinical education in the area of stuttering.