Diversity Dialogue: Cultural Competency in Counseling

Diversity Dialogue: Cultural Competency in Counseling

Dr. Queener will discuss the rationale for cultural competence and the components of cultural competence. He will also share what cultural competence is not. Dr. Queener will help participants develop skills that will increase their level of cultural competency in their everyday lives as well as with clients and students.

Dr. John E Queener Jr.

Dr. John E. Queener, Jr. obtained his BA from The College of Wooster, his MA from The Ohio State University, and received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Akron. He is a full professor and teaches graduate courses in Counseling Psychology in the Department of Psychology at The University of Akron.  He writes and publishes research in the areas of multicultural issues, culturally specific interventions, and retention of African American males.  He is a member of the Department of Psychology’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.  He is on the University of Akron’s Black Male Summit Committee. He is the Vice president of The University of Akron’s United Forum of Black Faculty, Administrators, and Staff. He serves as the Executive Director of Minority Behavioral Health Group, a nonprofit organization he helped found to reduce mental health disparities for African Americans.  He is a member of the Association of Black Psychologists, and he is the current president of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists.   He is chair of the Division of Health and Education for the Eastern Education Research Association.   Queener has been the recipient of numerous awards for his efforts to increase diversity in the mental health field and higher education.  His awards include: The Association of Black Psychologists Community Service Award in 2019; Community Service for Mental Health in 2014; The Pan African Students Association Professor of the Year award, 2010;  the  College of Education Community Service award for his work and scholarship on Inclusive Excellence in 2008, the 2006 American Psychological Graduate Students Organization’s Kenneth and Mamie Clark award for  contributing to the development of ethnic minority psychology graduate students, the 2005 Society of Counseling Psychology Section on Ethnic and Racial Diversity Community Service Award for his promotion of culturally relevant services in the community, and the 2004  University of Akron’s Office of Multicultural Development Legacy, Leadership, and Excellence Award for his efforts to make the University of Akron  a more inclusive place of learning.  He married to Charlene Queener and they have four adult children-Malik, Aisha, and twins Jelani and Jabari, and three grandchildren.