Melisa DeMeyer, Ph.D, NCC, LPC
Assistant Professor (Clinical), Counseling
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Dr. Melisa DeMeyer (she/her) was born and raised in the beautiful state of Montana. She proudly identifies as a first-generation student. DeMeyer earned a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in marriage, couple and family counseling from Montana State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Idaho State University.
DeMeyer's professional experiences include: serving as the lead clinical staff for a therapeutic day treatment program for youth (K-12 grades) and a therapeutic group home for youth (13-18 years old) in Bozeman, Montana; working as a licensed professional counselor in Pocatello, Idaho; as the department chair of an integrative mental health program in Portland, Oregon; and as the owner of a private practice in Bend, Oregon. She is a licensed professional counselor in Oregon. She joined the OSU-Cascades faculty in 2019.
DeMeyer’s areas of interest and wonder include: reflective practices and reflexivity; systems-based counseling and supervision practices; the importance and impact of mentorship; couple and family counseling; feminism; and social constructionism. Her hobbies include getting outside (hiking, camping, fishing), reading and spending time with her loved ones.
Molly Moran, Ph.D., NCC, LPC
Assistant Professor (Clinical), Counseling
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Dr. Moran is a licensed school counselor in Oregon and a licensed professional counselor in Idaho. She received a Master of Science in School Counseling from Portland State University and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Boise State University. Her research interests include counselor education pedagogy and school-based interventions aimed at improving outcomes for historically underrepresented students. Her favorite classes to teach include Social Cultural Perspectives in Counseling and any of the clinical skill-based courses. When not teaching, Molly enjoys spending time recreating in the outdoors.
Lucy Purgason, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Counseling
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Dr. Lucy Purgason has worked in counselor education for eight years, including positions at Western Washington University and Appalachian State University. She started her professional journey as a school counselor committed to implementing equity-driven and anti-racist school counseling programs in rural, low-income districts in mental health professional shortage areas. She is passionate about training counseling students to utilize strengths-based, culturally responsive and sustaining approaches with students and clients. Her research is informed by her experiences working at a school specifically for newcomer immigrant and refugee students. She is invested in contributing to knowledge that assists school counselors in delivering comprehensive school counseling programs inclusive of students’ cultural strengths, drawing on social justice frameworks such as Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005) and Relational-Cultural Theory. When not at work, she can be found outside with her family exploring new trails and all that Central Oregon has to offer.
Ryan Reese, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Counseling
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Dr. Ryan Reese is an associate professor of counseling at Oregon State University - Cascades in Bend, Oregon. Reese maintains a private practice where he specializes in ecowellness and trauma-informed approaches to counseling. He holds credentials as a licensed professional counselor, licensed school counselor, national certified counselor, EMDR-certified therapist, and approved clinical supervisor. His research agenda focuses on ecowellness and how intentional and contextual affiliations with non-human nature might be integrated effectively into clinical and educational settings to promote optimal wellness and learning. Above all, Reese enjoys spending time with his family exploring the many awe-inspiring wonders of the Pacific Northwest.