Core Faculty

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Melissa DeMeyer, Ph.D.
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.


 

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Edward Ewe, Ph.D.
Edward Ewe, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor (Clinical) Counseling and Counseling Clinic Director
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Born and raised in Penang, Malaysia, Dr. Ewe came to the United States in 2000 to pursue his education. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees, both with honors, from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed mental health counselor in Oklahoma, Washington and Oregon. He is a national certified counselor, and an approved Washington state clinical supervisor. He has provided counseling services to individuals and families in private and nonprofit settings, and served as a site director for a community mental health clinic.

Ewe is a mental health therapist in Bend who has a downtown private practice. He completed his doctoral studies in counseling at Oregon State University. His dissertation topic was in regard to the professional identity development of counseling students. His research interests include professional identity development, gatekeeping, resiliency and trauma, grief and loss, clinical supervision, and religiosity and spirituality. He has presented in various national and regional conferences for the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES), the Oklahoma School Counselor Association (OSCA) and the Western Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (WACES).

Ewe’s hobbies include swimming and spending time with friends and family. During the summer, he loves to travel and grill.


 

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Molly Moran, Ph.D.
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.


 

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Lucy Purgason, Ph.D.
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.


 

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Ryan Reese, Ph.D.
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.


Erin Moran, M.S.

Academic Program Coordinator, Counseling
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Erin is a licensed school counselor and received a Master of Science in Counseling from Portland State University. She served as a school counselor at Mountain View High School in Bend-La Pine Schools for six years. She believes deeply in the field of counseling and the power it has to foster health, create change, and promote equity and social justice within individuals, families, and communities. Erin found deep meaning and satisfaction as a school counselor and is thrilled to continue serving the counseling profession while at OSU-Cascades. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, rafting, skate skiing, reading, baking cookies, and spending time with her dog, friends, and family. 


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headshot of Stephanie Thomas
Stephanie Thomas, M.A.

Assistant Director for Licensure, Accreditation & Assessment

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Prior to her time at OSU, Stephanie worked in K-12 education in Washington state, most recently as the Coordinator of Instructional Programs for Secondary ELA in Spokane Public Schools. The majority of her time in Washington was with the Mount Vernon School District where she served first as the Assistant Director of Assessment & Data Systems, then the Director of Evaluation & Student Learning, and finally the Director of Teaching & Learning providing leadership for curriculum and instruction, professional learning, and assessment operations and reporting system wide. Prior to her time in Mount Vernon, Stephanie worked as the Research & Assessment Specialist in Bellingham Public Schools. She began her career as a middle and high school ELA and social studies teacher, interventionist, and instructional coach.