Diandra J. Prescod

Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Program Coordinator

Educational Psychology

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Title:

Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Program Coordinator

Holmes Scholars Program Coordinator

Academic Degrees:

Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Central Florida
M.S., Mental Health Counseling, Monmouth University
B.A., Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Research Interests:

Career Development

Initiatives in STEM Education

Faculty/Students of Color in Higher Education

Biography:

Dr. Diandra J. Prescod is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of School Counseling at the University of Connecticut. Her research focuses on career development interventions for (a) STEM undergraduate students and (b) women/students of color in higher education. Dr. Prescod currently serves as President for the Connecticut Career Counseling and Development Association where she works to expand and enhance career development resources for the community. She served as Secretary for the European Branch of the American Counseling Association (EBACA) and Trustee for Higher Education Career Counselors and Specialists for the National Career Development Association (NCDA) from 2020-2023. In 2024, she was awarded with the Merit Award from NCDA. She is active in the field of Counselor Education and presents her research nationally and internationally.

Selected Publications:

• Zhai, Y., & Prescod, D.J. (2024). Promoting multicultural and social justice counselling competency of international counselling students. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 1-14. http://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12803  
• Prescod, D.J., Belser, C.T., Daire, A.P., Karaki, R., Cushey, K. (2023). Experience of STEM-interested students in a career planning course: A qualitative inquiry. Career and Technical Education, 48(3), 39-56. https://doi.org/10.5328/cter48.3.39
• Belser, C.T., & Prescod, D.J. (2021). Conceptualizing COVID-19 career concerns using bioecological systems: Implications for career practice. The Career Development Quarterly, 69(4), 355-370.
• Prescod, D.J., Haynes-Thoby, L., Belser, C.T., & Nadermann, K. (2020). Including Gottfredson’s career theory in STEM initiatives geared towards students of color. Journal of Negro Education, 89(2), 158-168.
• Prescod, D.J., Zeligman, M., Greene, J.H. & Hall, K.G. (2020). Navigating the therapeutic waters: How practitioners develop theoretical orientation. Journal of Counselor Practice, 11(1), 55-84.
• Prescod, D.J., Gilfillan, B., Belser, C.T., Ishler, M., & Orndorff, R. (2019). Career decision-making for undergraduates enrolled in career planning courses. The College Quarterly, 22(2). http://collegequarterly.ca/2019-vol22-num02-spring/career-decision-making.html.
• Edwin, M., Prescod, D.J., & Bryan, J. (2019). Profiles of high school students’ career aspirations. The Career Development Quarterly, 67(3), 255-263.
• Belser, C.T., Prescod, D.J., Daire, A.P., Cushey, K.F., Karaki, R., Young, C., & Dagley, M. (2018). The Role of Faculty Guest Speakers and Research Lab Visits in STEM Major Selection: A Qualitative Inquiry. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 33(1), 8-26.

• Prescod, D.J., Daire, A.P., Young, C., Dagley, M., & Georgiopoulos, M. (2018). Exploring negative career thoughts between STEM declared and STEM interested students. Journal of Employment Counseling, 55(4), 166-176.

Selected Presentations:

• Prescod, D.J., Gruder, K., & Zu, D. (2024, June). Inclusive Career Discussions: Strategies for Reducing Career Disparagement and Bullying. Presented at the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Prescod, D.J., Hannon, M., & Niles, S. (2024, March). Decolonizing Career Theory to Better Serve Socially, Culturally, and Economically Diverse Populations. Presented at the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Conference, Bridging the Gap: Eliminating Mental Health Disparities. Washington, D.C.
• Prescod, D.J. (2024, February). Self-Care Event for HERO Graduate Students hosted by Office of Diversity and Inclusion. University of Connecticut. Storrs, CT.
• Prescod, D.J., Hines, J., Embrick, D., Burnett, M., Williams, J., Nwakasi, C., & Mayo.C. (2024, January). Martin Luther King Day of Service Panel hosted by Campus Wide Initiatives. University of Connecticut. Storrs, CT.
• Siwiec, A. Panke, J., & Prescod, D.J. (2023, November). Self-Care as an Ethical Practice. National Career Development Month Panel for National Career Development Association (NCDA). Virtual.
• Prescod, D.J., & Saanogo, S. (2023, October). Creative Career Development Approaches to Retain Underrepresented STEM Undergraduate Students. Presented at the European Branch of the American Counseling Association (EB-ACA)
  Conference. Leiden, Netherlands.
• Prescod, D.J. (2023, October). Engaging in Grant-Funded, Career Related Research. ACES-Career Interest Network Preconference at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Denver, CO.
• Prescod, D.J. & Mullen, P. (2023, October). Defining Yourself as a Researcher: Strategies to Create and Manage a Research Agenda. Research Academy Preconference at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Denver, CO.
• Niles, S., Prescod, D.J., Chan, C., & Hannon, M. (2023, October). Hidden Messages and Explicit Dialogues about the Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Training of Career Counselors. Presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference. Denver, CO.
• Prescod, D.J. (2023, September). Bridging the Gap Between STEM Education and Career Development. Workshop facilitated at the University of Florida’s Astronomy Department. Jacksonville, FL.

Honors/Awards:

• 2024 Merit Award – National Career Development Association
• 2023 Outstanding Service through Board Leadership Award – National Career Development Association
• 2020 Career Development Quarterly Article of the Year Award – National Career Development Association (“Profiles of high school students’ STEM career aspirations” – Mary Edwin, Diandra J. Prescod, & Julia Bryan)
• 2020 Outstanding State Division Award – National Career Development Association (Member of Pennsylvania Career Development Assoc. board and organizing committee)
• 2018 New Professional of the Year Award – North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 
• 2017 Emerging Leaders Fellow – Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
• 2016 Emerging Leaders Fellow – North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 
• 2016 Paul and Marjorie Price Family Endowment – Penn State University
• 2014 Outstanding Journal Article Award – Association for Adult Development and Aging