Melissa S. Ockerman , Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program at DePaul University. A proud Buckeye, she graduated with a M.A. in School Counseling and Ph.D. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University. Dr. Ockerman has established a strong research agenda focusing on school counselor leadership, the efficacy of school counseling interventions and systemic anti-bullying and school safety strategies. She appeared before the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, DC to discuss bipartisan anti-violence policies. She is a frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences. In 2012, she was named the Illinois Counselor Educator of the Year. Dr. Ockerman… currently holds executive positions in national and state professional organizations, including Co-Chair of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Transformed School Counseling/College Access Interest Network, and Vice President, Counselor Education, for the Illinois School Counseling Association (ISCA). Additionally, Dr. Ockerman is Chair of the School Counseling committee for the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, a National Center for Transforming School Counseling (NCTSC) Counselor Educator Coalition fellow, and an Advisory Council member for the Evidence-Based Practice in School Counseling conference. Her passion for educating the next generation of transformed school counselors is matched only by her strong desire to dismantle the pervasive achievement gap in schools through innovative and effective evidence-based school counseling interventions.