Spencer Niles

Profile

Spencer G. Niles is a professor of counselor education and co-director of the THRIVE Research and Intervention Center.

He served as Dean (2013-2020) for the School of Education at W&M where he was ranked as the 11tth most influential dean of education in the United States. Previously, Niles served as Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University, Distinguished Professor and Department Head for Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at Penn State and a Fulbright Scholar at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research. Niles also served as Professor and Assistant Dean in the School of Education, University of Virginia.

He is the current Editor for Counselor Education & Supervision and served as Editor for the Journal of Counseling & Development and The Career Development Quarterly. Niles has authored 155 publications and delivered over 170 presentations. He is the recipient of the American Counseling Association's Extended Research Award, David Brooks Distinguished Mentor Award, Thomas Hohenshil Publication Award, Thomas J. Sweeney Award for Visionary Leadership and Advocacy Award, and President's Award. He has also received Chi Sigma Iota International's Legacy Award, the Eminent Career Award from the National Career Development Association, the Outstanding Alumni Award from Penn State, and the Legacy Award from the University of Alabama. Niles is a Fellow of the American Counseling Association and the National Career Development Association. He was President of Chi Sigma Iota and President of the National Career Development Association.

He is an Honorary Member of the Japanese Career Development Association, the Italian Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance Lifetime Honorary Member of the Ohio Career Development Association and received the University of British Columbia's Noted Scholar Award. He served as a consultant in Argentina, Australia, China, New Zealand, Italy, India, Finland, Portugal, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa, Canada, Qatar, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Rwanda, Scotland, Switzerland, Singapore, Taiwan, Denmark, and Estonia.

Education

Post-Doctoral Leadership Training, Institute for Management and Leadership
Institutes for Higher Education
Harvard University

Inner Strengths of Successful Leaders
Institutes for Higher Education
Harvard University

Committee on Institutional Cooperation
Departmental Executive Officers Seminar

American Council on Education
Institute for Deans and Department Heads

Fellow, Education Policy and Leadership Center

Management Development Program
Institutes for Higher Education
Harvard University

Doctor of Education, Counselor Education and Supervision
The Pennsylvania State University

Master of Education, Community Counseling
Lehigh University

Activities and Honors

American Counseling Association

Thomas Hohenshil Publication Award (2019)

Thomas J. Sweeney Award for Visionary Leadership and Advocacy (2013)

David Brooks Distinguished Mentor Award (2003)

ACA Fellow (2007); National Career Development Association Fellow (2003)

NCDA Eminent Career Award (2007)

Selected Publications

Selected Books
Niles, S. G., & Harris-Bowlsbey, J. (2021). Career development interventions (6th edition). Columbus, OH: Pearson. (This book is the best-selling book in this area in the world and has been translated into 4 languages.)

Niles, S. G., Amundson, N. E., Neault, R., & Yoon, H. J. (2020). Career flow and development: Hope in action. San Diego, CA: Cognella Press.

Niles, S. G., Amundson, N. E., Neault, R., & Yoon, H. J. (2020). Career recovery: Creating careers with hope in difficult times. San Diego, CA: Cognella Press.

Nassar, S. C., & Niles. S. G. (Eds.). (2018). Orientation to professional counseling: Past, present, and future trends. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Hohenshil, T. H., Amundson, N. E., & Niles, S. G., (Eds.). (2013). Counseling around the world: An international handbook. American Counseling Association, Alexandria, VA.

Selected Journal Articles
Amundson, N. E., Niles, S. G., & Yoon, H. J. (2020). Hope-action theory and practice. Psychologia Wychowawcza [Educational Psychology], 60(18), 91-102. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.6227

Santilli, S., Ginevra, M. C., Ferrari, L., Sgaramella, T. M., Niles, S. G., Nota, L., & Soresi, S. (2020). Using the hope-centered career inventory (HCCI) - Italian version with healthcare professionals. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 21, 145-159.

Coll, K., Niles, S. G, Coll, K. F., Ruch, C. P., & Stewart, R. A. (2018). Education Deans: Challenges and stress. Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership. 4(1), Article 2.

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