Dr. Viola Simone May is Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology & Learning Systems at Florida State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Auburn University in 2017, following an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the same institution in 2014.
With a professional background encompassing work in various agencies, Dr. May has extensive experience supporting domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse survivors, and serving youth (and their families) in residential facilities and foster care.
Dr. May’s research focuses on multicultural counseling, race-based trauma, substance abuse interventions, and counselor education. Her scholarly work has explored counselor training competencies, job satisfaction and work-life balance among racial minority faculty, and the impact of poverty on mental health counseling. She has presented at national and regional conferences, including the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and has contributed to multiple book chapters on culturally responsive counseling practices and trauma-sensitive interventions.
Dr. May is a National Certified Counselor and a licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). As an educator, clinician, and researcher, she is committed to bridging the gap between theory and practice, fostering stimulating and inclusive learning environments, and advancing the counseling field through excellence in teaching, counseling, and community outreach.