Faculty Profile

Licensed Psychologist and Professor, Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation and Department of Pediatrics

B.A., Augustana College, 1964

M.A., School Psychology, The University of Iowa, 1966

Ph.D. in Psychology, The University of Iowa, 1972

Dennis Harper, UI professor of pediatrics, holds appointments in counseling, rehabilitation, and student development in the College of Education and health management and policy in the College of Public Health. He is a leading authority in the study of children with chronic health disabilities and adults with mental retardation during the aging process. A highly sought after speaker, editor and reviewer who has published more than 100 peer reviewed publications and book chapters, he is frequently invited to present at national and international professional meetings and has served as editor, editorial board member and ad hoc reviewer for 28 major peer reviewed journals. His work has garnered more than $5 million in support from federal, state and private agencies. Harper joined the UI faculty in 1972, and in 2002 became head of developmental and behavioral medicine and clinical director of the Center for Disabilities and Development, Iowa's premier program for children with disabilities. He has taught undergraduate, graduate and professional students in several colleges, and was instrumental in developing an outstanding teaching program in developmental and behavioral pediatrics for house staff at the Children's Hospital of Iowa. In addition to his extensive record of clinical and professional service, he has served on a variety of collegiate committees, including terms as elected secretary and then vice chair of the Carver College of Medicine Executive Committee. In 2006, Dr. Harper was awarded a Regents Award for Faculty Excellence. Given by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, the award honors faculty members for work representing a significant contribution to excellence in public education. 

Dr. Harper has conducted extensive cross-cultural disability research in the developing world in several countries, including Nepal, Yucatan, New Zealand, Maori and the Philippines. He has had Visiting Professorships in Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Germany. He and a team of Fogarty supported public health researchers have completed studies in Romania on the neurotoxic effects of nitrates on infant development.

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in Six Divisions and a member of the Society for Pediatric Research and the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research. Dr. Harper is a Diplomat in Clinical Psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is Past President of Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, the Division of Pediatric Psychology-American Psychological Association, the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. and the Iowa Psychological Association. He is a charter fellow of the Medical School professors of Psychology. He was the 2001 Ellis speaker for Disability Awareness Week at the University of Illinois in April and was also awarded the Dortmunder-Gambrinus Fellowship from the University Dortmund, Germany where he lectured on Telehealth and disability applications.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Approved
Clinical Supervisor,
 
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
 
Professor, Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation
 
Chair, Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Student Development
 

B.A. in Psychology,1970; M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, 1975, Michigan State University
 
Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology, 1979, University of
Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Maki has worked as a rehabilitation counselor and vocational
evaluator in community-based rehabilitation facilities. He has an extensive and broad-based research agenda. Dr. Maki is the current President of the
Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). He is a Past President of
the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association and recipient of numerous awards, including the National Council on Rehabilitation Education's Rehabilitation Educator of the Year and the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association's Rank of Fellow. Dr. Maki has been appointed to the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and elected President of Rho Chi Sigma, the Rehabilitation Counseling and Services Honor Society. He is the Director of the Iowa Center for Assistive Technology and Research (ICATER).

Dr. Maki has been a consistent contributor to the professional literature and served as co-editor for special issues for the Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling from 1983 to 1994. Maki has co-edited three textbooks in the Springer Series on Rehabilitation, Applied Rehabilitation Counseling (1986), Rehabilitation Counseling: Profession and Practice (1997), and Handbook of Rehabilitation Counseling (2004). He has taught and done research in Indonesia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and southern Africa.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

National Certified Counselor

Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Counseling Program

Affiliate Faculty, Aging Studies Program

B.A., 1980; M.A., 1989; Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education, with Certificate in Aging Studies, 1996, The University of Iowa

Dr. Wadsworth joined the Rehabilitation Counselor Education faculty in 2000. He coordinates the Master’s Program in Rehabilitation Counseling and assists graduates as they conduct their own job search. As a long time Iowa City resident, his knowledge of workplaces and employers assists graduate students in building links to communities in Iowa. Dr. Wadsworth coordinates the specializations in aging and rehabilitation, case management, and disability management. Dr. Wadsworth serves on the Executive Board of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education and is appointed as an editorial board member for several professional journals. He has published extensively in the area of aging and developmental disabilities. His current research interests center on written and oral communication. Dr. Wadsworth and his wife Janet have a daughter, Gabrielle, and are foster parents.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Professor, and Program Coordinator

B.A., 1971, Northwestern University

M.A., 1975, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Psychology, 1987, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Tarvydas has had more than 30 years experience as a rehabilitation counselor educator and as a practicing rehabilitation professional. Her scholarly works and professional presentations have concentrated on the areas of ethics and ethical decision-making, professional standards, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Additionally, she has been prominent in leadership of the major professional organizations in rehabilitation counseling, having serving on the board of directors of the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, vice chair of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, and as president of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), and National Council on Rehabiliation Education (NCRE). She is currently chair of the Iowa Board of Behavior Examiners and chair of its Disciplinary Committee.

Dr. Tarvydas has taught most courses in the curriculum, including Medical Aspects of Disability; Practicum and Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling; Psychological and Social Aspects of Disability; Job Development, Placement Follow-Up. She has taught specialty course work in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation as well as courses in mental health counseling, including Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Dr. Tarvydas has presented numerous national and international programs and published extensively on ethical decision-making and professional standards. The third edition of her textbook, Counseling Ethics and Decision Making, has a 2007 publication date. She has chaired ethics committees in medical settings and for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification as well as being a current member of the American Counseling Association’s Ethics Committee, and The Judicial Council of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Recently, Dr. Tarvydas developed The Institute on Rehabilitation and Disabilty Ethics, located within The University of Iowa College of Education.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

Ph.D. Michigan State University

M.A. Michigan State University

B.A. Michigan State University

Dr. Saunders joined the Rehabilitation Counselor Education faculty in 2003. She coordinates the clinical portion of the Master’s Program in Rehabilitation Counseling. She teaches the Pre-Practicum, Practicum, Advanced Practicum, Internship, and Counseling Theories courses at the Master's level, as well as the Advanced Seminar in Social Psychology of Disabilty at the doctoral level. Before coming to Iowa City, Dr. Saunders was an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an Assistant Professor (Visiting) at Michigan State University. She was previously employed for 12 years as a Michigan Vocational Rehabiltation Counselor. Dr. Saunders' research interests include ethics and ethical decision-making; vocational outcomes for persons with disabilities; self-concept and persons with disabilities; and professional issues in rehabilitation counseling. She has published extensively in the professional literature. Dr. Saunders has served as Secretary for the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA) and for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). She has been appointed Chair of CRC Examination, and is a member of the CRCC Ethics Committe. Recently, Dr. Saunders was elected CRCC President, and will serve in this capacity from July 2006 through June 2007.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor

B.A., 1996, Social Work, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

M.A., 2001, Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

Ph.D., 2004, Rehabilitation Counselor Education, The University of Iowa.

Dr. Estrada-Hernández joined the Rehabilitation Counseling faculty as Postdoctoral Research Fellow in August 2004 and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2006. Dr. Estrada-Hernández primary responsibilities include conducting research and teaching various core courses in the MA program in rehabilitation counseling. Some of these courses include Psychosocial and Developmental Aspects of Disability, Medical Aspects of Disability, Multiculturalism in Helping Professions, and Introduction to Rehabilitation Counseling and Case Management. In addition, Dr. Estrada-Hernández developed an introductory course on Assistive Technology that is offered to all the students in the College of Education. 

 His research interests include the areas of Psychosocial adaptation to disability, especially on persons with Albinism, Employment/Vocational outcomes on persons with visual impairments, Professional issues (e.g. Ethics, Consumer involvement, and Multiculturalism), and Assistive technology. Dr. Estrada-Hernandez is member of various professional organizations such as the American Counseling Association, American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, and National Council on Rehabilitation Education. Dr. Estrada-Hernández and his wife Isandra are both from Puerto Rico and are very happy in making Iowa “a home away from home”.

Spanish Version:  

 Noel Estrada-Hernandez, Assistant Professor Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)  B.A., 1996, Trabajo Social, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras  M.A., 2001, Consejería en Rehabilitación, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras  Ph.D., 2004, Educación en Consejería en Rehabilitación, Universidad de Iowa

Dr. Estrada-Hernández es miembro activo de varias organizaciones profesionales como la American Counseling Association, American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, and National Council on Rehabilitation Education. Sus intereses de investigación incluyen los Aspectos de ajuste psicosocial de las personas con impedimentos, especialmente las personas con albinismo, Intereses vocacionales de las personas con impedimento visual, Aspectos profesionales (e.g. ética, participación del cliente, multiculturalismo), y Asistencia tecnológica. Dr. Estrada-Hernández y su esposa Isandra son ambos de Puerto Rico y se encuentran muy felices de hacer de Iowa “un hogar lejos del hogar”.       

Private Practice, Psychiatric Associates, Iowa City

B.S.N.,1975; M.A.,1986; Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Psychology, 1996, The University of Iowa

Dr. O'Rourke has worked as a nurse providing services to adults with acute and chronic mental health needs, as well as providing rehabilitative psychiatric treatment to persons in her private practice. She has also worked in the areas of assessment of head injury, learning disorders, and psychosocial adjustment. Currently she is providing psychologial services to clients in a private health care setting.

Dr. O'Rourke has taught a variety of courses in counselor education to graduate and undergraduate students, including Practicum and Internship Supervision, the Psychology of Women, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. She was also a clinical preceptor with the College of Nursing and provided clinical supervision to senior nursing students during their preceptorship in mental health. Dr. O'Rourke has published in the areas of ethics decision-making and sexual abuse as well disability and feminism. She currently coordinates the specialization in psychiatric rehabilitation for the graduate rehabilitation programs.

Supervisor, Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IDVRS), Iowa City Office

B.A.,1967; M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, 1972, The University of Iowa

Mr. Townsend has worked as a vocational evaluator and rehabilitation counselor within the state and federal Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services program for more than 25 years. He has been supervisor of the Iowa City Area Office for the last 14 years. 

Mr. Townsend has served as chair of the Diversity Committee for the IVRS, and has been active in this area at the state and regional level for the Department of Education. He has lectured extensively within the Graduate Programs in Rehabilitation and supervised internships and practica. Townsend currently coordinates the community-based public sector specialization for the programs. In 1970, Townsend won the National Rehabilitation Association's Graduate Student Literary Contest for his paper, "Vocational Rehabilitation and the Black Counselor: The Conventional Training Situation and the Battleground Across Town."

Psychologist (Master’s Level) II, Iowa Department of Corrections

LPCC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor, New Mexico

CADC - Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Iowa

MEd, Counseling Psychology, Long Island University, CW Post Campus

B.S., Education, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Ms. Eichinger has eighteen years’ experience in Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Family, Youth, Geriatric, and Grief counseling with emphasis on Co-occurring Disorders. She has fifteen years’ experience in classroom and training settings, as well as experience in program development and administration, clinical supervision, counseling, evaluation, and education. She has worked with groups, families and individuals in crisis, and with adults and young adult students.

Emeritus Faculty