The member spotlight highlights individual achievements, contributions, and unique qualities within the group work community and as members of ASGW, fostering recognition, connection, and inspiration. It acknowledges members' efforts, motivates others through their successes, and builds camaraderie by sharing personal stories. Additionally, spotlights promote diversity, inclusion, and knowledge-sharing while reinforcing ASGW’s core values. This practice strengthens community bonds and aligns group members with shared goals through platforms like newsletters, social media, and events.
Dr. Jennifer D. Culver
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Jennifer D. Culver, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, BC-TMH (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Development at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. As part of her faculty role,
she provides individual and group counseling and leads mental health outreach initiatives for global majority, LGBTQ+, and international student populations.
Dr. Culver earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and holds an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University. Her
professional interests include expanding access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care; decolonizing mental health practices; and championing inclusive and culturally responsive practices in
higher education.
She currently serves as the Special Initiatives Committee Chair for the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW). As a group facilitator, Dr. Culver specializes in group work for historically
marginalized communities. She co-facilitated for several years, SisterScholars, an affinity-based support group for Black college women at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and currently facilitates a weekly
support group for LGBTQIA+ students at Slippery Rock University. At Slippery Rock, Dr. Culver has developed and led several additional groups. These include Sister to
Sister, a space for women of color to explore academic, personal, and career goals; Coping with Community Violence, a support group for students impacted by community violence; and Building
Resilience and Hope, a healing circle designed to foster emotional restoration and connection among students.
Additionally, in response to critical events, Dr. Culver has led processing groups to support students navigating collective trauma, including those following the anti-LGBTQ+ mass shooting at Club Q and
the 2024 U.S. election. Beyond the university setting, she has facilitated support groups for survivors of intimate partner violence, offering trauma-informed care and a space for healing.
In conducting research on group work, Dr. Culver explores the dynamics and outcomes of group counseling interventions, particularly within marginalized communities. Her research aims to identify
effective strategies for fostering resilience, empowerment, and collective healing in group settings. This includes developing culturally responsive teaching methods that enhance group work effectiveness and
promote the practice of group work.
Dr. Culver’s broader research focuses on mental health and wellness in the Black community, with an emphasis on cultural strengths, protective factors, and barriers to care. She also explores the academic and
career development of Black women, identifying interventions that support their holistic success. Her work aims to expand access to quality mental health care and promote wellness within the Black
community. She has presented nationally and internationally on the experiences of Black women and has provided consultation and professional development for organizations serving women of color.
Dr. Culver, thank you for your contributions to the field of group work!!
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