Meet Dr. Gene Eakin

Gene Eakin, Ph.D., is a retired school counselor and school counselor educator. He spent 27 years working as a school counselor before serving as the former School Counseling Program Lead at Oregon State University's College of Education. From 2006 to 2008, he used motivational interviewing extensively with high school students, and he continues to train school counselors across the country.

Professional Background

• Education: He earned his Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Oregon in 1992.

• Experience: Dr. Eakin spent over 30 years working in public schools, including 23 years serving the Lebanon School District in Oregon.

• Higher Education: At Oregon State University, he instructed both master's (M.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) level courses, focusing on topics like quantitative research and leadership in school counseling.

Areas of Expertise & Advocacy

• Motivational Strategies: He is an expert in academic counseling and implementing motivational strategies to support at-risk students, specifically targeting ninth and tenth graders who are off-track for graduation.

• Leadership: He has served as an American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Certified Trainer and held leadership roles such as the advocacy chair for the Oregon School Counselor Association (OSCA).

• Collaborative Research: Even as a professor emeritus, he continues to participate in professional development initiatives, such as designing comprehensive school counseling and career-connected learning frameworks.