Education:
Spelman College - B.A., Education
Georgia State University - M.Ed., School Counseling
Mercer University - Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision
California University of Pennsylvania - Certificate, Sports Counseling
Bio:
Dr. Leah Howard is a counselor educator, licensed professional counselor, and nationally certified school counselor with experience across K–12 schools, higher education, and clinical mental health settings. She currently serves as a Full-Time Assistant Professor of Instruction in the School Counseling program at Ohio University, where she teaches graduate-level counseling courses, including Theory and Practice of Counseling & Psychotherapy, Counseling Interviewing Techniques, Counseling Children & Adolescents, and Counseling Internship.
She has provided counseling and support in school-based settings, private practice, and clinical environments, including Fulton County Schools, Emory University School of Medicine's Grady Behavioral Health Outpatient Center, Open Arms Counseling Center, and By Your Side Autism Therapy Center. She also served as a Resident Counselor with UCLA Summer Discovery, supporting the development of both national and international students.
Dr. Howard is an active scholar and presenter whose work has been featured nationally and internationally. She has presented at the International School Counselor Association Conference in Athens, Greece, and has published in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Magazine. She is also the co-author of Making It Happen: How to Turn Setbacks into Comebacks for Generational Success. In 2026, she received Ohio University’s Distinguished Faculty Graduate Teaching Award and is also the recipient of NBA player Kevin Love Fund Mental Health Hero Award for her work in mental health advocacy and student-athlete wellness. A former captain of the Spelman College tennis team, Dr. Howard’s interest in student-athlete mental health is rooted in her own athletic experience and has led to media features in The New York Times, Good Morning America, and Women’s Health Magazine.
In addition to her teaching and clinical work, Dr. Howard serves as Primary Faculty Advisor for the Alpha Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society, advises the Student Ambassador Program, and coordinates practicum and internship for the Online School Counseling Program. She is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Howard is committed to preparing future counselors through mentorship, applied training, and a strong focus on student development and professional identity