Meet the Dean
Dr. Don W. Locke
Dr. Don W. Locke received the Bachelor of Science in History, English and Secondary Education and the Master of Education in Counseling from Mississippi College and the Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Locke taught and coached at the junior high level and also served as a high school counselor and coach. Dr. Locke has been in higher education (Mississippi College, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Mississippi State University) for thirty-five years serving as professor, program coordinator, department chair, assistant and associate dean, and dean. Since 1998, he has been Dean of the School of Education at Mississippi College.
Dr. Locke is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and has held licenses as a marriage and family therapist in Louisiana and Texas. He is past president of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC), the national organization, Student Personnel Association for Teacher Education (SPATE), and the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES). He has served as a member and vice-president of the Council for the Accreditation of Counselor Education and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and on the Governing Council of the American Counseling Association (ACA). He is currently a member of the Board of Examiners for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Dr. Locke is currently the president-elect of the American Counseling Association (ACA). In 2011, he will lead approximately 45,000 professional counselors as ACA's 60th president. Dr. Locke has been active in his community and church. He is currently a member of the Board of the Southern Oaks Homeowner’s Association in Clinton, Mississippi. He has served his church as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, choir member, and chair of long range planning.
Dr. Locke is married to Judy Kirkpatrick Locke, a former second grade teacher and college instructor, and has two adult children (Mark and Laura) and two grandchildren (Gracie and Meredith).