Dr. Susan Branco, LPC (VA), LCPC (MD), NCC, ACS, BC-TMH (she/her/ella)
Dr. Branco is a transracial and transnational adoptee from Colombia, South America. She is an advocate for increased adoption-related research and training within counselor education and is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for transracially
adopted persons.
Susan is a practicing counselor and a tenure track assistant professor in the counselor education program at St. Bonaventure University. Her research includes transracial adoption and mental health, Colombian adoption policy, and clinical training and
supervision practices for BIPOC counselors.
In addition, she has multiple peer-reviewed publications related to her research interests. Susan’s parents are retired elementary and public middle school teachers in Pennsylvania. Her brother and sister-in-law are high school teachers in public
schools in Bogotá, Colombia. Her proximity to teachers instilled value in the profession and an awareness of the challenges they encounter.
Dr. Jan Gay
Dr. Gay is a visiting professor in the counselor education department at St. Bonaventure University. Her research interest includes anti-racist school counseling, multiculturalism, social justice, and advocacy.
Jan has three years of experience as a professional school counselor and 11 years as a clinical social worker. She has two years of teaching experience as a teaching assistant, co-instructor, instructor of record, guest lecturer, and adjunct faculty across
CACREP core and foundational courses.
Dr. Gay has worked in PK-12th grade settings and loves supporting the social emotional development of students and the well-being of staff. Jan comes from a family of educators; her mother is a retired gifted teacher and her sister is a special education
teacher.
Dr. Gay serves as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) graduate student past representative. She is also member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES),
Florida Counseling Association (FCA), and the New York School Counseling Association (NYSCA).
Dr. Nathaniel Mason (he/him/his)
Dr. Mason is in his second full year as an assistant professor in counselor education at St. Bonaventure University's remote graduate program. He obtained his Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision in 2021 from William and Mary, where he also received
his Master's of Education in clinical mental health and addictions counseling.
He currently is a therapist providing individual, couples, and family counseling for individuals impacted by addictions, relational traumas, and other comorbid diagnoses. His research interests include factors that promote successful recovery in LGBTQ+
individuals, theoretical frameworks that can serve historically marginalized clients, and the role of spirituality in understanding addictions broadly.
Nathaniel is a strong believer in a humorous, compassionate, and humanistic way of being to help clients and students live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.