Clinical Assistant Professor, LPC

Dr. Weneaka Jones I am a licensed professional counselor (WI), counselor educator, and researcher who is driven by a deeply rooted commitment to social justice, health equity, and economic advancement for all people. My professional background includes over 15 years of experience in the areas of mental health, disability, chronic illness, workforce development, and state-federal vocational rehabilitation. My emerging clinical interests are centered around creating positive psychotherapy and self-care experiences for Black women. As a researcher, I am curious about how my work can contribute to national efforts to disrupt ongoing health and economic disparities by increasing workforce participation and encouraging financial empowerment among medically and economically vulnerable communities. Consequently, the goal of my collaborative research and program evaluation efforts is to improve the systems that serve medically and economically vulnerable communities by promoting evidence-informed policy and system-level change. As a counselor educator, I greatly enjoy contributing to the professional preparation of the next generation of mental health practitioners.

Dr. Jones will NOT be taking a new counseling psychology doctoral student for Fall 2025.

Recent Publications and/or Presentations

  • Clayton-Jones, D., Ong, L., Bekhet, A., Jones, W., Ontala, E., Pena, S., Griffin, K., Griffin, J., Peacock, E., Haglund, K. (2023). Sickle cell virtual support group program for adults: An implementation evaluation. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2023.2227266
  • Anderson, C.A., Jones, W. D., & Hergenrather, K. (2021). Empowering community voices: The influences of consumer race, disability, and poverty on public vocational rehabilitation service engagement. Journal of Rehabilitation, 87(1), 40-47.
  • Hartman, E. C., Jones, W., Friefeld Kesselmayer, R., Brinck, E. A., Trainor, A., Reinhard, A., Fuller, R. K., Schlegelmilch, A., & Anderson, C. A. (2021). Demographic and transition service predictors of employment outcomes for youth receiving Supplemental Security Income. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 44(2), 97-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143420984797
  • Anderson, C., Walsh, J., Jones, W., & Hergenrather, K. (2020). Understanding the influences of race, disability, and poverty on employment: Perspectives from Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) participants living in the central city of Milwaukee. White paper developed on behalf of the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Targeted Communities (VRTAC-TC) funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (Grant # H264F150003).
  • Clayton-Jones, D., Ontala, E., Haglund, K., Behket, A., Sawdy. R., Ong, L., Jones, W., & Radford-Sartin, Y. (2020). A community based participatory research approach in prioritizing self-management needs for young adults living with sickle cell disease. Journal of Sickle Cell Disease and Hemoglobinopathies, 7, 102. doi:10.14223 https://fscdr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PUBLISHED-2020-Journal-.pdf
  • Jones, W. D., Phillips, B. N., Hartman, E., Bishop, M., Tansey, T. N., & Anderson, C. A. (2020). The relationship among demographic factors, transition services, and Individual Development Account (IDA) saving participation among transition-age youth with disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355220962215
  • Phillips, B. N., Strauser, D. R., Ritter, E. S., Notaro, S. J., & Jones, W. D. (2018). The influence of social capital and social role on starting wage for people with and without disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 62(1), 43-52.