Dr. Gerald Pennie is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in the state of Texas and is the Clinical Director of the Clinical Mental Health Program in the Human Relations Department at the University of Oklahoma Dr. Pennie also serves as the Chief Strategy Officer of Impact Communications LLC. a communications consulting firm that focuses on addressing public speaking anxiety and speech communications training. His clinical background includes working with children, adolescents, adults, and families within the P-12 public school environment and in private counseling settings. Dr. Pennie is active in the counseling profession. He has served on as a member of the Program Review and Research Committees of the Texas Counseling Association. He is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), the Texas Counseling Association (TCA), the Texas School Counseling Association (TSCA), and Texas Association of Humanistic Education and Development (TAHEAD).
Dr. Pennie has presented numerous times at conferences at the local, state, and national levels. He has co-authored a book chapter and articles relating to the topics of wellness, adolescent development, and group counseling. Dr. Pennie has had a long history of working with adolescents in the school system. He has served as an Academic Case Manager and Special Education Counselor. Dr. Pennie has worked in a voluntary capacity with several organizations across the state of Texas including Women’s Protective Services of Lubbock, Lubbock Independent School District, and the Roosevelt Independent School District. Dr. Pennie was named Volunteer of the Year for 2012. Dr. Pennie has served on multiple panels relating to multicultural approaches to mental health, diversity, and fostering stronger communities. Dr. Pennie's current research agenda focuses on Collaboration among counseling specialties, Healthy intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships in childhood and adolescence, and Goal Striving Stress Among First Generation College Students and First Generation Professionals.