Jack Simons, PhD

is an Associate Professor at Mercy University in New York. He is also affiliated with the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Dr. Simons received his doctorate in counseling from the University of Missouri, St. Louis with an emphasis in school counseling and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender topics. He completed postdoctoral training at the Francis McClelland Institute for Children, Youth, and Families in Arizona. Dr. Simons has published extensively. His lab is dedicated to studying factors that influence sexual and gender minority individuals’ experiences including identity and personal strength, educational and counseling experiences, social support, and health behaviors. His research interests are inclusive education, identity behavior theory, and STEM advocacy.