Stacey Havlik, PhD
Associate Professor of Education & Counseling | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Villanova University
- Villanova PA
Stacey Havlik, PhD, is an expert in school counseling, homeless children and youths and first-generation college students.
Areas of Expertise
Biography
Having worked as a middle school counselor, Dr. Stacey Havlik is intimately acquainted with the increasingly extensive demands placed on those that perform this role. The focus of her research is on how school counselors can guide and assist homeless children and youths as well as first-generation college students to successful educational careers.
Education
University of Maryland at College Park
PhD
The College of William and Mary
MEd
Rutgers University
BA
Links
Affiliations
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
- American Counseling Association
- American School Counselor Association
- Chi Sigma Iota, Alpha Delta Chapter
- North Atlantic Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
- Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
- The National Career Development Association
- Pennsylvania Counseling Association
Select Media Appearances
Philadelphia Undercounts Students Who Are Homeless—Here's What Parents Need to Know to Advocate for Their Child
The Conversation
2023-09-27
"For thousands of Philadelphia kids, the return to school this fall was made more difficult because they don't have a secure place to call home... As a professor of counseling who researches homelessness, and a former school counselor who has examined the challenges educators face in supporting homeless youth, I know it is critical that parents and guardians understand their children's rights at school to ensure their kids get the support they need."
Can Jeff Bezos Help the Homeless? Four Essential Reads
The Conversation
2018-09-14
Research from Stacey Havlik at Villanova University shows "that school counselors often lack knowledge about students who are homeless, and have limited training to support their needs." These students may need not only basic support like food and clothing, but extra attention to their mental health and planning for the future.
Villanova Researchers Help First-Gen Students Trailblaze Into Freshman Year
WHYY's Morning Edition
2018-08-30
Two researchers at Villanova University have been studying first-generation students in this region. Setting up first-generation students for success begins before they step foot on campus, say researchers Stacey Havlik and Krista Malott.
Homeless Students May Be Hiding in Plain Sight
WAMC's The Academic Minute
2018-01-23
Homeless students may be hiding in plain sight. Stacey Havlik, assistant professor in the Department of Education and Counseling at Villanova University, explores how schools can support such students in their time of need.
The Hidden Homelessness Among America's High School Students
The Conversation
2018-01-04
"In order to turn things around and help homeless students succeed and have a decent shot at college, school counselors should be seen as our first line of support. I say that based on years of experience as a researcher who has focused on the critical role that school counselors play in helping low-income and first-generation college students make it to college."
Research Grants
American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division E Small Research Grant
American Educational Research Association
2018. External Grant: "Preparing Students Experiencing Homelessness for College."
"School Counselors' Roles in Supporting the College Development of Students Experiencing Homelessness"
National Center for Homeless Education, Department of Education
2017. Research Summary.
"Integrating a Flipped Classroom, Simulation-Based Teaching Model Into an Introductory School Counseling Course"
Villanova Institute for Teaching and Learning (VITAL) Minigrant
2017.
Association for Children and Adolescent Counseling
Association for Children and Adolescent Counseling
2017. Research Grant.
Select Academic Articles
School Counselors' Perspectives on Preparing Students Experiencing Homelessness for College
Journal of College AccessHavlik, S., Brookover, D. & Rowley, P.
The purpose of the study is to investigate school counselors' support of youth experiencing homelessness going to college. Using survey methods, school counselors reported their knowledge, perceived competence, advocacy and actions related to supporting students experiencing homelessness in their college preparation. The results suggested that training and the number of students experiencing homelessness on counselors' caseloads were significantly related to their knowledge and competence. Knowledge, competence and advocacy all impacted the number of interventions utilized by participants. The implications of these results for school counselors and counselor educators are discussed.
Working Across Differences While Online: Examining the Experience of Facilitating a Virtual Group
International Journal for the Advancement of CounsellingHavlik, S., Malott, K., Gamerman, T. & Okonya, P.
A growing body of literature illustrates the benefits of online groups for clients, but few studies have examined counselors' experience facilitating such groups, particularly in regard to counselor work with clients of differing sociodemographic traits. In this study, graduate-level counseling students facilitated two psychoeducational college counseling groups via an online platform. Groups were tailored for Black and/or African American first-generation college students (FGCS) enrolled in urban high schools. Facilitator experiences using an online platform and counseling across sociodemographic variables were explored. Themes included barriers to cohesion building, difficulty of power/oppression discussions via a virtual setting and adjusting tactics and expectations.
First-Generation College-Goers Persisting at One Predominantly White Institution
Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & PracticeHavlik, S., Pulliam, N., Malott, K. & Steen, S.
Through use of an interpretive phenomenological inquiry, this study examined the lived experiences of first-generation college students persisting at a mid-sized, private, predominantly White institution. Themes that emerged across participants included a sense of "otherness" according to students' race, ethnicity and first-generation and socioeconomic statuses. Motivations and strengths that enabled students to persist in school, despite facing multiple obstacles, are described. Implications for students and helping professionals are included.
Local Liaisons: Roles, Challenges and Training in Serving Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Urban EducationHavlik, S., Schultheis, K., Schneider, K. & Neason, E.
Through engaging in interviews with 10 local educational agency liaisons, this study provides insight into their roles, challenges and training in serving children and youth experiencing homelessness. Using thematic analysis to analyze transcripts, common themes were uncovered. The findings highlight the liaisons' challenges related to identification and academic barriers, as well as provide deeper insight into their preparation. Furthermore, the results suggest that liaisons are dedicated to their roles and are committed to building partnerships to serve students.
School Counselors' Roles and Responsibilities Working With Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Journal of the Pennsylvania Counseling AssociationHavlik, S. & Brown, K.
School counselors play critical roles in removing the barriers faced by students experiencing homelessness. Despite having the skill set to address all students' academic, career and emotional needs, their roles related to homelessness lack a clear definition. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose the five main roles of counselors in their work with students experiencing homelessness: (a) identification, (b) needs assessment, (c) advocacy, (d) coordination of programs and referrals and (e) counseling interventions.
