Dr. Derron Hilts
Assistant Professor
Academic Complex - Third Floor, Suite 328A
Office Hours:
MTW: 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (virtual or by appointment)
Phone: 716.286.8431
Website:
Biography
Dr. Derron Hilts (he/him/his) is a former professional school counselor and school counselor educator who currently serves as a core faculty in the Department of Counseling and Applied Psychology at Niagara University. He is both a national certified counselor and school counselor (NCC, NCSC). He earned his doctorate in counseling and counselor education from Syracuse University.
Dr. Hilts has served in several professional and leadership roles in both a local and national context. He currently serves in multiple roles with Chi Sigma Iota International including Chapter Faculty Advisor Committee member and Research Grants Committee member.
Hilts’s research agenda focuses on school counseling leadership, comprehensive school counseling programs, and student-to-school counselor ratios. He actively publishes in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and has been actively involved in grant applications including competitive national and local grants. Namely, Dr. Hilts is the recipient of research grants from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), New York State School Counselor Association (NYSSCA), and Chi Sigma Iota International.
Focus of Teaching
- EDU 653: Foundations and Ethics in School Counseling
- EDU 662: Organization and Administration of the School Counseling Program
- EDU 664: Career Counseling & Planning
- EDU 676: School Counseling Practicum
- EDU 677: School Counseling Internship I
- EDU 678: Advanced [School Counseling] Internship
Current Research
- Kratsa, K., Hilts, D., Kolbert, J., Joseph, M., Nice, M.L., & Crothers, L. (2023). Ecological barriers to comprehensive school counseling program implementation. Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation. https://doi.org/10.25774/rktf-dx61
- Hilts, D. & Liu, Y. (2023). School counselors’ perceived school climate, leadership practice, psychological empowerment, and multicultural competence before and during COVID-19. Journal of Counseling & Development, 1-11.
- Hilts, D., Liu, Y., & Luke, M. (2022). School counselors’ emotional intelligence and comprehensive school counseling program implementation: The mediating role of transformational leadership. The Professional Counselor, 12(3), 232-248.
- Hilts, D., Liu, Y., Li, D., & Luke, M. (2022). Examining ecological factors that predict school counselors’ leadership practices. Professional School Counseling, 26(1), 1-14.
- Hilts, D., Peters, H., Liu, Y., & Luke, M. (2022). The model for school counseling leadership supervision. Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy, 1-16.
- Hilts, D., Kratsa, K., Joseph, M., Kolbert, J., Crothers, L., & Nice, M. (2019). School counselors’ perceptions of barriers to implementing a RAMP-designated school counseling program. Professional School Counseling, 23, 1-11.
Current Involvement
University
- Member, BIPOC Recruitment and Retention Committee I September 2023 – present
Professional
- Member, Chapter Faculty Advisory Committee I May 2022 – present
- Member, Excellence in Counseling Research Grants Committee I May 2022 – present
Educational Background
- Ph.D., Counseling and Counselor Education, Syracuse University, 2022
- M.S.Ed., School Counseling, Duquesne University, 2017
- B.S., Psychology, SUNY Fredonia, 2015