University of Kentucky College of Education Professor Keith B. Wilson, Ph.D., is a recipient of the 2022 American Counseling Association Fellows Award. This distinction recognizes the significant and unique contributions Wilson has made to the counseling profession throughout his career, as well as serves as a call for continued service as a scholar and leader. 

Wilson is program chair/coordinator and director of graduate studies in the Counselor Education programs within the UK College of Education Department of Early Childhood, Special Education and Counselor Education.  

As a fellow for the American Counseling Association, Wilson represents a diverse community of leaders creating and expanding knowledge and insight into the strategic matters of the counseling profession. He also identifies and develops future leaders, as well as takes an active role in the identification of future trends, research and issues that help shape further research and thinking. 

“Dr. Wilson has been a tremendous asset to our university since coming here three years ago. He has worked at several research one universities in his career. At every stop, he has increased the rankings and mentored faculty, students and administrators on their path to being leaders in their respective fields,” said Ralph Crystal, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education and Counselor Education. “ 

Wilson’s research interests are primarily centered around cross-cultural and multicultural issues among persons with disabilities and privilege based on phenotype, such as skin color and gender, in the U.S. His current research centers on improving multicultural counseling competencies through the use of more application-based approaches to cross-cultural training in both education and in the human and allied health services. 

“To be considered for this award, you must get nominated by an ACA Fellow. This is why the nomination and ultimate honor bestowed upon me at the ACA conference was a surprise. The icing on the cake was accepting the award in front of my peers, family and friends. I guess I am officially getting old when one receives honors like this. I am grateful for the recognition from my peers,” Wilson said.  

Wilson has more than 100 scholarly publications and has given an estimated 190 presentations across the U.S. and internationally. He is a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), national certified counselor (NCC), licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania, licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Illinois, licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) in Kentucky and an American Board of Disability Analysts (ABDA) diplomat. 

Prior to his career at UK, Wilson served as an administrator and faculty member at Pennsylvania State University for 15 years and was dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Wilberforce University, Kent State University and Ohio State University, respectively. As a professor, he routinely teaches undergraduate, master's and doctoral level students.