Taunya M. Tinsley, PhD

Taunya Marie Tinsley, PhD, DMin, NCC, LPC (PA & NJ), LPCC (OH), ACS, BCC, serves as Dean and Professor in the School of Graduate Studies at Pillar College, where she provides academic leadership for graduate programs while preparing the next generation of professional counselors, ministry leaders, and helping professionals. Her teaching, scholarship, and leadership are grounded in a commitment to integrating clinical excellence, Christian faith, multicultural competence, and leadership formation to promote whole-person flourishing.

With more than 30 years of professional experience, Dr. Tinsley has served in leadership roles across higher education, clinical mental health counseling, ministry, and athletic development. Prior to joining Pillar College as Dean, she served as Director of Certification and Credentialing Services for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), where she provided strategic leadership for national counselor certification and credentialing initiatives. She has also held faculty and administrative appointments at California University of Pennsylvania, Waynesburg University, Missio Seminary, Villanova University, Lincoln University, and other institutions of higher education.

A Licensed Professional Counselor (Pennsylvania and New Jersey), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (Ohio), National Certified Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and Board Certified Coach, Dr. Tinsley is a nationally recognized counselor educator whose scholarship explores the intersection of multicultural counseling, faith and mental health, leadership development, and sport counseling. Her publications include chapters in the ACA Encyclopedia of Counseling, The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Performance Psychology, and Intersectional Counseling Skills, as well as numerous peer-reviewed journal articles addressing multicultural counseling, pastoral care, athlete development, and counselor education.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Tinsley serves as Clinical Director of the Mount Ararat Counseling Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she provides clinical supervision, leadership development, and consultation to churches, organizations, and helping professionals. She also maintains Transitions Counseling Services, a private clinical mental health counseling practice, and Love & Basketball Ministries and Life Coaching Services, where she provides coaching, leadership formation, organizational consultation, and ministry development. Her work focuses on developing culturally responsive leaders who integrate faith, counseling, and leadership to promote human flourishing across educational, ministry, community, and athletic settings.

Dr. Tinsley has served in numerous national leadership positions, including President of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), President of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, and inaugural Chair of the American Counseling Association's Anti-Racism Committee. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to advancing culturally responsive counseling, ethical leadership, and collaborative partnerships between faith communities and the mental health profession.

Dr. Tinsley earned a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Duquesne University, a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Arts from Augsburg College. An ordained minister, she is committed to equipping counselors, ministry leaders, and helping professionals to integrate faith, counseling, and leadership to cultivate ethical leaders, strengthen resilient communities, and advance human flourishing. She frequently speaks nationally on leadership formation, counseling, multicultural competence, athlete well-being, and the integration of faith and mental health.

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