CURRENT STUDENTS

Michael Garza
PhD , Associate Director of Clinical Operations and Student Advancement

Michael Garza is originally from Fresno, California, and completed his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech University in 2020. He completed his APA-accredited internship training at Kaiser Permanente in Fresno, California and received post-doctoral training at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Garza’s clinical interests include anxiety and related disorders, interpersonal issues, insight, personal growth, identity development, and depressive disorders. He enjoys supervision and clinical work, and also has a passion for research. His theoretical orientation is integrative, primarily consisting of psychodynamic and cognitive psychotherapies. Garza loves to spend time with his wife and daughter. He is a self-proclaimed board game guru, and very rarely loses a game of CLUE.

Mallory B. Garza
PhD, Assistant Director of Student Health and Wellness

Mallory Garza, who is originally from Effie, completed her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech University in 2019. She completed her APA-accredited internship training at Kansas State University Counseling Services and received post-doctoral training at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Garza’s clinical interests include anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, working with survivors of sexual assault, and personal growth and development. Her also enjoys teaching, supervision, and facilitating interpersonal process groups, as well as campus and community outreach. Garza’s theoretical orientation is integrative, primarily consisting of existential and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies with adjunctive interpersonal process techniques. She is a self-proclaimed Harry Potter geek. In her “free” time, Garza enjoys reading (fantasy is a favorite), traveling, engaging in physical activity (especially if it involves competition), playing piano, jigsaw puzzles, game nights, and spending time with family and friends.

Sean R. Simmons
MEd, MA, PLPC, Counselor/Coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Education 

Sean R. Simmons, originally from Charleston, South Carolina, is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor currently working toward licensure. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 2011 at Savannah State University. After realizing his passion for higher education he went on to receive Master of Education Degree in Higher Education Leadership from Mercer University. After working closely with students and parents in various enrollment management higher education administrative roles he stumbled upon an interest for mental health and career counseling, as he noticed the need in these areas, especially in the college setting. Simmons then went on to obtain his second Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. His clinical experiences include anxiety, depression, addiction, and substance abuse in both individual and group counseling settings. When Simmons is not providing clinical services, he enjoys writing books for children. He currently has published two children’s books by the names of “Together We Make A Family” and “The Day My Dad Turned Invisible.” In his free time he also enjoys watching and attending sporting events, weightlifting, traveling, and spending time with family.

Lynsey Mercer
MA, PLPC, Counselor/Coordinator of Student Relations and Special Projects

Lynsey Mercer recently earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The native of Mangham obtained her BA in Psychology with a minor in Family & Child Studies at Louisiana Tech University in 2020. Her clinical interests include anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, adjustment disorders, relational issues, and personal growth and development. Although integrative, Mercer primarily provides psychotherapy from a cognitive-behavioral perspective. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling with family and friends, trying new foods, and going on walks with her dog, Muffin.

Tony Young
PhD, MP

Dr. Tony Young is a medical psychologist. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana Tech, prior to earning graduate degrees in Theology and Clinical Psychology from Fuller Seminary, and clinical psychopharmacology from Alliant International University. He is licensed as both a clinical and medical psychologist. Young worked in various settings, including academia, private practice, inpatient psychiatric, addiction treatment, group home facility, and medication management settings. Most of his work in medication management has been in an outpatient setting, where he continues to treat children, adolescents, and young adults. Young enjoys his family, his work, and gardening.

Kristen Hooper
MA, Doctoral Intern

Originally from Oklahoma, Kristen Hooper is a Counseling Psychology doctoral student at Louisiana Tech University. She completed her BS in Psychology with a minor in chemical and alcohol dependency counseling from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and then completed her MA in Counseling with an emphasis in addictions from the University of North Dakota. Through the program’s training, Hooper has gained experience providing psychological assessments to clarify mental health diagnoses and to guide treatment. She also has clinical experience in substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, and adjustment concerns. While her theoretical orientation is still in development, Hooper has experience utilizing cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies. In her free time, she enjoys outside activities such as hiking and fishing, as well as spending time with her dog and family.

Jibri Parker
BA, Doctoral Intern

Jibri Parker is originally from New Orleans but lived in Philadelphia for 12 years. She completed her undergraduate degree from Temple University with a major in Psychology and a minor in African-American Studies in 2017. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Louisiana Tech’s Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program. Through the doctoral program, Parker has received experience with testing and diagnosing psychological disorders including but not limited to ADHD, personality disorders, PTSD, autism and learning disorders. Parker worked as an Administrative Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist for Lighthouse Louisiana for the Blind where she aided adults with disabilities to find employment within the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area. Her clinical interests include physical health and its impact on mental health and vice versa, and anxiety and depression. Parker utilizes an integrative approach to therapy; however, she provides treatment mostly from a cognitive-behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapy perspective. In her free time, Parker enjoys spending time with her family and friends, taking care of her physical health, and enjoying good food. 

Linda Smith
Administrative Coordinator III

Linda Smith is a native of Choudrant, where she has resided with her husband, Charles, for the past 39 years. She has been employed with Louisiana Tech University in the Counseling Services Department for the past 13 years. In her spare time, Smith enjoys camping, fishing, traveling, and spending time with her husband and family.