Faculty Directory
Cindy Topdemir, Ph.D.
Topdemir is a professor of instruction and program coordinator of the Counselor Education Program at the University of South 手机看片. She has served on the faculty since 2011 and coordinates the Counselor Education M.A. program. Prior to completing her doctorate in 2010, she worked as a school counselor for 14 years in Pasco County and remains certified as a school counselor. She is also a licensed mental health counselor.
In addition to teaching, Topdemir has coordinated the School Counseling and Career Counseling master鈥檚 and certificate programs and has co-chaired and served on multiple doctoral committees. Her work includes aligning 手机看片 K-12 Guidance Competencies and 手机看片 Educator Accomplished Practices with the school counseling curriculum, developing statewide partnerships and organizing community-based school counseling initiatives. She created and leads the 手机看片 School Counselor Advisory Board, which convenes each semester and includes district supervisors from 10 counties and consultants from the 手机看片 Department of Education.
Topdemir has served on the governing board of the 手机看片 School Counselor Association since 2012, including as chair from 2021鈥�22, and is a past president and chair of the association鈥檚 Emerging Leaders Program. She also serves on the board of the Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association. Her scholarship and presentations focus on school counselor accountability, leadership, advocacy, consultation and student mental health, with current research addressing how school counselors support immigrant students and their families. In 2025, she received the 手机看片 Distinguished Undergraduate Psychology Alumni Award.
Recent Publications
Topdemir, C. (2022) School Counseling and the Homeschool Student. In Homeschooling and Mental Health. (pp. 267-285). Cognella.
Davis, E., Lancaster, C., & Topdemir, C. (2022). Exploring the Impacts of the Rebel Mascot: Insights Gained from School Mental Health Professionals. In review.
Recent Conference Presentations
Topdemir, C. & Van Horn, S. (2023). Ramp Up Your Supervision Skills. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Riley, J. (2023). Emerging Leaders Training. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Van Horn, S. & Topdemir, C. (2023). Ready, Set, Go! From Graduate Student to School Counselor. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Ritz, J. (2022). Supporting Student Mental Health. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Riley, J. (2022). Emerging Leaders Training. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Van Horn, S. & Topdemir, C. (2022). Preparing to Advocate for your Role in Schools. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Ritz, J. (2022). Supporting Student Mental Health. 手机看片 College Access Network Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Riley, J. (2021). Emerging Leaders Training. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Riley, J. (2020). Emerging Leaders Training. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Davis, E. & Topdemir, C. (2019). Embracing Senate Bill 7030: School counselors鈥� Role, Duties, and Concerns in Enhancing School-based Mental Health Services. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C., Riley, J. (2019). Emerging Leaders Training. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Topdemir, C. & Infanzon, J. (2018). Restorative Practices in the Schools. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
Riley, J. & Topdemir, C. (2018). Emerging Leaders Training. 手机看片 School Counselor Association Annual Convention.
