Dr. Jenny Mao (she/her)

A full-time Counseling faculty at North Seattle College, I teach Human Development Courses (HDC) through the Counseling Department. With over 20 plus years of experience in higher education, I've worked in several American Psychological Association accredited four-year university counseling centers, providing personal and career counseling to college students. A graduate of Washington State University (WSU), I majored in psychology - minoring in French and Alcohol Studies. Thereafter, I furthered my studies at Western Washington University with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Mental Health Counseling. I returned to WSU to complete my doctorate in counseling psychology. Professionally, I worked in counseling centers at WSU, UW, and Georgia State University.

My Teaching Philosophy
Students attending NSC come from enriched and diverse experiences, and it is my interactions with such a diverse student body that have given me inspiration, motivation, and passion to work in higher education. I am in awe of the students' resilience, persistence, and hard work which have been inspiring. As an instructor and counselor for the college, I have as much to learn about my students as they have to learn about course content or curriculum. I enjoy a dynamic, mutually respectful exchange of ideas with students, explaining concepts, applying theories to practical life examples, and increasing students’ curiosity about themselves as learners. This stance  forms the premise of my work with students and I carry the same attitude in the classroom, having an authentic exchange with as many students as possible.