Biography
Lyda DiTommaso Downs, MC, PhD
I am an adjunct Counseling Faculty member at Scottsdale Community College (SCC). I have been with Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) since 2000. I am a national and state board certified mental health counselor by trade, however I fell in love with teaching back in 2000 when I received my first teaching assignment at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, I also went through life coach training and am a board certified coach.
My work one on one work with students includes some of the following:
- Purpose Coaching
- Mentoring and guidance; focus on holistic wellbeing
- Goal setting, time management, college success strategies
- Career counseling
- Crisis management
- Community resources for housing, food and mental health needs
I have taught the following courses for MCCCD:
- Career Exploration (CPD 102AB)
- Career and Personal Development (CPD 104)
- Money Management for Students (CPD 108)
- Creating College Success (CPD 115)
- Strategies for College Success (CPD 150)
- College Orientation (CPD 150AA)
- Study Skills Development (CPD 150AB)
- Educational and Career Planning (CPD 150AC)
Additionally, I have collaborated on workshops ranging from text anxiety to financial management.
Work outside of MCCCD:
I have also instructed and mentored masters/doctoral students at a global university for close to two decades. I have taught Introduction to Mental Health Counseling, Theories of Counseling, Techniques in Counseling, Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, Lifespan Development, and Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy.
My educational background includes:
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociocultural Anthropology
- Masters in Counseling
- Doctorate of Philosophy in Human Services with an emphasis on Professional Counseling
Below are some of the presentations and items that I have published:
Bedford, L., DiTommaso Downs, L., & McDowell, M. (2021). Coaching for professional development for online higher education faculty: An explanatory case study. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 24(3).
DiTommaso Downs, L. (2016). Faculty Collaboration. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483318332.n143
DiTommaso Downs, L. (2016). Middle-Aged Learners. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483318332.n238
DiTommaso Downs, L. (2016). Faculty Time Management. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483318332.n149
McDowell, M., Bedford, L. & DiTommaso Downs, L. (2014). Enhancing faculty performance through coaching: Targeted, individualized support. Higher Learning Research Communications, 4(4). Retrieved from https://hlrcjournal.com/index.php/HLRC/article/view/221/191
DiTommaso-Espinosa, L. (2004). Measuring Perceived Parental Involvement on Career Choices in Juvenile Delinquent Offspring. UMI Number: 3123502
Bedford, L., DiTommaso Downs, L., McDowell, M. (2018). Peer Coaching for Remote Faculty. Online Learning Consortium Innovate Conference, Nashville, Tennessee.
Downs, L. (2017, May). Navigating Multiple Modalities for Faculty Professional Development. Presented at the United States Distance Learning Association National Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Downs, L. (2017, May). Work-Life Balance: Keeping it All in Balance Despite the Wobbles Encountered. Presented at the United States Distance Learning Association National Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Downs, L. & Fischer, L. (2017, March). Economic Hardships Through the Stages of Life. Kabale University Academic Summit, Kabale, Uganda.
Downs, L. (2016, December). Work-Life Balance: Keeping it All in Balance Despite the Wobbles Encountered. Presented at the International Forum For Women in E-Learning Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
McDowell, M., Downs, L., & Bedford, L. (2016, May). Week 1: Getting Off to a Great Start in an Online Course. Presented at the United States Distance Learning Association National Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Downs, L. & McDowell, M. (2015, October). Building Disciplines Together through Conversation and Collaboration. Presented at the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching and Learning 45th Annual Conference, Savannah, Georgia.
McDowell, M, & Downs, L. (2015, October). Getting the Message Across: Can You Hear Me? Presented at the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching and Learning 45th Annual Conference, Savannah, Georgia.
McDowell, M, & Downs, L. (2015, October). Enhancing Faculty Performance through Coaching: The Walden University Coaching Model. Presented at the Research on Teaching and Learning Summit, Kennesaw, Georgia.
Downs, L., & McDowell, M. (2015, April). Bridging Disciplines Together Through Conversation and Collaboration. Presented at the United States Distance Learning Association National Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Downs, L., & Bedford, L. (2014, May). Enhancing Faculty Performance Through Coaching; The Walden University Coaching Model. Presented at the United States Distance Learning Association National Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.
Downs, L., McDowell, M. & Bedford, L. (2014, November). Enhancing Faculty Performance Through Coaching; The Walden University Coaching Model. Presented at the National Distance Learning Week, Virtually.
McDowell, M., Downs, L., & Bedford, L. (2014, October). Week 1: Getting Off to a Great Start in an Online Course. Presented at the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching and Learning 44th Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
Downs, L., Grammer, R., & Shaffer, T. (2014). Ready, Set, Grade! Presented at the Walden University 2013 Winter Faculty Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Downs, L., Grammer, R., & Shaffer, T. (2014). (Mis)Understanding Plagiarism: Definitions in the Gray Area. Presented at the Walden University 2013 Winter Faculty Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
McDowell, M., Downs, L., & Bedford, L. (2013). Enhancing Faculty Performance through Coaching: The Walden University Model. Paper presented at the 43rd Annual Conference for the International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning, Orlando, Florida.
Downs, L., Grammer, R., & Shaffer, T. (2013). Grade A Tools: Prioritizing Instruction and Minimizing Ranting. Presented at the Walden University 2013 Summer Faculty Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota.