The College of Education and Human Services welcomes a trio of new faculty members from a variety of disciplines for the 2023-24 academic year.

Ryan Liberati, PHD

Lindenwood University welcomes Ryan Liberati, who will specialize in counseling and social work. From Dunlap, Illinois, Liberati earned his PHD from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

“I love making a positive impact on the mental health needs of our community,” Liberati said.

Lynette Dixon, PHD, LPC, NCC, CRAADC

Lindenwood alumnus and St. Louisan Lynette Dixon specializes in clinical mental health. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, her master’s in professional counseling and her school counseling certification from Lindenwood, and her PhD in counseling studies from Capella University in Minneapolis.

As an LU grad, Dixon returns to her alma mater with a mission to give back.  

“I want to help our program continue to be the best out there,” Dixon said. “I graduated from Lindenwood and have gained experience working in the field of mental health in many capacities and with diverse populations.

“I have worked with agencies that support individuals with significant mental health challenges, with Treatment Courts, in private practice in both rural mental health and in more suburban areas, and in the public school system. I have learned a lot through working with all of these populations, and I want to help prepare the next generation of counselors. I want to help them find their passion and prepare them to help others and also take care of their own physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs in the process. Being part of Lindenwood is a dream come true for me. Lindenwood is home, and I want to help make it even better.”

Janita Springfield, PHD

Dr. Janita Springfield joins Lindenwood University and specializes in counselor education and supervision. From Oakland, Tennessee, Springfield holds a bachelor’s in psychology from University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, a master’s in rehabilitation counseling with an emphasis in addiction studies from University of Arkansas, and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from University of Mississippi.

“Many things in life can be complex, but my decision to work at Lindenwood University was not one of those things. I chose to work at Lindenwood because I genuinely connect with the five core values of the university, and I envision the positive contributions that can be made for not only students and faculty/staff, but also individuals and communities at large,” Springfield said.

“I am most excited about having the opportunity to contribute to this community by providing quality teaching and building meaningful connections with my students, working with fellow faculty members, and continuing my research and service efforts in the field of counseling and mental health. These are the reasons I became a professor–to continue the process of learning while helping others along the way.”