Emily Leonard is one of the vocational counselors for the Career Horizons Project (CHP). She will support the CHP in the competitive integrated employment (CIE) placement and retention service delivery among individuals with disabilities impacted by Long COVID in the central-northern region of Mississippi. Ms. Leonard will recruit and enroll participants, conduct intake meetings, implement CIE placement and retention interventions to unemployed or underemployed participants, and conduct exit interviews and follow up surveys.

Prior to serving in this role, Ms. Leonard served individuals with disabilities for 3 years at Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS). For the first year and a half, Ms. Leonard served as a vocational counselor for Mississippi State University students with disabilities. She worked with students throughout the entire vocational rehabilitation process from intake to employment status. Ms. Leonard assured each student had the proper accommodations to succeed in the classroom and to achieve CIE. For the last year and a half, Ms. Leonard served as a business development representative for the golden triangle area at MDRS. In this role, she was responsible for promoting workforce diversity and inclusion by building strong partnerships with businesses to support the hiring, retention, and accommodation of individuals with disabilities. Ms. Leonard also assisted with job placements, internships, and work-based learning opportunities in CIE settings for all clients referred.

• Bachelor of Science: Educational Psychology (2019), Mississippi State University
• Master of Science: Counselor Education (concentration: rehabilitation counseling) (2021), Mississippi State University
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) (2021)

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