Subject Matter Expert

Dr. Maranda Griffin has been described as the leader’s leader, coach’s coach, friend’s friend and the champion’s champion.  Formally trained in Counselor Education, Counseling and Psychology, and Elementary Education, she prides herself on bringing out the best in others.  She has worked at the federal, state, and community level.  Among her noted accomplishments she has secured multi-million dollar grants, managed multi-million dollar budgets, fostered systems change, developed and implemented funding allocation models, spoke at national, state, and community conferences.

While in high school, Dr. Griffin joined the Air National Guard in order to finance the higher education she would pursue. In her federal service to our country, her twenty-two year career spanned positions as Director of Equal Opportunity,  Force Support Officer, Education and Training Officer, and Information Management Craftsman.  In addition to her career specialty she served as a Family Liaison Officer, SAPR Victim Advocate, EO Leader Course Facilitator, and NGB EO SAV Team member.  She retired at the rank of Major in 2017.

In her many years of state service in behavioral health, she was responsible for securing and administrating grants that directly impacted substance abuse prevention and treatment services in the state of Alabama.   She routinely interfaced with federal partners at SAMHSA in her role.  Those who worked with her experienced true leadership.  “She leads her team by example and not only served as a supervisor but a mentor in my professional life.”

At the community level, she has a diversity of experiences in individual and group counseling with expertise in rape, sexual assault, substance abuse, and sexual offending.  She has provided services in prisons, jails, not-for-profit community agency, faith based institutions, university counseling centers, and contractual private practice.  She is a licensed professional counselor and a licensed mental health counselor.

In higher education, she has provided masters level instruction at Alabama State University, Auburn University, Troy University Montgomery, and Walden University.  Administratively, she works in a gate keeping capacity to ensure student adherence to ethical code and professional standards while in field experience.