John J Schmidt

John J. (Jack) Schmidt, Ed.D. is emeritus professor of counselor education at East Carolina University in NC. Named Distinguished Professor by the College of Education in 1999, he was department chair for most of his tenure. An active writer, Dr. Schmidt published many professional articles and textbooks, including The Elementary/Middle School Counselor’s Survival Guide (3rd ed.), Counseling in Schools (6th ed.), Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling and Human Services, Intentional Helping, and Invitational Counseling with William W. Purkey. His most recent work includes a collection of five children's books: There’s a Kid under My Bed! Tales of Reggie the Monster in 2021 and My Friend has Wheels! Tales of Reggie the Monster in 2023, illustrated by Evelyn M. Bergquist. The third, fourth and fifth books in the collection are City Life! Tales of Reggie the Monster in 2024, and Monsters are Different: Tales of Reggie the Monster also in 2024, and Monsterful!: Tales of Reggie the Monster in 2025. In 2026, he released a revised edition of There's a Kid under My Bed!

Recipient of many honors and awards, Dr. Schmidt held several state positions, including President of the North Carolina Counseling Association, and had appointments on editorial boards of national and international professional journals. He served on the NC Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, as a director on the National Board of Certified Counselors, and as Executive Director of the International Alliance for Invitational Education. Now retired, Jack, a native of Long Island, NY, lives in Maryland with his wife, Patricia.