University of North Texas 
DENTON (UNT), Texas — University of North Texas professor Eric Dafoe has been selected as the 2026 Richard Yepp Award winner, a national honor presented by the American Counseling Association that recognizes individuals who make selfless contributions that help counseling students, professionals or educators succeed.
Dafoe, a professor in UNT’s Department of Counseling and Higher Education, was nominated by a colleague and supported by strong testimonials from students in the university’s counseling program, reflecting the impact of his mentorship and commitment to student success.
“The nature of the award is that our work is ultimately about showing up in a selfless way for students,” Dafoe said. “That feels fitting to how I want to show up and who I want to be for my students.”
Helping others has long been central to Dafoe’s work and career path.
“At my core, I’ve always been a helper, looking for moments to help bridge across difference or difficulty,” he said.
His interest in counseling was inspired by his mother, who earned her master’s degree in counseling at UNT and went on to work as both a school and clinical counselor.
“Seeing my mom make a difference in the lives of students was really cool and made me want to learn more about this work,” he said.
Dafoe earned his graduate degrees at UNT and taught at the University of Wyoming before returning back to his alma mater, drawn by the counseling program’s reputation and sense of community.
“The training and depth you get here is really astounding,” he said. “I found myself coming back to UNT at every step of my education and counseling career.”
In his role as a faculty member, Dafoe focuses on teaching, supervising and mentoring students while supporting their academic and professional growth.
“Supporting students is absolutely one of my favorite parts of the job,” he said. “I have gotten where I am because of support from others, and my role now is to help students become their best counselor self.”
Dafoe also works closely with doctoral students on research projects, including exploring counseling concepts such as authenticity and connection in the therapeutic relationship.
Beyond the classroom, he hopes to stay connected to clinical practice and expand opportunities for students to observe counseling in real-world settings through UNT’s on-campus clinics.
Reflecting on the recognition, Dafoe said he was both surprised and honored to receive the award.
“Sometimes the value of an award is that it inspires us to move toward a better version of ourselves,” he said. “It gives you appreciation for the journey so far and excitement for the journey looking ahead.”
Dafoe said his goal is to ensure every student feels supported as they navigate their education and future careers.
“If every student could say they have someone here who is looking out for them and has their best interest at heart, that’s the recipe for success. My hope is to always play that role for my students.”