Holly Altiero, PhD

I joined the Graduate School of Counseling as a visiting assistant professor of counseling in 2026. I arrived with 17 years of experience in school districts, working as a school counselor and, in the year prior to joining George Fox, as the director of continuing education and as a professional counseling associate for Stronger Oregon, an organization dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible mental health services to schools and communities.

Previously, I was the student services program administrator in the Reynolds School District (2023-25), the principal of Creston Elementary School in the Portland Public Schools District (2022-23), and the assistant principal at the Metropolitan Learning Center in Portland (2021-22).

My initial career was as a school counselor at districts throughout the state of Oregon, from 2009 to 2021, and I gained teaching experience as an adjunct professor at George Fox for two years, with Lewis and Clark (2014-18), and as the associate program director at City University of Seattle (2018-21). My areas of expertise include suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-injury, ADHD, AudHd, and grief and loss.

I earned a PhD in counselor education from Oregon State University in 2018 and also hold a master’s degree in school counseling licensure from Lewis & Clark Graduate School (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies/psychology from Eastern Oregon University (2007).

I live in Milwaukie with my two sons, Ryder and Holden, and their four cats, and attend Oak Hills Presbyterian Church. I enjoy dance, including teaching dance and taking classes. I also enjoy art, cosplay and gluten-free baking.