Teacher-Scholar Legacies: Bob Nations
By Nate Ivers, Professor of Counseling
Dr. Bob Nations, Director of Online Programs and Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Counseling, began his affiliation with Wake Forest’s Department of Counseling as a clinical supervisor. From July 1992 to June 2013, Dr. Nations served as the Director of Counseling Services at Centenary United Methodist Church. For 14 of those years, he provided clinical supervision to Wake Forest counseling students and Appalachian State marriage and family therapy students. In July 2013, Dr. Nations began working full time for the Department of Counseling as a Visiting Assistant Professor and, in July 2014, he was hired as an Assistant Teaching Professor.
Dr. Nations earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern University, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Counseling. He received his Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Arts in History degrees from Duke University. He holds certifications in many pastoral and clinical specialties, such as Clinical Pastoral Educator, Level 1 Practitioner – Emotionally Focused Therapy, Level 1 Gottman Couples Therapist, Prepare/Enrich Instructor and Administrator, and Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, to name a few.
A beloved and gifted teacher, Dr. Nations taught undergraduate courses in the Health and Human Services Minor and graduate courses in the Counseling and Human Services Programs. In the Counseling Program, Dr. Nations taught Family Counseling, Lifespan Development, The Vienna Theorists, Human Sexuality, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum. In the Human Services Program, he taught Human Services Administration, Human Services Program Planning and Evaluation, and Human Services Field Experience. On the undergraduate level, he taught Professional Orientation to Health and Human Services, Group Procedures, Skills in Human Services, and Health and Human Services in a Diverse Society.
Dr. Nations has also distinguished himself as a leader in the Department of Counseling. From July 2016 to December 2019, Dr. Nations served as the Assistant Director of Online Programs. In this capacity, Dr. Nations provided support with adjunct hiring, admissions decisions, and course development. From July 2013 to June 2025, Dr. Nations served as the department’s liaison to Wake Forest School of Divinity. In this capacity, Dr. Nations collaborated with administrators to ensure that the dual degree program in Divinity and Counseling ran smoothly and that communications between the two programs were clear.
From January 2020 to June 2025, Dr. Nations served as the Director of Online Programs, where he oversaw all aspects of the online programs, from marketing and recruitment to admissions, student support, and course development. Under his leadership, the online counseling program grew from approximately 300 students to approximately 400 students. Dr. Nations also served as the chair and member of multiple departmental committees, including the Admissions Committee, Health and Human Services Minor Committee, Library Committee, Clinical Committee, Admissions Committee, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Teacher Development and Evaluation Committee, Residency Committee, and Pamela and Steve Karr Scholarship Committee.
Affectionately known by his colleagues in the Department of Counseling as the Reverend Doctor, Dr. Bob Nations’ collegiality, hard work, leadership, service, mentorship, guidance, patience, and steadiness will be forever cherished and missed. It has been a joy and privilege to serve with and learn from Dr. Bob Nations. He is the consummate helper whose career accomplishments and daily acts of kindness, patience, and compassion personify Pro Humanitate!