A growing dissatisfaction with the “institutional inequities and antiquatedness” that pervade the U.S. education system is what brought Diana Finesmith, M.S.Ed, LPC, NCC, CCTP, to Arcadia University in the fall of 2022 to pursue a Master of Education in Educational Leadership as well as Pupil Personnel Supervisor and K-12 Principal certifications.

In her role as a school counselor at Abington Middle School, Finesmith recognized that “the diverse and complex needs of students are transforming rapidly at a pace much faster than we have ever been able to anticipate and adequately pivot efforts.” By taking on an administrative role, she “[hopes] to offer educational leadership from a counseling perspective and equity lens to advocate for marginalized students and promote sustainable and meaningful systemic changes in school policies and practices.” 

Finesmith is also a Licensed Professional Counselor at Springford Counseling Services in Royersford, where she serves clients from the ages of pre-teen to adulthood who are experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health issues.

When not working, she is a competitive pool player for two teams in the Norristown area and enjoys doing comedy improv to unwind and “practice mindfulness through performance and creativity.”