She began the first School Counselor program at Heidelberg College where she served as Program Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies. She was an Associate Professor and Co-coordinator of the School Counselor program at California State University, Stanislaus, prior to her appointment at the University of Tennessee. Professor Studer has eighteen years of experience as a School Counselor and is an active member in the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, and the American School Counselor Association. She has published a number of journal articles and has made numerous presentations at state and national conferences.