nPictured from left to right are: Haley Jones, Sofia Jasani and Marissa Cano at the 2019 NBCC Bridging the Gap Symposium: Eliminating Mental Health Disparities. Three Portland State University master’s students are among just 30 students in the nation to each receive a $10,000 fellowship to further their service to increase the number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals and improve behavioral health care outcomes for diverse populations.
NBCC Foundation, the nonprofit affiliate of international certifying organization National Board for Certified Counselors, announced last week that it had chosen College of Education students Marissa Cano, Sofia Jasani and Haley Jones for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program Mental Health Counseling-Master’s that the Foundation administers.
“As a woman of color and daughter of Muslim immigrants, I carry both the responsibility and the pride of my family and community close to my heart,” said Jasani, who is in COE’s Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program. “I am thrilled to receive honor.”
Cano said she was shocked to win the fellowship.
“I couldn’t believe I was the recipient of something that seemed so unattainable,” said Cano, who is in COE’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. “I was overcome with gratefulness.”
Jones said she feels validated by the recognition.
“I feel incredibly passionate about doing counseling with a radical social justice lens, and to meet others with the same passion, who support me in my goals, feels so uplifting,” said Jones, who is also in COE’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
This fellowship will allow the COE students to attend counseling conferences and learn more about improving practices to help underserved populations. As a fellow, Jasani plans to establish a state division of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development. Jones and Cano plan to pursue additional training and education opportunities.
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