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Marlon Johnson, doctoral student in Counselor Education, was one of 23 chosen for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP) and has received an award of $20,000 to support his education, and facilitate his service to underserved minority populations.

Marlon Johnson, Counselor Ed“I’m awestruck at the opportunity to receive this award. It’s an honor to be presented a chance to use research and education in a way that advocates for underrepresented communities within our local, regional, and national environment. It feels encouraging as this award is a conglomeration of my efforts and the many efforts of others who have mentored me and guided me along the way.”

Johnson focuses his research on enhancing opportunities of access and equity for underrepresented communities to enter counselor training programs. He seeks to understand the unique stories of people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ persons as they continue through master’s-level counseling programs. As a graduate research assistant for the University of Tennessee’s Possibilities in Postsecondary Education and Science (PiPES) and Appalachian Students Promoting the Integration of Research in Education (ASPIRE) program, Johnson seeks to identify the unique needs of rural Appalachian students at various developmental levels as they learn about STEMM-related fields of study. This fellowship will allow Johnson to better serve these communities through participation in various trainings, conferences, and organizations focused upon community-oriented scholarship and intentional research practices. This fellowship will also provide continued mentorship to help Johnson develop as a researcher, an advocate, and a leader.

“I’m just grateful for each person I have been able to encounter here at UT and specifically those within EPC. I’m thankful for their support and encouragement. I hope to make them proud as I research and advocate for my profession and my community.”

The NBCC Foundation is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), based in Greensboro, North Carolina. NBCC is the nation’s premier professional certification board devoted to credentialing counselors who meet standards for the general and specialty practices of professional counseling. Currently, there are more than 64,000 board-certified counselors in the United States and more than 50 countries. The Foundation’s mission is to leverage the power of counseling by strategically focusing resources for positive change.

The NBCC MFP is made possible by a grant first awarded to NBCC by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in August 2012. The Foundation is contracted by NBCC to administer the NBCC MFP, as well as training and collaboration activities, such as webinars, that are open to all National Certified Counselors (NCCs). The goal of the program is to strengthen the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of professional counselors providing effective, culturally competent services to underserved populations.

The NBCC Foundation has also awarded 30 $8,000 master’s-level fellowships through the MFP-Youth (MFP-Y) and 34 master’s-level fellowships of up to $11,000 through the MFP-Addictions Counselors (MFP-AC).The Foundation plans to open the next NBCC MFP application period in fall 2018. To learn more about the NBCC MFP and its fellows, please visit nbccf.org/Programs/Fellows.


Isabel C. Farrell, PhD student in Counselor Education, was selected by the NBCC Foundation, an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), for the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP). As an NBCC MFP Fellow, Farrell will receive funding and training to support her education and facilitate her service to underserved minority populations.

“I feel honored to have been selected to receive this award along with other outstanding scholars. This fellowship allows us to continue with our passion and determination to serve minority clients and bring education and awareness to our community. I am looking forward to the connections, trainings, and knowledge this award will provide me.”

Isabel C. Farrell


The NBCC MFP will distribute $20,000 to Farrell and the 22 other doctoral counseling students selected to receive the fellowship award. Farrell’s goal for the future is to be a counselor educator that provides appropriate multicultural training to her students. Farrell wishes to bring cultural awareness to each class by incorporating exposure to diverse populations and to continue serving the Hispanic community throughout her doctoral journey and beyond. Farrell plans to conduct research on the psychological effects of immigration in young Latino adults and develop a more effective method for connecting them to the community resources they need to be successful. She is also interested in bringing awareness about the effects of immigration and the struggles many immigrants face. Farrell wants to provide a better understanding of the grief and loss many immigrants experience while transitioning to a new culture. She wants to shine a light on the population’s struggles and pain, and help to combat the racism, discrimination and neglect Latino immigrants face. By receiving this fellowship, Farrell will be able to continue to focus all her energy on growing as a counselor educator and on becoming an advocate for all Hispanics.

Currently, Farrell is a graduate research assistant and has a special focus on grief and loss experiences. She is also a co-instructor of a course called Critical Issues in Counseling Lifespan Development that addresses themes and issues affecting clients’ development with relevance to counselor interventions, including family and personality development, crises and trauma, and addiction and addictive behaviors.

The NBCC MFP is made possible by a grant first awarded to NBCC by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in August 2012. The Foundation is contracted by NBCC to administer the NBCC MFP, as well as training and collaboration activities, such as webinars, that are open to all National Certified Counselors (NCCs). The goal of the program is to strengthen the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increases the number of professional counselors providing effective, culturally competent services to underserved populations.

The Foundation plans to open the next NBCC MFP application period in September 2016. To learn more about the NBCC MFP and its fellows, please visit NBCC Foundation’s Meet the Fellows page.


The NBCC Foundation is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), based in Greensboro, North Carolina. NBCC is the nation’s premier professional certification board devoted to credentialing counselors who meet standards for the general and specialty practices of professional counseling. Currently, there are more than 60,000 National Certified Counselors in the United States and more than 50 countries. The Foundation’s mission is to leverage the power of counseling by strategically focusing resources for positive change.