ATLANTA – Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling student Lillie McLean was recently selected to participate in the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP).
The goal of the program is to increase the number of culturally competent addiction counselors and mental health counselors available to underserved minority populations, with a specific focus on transition-age youth, ages 16-25.
“I am thrilled to see Lillie awarded the Minority Fellowship from NBCC,” said Dr. Kristina Henderson, assistant professor and coordinator of the M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program in Mercer’s College of Professional Advancement. “She is an engaged, passionate student, and it’s wonderful to see her ability and hard work recognized. She is going to do great things in the profession.”
McLean holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and a Juris Doctor and has worked as a licensed attorney for more than 15 years. She has advocated for employers and clients in the government, private and nonprofit sectors. Her work in alternative dispute resolution, combined with her personal experiences supporting friends and loved ones, led her to enroll in Mercer’s M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program.
Upon completion of her master’s degree, McLean plans to open or join a practice serving clients in underrepresented communities facing disability-based mental and/or emotional trauma.
“I am humbled to have been selected as an MFP Fellow and grateful for the opportunity to pursue a career as a mental health practitioner,” said McLean. “I am excited to participate in the program to gain valuable knowledge and experience that will positively impact in the lives of my future clients.”
McLean is also a recipient of Mercer’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Scholarship. Funds for the Scholarship came from two near million-dollar grants awarded to the College of Professional Advancement by the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of counselors in State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies and other eligible employment sites.
In 2012, NBCC was awarded the federally funded Minority Fellowship Program grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This grant allows the Foundation to distribute up to 24 doctoral-level minority fellowships on a yearly basis. Two years later, NBCC was awarded two additional federally funded MFP grants from SAMHSA that allow the Foundation to distribute up to 80 master’s-level minority fellowships on a yearly basis.
About the NBCC Foundation
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.
About the College of Professional Advancement
Mercer University’s College of Professional Advancement is committed to serving post-traditional learners. Undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs are offered to adult learners seeking professional advancement into leadership roles in and beyond their communities. Programs provide students with distinctive, multidisciplinary experiences that integrate theory and practice. In addition to providing general education and elective courses for various colleges and schools at Mercer, the College of Professional Advancement offers degree programs in areas including technology, public safety, public and human services, leadership and administration, health care and liberal arts. Programs are offered on Mercer’s campuses in Atlanta and Macon, as well as Regional Academic Centers in Douglas County and Henry County, and online. To learn more, visit professionaladvancement.mercer.edu.
