November 04, 2021

Four Graduate Students Named to NBCC Minority Fellowship Program

The NBCC Minority Fellowship program aims to “strengthen the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increase the number of professional counselors providing effective, culturally competent services to underserved and never-served populations.”

Angelica Moana Crimmins ’22, Thanh D. Hoang ’23, Ryn Prestia Schear ’23, and Samantha (Sam) Singh ’23, all students in the Professional Mental Health–Specialization in Addictions program, have been named to the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship program.

The NBCC MFP strives to “strengthen the infrastructure that engages diverse individuals in counseling and increase the number of professional counselors providing effective, culturally competent services to underserved and never-served populations.” Each recipient receives $15,000 to recognize their commitment to underserved communities and to support their counseling education.

The NBCC MFP addictions specific scholarship is a great way for future addictions counselors to get connected with other addictions counselors across the nation who are providing cutting edge, culturally responsive addiction related treatment. The students who are selected for this highly competitive scholarship have demonstrated their expertise in the field, as well as made a commitment to continue serving marginalized communities impacted by addiction, and this is something to be celebrated!”

Alexia DeLeon Professional Mental Health Counseling-Addictions (PMHC-A) program director

 

Angelica Crimmins Angelica Moana Crimmins ’22

“Angelica Crimmins’ work as a counselor centers around decreasing health disparities and de-stigmatizing mental health treatment for BIPOC women and femmes, especially those living with disabilities and substance use disorders. She is an advocate for decriminalizing addiction and integrating restorative justice and harm reduction approaches to addiction treatment.

Upon graduation, she intends to serve historically minoritized and oppressed populations in her native Hawaii. As an NBCC Foundation MFP Fellow, Crimmins looks forward to forming connections with other counseling professionals and embracing the exciting educational opportunities that will her become a more effective counselor. This fellowship will grant her access to valuable learning experiences and allow her to feel more stable and present for her clients and her community.”

Thanh D. Hoang Thanh D. Hoang ’23

“Upon graduation, Thanh Hoang intends to work with the Asian-American population, specifically with adults dealing with substance use and problem gambling. She hopes to work specifically with the large Vietnamese population in the Portland, Oregon area. Earning this fellowship will give her the freedom to volunteer with the Asian-American population in the area to begin developing those community connections. To better serve this community, Hoang plans to take Vietnamese lessons to develop her language skills from conversant to fluent.”

Ryn Prestia Schear Ryn Prestia Schear ’23

“Ryn Schear intends to work with transgender clients or anyone else on the gender-questioning spectrum, offering support during transition or gender exploration stages. Shear plans to continue their work using theater to advocate for social equity and justice, encourage civil discourse, and energize the development of community and organizational leadership. In a world of constant change, Schear strives to “create healthy pathways to examine, dissect, and engage transgender issues and others that impact community.”

Samantha (Sam) Singh Sam Singh ’23

“Upon graduation, Singh intends to work with adults experiencing co-occurring diagnoses, including mental health and processing/substance use diagnoses. Singh is devoted to working with the Latinx population in rural areas of Oregon. Earning this fellowship is an excellent opportunity for Singh to further develop her academic and clinical skills to better serve marginalized communities.”

Read about all the latest fellows on NBCC’s website.