Counseling doctoral students recognized nationally with top fellowships

Glover and Garcia
Friday, July 9, 2021

Two UNC Charlotte counseling doctoral students have earned prestigious national fellowships for their work supporting the mental health and wellness of underserved minority communities. Brittany Glover was accepted to the National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program (NBCC MFP) and Meg Garcia was admitted to the American Psychological Association Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (APA IMFP).

Glover will receive $20,000 plus travel expenses and participate in mental health counseling training. NBCC MFP supports the behavioral health needs of all Americans, regardless of language or culture in an effort to reduce health disparities and improve community health and well-being. 

A first-year doctoral student in the counselor education and supervision program, Glover has research interests in small group therapy for minority girls, behavior interventions and rehabilitation for African American boys and multicultural issues related to school counseling. She supports underserved minority children and adolescents through her work as a site coordinator and regional operations manager for the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School, a program designed to not only ensure that children are reading daily but to introduce them to activities that they might not have access.

Glover has served as a school counselor at the elementary and high school level at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for six years and was selected to serve as a district lead counselor for elementary schools from 2017-20. In that role, she provided coaching, professional development and served as a liaison between the district and local levels for 19 schools.

“It is clear that Brittany has experience serving diverse populations and is committed to using her experiences to engage in research that impacts underserved minority communities. Her past and current work clearly aligns with the focus of the Minority Fellowship Program,” said Sejal Foxx, chair of the UNC Charlotte Department of Counseling.

Glover earned a M.S. in school counseling from North Carolina A&T State University.

Garcia will receive $46,000 plus travel expenses, complete a project with community partners and present at the IMFP summer institute. She also will participate in in-person IMFP training.

IMFP supports the training of ethnic minority graduate students who commit to significantly improving the quality of care provided to ethnic and racial minorities who have a mental or substance use disorder. The fellowship is directly related to efforts to reduce health disparities among ethnic minorities in the U.S. by filling a crucial need for mental health professionals

Garcia is pursuing a doctorate in counselor education and supervision and specializes in multicultural counseling, immigrant populations, multiracial populations, religion and spirituality, play therapy with racial/ethnic minority children, Adlerian counseling and trauma.

Previously, she counseled adults facing criminal charges and in substance use recovery. Currently, Garcia is working at Alexander Youth Network as an outpatient therapist. 

“Since arriving at the doctoral program, Meg has continued to distinguish herself as a leader who is committed to both professional and personal growth. It is clear that she has established a foundation as an advocate and servant-leader,” Foxx said.

Garcia earned a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Texas.

“These highly competitive fellowships are awarded to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to reducing disparities. These awards illustrate the quality of our program and students as the recipients are selected from a national pool of applicants. Our students believe in the department's vision to create a community that values and advances the dignity, potential, and mental health of all people,” Foxx added.