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School Counseling second-year student, Liliana Mora, has been selected as a for the 2021-22 year. This prestigious award provides opportunities for scholars to explore and prepare to succeed in doctoral programs. Liliana intends to pursue a doctoral degree in Counselor Education, which prepares professionals to teach and train aspiring counselors. Her scholarly interest lies in the development of culturally sustaining counseling practices. Liliana states, “School counselors support the mental health and social emotional development of hundreds of students each year. My goal is to investigate how school counselors can adopt culturally sustaining practices. I believe that validating and affirming students’ cultural background and narratives is crucial for their mental health, as they can build self-worth and resilience to navigate oppressive systems (cultural wealth).”  Liliana’s research area is critical for adding to the discourse on counseling theory, improving counselor training program curriculum and transforming how school counselors address issues in K-12 schools.

Liliana Mora expressed that “Becoming a Sally Casanova Scholar is an opportunity to do right by my family, friends, and community who have always put my education first. This award makes it possible to pursue a doctorate degree I can use to uplift others and, together, address systemic issues that keep us out of academia in the first place.”  As a Sally Casanova Scholar, Mora will receive one-on-one guidance from her faculty mentor, Dr. Lopez-Perry and funding for activities to help her in her pursuit of a doctoral program.