Gerizim Perez, a master’s student in Marymount University’s online Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA) program, has been named a 2025 Master’s Counseling Fellow with the National Board for Certified Counselors’ (NBCC) Minority Fellowship Program. The competitive fellowship is designed to prepare future counselors to serve diverse populations and to strengthen the mental health workforce through education, advocacy and community engagement.
Perez is one of just 95 students chosen from across the country to serve as Minority Fellows with NBCC, only 32 of whom are mental health counseling master’s degree students. Perez is the seventh Marymount student to be named an NBCC Minority Fellow since 2022.
As a fellow, Perez will receive a $12,000 award to support her graduate education, along with professional development opportunities, mentorship and leadership training.
Perez is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Perez credits her upbringing and Salvadoran background with shaping both her academic interests and her professional goals.
“I feel a lot of pride in my roots,” Perez said. “Despite the hardships my family faced, those experiences shaped who I am today and inspired me to give back.”
Growing up in a predominantly minority community, she witnessed firsthand the challenges many individuals face in accessing mental health care, including stigma, language barriers and a lack of culturally responsive services.
“I became interested in mental health because in my culture there is still a stigma around mental health and a tendency to rely solely on religion rather than professional support,” Perez explained. “Additionally, language barriers and lack of cultural understanding often prevent people from receiving effective care, and I want to help address that.”
After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology in 2020, Perez entered the workforce while considering options for graduate study. Marymount’s fully online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offered the flexibility she needed to balance professional and personal responsibilities while continuing her education.
“I’ve enjoyed my experience at Marymount so far. The classes are rigorous, but what really stands out is how much the professors connect theory to real-life practice and how the school emphasizes respecting and exploring diverse beliefs.”
Perez applies the concepts she is learning in her current role working at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, where she supports immigrant and low-income students by assisting with registration and connecting them to community resources.
“Even though I’m not in a clinical role yet, I use skills like active listening, empathy and resource referral every day. I’ve also learned how to effectively advocate for clients. Because if I’m not speaking up for them, who will?”
Perez applied to the fellowship with help from faculty mentors, including Dr. Chanel Rodriguez, an Assistant Professor in the School of Counseling.
“This fellowship looks for students who embody multicultural considerations and competencies, and Gerizim is a great representation of these values,” Dr. Rodriguez said. “Her readiness to participate and grow in my multicultural counseling class showed me her eagerness to learn and be an ethical and multicultural counselor. I’m so proud of her for all of her hard work and know that she will continue to excel as a fellow with NBCC.”
Perez said this fellowship recognition represents a huge step forward in her professional life and an important personal milestone for herself and her family.
“When I got the call, my mom and I cried,” she said. “We’ve prayed so much about this journey. This felt like a blessing and a confirmation that I’m on the right path.”
Following graduation, Perez hopes to establish a private practice and integrate community-based resources into her practice.
“I want to approach counseling from a holistic perspective, especially for low-income and minority communities. My goal is to serve as a bridge between mental health services and other community resources, helping people thrive overall.”
