Professional School Counseling Journal Emerging Scholars Program

Leaders
Emily Goodman-Scott, Sam Steen and Rawn Boulden (associate editors, Emerging Scholars, Professional School Counseling journal) 

Purpose
To support the next generation of school counselor educators and the greater profession. Specifically, the PSC Emerging Scholars program aims to:

  • Assist Emerging Scholars advance their scholarship, understand the culture of academia and build community with others in a similar place in their career. 
  • Improve research quality in the school counseling field, including developing proficient reviewers for and future scholars likely to publish in Professional School Counseling.
  • Assist in diversifying the researcher and academic pipeline in the school counseling profession.

Eligibility
School counseling doctoral students, school counseling faculty in the first 3 years of their career, and practicing school counselors. Individuals representing racial, gender and sexual minorities are especially encouraged to apply. 

Responsibilities and Time Commitment
Each Emerging Scholar will participate in a two- to three-year cohort (January 2026 - Summer 2028). During this time, their commitment includes approximately 3-5 hours a month (during the academic year), including (a) a two-hour meeting each month, (b) at times reading, groupwork, and editorial review-work outside of meetings and c) submitting a manuscript proposal toward a peer-reviewed PSC Emerging Scholars Special Issue. Check out the Professional School Counseling Journal Emerging Scholars special issue (cohort #1). As part of this cohort, members may apply to be a PSC reviewer at the conclusion of this program and the completion of their doctorate (and if selected, following a mentorship program, to serve for a three-year term).

Application Process
Interested individuals may submit an application when the next cohort opens in spring 2028. Participants are chosen by ASCA staff and PSC Emerging Scholars program leaders by mid-May of that year.  

Congratulations to the the second cohort of PSC Emerging Scholars (2026-2028). 

  • Josselyn Ayala, doctoral student, Regent University
  • Leanne Campbell, faculty member, University of Central Oklahoma 
  • Veronica Douglas-Johnson, doctoral student, University of Holy Cross
  • Bernell Elzey, Jr., faculty member, Antioch University
  • Phylicia (Littleton) Fontenot, doctoral student, Regent University
  • Jewel Jackson, doctoral student, University of Georgia
  • Kelsey Kraemer, faculty member, University of Alaska
  • Amy Lombardo, doctoral student, National Louis University
  • Jacoby Loury, faculty member, University at Buffalo
  • Ashley McGee, doctoral student, Georgia State University
  • Morgan Meadowes, doctoral student, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Dejanell Mittman, faculty member, Appalachian State University
  • Keri Pannell, doctoral student, North Carolina State University
  • Carolyn Thorpe, doctoral student, Bowie State University
  • Christine Marie Turner, doctoral student, Old Dominion University

Questions 
Angela Hickman, CAE, ASCA director of research and marketing, ahickman@schoolcounselor.org