MCAN's School Counselor Fellows program, in partnership with San Diego State University's Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment (CEPA), is designed as a cohort of school counselors who will be trained in advanced leadership and advocacy, specifically focused on postsecondary practices. The goal of this fellowship is to develop leadership and awareness of the counseling landscape in the state and country.

The application for the 2025-2027 cohort of School Counselor Fellows is closed. 

Are you interested in leadership and advocacy in postsecondary education access? Are you excited to learn and grow in your current role? You are invited to join other school counselors from across the state in this two-year leadership program. 

Benefits

• Up to $1000 stipend per year (two-year fellowship)
• Paid travel to the National Fellows Summit, hosted at SDSU in San Diego, Calif.
• Earn up to 120 SCECHs
• Access to grants and tools and resources to use in practice
• Training in equity-driven leadership and advocacy development
• Opportunity to attend and present at MCAN's annual conference  
• Participation in MCAN College Access Advocacy Day at the state capital
• Learning from a variety of content-area experts
• Networking with school counselors from across the state
• Engaging in ongoing professional development opportunities during and after completing the fellowship

Fellowship Requirements:

• Make a two-year fellowship commitment
• Attend quarterly in-person School Counselor Fellows meetings
• Complete monthly assignments, readings, and reflections (about 3 hours/month)
• Design and complete an advocacy project related to a college access or success issue
• Dedicate average of eight hours a month towards research and advocacy project work
• Provide feedback and recommendations for the fellowship process

Testimonials:

"The school counselor fellowship is BY FAR the BEST professional development I have done in my 22-year career in education. Learning how to conduct a needs assessment, having time and space to collect and analyze data, and being surrounded by other driven counselors who are passionate about access and equity is career-changing. While our plates are always full as school counselors, this is definitely something to make room for — it has helped us identify trends and create a specific plan to better serve our students."

— Jenny Riha, Jenison High School 

"I highly recommend the MCAN School Counselor Fellowship because it provides counselors with the time, support, and resources to research, refine, and expand their ideas. Fellows benefit from a statewide and national network of colleagues and experts who offer valuable feedback, collaboration, and encouragement. It’s a unique opportunity to grow professionally while developing innovative solutions that can make a lasting impact on students and the field of school counseling."

— Quan Neloms, Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency