The 24th Annual CECP GSO Diversity Gala will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in the Alumni Memorial Union (AMU) Ballroom.

Register today.  Online registration closes on April 29.

Each spring, the Counselor Education & Counseling Psychology Graduate Student Organization (CECP GSO) hosts the Diversity Gala, an event held to celebrate diversity and recognize scholarship recipients. In an effort to endorse the department’s commitment to diversity and social justice, the CECP GSO established a scholarship to assist in the recruitment and retention of graduate students from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. 

The CECP GSO Diversity Scholarship funds an annual award for an incoming or current CECP graduate student who identifies as an ethnic or racial minority. Since its inception in 2001, the scholarship has supported over 30 counseling students in completing their programs in the College of Education.

Sara Abdulrasool, licensed professional counselor, will join us this year on Saturday, May 3, 2025 as the keynote speaker.

Sara is of Middle Eastern descent. She was born in Iraq and immigrated to the US as a refugee with her parents when she was a teenager. Sara is a graduate of Temple University holding a BA degree in Neuroscience and has a MS degree from Marquette University majoring in Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Community Counseling. She is fluent in English, Arabic, and French. 

Sara works as a Behavioral Therapist at Sebastian Family Psychology Practice LLC, conducting regular appointments with clients from underserved communities and establishing positive and trusting therapeutic relationships with them. 

Sara joined FEI Behavioral Health, an organization that provides Employee Assistance Programs to help organizations and people thrive in 2020 as an EAP Clinician where she conducted telephonic assessment and referrals and “in the moment” crisis support. In 2022, Sara joined the account management team where he provides a wide range of organizational support services to customers of FEI and critical incident support. She enjoys public speaking, strategizing, and inspiring others towards their best self. Sara has brought her passion further by creating a page on social media, Women Walking into Wellness, on Instagram that targets women’s wellness, and posting content related to aligning mental and physical health bringing forth a much-needed positioning of wellness.

Support the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology (CECP) and its students through sponsorship of the Diversity Gala.

Please help spread the word to your networks about making a gift to the CECP Graduate Student Organization Diversity (GSO) Scholarship Fund. Visit the online giving webpage, select “other fund designation” and type in CECP GSO Diversity Scholarship.