TAMIU Graduate Student Earns American Psychological Association STAY Fellowship

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) graduate student Janessa J. Berlanga has recently been awarded the American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship Program’s (MFP) - Services for Transitional Age Youth (STAY) Fellowship.

Berlanga is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP) at TAMIU and will begin her 12-month fellowship from October 2020 through September 2021. She is expected to graduate from the University in December 2021.

Throughout her STAY Fellowship, Berlanga will focus on mental health care professionals who treat teens and young adults between 16 – 25 years of age. Upon graduation, she will work to provide services to young adults in transition from high school to college, university, or the workforce. 

“Since this fellowship program is focused on equipping mental health workers to provide services to young adults between 16-25 years of age, there is an emphasis on Fellows receiving instruction on addictions counseling as well as an internship and/or practicum component – both of which are requirements of the MACP program already,” said Berlanga. 

After learning she’d received the STAY Fellowship, Berlanga felt her hard work was validated and that the added financial assistance would be a great help to her academic career.

“I felt so relieved because I knew how important financial support would be to me since I had to leave my job several months to focus on my studies. I also felt a weight of responsibility. I know I have to continue my studies and learn as much I can to provide important mental health services to my community,” said Belanga.

 Berlanga credits much of her success to the continued support of MACP faculty, including Dr. Ediza García, assistant professor of Counseling Psychology and MACP program director, as well as Dr. Adriana Blasco-Rubio, assistant professional and Community Counseling Center director. 

“I spent a lot of time meeting with my advisor, Dr. Blasco-Rubio and Dr. García to help me with my essay and other pieces of the Fellowship application. In the end, I reached out to almost every one of the MACP professors either for help with my essay or for recommendations,” said Berlanga.

Individuals interested in pursuing a graduate studies program in Counseling Psychology can contact Dr. García via email at ediza.garcia@tamiu.edu or visit https://www.tamiu.edu/coas/psy/mastercounpsy/index.shtml.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is one of the 11 university members of The Texas A&M University System. A primarily Hispanic-serving, State-assisted university founded in 1970,  its 300-acre campus is located in northeast Laredo, Texas on former ranchland. 

Home to 8,500 students from around the world, TAMIU offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in the arts and sciences, business, education and nursing. As its name affirms, TAMIU maintains a special focus on developing an international academic agenda for the State of Texas.

U.S. News and World Report’s 2020 Edition of its popular Best Colleges guide ranks TAMIU as the second highest-ranked Texas public university in its Best Regional Universities West category and the highest-ranked regional campus of The Texas A&M University System.

TAMIU is also ranked second in the nation and first in Texas for having the lowest student debt, on average $3,477 in loans. TAMIU  also ranks 5th in the nation among the 100 Most Affordable Public Schools with the Highest Return on Investment according to ranking authority Great Value Colleges. 

Additional information is available at http://www.tamiu.edu