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Pennsylvania Counseling Association recognizes clinical counseling program for preparing ethically grounded and well-rounded counselors

��ҹ������Ʒ����’s Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) Program has received the Pennsylvania Counseling Association’s Outstanding Counselor Education Program Award for 2025. The recognition, presented at the PCA Conference in Bethlehem, carries special meaning because the nomination came directly from current students and recent alumni who advocated for the program’s excellence and impact.

“It was such an honor to learn that our students and recent alumni nominated the program,” said program director Nicole Hall, Ph.D., LPC, CTT, also an assistant professor of counseling. “Everything the MACC faculty does is for our students’ growth, so this recognition is affirmation that we are doing right and good by them.”

The award highlights the MACC program’s commitment to preparing ethically grounded counselors who serve individuals experiencing mental health challenges, co-occurring disorders, and broader issues of social justice. Rooted in Alvernia’s Franciscan mission, the program emphasizes dignity, respect and culturally sensitive practice in every aspect of training.

“This award is a testament to the core values of the counseling profession that the MACC program lives out each day,” said Hall, who accepted the award on behalf of the department. “We want this to be a place where students feel supported, psychologically safe, challenged to grow and confident that they belong.”

The MACC program is a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited degree that prepares graduates to sit for licensure and enter a range of professional counseling settings. The curriculum blends clinical theory, hands-on skill development, role plays, small-group learning and supervised experiences that prepare students to meet the demands of the profession. Courses meet two days a week with an additional online evening session, allowing the program to serve adult learners in balancing work, family and community commitments.

“The MACC program prepares students to sit for licensure, and our highly committed faculty cultivates a strong, close-knit community,” said Elizabeth Matteo, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education, Humanities, and Social Science. “Their wide range of clinical expertise is a tremendous advantage for students.”

Many MACC students come through Alvernia’s psychology or addictions and mental health undergraduate programs and continue into graduate study due to the program’s strong reputation, dedicated faculty and record of successful outcomes.

“Our graduates easily secure professional opportunities throughout the mid-Atlantic region,” Matteo said. “The curriculum prepares them exceptionally well for the realities of clinical counseling and the expectations of the profession.” 

The PCA award also reflects the program’s emphasis on professional identity formation. MACC students and faculty attend the Pennsylvania Counseling Association Conference each year to learn about emerging developments in the field and to present original research alongside practitioners and educators from across the state.

“Student engagement with the Pennsylvania Counseling Association shows how the program helps students grow as developing professionals,” Matteo said. “They regularly attend the conference to learn from leaders in the field and to present their research.”

As the newly awarded plaque takes its place in the MACC lounge, the honor stands as a celebration of the community that built it: dedicated faculty, passionate students and engaged alumni who continue to advance the program’s mission.

“We are grateful for every student who walks through our doors,” Hall said. “Their support encourages us to continue building a program where everyone feels they belong.”