Citlali Molina, Ph.D. Honored with SACES Outstanding Pre-Tenure Counselor Educator
Award
Citlali Molina, assistant professor and program coordinator of the M.Ed. in School Counseling program at TCU, has been recognized with the Outstanding Pre-Tenure Counselor Educator Award from the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES). This honor celebrates her exceptional contributions to research, service and leadership in counselor education.
Recognizing Excellence in Counselor Education
The SACES Outstanding Pre-Tenure Counselor Educator Award acknowledges faculty members
in the early stages of their academic careers who demonstrate significant progress
and promise in the field. Recipients must have a strong research agenda, a record
of impactful publications, and meaningful service to the counseling profession, particularly
in leadership roles. Molina’s work exemplifies all of these qualities, positioning
her as a leading voice in counselor education.
Commitment to Research, Preparing Future Counselors
Molina brings more than 17 years of experience in public education as a school counselor, counselor educator, and program coordinator. Her research focuses on teacher-student relationships, culturally responsive interventions, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and mindfulness-based approaches. She is passionate about equipping school counselors with the tools to advocate for underserved students and families, ensuring that all students receive the mental health support they need to thrive.
Beyond her academic contributions, Molina has secured nearly $2 million in grant funding to train new mental health practitioners in providing culturally responsive services in K-12 schools. Her work advances counseling research, impacting schools and communities by expanding access to high-quality guidance services.
Leadership at TCU
In addition to her research, advocacy and mentorship, Molina leads the M.Ed. in School
Counseling program at TCU, preparing future counselors to meet the growing needs of
students. Under her leadership, the program emphasizes evidence-based practices, equity-focused
counseling approaches and real-world application to ensure graduates are well-equipped
to support diverse student populations.
Molina’s recognition by SACES is a testament to her impact on the field and her unwavering commitment to advance research and train future school counselors.
