Jay Zimmerman Mentorship Scholarship Program 2026 

Dear ACCTA Training Directors and Coordinators:

We are writing to announce the 2026 ACCTA Jay Zimmerman Mentorship Scholarship Program. ACCTA is committed to increasing knowledge and awareness of broad perspectives and experiences within our organization, as well as increasing the inclusion and representation of underrepresented groups in the ACCTA membership. The Mentorship Scholarship Program is one way to operationalize our commitment to supporting professionals whose experiences, identities, backgrounds, and perspectives contribute to the strength of our field and organization.

This program seeks two individuals who represent underrepresented perspectives and experiences and are (a) interested in becoming training directors or coordinators, and/or (b) who have a strong commitment to training and are actively involved in a current training program. We accept applications from eligible staff at counseling centers who are not members of ACCTA. We need your assistance in identifying individuals you believe would benefit from this opportunity.

The program offers the selected scholarship recipients an opportunity to attend and participate in ACCTA’s 2026 annual conference in San Francisco, CA. The theme for this year’s conference is Community, Care, and Compassion: Mirror to Learning, Growth, and Resilience. The conference is one of the few professional development opportunities for psychologists who are interested in becoming training directors/coordinators to develop skills, increase knowledge about internship training issues, and network with others in similar positions.

The two scholarships that are awarded will cover registration, economy class travel, and lodging and meal expenses for the conference. As part of the program, scholarship recipients will provide a conference presentation for Continuing Education (CE) credits on topics related to underrepresented perspectives, professional experiences, and/or excellence in training.

The 2026 ACCTA conference is scheduled to be held in San Francisco, California from Saturday, September 26 through Tuesday, September 29. The nominator will be recognized publicly and is expected to mentor the awardee through the process. Should the nominator be unable to serve in this capacity, an ACCTA member will be designated.

ELIGIBILITY

  1. Two years of post-doctoral counseling center experience by the application deadline (Tuesday, June 16, 2026) is required. Please note that the Committee adheres strictly to the deadline and therefore cannot make exceptions.
  2. Any individual who has not previously held a position as a counseling center Training Director/Training Coordinator of a psychology internship program, but who is interested in possibly doing so in the future and/or who has a strong commitment to training and is actively involved in a training program.
  3. An individual who identifies with underrepresented perspectives, experiences, or backgrounds in one or more of the following ways:
  • Race
  • Ethnicity/Nationality
  • LGBTQ+ Identities
  • Disability
  • Religion

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Application and applicant materials must be submitted electronically.

https://asaccta.memberclicks.net/accta-scholarship-application-form#/

Eligible candidates should:

1. Complete the Information Sections

  • Applicant
  • Counseling Center Director
  • Counseling Center Training Director/Coordinator

2. Answer the Following Questions

    a. Please describe how the ACCTA scholarship would enhance your career objectives.

    b. Describe your past and current interests, contributions, and professional development in terms of the following:

        i. Training (e.g., experience providing individual or group supervision, training seminars, peer counselor or paraprofessional training, practicum supervision, or seminars/workshops related to training issues).

        ii. Please describe how you meet the eligibility criteria related to underrepresented perspectives and experiences.

        iii. Commitment to supporting broad perspectives and experiences in training, mentorship, professional development, research, or clinical work.

        iv. Describe leadership activities or contributions to psychological organizations.

3. Proposed Conference Presentation Topic

 

4. Upload Supporting Documents (must be in MS Word format)

    a. Curriculum vitae

    b. Nominating letter from Training Director/Training Coordinator

  • In addition, the nominating Training Director/Training Coordinator should copy this letter to the Director of the center where the candidate is on staff. The purpose of this step is to inform the candidate’s Director of the nomination for both positive recognition and notification that the candidate would be required to travel to the 2026 ACCTA conference if awarded the scholarship.

    c. Any other supporting documents

SELECTION CRITERIA & SELECTION PROCESS

Candidates will be reviewed and selected based upon contributions to training, answers to the application questions, relevance of proposed presentation topic to the conference theme, and readiness to use the scholarship opportunity to enhance their work with trainees in a training program.

The selection committee will review all application materials submitted by eligible candidates. The selection committee is comprised of individuals from the following areas: Executive Committee of the ACCTA Board of Directors, representatives affiliated with mentorship and professional engagement initiatives, and the Co-Chairs of the Jay Zimmerman Mentorship Scholarship Program.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

All application materials must be received by 11:59 p.m., EST., Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Kusha Murarka at [email protected] or Dan Elreda at [email protected].