UW-Casper Counseling Student Receives National Fellowship

Shortly after she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from Mills College in Oakland, Calif., the national civil service program AmeriCorps brought Nurieh Glasgow to Wyoming in 2000.

Starting her service at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, Glasgow has made Casper her home, working for the last 12 years as program officer for ServeWyoming, a nonprofit organization that encourages volunteerism in the Cowboy State.

Studying through the University of Wyoming Outreach School, Glasgow received a Master of Public Administration degree from UW in 2009. Now, she is pursuing a mental health and school counseling master’s degree at UW at Casper, part of the first cohort of Casper counseling students since the program was re-established in 2016.

She will receive help to do so from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation, which selected her for its Minority Fellowship Program-Youth (MFP-Y). The mother of two was among 30 master’s-level counseling students nationwide selected to receive the $8,000 award.

“It’s definitely an honor,” says Glasgow, who has two more years of study toward the degree. “If this fellowship can help me be more effective in helping people access mental health services, that’s what I want to do.”

As an MFP-Y fellow, Glasgow will receive funding and training to support her education and facilitate her service to underserved minority populations. After graduation, she intends to stay in Casper and work with transition-age (ages 16 to 25) minority youth, particularly those who are often unable to find counseling services that meet their experiences.

“This fellowship will provide more opportunities for Glasgow to develop into a dynamic, approachable, holistic counselor, create positive change, reduce mental health stigmas, learn evidence-based practices to better serve underserved populations, and advocate for the counseling profession and clients,” an NBCC media release says.

Glasgow says mental health challenges are part of her family’s history, so “it’s not something I shy away from.” The counseling field “seems to be a perfect way to marry the medical profession and service,” she says.

“I’m always looking for a way to make sure my career meets my values of service, and counseling has a huge advocacy and social justice component,” says Glasgow who, this year, was named Casper’s “Woman of Distinction,” an award presented by four women’s groups in that community. “Counseling will give me another way to serve.”