Professor Awarded Scholarship for Work in Mental Health Advocacy
August 4, 2021
Recently, Marcella Rolle, PhD, an assistant professor in the counseling department at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) was awarded the Ethel L. Wallace
Scholarship. The award will be presented to Dr. Rolle during the 2021 Black Mental
Health Symposium which will be held in September 2021. The award is presented to a
mental health professional that has shown continued commitment to improving the mental
health and wellness of African American communities.
“This award caught me off guard. I didn’t realize that my colleagues had submitted
information for me to be a nominee. With that said, I am very happy to receive this
award and it has solidified the work I’ve been doing to make sure Black women have
a safe space in academia and medicine. I hope to continue to be an advocate for this
community,” shared Dr. Rolle.
Dr. Rolle joined the PCOM community in the summer of 2020. Since joining, Dr. Rolle
has played an important role in advocating for students of color. She formed a support
group for women of color at PCOM. In her role as founder of this group, she hopes
to serve as a mentor and create a space where students can come together to learn
and grow in a space that is most comfortable for them.
Dr. Rolle received her doctorate in counselor education and supervision from Walden
University in June 2021. Her thesis titled “Are Black Girls Okay? Exploring Microaggressions
in Academia Strategy Development in Doctoral Programs” focused on advocating for Black
women in higher education. She will also be presenting her thesis to the attendees
of the 2021 Black Mental Health Symposium. Dr. Rolle is a member of the American Counseling
Association, the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, the Pennsylvania
Counseling Association and the Southern Association of Counselors and Supervisors.
According to their website, the Annual Black Mental Health Symposium is a “solutions-based
conference gathering professionals who desire to decrease the stigma of mental illness,
increase access to care, and improve the wellness of the Black community.” This year
will be the sixth annual conference.
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About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands
of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists
who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms.
PCOM operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and school psychology, and graduate degrees in
applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic
medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, non profit leadership
and population health management, organizational development and leadership, physician
assistant studies, school psychology, and public health management and administration.
PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service
to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care
to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For more information, contact:
Daniel McCunney
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Email: danielmc1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304 | Cell:
267-449-1360