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.
Established 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, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, 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. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 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 general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
© 2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
