Maria Rubiano Quintero has been chosen as the recipient of the Haberman-Williams MaMHCA Scholarship, an award offered by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association. Rubiano Quintero is a second-year student in the M.A. in Mental Health Counseling at the Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development.
“I am honored to have received this award and deeply grateful for the support it represents,” Rubiano Quintero said.
She explained that she decided to pursue a career in clinical mental health counseling to support individuals in advocating for themselves, their families, and their communities.
“Growing up in Colombia, a country deeply marked by historical trauma and violence, I discovered in therapy and psychosocial services a powerful opportunity for social transformation,” she said. “To me, social change begins with healing, and healing involves recognizing our strengths and empowering ourselves and those around us.”
The scholarship is given to a graduate student studying mental health counseling who demonstrates high academic performance and a commitment to the counseling field.
Rubiano Quintero said this scholarship represents an opportunity to continue enhancing both her clinical and leadership skills and advocate for mental health in her country and beyond.
She was honored at the Annual Conference on October 24, 2025.