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A Passion for Students Led Online Graduate to Pursue Her Degree

Counselor Education

Matt Cairnes

Aug 10, 2026

From Music to Mental Health, Matt Cairnes Finds a New Calling Through NC State Online

Matt Cairnes had built a life around music. As a musician from Scotland, he traveled the world, performed with others, wrote songs and built a career rooted in listening, connection and creative expression. Music also brought him to the person who would become his wife. Then, during the COVID pandemic, Cairnes moved from Scotland to…
Marisol Garcia-Sandoval proudly poses in her cap and gown

May 1, 2025

Finding Purpose in Mental Health Counseling: Meet Marisol Garcia-Sandoval, CMHC ’25

Marisol Garcia-Sandoval, a first-generation college student and passionate advocate for social justice, found purpose and community in NC State’s online M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.

May 11, 2022

Counselor Offers Advice for Online Education

Maggie Latta-Milord saw a pressing need to provide mental health services to young students in the school setting. This led to her earning a Master of Education in School Counseling.

Group photo with students in cap and gown posing on football field.

Nov 29, 2021

Online M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Ranks No. 1

NC State’s online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling recently topped the list of best online master’s counseling programs according to besthealthdegrees.com.

Sybil McCarrol sits with notepad and a client sits across the room on a couch.

Jun 10, 2021

Clinical Mental Health Grad Makes an Impact with the Military

Sybil McCarrol earned her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling this spring. A Navy veteran and Army spouse, McCarrol is fulfilling her goal of working with the military community, veterans and their families and feels lucky to be able to work in a military setting.

The wolf artwork inside of the Talley Student Union. Photo by Marc Hall

May 13, 2021

Passion for Helping Others Drives Online Grad

What does your perfect job look like? For Pam Rose, a spring 2021 M.Ed. in College Counseling and Student Development online grad, it's a role where she helps to improve the lives of others and serves as their cheerleader. And she's landed just that role.

Mindy McDowell.

Apr 8, 2021

How Mindy McDowell Redefined Herself in the Online Master of College Counseling and Student Development

Mindy McDowell, assistant director of counseling and disability services at William Peace University (WPU), wasn’t always on the path that brought her to where she is now. Back in 2015, she faced a major life change, which she says thrust her out of an existence that had defined her for close to 30 years.  “Faced…
Michelle Garcia

Dec 14, 2020

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Online Program Prepares Grad for Future

This December, Michelle Garcia earned her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling online at NC State. Garcia shares her story of growing up without many discussions of mental health to now becoming a licensed clinical mental health counselor.

Brandy Arellano smiles in headshot

Dec 12, 2019

A Passion for Students Led Online Graduate to Pursue Her Degree

Brandy Arellano’s five years as an online Master in Counselor Education student is coming to an end, but the impact of her time at NC State is already proving to last. Learn more about Brandy’s online journey while working full time.