Two doctoral candidates in Syracuse University School of Education’s Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education program have received national honors, one from the profession’s international honors society and the other from its professional association.
Sara Litt has been selected as a 2026-2027 Chi Sigma Iota Leadership Intern to serve between May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) is an international honor society dedicated to promoting excellence in the counseling profession. With 176,000 members, it is one of the largest single member organizations of professional counselors in the world.
“This is an incredible honor and opportunity for Sarah, our CSI Sigma Upsilon chapter, and the School of Education,” says Melissa Luke, Dean’s Professor of Counselor and Counselor Education. “The leadership intern program was initiated to assist future leaders in developing competencies to advance the profession and to cultivate and support leaders ready for the challenges of a changing, diversified profession and multicultural society.”
Luke notes that as part of Litt’s work as a leadership intern, she will be matched with a project designed to broaden her awareness, experiences, and leadership potential in the profession.
“Each year, up to two elite graduate student members are selected for this recognition,” Luke continues. “Sarah joins the rank of three other esteemed Counseling and Human Services program doctoral alumnae who have served as leadership fellows: Kristopher Goodrich G’05, G’09, Harvey Peters G’19, and Derron Hilts G’22.”
Doctoral candidate Xihe Tian has won an American Counseling Association Best Practice in Research award. “This award is extremely competitive, and only one awardee is selected each year,” observes Yanhong Liu, Associate Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education.
Informing Tian of her award, the ACA awards committee write, “Your commitment to excellence and service exemplifies the high standards this award represents. [We are] impressed by your accomplishments and the positive impact of your work.”
Both Litt and Tian are members of Lab THRIVE, which was launched by an interdisciplinary Syracuse University team in 2023. This lab focuses on understanding the complex factors affecting college students’ adjustment to campus life, with an emphasis on both risk and protective factors that influence psychological well-being.
Learn more about Syracuse University School of Education’s Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education program, or contact Professor Caroline O’Hara at clohara@syr.edu.