Leilani Cancel-Lopez didn’t set out to become a therapist, but her path led her to a nationally recognized fellowship aimed at expanding representation in mental health care. The second-year graduate student in Northern Illinois University’s Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT) program has been selected as a fellow in the 2025-2026 Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS) Minority Fellowship Program.
“Being accepted into the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) gives me the opportunity to work with
professionals from a similar background as myself in a field that has historically been dominated by white men,” said Cancel-Lopez, who earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University. “As a Latina woman, I have experienced firsthand what it’s like to be left out of learning and healing spaces alike; this fellowship aims to open the door to minorities like me by preparing us to work with underserved populations.”
The FAHS Minority Fellowship Program is a national workforce development initiative that prepares marriage and family therapist researchers, teachers and practitioners to serve communities with limited access to mental health and substance abuse services. The program is partially funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and provides fellows with financial support, professional mentorship and advanced clinical training.
Before discovering marriage and family therapy, Cancel-Lopez explored several paths in health care.
“My journey to marriage and family therapy was not linear,” she said. “When I entered my undergraduate, I was convinced I wanted to be a pediatric neurosurgeon. I jumped between majors seemingly without rhyme or reason, unsure what I was looking for but with a deep-rooted feeling that it wasn’t in chemistry.”
Looking back, she is thankful to have found a path where she can build meaningful connections and support her patients’ well-being.
“When I found marriage and family therapy, I finally realized that I was looking for a personal connection with my patients, which neurosurgery would not afford me,” she said. “Marriage and family therapy gives me that sense of fulfillment while still in a field that actively heals.”
DeAnna Harris-McKoy, program director of NIU SMFT program, is thrilled to see Cancel-Lopez selected for this honor.
“As a previous fellow and someone who has been actively involved with fellowship for 14 years, I am extremely proud of Leilanis for being chosen for this selective fellowship program,” Harris-McKoy said. “The program not only enhances clinical and research skills but also produces leaders in our field.”
Learn more about the Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy (SMFT) program at NIU.
