In honor of her dedication to the field of mental health counseling and her outstanding contributions to her community, Diana Pedraza Harrison, ‘20 B.A. Psychology, ‘22 M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, was the clear choice for the Counselor Education Program’s inaugural Alum of the Year award. With multiple nominations from colleagues like Nicole Espinosa, Diana is an “exemplar of collaboration and radical compassion."

In her undergraduate years, Diana developed her leadership skills as the president of UNLV’s chapter of the International Honor Society in Psychology and as a board member of the Omega Alpha chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society for counseling students, educators, and professionals.

Her commitment to serving underserved communities is evident in her work as a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) clinical professional providing services that focus on radical healing and trauma-informed care. Diana's impact extends beyond the clinics she works in. She has been an advocate for unhoused youth through HELP of Southern Nevada for more than 12 years. If that weren’t enough to keep her busy, she also currently serves as a program specialist for ReInventing Integrated Student Supports in Educational Environments (RISsEe Program).

Since graduating, Diana has founded The Promise LV, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing relationship-centered care to unhoused individuals in Las Vegas. Diana and her team disperse essential items, offer access to clean water, and provide support with identity restoration, employment, and housing. All this is rooted in her person-centered approach to advocacy for marginalized communities. 

Diana's tireless dedication to fostering positive change and her steadfast commitment to the well-being of others make her a truly deserving recipient of this honor. As her former faculty advisor, Katherine Feather, emphasized, "Diana is what we all should strive to be as counselors, and as human beings."

About the Award

The UNLV Counselor Education Alum of the Year award recognizes graduates of the Master of Education - School Counseling or Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The award is given to an alumnus/a who has demonstrated a history of outstanding service to the field, program, UNLV, and/or the community in which they reside. Celebrating alumni is paramount as they continue contributing significantly to the community after their education. In addition, their achievements serve as a source of inspiration for the present and future generations.