Dr. Sylvia Fernandez is the Chair of the NBCC International Board. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., and Affiliates (NBCC), the preeminent counselor certification body in the United States, from 2000-2006 and as Chair 2005-2006. A Professor and Chair of the Counseling Department at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, Dr. Fernandez has been a National Certified Counselor (NCC) since 1997 and a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) since 1998.
Dr. Fernandez has been a member of several Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) and Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) task forces and committees, and chaired the ACES Supervision Interest Network for four years. Dr. Fernandez is a past-President of the Arkansas Counseling Association, a past-President of the Arkansas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and a past-Chair of the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling.
Dr. Fernandez holds Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Supervisor Specialty License credentials issued by the state of Arkansas. She holds Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) certification from the Center for Credentialing in Education (CCE). She has published in professional journals and contributed book chapters on a variety of topics including multicultural counseling, clinical supervision, violence in American schools, counseling persons with spinal cord injury, and counseling Southeast-Asian students. She has delivered professional presentations internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally. Dr. Fernandez has been inducted into the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International and has twice been recognized as the Chi Sigma Iota International Outstanding Faculty Liaison.
Dr. Fernandez earned two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and a doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Born in India and raised in Malaysia, she speaks several languages including Malay, Tamil, and Cantonese.
