Chris Belser, an assistant professor in the University of New Orleans counselor education program, is the 2020-2021 recipient of Chi Sigma Iota’s Edwin L. Herr Fellowship for Excellence in Counseling Leadership and Scholarship.

Chi Sigma Iota is an international honor society of professional counseling and is one of the largest counseling organizations with more than 130,000 members.

Belser will be recognized April 16 during the American Counseling Association conference in San Diego, California.

As part of the fellowship, Belser will work with Chi Sigma Iota leaders to develop career-related resources and materials for the organization's membership.

“As someone actively involved in career development research and practice, I'm excited to have this opportunity that merges service and scholarship,” said Belser. “I'm humbled to receive an honor bearing the name of a scholar I deeply admire.”

Herr, who died in 2016 at age 82, is a former president of Chi Sigma Iota and the American Counseling Association and is remembered as a scholarly leader and mentor. He was a professor and associate dean emeritus of the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University and authored more than 30 books. 

Belser, who earned his Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at the University of Central Florida and his master’s in school counseling at Louisiana State University, has worked as a middle school counselor and as a high school career coach.  His research interests include career development initiatives in science, technology, engineering and math.