Summer Highlights
This summer marked an important transitional window between wrapping up Alliant University/CSPP’s prior school-year…and our own fiscal year…and preparing for the start of the next. It was a time for the Alliant Educational Foundation (AEF) to review and approve hundreds of student scholarship applications, approve a new class of 15 “AEF Fellows” for the incoming class of students studying clinical psychology (bringing us up to 70 AEF Fellows this fall!), and hosting this year’s CSPP alumni & friends event during American Psychological Association’s annual conference in Washington D.C.
Growth in Alliant Scholarships & Fellowships
Each spring, the Alliant Educational Foundation opens its annual competitive scholarship process for Alliant University students across all campuses and programs. As of the close of the application window in late May, hundreds of applications were received from well-deserving students. In total, nearly $115K in competitive scholarships from donor-restricted funds and another $350K in AEF Fellowship funds will be awarded this fall for the 2026 – 2027 school year. Notably, the Foundation has just approved an additional $625K in block grant scholarship funding to be granted directly by Alliant University for the upcoming year. That brings the Foundation’s total support to nearly $1.1M for 2026 – 2027. If you’d like to discuss long-term support of student scholarships through a legacy gift or similar giving vehicle, certainly let us know as we’re always happy to discuss
AEF’s Regional Children’s Mental Health Consortium
We’ve just completed soliciting community input about some of the greatest unmet needs in mental health in the LA metropolitan area. Our goal was to better understand which populations are NOT being well-served at present, and to identify where the Foundation can help. As current faculty, LA-area funders, and other practitioners weighed in, we’ve gained a clearer view of where AEF can help in building out new CSPP practicum sites to be ready for matching in Q1 of 2027. And all of this is supported, in part, by the Connell Persico CSPP-LA Practicum Fund.
In the meantime, we’ve just completed our analysis of a similar program we run in the San Diego region called the Regional Children’s Mental Health Consortium. Last year alone, 14 CSPP students across 6 sites provided mental health services to over 200 underserved children, youth, and their families, providing over 1,200 individual and group sessions in trusted, non-profit settings across the region. A similar program launched in the San Francisco Bay Area just two years ago as well.
By placing CSPP clinical psychology students at youth-serving agencies, we’re bolstering their capacity to provide high-quality mental health support to some of the populations who most desperately need it, while also providing invaluable training opportunities for CSPP students.
Dr. Kazumi Nishio Research Grants
The purpose of the Dr. Kazumi Nishio Research Grants is to deepen the understanding of Asian and Asian-American mental health, to promote the mental health of Asians and Asian-Americans, and to provide grant opportunities for international research studies.
A total of $36,000 in funding will be made available for 2026. The funding is divided into two distinct categories: smaller grants to current students enrolled in APA accredited doctoral programs in Psychology, and larger grants to researchers and faculty in psychology programs in APA accredited graduate programs.
Proposals must focus on Asian or Asian-American mental health. Priority will be given to research projects with an international focus. All submissions must be received by November 15th and interested parties can learn more by e-mailing info@allianted.org.
Our Video Content
We’re also proud to share our YouTube channel, which includes a new series of alumni spotlights, past AEF virtual Salons, the “Legacy of Light” mini-documentary about CSPP’s genesis and impact, and much more. We hope you’ll check it out!
To learn more about the foundation, please visit www.AlliantEd.org,
like and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlliantEducationalFoundation,
visit our YouTube channel or call us at (858) 635-4488.
We look forward to staying in touch and thank you for your support!
