Learning While Becoming: Conversations in Counselor Education & Supervision

In this episode, we sit down with WACES 2026 Conference Coordinator Dr. Sara Al-Khedairy to talk about her journey from serving as a Graduate Student Representative to planning the WACES conference. Sara shares how she became involved in WACES, what drew her to the conference coordinator role, and some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into bringing the conference together.

We also talk about this year’s programming, the thought and collaboration that shape the conference experience, and what attendees can look forward to when they arrive. Whether this is your first WACES conference or one of many, we hope this conversation offers you a closer look at the people, planning, and community behind the event.

Want to learn more about the conference? Visit waces.org/2026-conference.html for more information!

Questions about the conference? Contact Dr. Sara Al-Khedairy at [email protected].

In this episode, Jennifer Kiehl and Priscilla Montero sit down with Dr. Shreya Vaishnav to talk about leadership, connection, and finding a professional home in counselor education and supervision. Dr. Vaishnav reflects on her journey from Emerging Leader to President of the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision and the experiences that have shaped her approach to leadership.

We talk about her priorities for strengthening transparency, communication, and connection within the organization, the importance of mentorship and creating opportunities for students and emerging professionals, and what she has learned through her time in leadership. Dr. Vaishnav also shares about her research interests, how they connect with her work as an educator and leader, and her hopes for the future of counselor education and supervision.

This conversation was recorded toward the end of Dr. Vaishnav’s term as President, and she has since transitioned into the Past President role at WACES. We hope the conversation still offers a glimpse into the President role, the people behind the work of the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the many ways leadership can take shape within counselor education.

In this episode, Jennifer Kiehl and Priscilla Montero sit down with WACES Emerging Leader, Dani Espinosa, for a conversation about counselor education, leadership, research, and professional identity. Dani reflects on their journey into counselor education, what it means to be recognized as an emerging leader, and how their understanding of leadership has evolved. The conversation also explores Dani’s current research interests, the gaps they hope to address, and how their scholarship connects to their work with students and supervisees. Together, we discuss the challenges of stepping into leadership as a new professional, the importance of mentorship and support, and Dani’s advice for others beginning to shape their identity as counselor educators.

In this first episode, Jennifer Kiehl and Priscilla Montero, the current Graduate Student Representatives of the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES), introduce Learning While Becoming and share why this podcast was created.

Through conversation, we reflect on our own professional journeys, the experience of growing within counselor education and supervision, and what it means to learn while still becoming. We also discuss what we hope this space offers to students, new professionals, and faculty across the field.

This episode sets the foundation for the podcast and invites you into future conversations, panels, and discussions.