Xaria Hicks

DENTON (UNT), Texas — Xaria Hicks, a recent graduate of the University of North Texas College of Education, has earned a Rotary Global Grant to pursue a second master’s in science in Health Psychology at University College London (UCL) — a prestigious opportunity that will support her continued work in maternal and child health, culturally responsive therapy and neurodiverse care.

Hicks earned her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at UNT with a focus on children, play therapy and community mental health. She was introduced to the Rotary Global Grant while presenting research at UNT on the personality traits of mothers seeking autism services for their children, which fell directly within one of Rotary’s areas of focus: maternal and child health. James Duban, Honors College associate dean for research and national scholarships, guided her through the application process.

“UNT has really helped me clarify my goals,” Hicks said. “I’ve been surrounded by mentors, faculty and peers who support me and challenge me to think bigger. Every piece — from research to advising to my coursework — has contributed to where I’m going next.”

Her path to UCL began with a series of interviews, essays and sponsorships from multiple local Rotary Clubs, including Grapevine and Cross Timbers. Hicks will spend a year in London bridging her clinical training with international perspectives on psychology and public health. Following completion of the program, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology and continue developing therapy models that are culturally inclusive and rooted in community advocacy.

“Rotary’s principle of ‘service above self’ really resonates with how I see my role in the field,” Hicks said. “I want to build a sense of community wherever I go — to listen first and to bring a culturally grounded approach to mental health services.”

A lifelong Dallas resident, Hicks traces her journey to early opportunities in the city’s public education system. She attended Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Jr. Early College High School at El Centro College, where she first took psychology classes and began working at a local preschool.

“That was when I really saw what I wanted to do take shape,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to help people, but I also wanted a career where I could be creative and true to myself.”

At UNT, Hicks was an academic advisor for the ELEVAR program, a postsecondary support initiative for students with intellectual disabilities. She also discovered her passion for play therapy — an approach that combines child-centered counseling, behavioral psychology and expressive arts.

While in London, Hicks will work with the Rotary Club of Radlett and continue to develop research that examines cultural frameworks of care, comparing mental health approaches in the U.S. and U.K. She is particularly interested in how maternal health services and neurodiverse interventions are shaped by systemic and social factors.

“I’m going into this with an open mind and a desire to learn,” she said. “People are the experts of their own lives, and I want to keep growing as someone who listens, advocates, and collaborates.”

She adds that while the journey has been rigorous, it’s also been deeply fulfilling.

“I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me get to this point,” Hicks said. “I see this grant not just as a personal achievement but as an opportunity to bring more inclusive and community-informed practices to the field of mental health.”