Empowering Institutions to Champion Student Well-Being and Success
As mental health and overall student well-being challenges continue to surge, colleges and universities are grappling with unprecedented demands for support.
Recent data reveals that 2 in 5 students report mental health significantly affects their ability to focus and perform academically. In fact, more than one-third of students identify stress as a direct barrier to their academic success. Additionally, nearly 40% of students with anxiety or depression do not receive the services they need, making the scope of the challenge all the more clear.
But this isn’t just about mental health—it’s about holistic well-being.
Join Dr. Watkins, AVP for Student Health& Wellness, Dr. Overocker, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dr. Jones, Deputy Provost for Undergraduate Education , for an in-depth discussion on how institutions must address a broad range of interconnected issues, from counseling and disability services to student health and wellness programs.
Without a comprehensive approach, colleges risk increased dropout rates, declining academic performance, and reputational damage, especially in an era of heightened competition and shifting demographics.
Seats are limited, so secure your spot!
Why You Need to Attend Now
This is not just another discussion—it’s a chance to learn from institutions that are leading the way in implementing campus-wide mental health and well-being initiatives. Explore how they are aligning their strategies with long-term institutional goals, ensuring both student success and institutional resilience.
Agenda:
2:00 PM Welcome & Introductions
2:10 PM High-level Insights from Panel Discussion
3:00 PM Interactive Small-Group Discussion & Share Out
3:20 PM Closing Remarks
By attending this roundtable discussion, you’ll gain practical insights on:
Mental Health as a
Retention Strategy:
Explore how investments in mental health services can reduce student attrition and foster long-term success.
Scaling Comprehensive
Services & Modalities:
From digital mental health tools to peer support programs, learn how institutions are addressing student well-being beyond traditional counseling services to meet the diverse needs of today’s student populations.
Engaging All Students.
Discover effective strategies to reduce stigma, increase resource utilization, and engage online and non-traditional students in wellness initiatives.
Campus-Wide Engagement:
Learn how faculty, staff, and student leaders can be trained to identify early signs of distress and support students with appropriate interventions.
About the Panelists
Sherrá Watkins, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Health & Wellness, University of Utah
Dr. Sherrá Watkins, Ph.D., is a distinguished clinical psychotherapist, certified coach, and expert in the field of mental health and wellness. With over a decade of experience, she has successfully guided numerous clients towards overcoming a wide range of psychological and emotional challenges. Dr. Watkins' expertise encompasses public health, mental health, rehabilitation and substance use counseling. Currently serving as the Associate Vice President of Student Health and Wellness at the esteemed University of Utah, Dr. Watkins is dedicated to transforming systems that hinder historically marginalized populations from accessing crucial counseling and addiction services. She ardently believes in empowering individuals from all walks of life to enhance their overall well-being and embark on a journey of emotional healing.
Dr. Watkins is a highly sought-after presenter, captivating audiences as a keynote speaker. Her profound insights have also been shared through her acclaimed book, Healing – In Review, which provides invaluable tools, knowledge and journaling for readers to reflect and record their healing journeys with counseling or coaching. Continuing her commitment to promoting self-care and personal growth, Dr. Watkins has recently released several new publications. She resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, alongside her loving husband, Lorinza, and their two cherished boys, William and Bryson.
Terry-Ann Jones, Ph.D.
Deputy Provost for Undergraduate Education, LeHigh University
Terry-Ann Jones, Ph.D., currently serves as the Provost for Undergraduate Education (DPUE) who works with the provost on strategic leadership of academic programs, policies, and initiatives relating to undergraduate education, assessment, and accreditation.
In addition, the DPUE works with the Provost, Deans, and Associate Deans on strengthening the quality of undergraduate academic programs and academic advising across the university. The DPUE also works with the faculty and other academic leadership to enhance critical and distinctive aspects of Lehigh’s undergraduate education.
Terry is an accomplished educator and researcher. She earned her PhD in International Studies from University of Miami and was on the faculty at Fairfield University for fifteen years before joining Lehigh in 2020 as professor of political science and director of the Africana Studies Program. A Fulbright Scholar, her work has focused on questions related to migration and immigration in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Brazil, and most recently, South Africa.
Josh Overocker, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Josh Overocker, Ph.D., currently serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In this role, Josh oversees auxiliary operations such as housing, dining, and the union as well as areas focused on health and well-being such as campus recreation, the health center, and counseling and psychological services. UNL has recently launched a campus well-being collective focused on “uniting those people and units, forming a cross-functional team dedicated to growing the impact of our health and well-being programming” and Josh serves as member of this group. WELL-BEING COLLECTIVE | Nebraska (unl.edu)
Outside of his work at UNL, Josh serves as a board member on various community boards primarily focused on increasing youth activity and opportunities for recreation and as a volunteer youth soccer coach.