May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to hold space for more than just hashtags and hotlines (though those are important, too). This month on the blog, I’ll be spotlighting the real, sometimes messy, often beautiful ways we care for ourselves and each other — especially in higher education.
Mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all. For some, it’s weekly therapy. For others, it’s walking meetings, journaling, or a good playlist on repeat. And sometimes, it’s knowing which resources are available — and feeling safe enough to actually use them.
Below, we’ve highlighted different stories and resources — reflections and practices from higher ed pros doing the work both on and beyond campus, and at the bottom, some of my favorite tools.
Whether you’re deep in finals season, navigating a campus leadership role, or just trying to find a moment of stillness in your day, I hope this series offers you some peace, support, and maybe a little permission to explore what helps you feel most human.
Mental Health, Reimagined
The future of care isn’t just reactive. It’s built into the way we work, lead, and live.
Over the past three weeks, we’ve spotlighted what higher ed leaders are doing to care for themselves and others — the boundaries they hold, the rituals they practice, and the cultures they nurture.
In this section, we’re focusing on what’s next. Not just what’s working, but what needs to change.
What if we stopped calling exhaustion “resilience”?
What if we resourced wellness the way we resource crisis?
What if we built systems that cared for the humans at the heart of higher ed?
These leaders aren’t just reflecting — they’re reimagining. And they’re urging all of us to do the same.
Dr. Shea Kidd Brown | Vice President for Campus Life, Wake Forest University
Shea advocates for early education about mental health and social media — particularly for teens navigating identity in a comparison-driven digital world. She’s also a believer in naming our hard emotions out loud and removing shame through openness and shared understanding.
“I wish folks felt comfortable talking about when they feel scared, nervous, uneasy, overwhelmed, not enough, awkward. When we name something out loud, it is hard to feel shame about it. (I have to attribute this concept to Brene Brown.) There is shame in mental health and the more we can normalize it, the more we can create resources that lead to a thriving community.” – Dr. Shea Kidd Brown
Dr. Kelly Dries | CEO & Founder, Dries Coaching & Consulting
Kelly envisions a future where we don’t wait for someone to break down before giving them space to rest. Through coaching and speaking, she integrates mental health into leadership practices — not as an add-on, but as an essential part of how we live and lead.
“What if “wellness” wasn’t a one-day event or a week-long campaign—but a lens we used to design every system and schedule? What if sabbaticals were standard for staff? What if we restructured meetings and workloads with emotional labor and invisible work in mind? My wild idea isn’t all that wild, but what if we stop waiting for people to burn out before offering them rest?” – Kelly Dries
Dr. Yvonne Hernandez Friedman | Principal & CEO, YHF Coaching & Consulting
Yvonne’s call to action is clear: mental health must become a core leadership competency. Her vision for higher ed includes trauma-informed leadership, restorative justice, and strategic plans that actually account for the emotional labor staff are shouldering.
- Train every leader in trauma-informed practices.
- Bake wellness into strategic plans and performance reviews,
- Fund healing work, not just crisis response.
- Normalize and model mental health days.
- Prioritize restorative justice and belonging over punishment.
“Higher education won’t retain its talent — especially women of color — if we keep rewarding overfunctioning, invisibilizing emotional labor, and calling exhaustion ‘resilience.’ Mental health is mission-critical. If we don’t evolve how we lead, we’ll keep breaking the very people we say we’re here to uplift.” – Dr. Yvonne Hernandez Friedman
Dr. Juan R. Guardia | Vice President of Student Affairs, Texas A&M University San Antonio
Juan advocates for balance and boundaries — for himself and his team. He models respect for off-hours and urges leaders to focus on what can be done now without overloading students or staff.
“The importance of not burning out our students, faculty, and staff. There’s enough going on in the world that it’s important that we focus on what we can do now without overburdening ourselves.” – Dr. Juan R. Guardia
Liz Harter | Sr. Social Media Manager, University of Notre Dame
For Liz, strong leadership during times of uncertainty isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about being human. Leaders who model boundaries, acknowledge stress, and create space for vulnerability help their teams feel less alone.
“Strong leadership is crucial in such an uncertain time and actions speak louder than words. If we have leaders who recognize that sometimes we need to vent and take a break and who do those things themselves (in appropriate moderation) it’s so helpful to feel like we aren’t alone.” – Liz Harter
Maria Kuntz | Director of Content Marketing Strategy and Communications, University of Colorado Boulder
Maria wants more managers to lead with courage — to give their teams real permission to rest, recover, and ask for what they need. For her, care isn’t a soft skill — it’s a strength that builds trust, retention, and performance.
“I want every manager to be unafraid to say — take the time, take the leave, take FMLA if that’s what you need. Ask people how they are and genuinely listen. It’s a strength, not a weakness, to make time and space to show people we care.” – Maria Kuntz
Protecting Peace, One Habit at a Time
Mental health support doesn’t always look like a program. Sometimes, it looks like a pause. A walk. A boundary held. A habit that honors your humanity.
This week, we’re highlighting the small but powerful practices higher ed leaders turn to when things feel heavy — and how they model care in the choices they make each day. These aren’t flashy solutions or crisis responses. They’re personal, intentional rhythms that create space for clarity, rest, and connection.
Because sometimes, the most meaningful care happens in the margins.
Dr. Shea Kidd Brown | Vice President for Campus Life, Wake Forest University
Shea leads with intention — especially when it comes to time. She avoids messaging her team after hours, schedules emails for the next business day, and encourages others to think about what’s truly urgent. She also creates moments of joy and anticipation by looking ahead to future travel and writing down something that made her smile each week.
“I don’t message my team or colleagues after 5 p.m. or on the weekends. If it’s a crisis or urgent, it’s a phone all, not an email. I find that clearing things off my plate only crowds others. When I am working after hours, I am sure to schedule message during business hours so that those around me can keep focused on whatever they like to do after hours instead of the email that I just sent them. This practice has also helped other understand what is urgent and what can wait. I also encourage my division to always have something to look forward to. For me, that is looking at my Bonvoy app. 🙂 It could be a trip that is six months down the road but know it is planned gives me a sense of excitement and anticipation.” – Shea Kidd Brown
Dr. Jacob Chacko | Executive Director, Center for Diversity & Inclusion, Washington University in St. Louis
Jacob grounds his leadership in care — for himself, for his family, and for his team. He centers well-being as a core value in the work, encouraging breaks, offering flexibility, and checking in regularly. Tools like the NAP Ministry’s REST Deck and walks with colleagues help him reset. Most of all, he leads with the belief that people come first.
Dr. Thom D. Chesney | President, Southwestern College (NM)
Thom begins each day with a quiet ritual — mindful stretching before even getting out of bed. By tuning into his body and breath, and reflecting on the simple question “What will I get to learn today, and from whom?”, he creates space for intention and curiosity to lead the day forward.
Dr. John Mark Day | President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, DePauw University
For John Mark, wellness begins with connection — starting with his daughter. Their daily ritual of walking to school isn’t just a transition into the workday; it’s a grounding moment that helps him slow down, notice his surroundings, and ease into campus life with presence and purpose.
“I start every work day by dropping my daughter off at kindergarten and then heading to my office. She reminds me to notice the world around me, and we almost always have a great interaction with a (sleepy) student headed to class. Making that into a ritual helps to bring meaning to my day.” – John Mark Day
Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black | Vice President for Student Life, Reed College
Karnell’s commitment to wellness is clear and consistent: he doesn’t skip lunch. That break — even if it’s just 20 minutes and a walk — gives him space to pause and recharge. His approach reminds us that boundaries don’t have to be big to make a big impact.
“Slow down, if it’s making you not well do something different.” – Karnell McConnell-Black
Liz Harter | Senior Social Media Manager, University of Notre Dame
Liz brings humor, honesty, and heart to her mental health practices. She uses a timer cube to step away from work, leans into hobbies like embroidery and reading, and even scream-sings Taylor Swift when the moment calls for it. Her go-to tool? The Calm app — especially the sleep stories — when she needs help turning her brain off at night.
Dr. Krista Klein | Associate Dean, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Honors College
Krista is redefining the pace of her life through NeuroSomatics — a practice rooted in nervous system regulation, slow living, and mindfulness. With just a few minutes of movement, visualization, or stillness each day, she’s created a foundation for healing. Her experience is a reminder that transformation doesn’t have to be fast to be real.
“Hybrid work is the future, even if you’re student-facing. We need to encourage more paid leave for mental health. Slowing down a sense of urgency to determine what is really important.” – Krista Klein
Dr. Kevin McClure | Murphy Distinguished Scholar of Education & Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Kevin’s mental health practice is built on systems — ones that connect daily tasks to long-term values. By grounding himself in a review of his personal goals and intentions, he protects his focus, avoids spirals, and keeps meaning at the center of his work.
“There are four practices that are important for my mental health. The first is regularly talking to my A(nchor) Team—these are people who know me really well, people I can easily joke and be vulnerable with, people who will knock me down a peg when I need it. Not all of them are local, so it’s often running text chats. But I give much more time to those messages than social media. Second, I write down and regularly look at my values, quarterly plan, and task capture. Yes, nerd alert. But I get overwhelmed very easily, and when that happens, I can spiral and literally lose executive functioning. When I lose direction, it’s easier to doom scroll. Sticking to a system grounded in my values allows me to stay focused on what really matters. Third, I write my feelings. Writing is a safe space for me to feel big things, so I use that outlet to process. Lastly, I say yes to my kids a lot. Not like in a ‘Yes, we’ll buy you all the things way.’ But if they ask for my time, I always say yes and I never regret it.” – Kevin McClure
These leaders remind us: care isn’t always loud — it’s consistent. Whether it’s a quiet pause, a favorite song, or a boundary held, the small stuff is the big stuff.
Let it count.
Supporting Mental Health on Campus Starts with the Culture We Create
When we think about mental health in higher education, it’s easy to focus on individual self-care—and that matters. But lasting change also comes from the systems we build: how we show up in meetings, how we lead teams, and how we design environments that model care over crises.
This week, we’re spotlighting higher ed leaders who are making small, powerful shifts to support the well-being of their communities—from student leaders to staff and faculty. These aren’t massive initiatives or budget-heavy programs—they’re human-centered, intentional practices that create cultures of trust and support.
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee | President, Community College of Aurora
Mordecai advocates for daily practices that help leaders re-center with clarity and compassion. He also highlighted the importance of community and purpose, especially for those struggling in the field. His words of encouragement remind us that transformation often begins in discomfort — and that higher ed professionals are shaping futures in ways they may not even realize.
“To anyone in higher education who may be struggling right now, please know that your work matters more than you may ever fully realize. You are shaping futures, opening doors, and creating pathways where there were once barriers. Even in the hardest moments, remember that transformation often begins in discomfort. Lean on your purpose, protect your peace, and surround yourself with community. Keep going—we need you.” – Dr. Brownlee
Dr. Jon Duraj | Vice President for Student Life, St. Lawrence University
Jon is helping staff reframe vacation as a critical benefit: one that shouldn’t be left unused. His division integrates wellness practices directly into retreat programming, offering things like somatic stretching, succulent planting, breathing exercises, and well-being goal setting. These practices don’t just add a moment of peace — they model a new way forward.
Myla Edmond | Senior Vice President, RW Jones Agency
Myla brings a deeply human approach to leadership — one rooted in flexibility, creativity, and care. She models kindness through small, consistent actions: checking in with colleagues, celebrating non-work wins, and encouraging time away from the desk. She champions emotional intelligence training for managers and dreams of a workplace where taking a day off doesn’t require an explanation. Whether it’s writing, walking, or curating a playlist, Myla believes wellness can, and should, be woven into the everyday.
“I’d love to get away from people feeling like they need an excuse or reason to take a day off; encourage time outside or away from desks; emotional intelligence training for all managers; and some way to incorporate music — maybe even sharing favorite songs or playlists with each other.” – Myla Edmond
Dr. Yvonne Hernandez Friedman | Principal & CEO, YHF Coaching & Consulting
Yvonne reminds us that institutional support goes far beyond one-time workshops or end-of-semester wellness emails. In her leadership roles, she’s prioritized:
- Encouraging the use of mental health days
- Normalizing rest during peak seasons
- Creating space in meetings for stillness and check-ins
- Training leaders to lead with empathy
Her core message? Psychological safety is a leadership skill — and culture change begins with consistent, caring actions.
Maria Kuntz | Director, Content Marketing Strategy & Communications, University of Colorado Builder
Maria shared how her former supervisor, Chandra Harris-McCray, instilled a powerful habit: scheduling 30 minutes each day away from the desk. Whether to rest, be creative, or simply look out a window, these breaks became an invitation to recharge—and they sparked some of Maria’s most creative thinking. It’s a reminder that intentional modeling from leadership gives others permission to care for themselves, too.
Dr. Eddie Martinez | Associate Dean for Student Affairs, SUNY Suffolk
For Eddie, supporting student mental health includes preparing them with the tools they need to navigate challenges. His team now offers emotional intelligence training for student leaders, building awareness and resilience from the inside out. He also lifts up the importance of daily grounding rituals — like morning coffee reflection and mind-clearing evening TV — as personal tools to stay centered.
Josie’s Go-To Mental Health Picks
I’m all in for therapy, boundaries, and systems of support. But there are also a few unconventional (and yes, a little woo-woo) tools that have helped me care for my nervous system, my energy, and my peace.
Here’s what’s been in my toolkit lately:
- EMDR therapy – I’ve found EMDR to be incredibly powerful for processing past experiences and quieting internal loops that don’t serve me.
- CranioSacral Therapy – If you’re near LA, I highly recommend Heathir Brown. This has been such a gentle, restorative form of healing.
- Sleepytime CBD Gummies – These help me wind down, especially on nights when my brain just won’t turn off. Charlotte’s Web is my go-to. They’re a purposeful company making magic in gummy form.
- Oura Ring – I’ve gotten serious about sleep and stress tracking. This little ring helps me understand my rhythms and stay grounded through sleep scores, readiness indicators, a resilience tracker, and even illness detection.
- Crystals – I know. But don’t knock it ‘til you visit a local crystal shop like Open Eye Crystals and find one that just feels right. Allow yourself to be drawn to what catches your eye.
- Somatic practices – Learning to process things through my body — not just my brain — has been a game-changer.
- Lexapro – A real MVP. It’s a serotonin rebalancer. And it’s been life-giving.
- Romantasy novels – I’m currently rereading A Court of Thorns and Roses because sometimes escape is necessary.
- Movement — Equinox, Peloton, and hot girl walks (now with a weighted vest) are all part of my rotation to keep my body moving and my energy flowing.
- Inspiring TikToks – Yes, the algorithm occasionally delivers a message I didn’t know I needed. Here’s one I recently saved:
Some of these may sound familiar. Others might feel out there. But if they help you feel more present, more rested, more like yourself — then they’re doing their job.
And if you’re looking for more support right now, here are a few starting points:
- The Trevor Project – Crisis support and mental health resources for LGBTQ+ youth
- Mental Health America – Screenings, resources, and toolkits
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) – Education, peer support, and advocacy
- CDC Mental Health Resources – Mental health info, data, and tools for individuals and communities
- The Steve Fund – Focused on supporting the mental health of students of color
- The Jed Foundation – Programs, research, and campaigns for teens and young adults
- Therapy for Black Girls – Therapist directory and content for Black women’s mental health
- Inclusive Therapists – Find culturally responsive, identity-affirming therapist with a focus on social justice-oriented care
Take care of yourself. Truly. You’re worth the effort.
