Stevens Hosts Second Annual New Jersey Higher Education Mental Health Summit

Earlier this month, Stevens Institute of Technology hosted the second annual New Jersey Higher Education Mental Health Summit, bringing together around 500 participants who represented 54 colleges and universities statewide. Mental health professionals and thought leaders from across the country also joined, creating an inter-institutional platform to discuss the mental health challenges facing today’s college students. The summit served not only to identify these challenges but also to spark collaboration and actionable work to support student well-being across campuses nationwide.

The day kicked off with a welcome from Stevens Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Summit Co-Chair Dr. Takeem Dean, who set the stage for a day of insightful discussions. New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges also addressed the audience during the opening remarks and emphasized how tackling the mental health crisis is a combination of grassroots efforts and robust state-level support. New Jersey Sen. Joseph Cryan and Assemblywoman Linda Carter M.S. ’00, both strong advocates for higher education in the state, were also in attendance.

Dr. Nance Roy, chief clinical officer of the Jed Foundation, delivered the keynote address, sharing two guiding principles for improving mental health on college campuses: First, leadership must prioritize mental health as a core component of campus culture. Second, fostering a public health approach means that “every person on campus has a role to play” in promoting a supportive environment, explaining that faculty, staff and students alike can contribute their time, ideas and strengths to this work.

Stevens President Nariman Farvardin also shared the university’s ongoing commitment to mental health, stressing that building a culture of care on campus is an essential long-term investment for our community.

“We are deeply committed to improving resources and building an infrastructure of support for our students, and we have made student mental health and wellness a cornerstone of our campus culture,” he said. “We’ve expanded our Counseling and Psychological Services, launched innovative peer support programs and created dedicated wellness spaces across campus. Our Division of Student Affairs has implemented a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, early intervention and crisis response.”

Throughout the day, participants enriched their understanding of mental health issues in higher education by attending a range of focused sessions, from “The TikTok-ization of Mental Health: Leveraging Social Media for Student Support,” which explored the benefits and challenges of students increasingly turning to social platforms like TikTok for mental health advice, to “Holistic Design: Sustainability and Mental Health as Partners in Space Creation,” which examined how green spaces and environmentally friendly campus designs contribute to student well-being.

“Two-thirds of college students consider sustainability when choosing a college,” noted Stevens Sustainability and Transportation Coordinator Olivia Connor-Bennett, who presented during the Holistic Design presentation. “This highlights the important link between the physical environment and mental health, and that students are aware of it.”

The event included a resource fair in Stevens’ University Center Complex, featuring 20 booths from mental health organizations such as UWill, the Summit’s principal sponsor; the Jed Foundation; the Mental Health Association of New Jersey and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Each organization offered valuable tools, resources and innovative ideas to help colleges improve their mental health services.

Dr. Jasmine A. Lee, founder of J. Lee Consulting Group, closed the day sharing her vision for a culture of “radical love and belonging,” grounded in equity, access and shared opportunity. “A culture of belonging is built on daily intentions, equitable policies and interpersonal interactions,” she said, urging participants to take these principles back to their campuses and transform their environments into places where every student feels not only welcomed, but deeply valued.