On-Demand Replay Now Available

UNCF HBCU Mental Health Conference

Day 1

Welcome & Sponsor Address

Replay

The Fierce Urgency of Now: The Mental Health and Well-Being of HBCU Students

Replay

Building Inclusive Communities: Gender and Sexuality Within the Black Community

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Day 2

Trailblazers: Thriving As A First-Generation and/or Financially Stressed HBCU Student

Replay

Promoting Healing: Processing Trauma, Grief, and Loss

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Calling All Leaders: Taking the Mantle of Mental Health Leadership and Activism

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Speakers

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RECENT NEWS:

  • January 26 - 27, 2022
  • 4PM - 6:30PM EST

WELCOME, PARTICIPANTS!
HBCU Student Mental health conference

This interactive program features a combination of knowledge sharing; and straight talk on critical issues impacting HBCU students and the communities to which they are connected.

We believe that being unapologetically whole is not the absence of mental health concerns, or of struggle. Being whole necessitates embracing each part of their identities and experiences while reflecting on what growth and healing entails and how they can traverse barriers. Living one’s best mental health life incorporates prioritizing mental health while seeking the resources needed and deserved to achieve academic and career goals.

This program will provide holistic and non-traditional strategies for healing, thriving, and empowerment designed for today’s times and highlight the institutional support required to successfully navigate the future.

Registration is now closed as of Tuesday, January 25, 5PM PST.

Speakers

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Moderators

Batsirai Bvunzawabaya

Mental Health Expert, Steve Fund Consultant, & HBCU Alum

Dr. Batsirai Bvunzawabaya is a Counseling Psychologist with a small private practice in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She is currently working with the Steve Fund as a consultant. She is also serving as the Director of Integrated Care Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania’s Student Health and Counseling. Dr. Bvunzawabaya is originally from Zimbabwe, and she is a proud graduate of Alabama A&M University where she was a member of the women’s tennis team. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University. Dr. Bvunzawabaya’s clinical interests include exploring issues related to minority mental health, body image concerns, sexual trauma, racial and ethnic identity development, and suicide prevention. She is strongly committed to promoting and exploring how issues of equity and inclusion are incorporated in all aspects of her practice. Dr. Bvunzawabaya has presented at numerous national conferences. She currently holds leadership positions with the American Psychological Association Society for Counseling Psychologists and with the Association for University College Counseling Center Outreach.

Jessmine Cornelius

UNCF Program Coordinator and HBCU Student

A champion for HBCUs, Jessmine M. Cornelius currently lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia where she is a program coordinator in the United Negro College Fund’s Institute for Capacity Building. Prior to, she served as the senior registrar specialist and CHOICE project coordinator at Morris Brown College, a private historically black college and university. Through her efforts combined with the rest of the MBC team, Morris Brown College received accreditation candidacy through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), 18 years after losing their accreditation. Additionally, Jessmine was a Student Intern in the Division of Enrollment Management, for two years, primarily assisting the Office of the Registrar and Photographer and Social Media Contributor for the Office of Marketing and Communications at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University. These experiences combined helped her realize that her passion lies in assisting students with their matriculation through academics, engagement, development and leadership. With academics and public service at the forefront of it all, Jessmine is a member of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. The sorority’s commitment to scholarship, education, sisterhood, and economic development resonated with Jessmine’s goals to advance her community. Jessmine completed her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Blinn College – Brenham in May of 2021 and is a proud Alumna of Prairie View A&M University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in African-American studies in August of 2020. She is currently a Master of Arts in History Candidate at Jackson State University.

sponsor

Hope Scott

Blue Shield of California Senior Vice President

Hope H. Scott is Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Blue Shield of California (Blue Shield), a tax-paying nonprofit health plan with over $20B in annual revenue, serving more than 4M members in the state’s commercial, individual, and government markets. Scott also chairs the company’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Council. She is an accomplished and highly regarded attorney with extensive experience providing legal counsel, compliance, and risk management leadership for healthcare corporations with global exposure. Scott is a collaborative and creative business partner with legal skills and business acumen to contribute to organizational growth and the achievement of strategic objectives. This has brought her national acclaim in privacy, risk, and compliance with a proven record of designing, implementing and maintaining highly effective and award-winning enterprise risk management, privacy, and corporate compliance programs. Scott is also a volunteer with the Alameda County Community Food Bank. She was named one of the Most Influential Women in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine in 2019, and one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times in 2018. Scott was graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and earned her Juris Doctor at Boston University School of Law, where she was honored as a Massachusetts Black Judges Conference Book Award Recipient and served as Secretary of the National Black Law Students Association. She is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania is California Registered In-House Counsel and is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional/US.

Day 1

PRESENTATION

The Fierce Urgency of Now: The Mental Health and Well-Being of HBCU Students

WITH

Sherry Molock

Mental Health Expert, Steve Fund Senior Advisor, & HBCU Alum

Sherry Davis Molock, Ph.D., M.Div., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Dr. Molock graduated with honors from Dartmouth College in 1979, earned a master’s degree (1981) and a doctoral degree in Clinical/Community Psychology (1985) from the University of Maryland, College Park. In May 2000 she graduated with honors with a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University. Dr. Molock teaches undergraduate and doctoral courses in the field of clinical psychology and conducts research on the prevention of suicide and HIV in African American adolescents and young adults. Dr. Molock’s work has appeared in a number of professional journals, has served on several local and national boards, and currently serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Community Psychology. She also serves as a grant reviewer for NIMH, NIDA, CDC, and SAMHSA. She recently served as a member of the Scientific Work Group that served as advisors for the Congressional Black Caucus’ Emergency Task Force on Suicide Prevention for Black Youth. In addition to her work in psychology, Dr. Molock and her husband, Guy Molock, Jr., are the founding pastors of the Beloved Community Church – United Church in Christ in Accokeek, Maryland. Their ministry focuses on “family healing” that is designed to bring spiritual, physical, and emotional healing to the community. She is the proud mother of the Molock Jewels: Amber, Jelani & Diarra and the proud “Mimi” of Makayla and Oliyah.

Workshop

Building Inclusive Communities: Gender and Sexuality Within the Black Community

WITH

Carlton Green

Mental Health Expert, &
Steve Fund Advisor

ALSO WITH

Jauan Durbin

HBCU Alum

Dr. Carlton E. Green
Dr. Carlton E. Green is an educator, consultant, and licensed mental health professional with almost 30 years of experience in various higher education settings. More specifically, he has worked in student activities, multicultural services, residence life, academic affairs, athletics, and counseling services in both public and private institutions. Dr. Green earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and received masters-level training in Mental Health Counseling and Pastoral Ministry, from Boston College. Currently, Dr. Green maintains an independent practice in the Washington, DC area, where he offers therapeutic services to individuals and couples. Using a relational-cultural approach to healing and well-being in private practice Dr. Green has had the honor of serving a diverse clientele with a preponderance of his clients identifying as Black and/or queer. Additionally, Dr. Green has continued to provide supervision services to graduate trainees and early career professionals invested in honing culturally-responsive counseling skills and attitudes. As a speaker and trainer, he has developed and presented workshops on diversity and inclusion, including how to address race-related stress and racial trauma at many universities and colleges in the DMV (Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia) area and nationally. He has also served as a national advisor to The Steve Fund, which is the nation’s only mental health organization focused on the wellbeing of students of Color. Leveraging his background as a counseling psychologist and educator, Dr. Green has offered coaching and consultation services to educational and mental health organizations experiencing organizational challenges and interpersonal ruptures. Prior to focusing solely on independent practice, Dr. Green served as the Director of Diversity Training & Education in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). Previously, he served as a Staff Psychologist at the University of Maryland (UMD) Counseling Center. In the DMV area, Dr. Green is a member of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church. There, he serves as the president of the AGAPE Mental Health and Coaching ministry. Dr. Green is also an active member in the American Psychological Association. His contributions to the field earned him a Rising Star Award at the 2019 National Multicultural Conference & Summit. In 2019, the Maryland Psychological Association recognized Dr. Green with the Grady Dale Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Diversity in Psychology. Dr. Green was awarded the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association in August 2020.

Jauan Durbin
Jauan Taylor Durbin is a proud alumnus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Morehouse, Jauan served multiple terms on the student government association as the Secretary of Diversity and Inclusion and reigned consecutively as Mr. Sophomore 17-18, Mr. Spelman College 18-19, and Mr. Historically Black Colleges and Universities 19-20. As a proud openly queer individual, Jauan has used his platform as a community organizer and youth activist to advocate for and amplify the youth’s voices and marginalized individuals and communities around the country. In hopes of being a radiating light in this world, Jauan has allowed his activism and advocacy to lead the way throughout his professional career. This has made way for him to be recognized as a Forbes Under 30 Scholar in addition to national highlights from Vice News, Revolt TV, and Ebony Magazine and a national surrogate for the Biden-Harris campaign, to name a few.

Day 2

PRESENTATION

Trailblazers: Thriving As A First-Generation and/or Financially Stressed HBCU Student

WITH

Dr. Raé N. Lundy

Mental Health Expert, HBCU Alum, & HBCU Administrator

ALSO WITH

LaMar Scott

HBCU Alum & HBCU Administrator

Dr. Raé N. Lundy
Dr. Raé N. Lundy is a licensed clinical psychologist, mental health activist, TEDx Speaker, and the Associate Vice President for Student Health, Counseling, and Wellness at Wiley College. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Lundy earned a B.S. in psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Notre Dame. There she studied the influence of racial discrimination and trauma on one’s mental health. Recognized for providing culturally competent and inclusive psychological support, Dr. Lundy is particularly skilled in serving the needs of Black and underserved students through clinical counseling, training, advocacy, coalition building, educational instruction, and research. In her role as Associate Vice President she lives out her mission to improve psychological health and wellbeing within communities of color by engaging in honest conversations about self-care, fostering healing dialogue, and reducing mental health stigma. As Wiley’s primary health administrator, Dr. Lundy feels that the conversation on self-care is an important one. “As we navigate between two global pandemics, of COVID-19 and of racial injustice, we must create new habits to improve our overall mental health and wellbeing, to help us not just survive, but to thrive.” She serves on several boards most notably StandUp SpeakOut, a national nonprofit created to support survivors of trauma. See her in action: View Dr. Lundy’s Tedx Talk focused on self-care and mental wellness.

LaMar Scott
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana most of his life. LaMar went to high school in Gluckstadt, Mississippi. Mr. Scott attended Alcorn State University where he ran track. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies with an emphasis in English in May of 2018. In December of 2019, he earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University.  

WORKSHOP

Promoting Healing: Processing Trauma, Grief, and Loss

WITH

Jioni Lewis

Mental Health Expert

ALSO WITH

Helen Neville

Mental Health Expert

Dr. Jioni Lewis
Dr. Jioni Lewis is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to joining the faculty at Maryland, she was an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee where she served as the co-founding director of the Critical Race Collective. Dr. Lewis earned her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed her predoctoral psychology internship at the University of Maryland Counseling Center. Dr. Lewis’s program of research examines the influence of discrimination on the mental and physical health of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Her research explores two interrelated areas: (1) the intersection of racism and sexism experienced by women of color, and (2) the influence of subtle forms of racism experienced by BIPOC college students. Her primary area of research applies intersectionality theory to investigate the influence of racism and sexism on Black women. Within this line of research, Dr. Lewis developed the Gendered Racial Microaggressions Scale (Lewis & Neville, 2015), which is a self-report instrument to measure subtle gendered racism. In addition, she investigates the influence of gendered racism on mental health (depression, anxiety, traumatic stress) and physical health (self-reported physical health, salivary cortisol) among Black women. She also examines resistance, healing, and protective factors that buffer individuals against the negative effects of gendered racism, such as collective coping strategies, gendered racial identity, and radical healing. Dr. Lewis’s secondary line of research utilizes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods to investigate the influence of racism and microaggressions on the mental health and well-being of BIPOC college students. Dr. Lewis has received several national awards for her research and scholarship, including the 2019 Emerging Professional Contributions to Research Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race (APA Division 45), the 2020 Best in Science Address from the Society of Counseling Psychology (APA Division 17), and the 2020 Emerging Leader for Women in Psychology Award from the Committee on Women in Psychology. She is also the current President of the Society for the Psychology of Women (APA Division 35), Section I (Psychology of Black Women). Dr. Lewis also serves as a consulting editor for the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Psychology of Women Quarterly, and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Dr. Lewis’s research, teaching, and advocacy have been grounded in her passion and commitment to social justice and equity. As a counseling psychologist, she is committed to engaging in social justice research that seeks to dismantle systems of oppression and improve the health and well-being of marginalized individuals and communities.

Helen A. Neville
Helen A. Neville is a professor of Educational Psychology and African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before coming to Illinois in 2001, she was on the faculty in Psychology, Educational and Counseling Psychology, and Black Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she co-founded and co-directed the Center for Multicultural Research, Training, and Consultation. Dr. Neville has held leadership positions on campus and nationally. She was a Provost Fellow and participated in the CIC/Big 10 Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Academy. Currently she is the president-elect of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, which is a division of the American Psychological Association (APA). She has co-edited 5 books and (co)-authored nearly 90 journal articles and book chapters in the areas of race, racism, and racial identity, and diversity issues related to well-being. Dr. Neville has been recognized for her research and mentoring efforts including receiving the Association of Black Psychologists’ Distinguished Psychologist of the Year award, the APA Minority Fellowship Award, Dalmas Taylor Award for Outstanding Research Contribution, APA Graduate Students Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award, the APA Division 45 Charles and Shirley Thomas Award for mentoring/contributions to African American students/community, and the Winter Roundtable Janet E. Helms Mentoring Award. Her current research interests center on two interrelated areas of racial ideology: Black racial ideology: Black racial identity and color-blind racial ideology. Her work has appeared in a wide range of journals including, The Journal of Counseling Psychology, Journal of Black Studies, Journal of Black Psychology, and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. She served as the Associate Editor of The Counseling Psychologist and the Journal of Black Psychology and she currently serves on the board of a number of scholarly journals. She is the lead editor of the Handbook of African American Psychology .

Panel

Calling All Leaders: Taking the Mantle of Mental Health Leadership and Activism

WITH

Michael Gerard Mason

Mental Health Expert,
Steve Fund Advisor,
& HBCU Alum

WITH

Tevon Blair

HBCU Alum & UNCF Communications Manager

WITH

Javonni Ayers

HBCU Student

Dr. Michael Gerard Mason
Dr. Mason serves as an Associate Dean and the Director of the Luther Porter Jackson Black Cultural Center (LPJBCC). In his role, he advocates for culturally relevant pedagogy and teaching, Black student leadership development, and improvements in wellness and mental health outcomes in Black students. He has spent most of the last two decades working in student affairs, crisis management, and education as a psychotherapist, an Associate Dean, and faculty in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia.

Tevon Blair
Tevon Blair is a strategic, dedicated, and outcomes-driven communication professional with a demonstrated success in developing key concepts, which increase the engagement and brand of an organization. He uses his background in communications and interest in politics to raise awareness on popular topics: education reform, politics, and a pipeline to college to career. He is a native of Chicago, IL. Tevon is a graduate of Dillard University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication concentrated in Public Relations and holds a Master of Arts degree in Media and Strategic Communications from The George Washington University located in Washington, D.C. at the School of Media and Public Affairs. Tevon is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. During the 2018 midterm elections, Tevon worked on the campaign team for Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial race in Georgia and has dedicated his work to be a voice in political communications. He has previously worked at various public relations firms utilizing his expertise in branding, social media management, and communications. Currently, Tevon is a communication manager at the United Negro College Fund.

Javonni Ayers
One word sums up the secret to Javonni Ayers’ leadership success; SERVICE. As a child, the South Carolina State University Political Science major learned the importance of serving her community. Lessons from her parents and examples set by her older siblings taught her that the best way to empower herself was through taking advantage of educational opportunities and volunteering to help those less fortunate. On that premise, she has continuously served her university, and its surrounding communities by taking part in a surfeit of public service activities, programs and events. One of her most memorable community service activities was volunteering at the WM. Jennings Dorn Veteran Affairs Hospital in Columbia where she served as a caregiver to sick and disabled veterans. As the first two-term female Student Government Association President at SC State, Ayers is a Dr. Emily England Clyburn Scholar of the University’s Honors College. Some of her many accomplishments also include, White House Initiative on HBCU’s scholar, NAACP Legal Defense Fund HBCU ambassador and Goldman Sachs HBCU scholar. Her accomplishments as a student-leader and scholar have allowed her to play integral leadership roles in a myriad of university and community organizations that support causes she is most passionate about. Those include her desire to become an attorney and champion for marginalized populations through community development projects and initiatives. Ms. Ayers has garnered numerous national and statewide awards and recognitions, and was most notably featured during the 2018 Summer TedTalk Conference in Washington D.C. She also had the opportunity to work as an intern for US House Majority Whip, the Honorable James E. Clyburn. After graduation from SC State, Ayers will continue her education by pursuing double degrees in Public Policy and Law.

Optional Community Space and Leadership Activation Session:

At the end of Day 2, from 6:30pm – 7:15 pm ET, we will hold an optional Community Space and Leadership Activation session. For students and members of the HBCU community who support their well-being, this is an opportunity to go into breakout groups to discuss current campus mental health needs, opportunities for collaboration across institutions, collective action, and the support required to create change. We hope this space will build community and support for mental health advocacy. Thank you for engaging in this critical work. 

Resources

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Liberate

Headspace-Meditation App

Calm-Meditation App

Moodfit

MoodMission

Shine (meditation app)

Mira PTSD app

Talkspace

Betterhelp

Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation

Social Media Toolkit: hashtags, infographics on mental health challenges for Black students

Text STEVE to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7

Get Out Of Your Mind and Into Your Life Workbook

CBT Made Simple Workbook

Live Mindfulness Seminars & Resources

Mental Health Resource Center (JED)

Holistic Toolkit for Coping with Racial Trauma

BEAM

Therapy for Black Girls 

Melanin & Mental Health

Find Inclusive Therapists, Counselors, Mental Health Care Near You | Culturally Responsive, LGBTQ Affirming Support

TherapyDen: Find Local Therapists, Psychologists and Counselors

Hurdle.com

Ayanatherapy.com 

Latinxtherapy.com

TherapyforBlackMen.org

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network

Black Girls Smile

No More Martyrs

Silence the Shame

Your mental health
is a priority

Registration is now closed as of Tuesday, January 25 at 5PM PST.

Living your best mental health life
UNCF and The Steve Fund Student Conference

  • January 26 - 27, 2022
  • 4 PM - 6:30 PM EST

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Living your best mental health life
UNCF and The Steve Fund Student Conference

  • January 26 - 27, 2022
  • 4 PM - 6:30 PM EST

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20% of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

About The Steve Fund

The Steve Fund is the nation’s leading organization focused on promoting mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. The Steve Fund partners with colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, mental health experts, employers, and young people of color and their families to deliver knowledge and skill building programs, services, technical assistance, and tools for young people of color and those who support and educate them. 

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Our Mission: Promoting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color

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