In this episode, we will be hosting a discussion panel about navigating the return and/or start to college - as campuses and classrooms open up this fall from the perspective of a seasoned parent (Julie Wiesen), a student who navigated the pandemic and is returning as a junior (Katy Berny), and an esteemed university leader (Dr. Julie Leos).


Back in Class

This episode's topic includes awareness and practices for students to Be Safe and Be Smart on and around campus, as well as tips and tricks for parents to help remind their students to be mindful of safe practices -&nbsp;in order to create that positive college experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Special Guests:
1) Sgt. Daniel Benitez – is the Texas State University Police Dept’s Administrative Sergeant, and holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. He has served his alma mater on the Department team for 24 years and prior to that he served as a sheriff’s deputy. Sgt. Benitez heads up the community engagement office, providing activities, training and events - that familiarize students with their campus police and also help them enjoy a safer experience at the university.&nbsp;
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2) Chief of Police James B. Dixon – took the helm as Chief of Police at the Texas State University Police Department on June 21 of this year, bringing 10 years of military experience and more than 26 years of law enforcement and community service experience. Dixon will continue to grow and enhance some of the initiatives that are important to students including the mental health liaison officer, the highly-successful student police academy, the new ride-along program, and enhanced officer training - with a new emphasis on Racial Intelligence training.


Campus Safety

In this episode, we are going to explore the topic of, “Community Building on Campus: Engaging Students in a Meaningful Way” including an expert with an esteemed career in Educational Leadership.&nbsp;
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Today’s topic includes student engagement and support while residing on campus. 
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Special Guest:
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Dr. Chris Heasley – is an assistant professor of educational leadership in the School of Health Studies and Education at Saint Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia. Dr. Heasley has served as a university administrator at both public and private institutions of higher education. In his current position, his research focuses on the interconnectedness between educational environments and student outcomes in areas related to psychosocial development and socially constructed identities. He teaches courses on advanced quantitative research in education; educational leaders as researcher and reflective practitioner; and educational environments and community relations.


Community Building on Campus

In this episode we are going to explore the topic of, “Mental Health on College Campuses” with experts from university mental health-services and psychiatry and a parent who has navigated the issue with her students.

Guests include:
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1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Marla Craig, is the Senior Associate Director for Clinical Services of the Counseling and Mental Health Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and has been the clinical director for almost 15 years. She is a licensed psychologist and earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Texas A&amp;M University. She has worked in counseling centers (large and small) for over 19 years.&nbsp;She previously served as President of the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services (also known as Clinical Director’s Association), which is a great association to share ideas, learn, and collaborate with other university clinical directors, counseling center personnel, administrators, and other university organizations/departments.
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2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Sonia Krishna, is a board-certified physician specializing in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry, and Integrative Holistic Medicine. She completed both her Psychiatry residency and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Travis County Medical Society named her the 2017 Ruth M. Bain Young Physician of the Year. She has also earned the highest honors in her field’s professional organizations – Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Krishna started her private practice in 2019 to provide excellent, patient centered, and collaborative care to children, adults, and families.
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3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anne Vilen, is an author whose work focuses on education and social and emotional learning. She is also the parent of two recent college graduates who continue to navigate the tricky terrain of mental wellness while adulting.


American Campus