Three panelists sitting at a table and a moderator at a podium speak to a room full of people
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Thriving Students, Empowered Educators: The Future of School Mental Health

Alumni and friends of the School of Education and Human Development gathered last week in Fairfax, VA for a panel discussion on the future of school mental health.

Laura Hoxworth

Photos by Sarah Cramer Shields

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, the UVA School of Education and Human Development hosted a panel discussion on the future of school mental health. Alumni and friends from across the state gathered at the Country Club of Fairfax in Fairfax, VA, for an engaging conversation on how educators and school-based mental health personnel are addressing the ongoing youth mental health crisis.

The panel featured three experts: Nancy Deutsch, Linda K. Bunker Professor of Education and director of the Youth-Nex research center; Mike Lyons, associate professor and director of the clinical and school psychology program; and Shontell White Zenon, a high school counselor and alumna of EHD's counselor education master's program who recently completed a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at the College of William and Mary. Dean Stephanie Rowley moderated the discussion.

Panelists explored how the youth mental health crisis is manifesting in schools and shared resources, tools, and interventions that educators and school-based mental health personnel are using to support student mental health. Deutsch discussed research supporting the positive effects of mentorship from adults like teachers, counselors, and coaches, while Zenon shared personal experiences emphasizing the importance of building relationships with students. Lyons highlighted EHD initiatives aimed at addressing youth mental health, including the Virginia Partnership for School Mental Health and the National Center for Rural School Mental Health.

For more information on upcoming EHD events, visit the events page.

 

A group of four people standing on a balcony.
From left to right: Nancy Deutsch, Stephanie Rowley, Shontell White Zenon, and Mike Lyons.
Dean Stephanie Rowley speaking at a podium.
Dean Stephanie Rowley welcomes attendees to the event.
Three panelists sit behind a table, one of them speaking into a microphone.
Associate Professor Mike Lyons (left) addresses the crowd alongside fellow panelists Shontell White Zenon (center) and Nancy Deutsch (right). 
Panelists chat with attendees at a table following an event
Panelists chat with attendees following the formal panel discussion.
Dean Stephanie Rowley speaks to attendees at an event
Dean Stephanie Rowley (left) discusses opportunities to support school mental health with Gina Elkin ’23 (right), a teacher in D.C. public schools, and her twin sister Leah (center).
Two individuals posing for a photo at an event
Mother-daughter duo Beth Flecker ’88, ’91, ’97 (right) and Malia (left), an aspiring EHD student who plans to become a teacher, attended the event together.
A group of people having a conversation at an event.
Nina Randolph ’70 (left) and her husband Bob Randolph (right) mingle with other friends of EHD at the beginning of the event.
A group of people having a conversation at an event.
Rouget Herschel (center), parent of a current UVA student, chats with Mary Rogers Kirby ’05 (left), a licensed counselor specializing in youth mental health.
Two individuals sitting at a table with wine and food.
Linda Sheriff ’16, ‘24 (left) connects with Katie Min (right), an EHD doctoral student, UVA parent, and member of the UVA Community Health Foundation Board of Trustees.

 

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Laura Hoxworth

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