Prioritizing the Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being of Students of Color in Policies, Practices, and Programming

The college attainment field exists to address racial inequalities in the transition from high school to college. The success of that transition goes beyond academic preparation and financial support.

In this session, Dr. David Rivera, of Queens College, will share the knowledge, resources, and strategies needed to identify and promote the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color.

Attendees will be challenged to elevate student mental health across their organization's policies, practices, and programming. But they won’t have to do it alone. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with a community of college attainment professionals who are committed to equity in mental health.

Dr. David P. Rivera is an associate professor of counselor education at Queens College-City University of New York (CUNY) and founding director of CUNY’s LGBTQI+ Student Leadership Program. His research focuses on cultural competency development and issues impacting the marginalization and wellbeing of people of color and oppressed sexual orientation and gender identity groups, with a focus on microaggressions.