A Message from the Chief Executive
Now I would like to share a little bit about the implications of the research I have conducted as a doctoral student at the University of Indianapolis. I have a long background in education extending over 25 years and have done many things within that sector.
The challenge that you consistently find in education and mental health is: where do we find the talent that can help continue to elevate the field forward? When we find that talent, how do we really grow and develop them in a way that they will stay in the profession?
"Where do we find the talent that can help continue to elevate the field forward? When we find that talent, how do we really grow and develop them in a way that they will stay in the profession?"
What the Research Found
My doctoral dissertation focused on a small aspect of that question — specifically the perspective of college students, particularly African-American college students, and their perception of mental and behavioral health.
Across 10 states, with students who had never talked to each other or shared any idea about their perceptions, these students all had lived experiences that directly related to mental and behavioral health in a way that could line them up for a successful career in the profession. However, none of the students perceived this fact because there was not an educational environment that had brought this to their attention in a simple way.
By simply getting these students to think about and reflect on their lived experience, and then presenting them with a definition of mental health concerns and behavioral health, their perspective shifted immediately. The challenge is that this shift was occurring as most of them were literally about to leave the educational environment in which they had spent so much time.
What if we were able to implement this strategy much, much earlier in the educational lives of students so that shift in perspective could take place really early — even all the way down to elementary schools? Because we all have experiences that directly connect to mental and behavioral health, and the need for people who are passionate about that area within our discipline is tremendous, and that is backed up by the data.
This is just one of the research-based foundations for The THE University of Hamilton Center, Inc. Incorporated.
Real-World Proof
At the same time as the dissertation, the Chief Executive tested this idea in a real-world context by forming an organization to do exactly that.
2,000+
Students across many states and countries
50+
University partnerships documented across the US
< 2 yrs
To demonstrate the idea in a real-world context
Over the span of less than two years, we have been able to demonstrate, through the participation of over 2,000 students across many different states and countries, that this idea is a real thing. To such an extent that we have documented partnerships with over 50 universities throughout the US and are currently engaged in coursework, practicum experiences, and programming where students are actually earning academic credit for going along this same research-based journey that my doctoral dissertation research has discovered.
This is just one foundation of the university that will continue to connect with many, many other areas and many different types of students, student athletes, and leaders.
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