NCAN invites all postsecondary attainment professionals to register for our 2022 Spring Institute: “Building Communities of Care for Students and Practitioners.” The virtual, two-part series will take place on April 27 (2 p.m. ET) and May 4 (2 p.m. ET).

This event will encourage attendees to think deeply about the emotional and mental well-being of their students and consider their own well-being. The global pandemic has challenged the postsecondary education pipeline to invest in holistic and radically human approaches to addressing the mental wellness and basic needs of students and families. NCAN is committed to helping our network build the capacity to meet this challenge.

Our partner for this event is The Steve Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color.

Spring Institute is ideal for professionals of all types working in or in partnership with the postsecondary attainment field. This includes those in the nonprofit sector, high school and district settings, the higher ed space, or any other line of direct service that provides students with opportunities and pathways toward a postsecondary plan.

Spring Institute is free for NCAN members and $99 per event for non-members. Registrants must register for each event separately.

The Role of the Impostor Phenomenon: Addressing Ethnic Minority Students’ Achievement and Mental Health

Presenter: Dr. Kevin Cokley, Professor and Department Chair at UT Austin

Wednesday, April 27  |  2-3 PM ET

Many of us may be familiar with the issues faced by numerous first-generation college students and students of color that contribute to a lack a sense of belonging in college. Perhaps less well-known is what Dr. Kevin Cokley, of the University of Texas-Austin, calls the imposter phenomenon. Dr. Cokley has dug deep into imposter phenomenon and its relationship to the mental health and academic outcomes of ethnic minority students.

In this session, Dr. Cokely will talk about ways the college attainment field can respond to imposter phenomenon to create better outcomes for students.

Dr. Kevin Cokley is a professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and Educational Psychology at the UT-Austin. Dr. Cokley’s research has largely and broadly focused on the psychosocial experiences of African American students and other BIPOC students’ ethnic identity development, academic motivation, and academic achievement.

REGISTER HERE

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations and refund requests must be received by Friday, April 15, 2022. Registrants may also transfer the registration at no additional fee. Email cancellation and transfer requests to Tong at leet@ncan.org.

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

Presenter: Cirleen DeBlaere, PhD. Associate Professor and Program Coordinator at Georgia State University

Wednesday, May 4  |  2-3:30 PM ET

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. Cirleen DeBlaere of Georgia State University, 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.

Cirleen DeBlaere, PhD, is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Counseling Psychology doctoral program in the Counseling and Psychological Services Department at Georgia State University and a Steve Fund mental health specialist. Dr. DeBlaere’s research and professional interests focus on examining the experiences of individuals with marginalized identities, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of individuals with intersecting marginalized identities (e.g., women of color, sexual minority people of color). She also investigates constructs that may promote health and wellness in the context of minority stress and therapy.

REGISTER HERE

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations and refund requests must be received by Friday, April 22, 2022. Registrants may also transfer the registration at no additional fee. Email cancellation and transfer requests to Tong at leet@ncan.org.

Learn More:

• 5 Resources to Build Your Mental Wellness Toolkit