Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø hires new director to support student well-being

Farrah Roberts will join Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø as the college¡¯s first director of student well-being and resiliency.

Research shows that mentally healthy and resilient students have better grades, a higher graduation rate and a better all-around college experience.

¡°With student success and a positive experience being foundational elements for colleges, it's important to provide programs and services that support those desired outcomes and with this position, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is committing to that,¡± said Dr. Wes Brooks, vice president and dean of student life. ¡°I¡¯m excited to have Farrah¡¯s experience, ability and passion for the work joining our campus community.¡±

Roberts shared that her goals center around the awareness, understanding and promotion of well-being as it relates to student life at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø. 

¡°I want to help students become more emotionally resilient and able to successfully navigate the challenges and pressures of college,¡± she said.

Roberts will focus on developing, planning, implementing and evaluating programs to address student well-being, including but not limited to resiliency, substance abuse and suicide prevention.

Roberts joins Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø from Davenport Community School District, where she served as director for the Project AWARE Mental Health program. In that role, she coordinated district-wide initiatives to build mental health awareness, end stigma, and remove barriers for students to use support services.

This position fits the mission of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø: Educating, modeling and celebrating student well-being significantly aids in student growth in mind, body and spirit. By adding a full-time position to address matters of well-being and resiliency, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø demonstrates its commitment to student success.

¡°When I saw this position, it told me that Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is a forward-thinking institution that truly cares about its students and I was excited about being part of something really cutting-edge,¡± said Roberts.

Roberts graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Iowa State University, and holds an M.A. in human relations and organizational development from the University of Oklahoma.