Task Force on Student Well-Being
The Task Force is charged with developing a robust understanding of the current state of student well-being at Northwestern's Evanston and Chicago campuses, identifying present gaps, and forming recommendations to broadly improve student well-being, as it relates to mental and physical health.
How We Start
Initial work will involve developing a robust understanding of existing programs, policies, activities, and resources that support the mental and physical health of students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, and identifying any unmet needs in University practices and policies. The Task Force may choose to use available data and reports and to engage directly with stakeholders (e.g., Northwestern students, key administrators, etc.) to understand what is working well and where there are opportunities for improvement and action.
Listening to and learning from students – and the faculty and staff who support them – are critical parts of this Task Force’s charge.
The Task Force is asked to prepare a summary of findings of the current state by the end of spring quarter as part of an overall update to project sponsors. The update should include some ideas of opportunities for action, but formal recommendations are not expected at that time.
Next Steps
It is anticipated that the Task Force will reconvene in the fall quarter to develop recommendations. The sponsors seek actionable short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations, including immediately actionable ones, which will enable direct and positive impact on Northwestern students’ well-being across all programs on the Evanston and Chicago campuses. Recommendations should also include a prioritization of identified issues and measures for assessing the success of the actions we take to address them.
About the Task Force
The Task Force has been formed to broadly represent the many stakeholders in student well-being that cut across populations and organizational structures. It will be well-served to extend this expansive engagement across student, faculty, and staff populations; academic and student affairs; and central administration, school, and units when developing an understanding of current state and recommendations.
This Task Force has the opportunity to inform the University’s understanding of and mold a structured approach towards enhanced student well-being, particularly mental and physical health. It's work will bolster Northwestern students’ support network within a caring community and position them to thrive in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Task Force
Jennifer Tackett, Ph.D. | Professor, Psychology
Jennifer Tackett received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minnesota with minors in statistics, personality and behavior genetics. She is a graduate of the Texas Academy of Math and Science and Texas A&M University, and she has held previous faculty appointments at the University of Toronto and the University of Houston. She is a senior editor at Collabra: Clinical Psychology and an associate editor at Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. She is also a former associate editor at the Journal of Personality, Perspectives in Psychological Science, the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, the Journal of Personality Disorders, Assessment, and the Journal of Research in Personality. Her research interests are the externalizing and disinhibitory psychopathology in youth, genetic and hormonal influences on externalizing problems, youth personality and gender and racial/ethnic disparities in externalizing problems.
Comments?
The Steering committee invites input and ideas from all campus constituents on both the Evanston and Chicago campuses. You can share your thoughts confidentially with us at our comment form.
Please be aware that, should you disclose any instances of potential discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, that information will be shared with the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance.
Steering Committee
| Task Force Member | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Task Force Co-Chair: Jennifer Tackett |
Professor |
Psychology |
| Mona Dugo | Senior Associate Dean of Students | Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS) |
| Joe Holtgreive |
Assistant Dean |
Undergraduate Engineering, McCormick |
| Angela Mitchell |
Director |
Health Promotion and Wellness (HPaW) |
| Miriam Sherin | Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education |
Office of the Provost |
| Facilitator: Marianna Kepka |
Associate Vice President |
Organizational Strategy and Change |
| Facilitator: Natali Petkova | Senior Project Coordinator | Organizational Strategy and Change |
Structure & Fall 2019 Timeline
| 2019 Monthly Meetings | Meeting Participants |
|---|---|
| September | Steering Committee |
| October | Full Task Force |
| October | Subcommittee A |
| November | Steering Committee |
| November | Subcommittee A |
| December | Full Task Force |
Subcommittee A
Task
Hold listening sessions to hear student, faculty, and key administrator perspectives to understand current state of support for well-being at Northwestern. Use this information to further inform the initiative.
Subcommittee A Co-Chairs
- Joe Holtgreive - Asst Dean for Undergraduate Engineering, McCormick
- Jennifer Tackett- Professor, Psychology
| Subcommittee A Member | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
|
Lori Baptista |
Associate Dean/Advising Senior Lecturer, Performance Studies |
SOC |
| Eric Chin | Deputy Chief of Police | NUPD |
|
Izzy Dobbel |
Undergraduate Senior and ASG Student Body President |
SESP |
| Dara Gaines | Graduate Student | Political Science |
| Christine Hwang | Undergraduate Junior | SESP |
|
Kate Harrington-Rosen |
Specialist |
Title IX/Equity Outreach & Education |
|
Michelle Hoy-Watkins |
Director of Threat Assessment, Safety, & Security |
NUPD |
| Jamal Julien (Spring 2019 only) |
Undergraduate Senior |
WCAS |
| Vijay Mittal | Associate Professor | Psychology |
|
Amanda Mueller |
Assistant Director |
Residential Life, Student Affairs |
| Fay Rosner | Assistant Professor/Academic Advisor | WCAS |
|
Revika Singh |
Undergraduate Junior and ASG VP of Health and Wellness |
Weinberg |
|
Daviree L. Velázquez Phillip |
Director |
Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) |
Subcommittee B
Task
Compile and synthesize University-specific data and reports to understand programs, policies, and structures currently supporting well-being at Northwestern. Use this information to further inform the initiative.
Subcommittee B Co-Chairs
- Mona Dugo - Senior Associate Dean of Students, SASS
- Angela Mitchell, Director, HPaW
| Subcommittee B Member | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
|
Lauren-Ashley Buchanan |
Associate Director |
Student Life, The Graduate School |
|
Eric Budzynski |
Associate for Religious Life & Chapel Music |
Religious and Spiritual Life |
| Cindy Conlon | Adjunct Lecturer | Undergraduate Program, SESP |
|
Amy Huntington |
Associate Director |
Student Affairs Assessment and Planning |
| Candy Lee | Professor | Clinical Journalism, Medill |
|
Fabiola Montiel |
Director of Clinical Services |
Chicago CAPS |
| Kim Seipel Carrow | Medical Director | NUHS, Student Affairs |
|
Jonathan Yates |
Director of Media Relations |
Global Marketing & Communications |