Reflections from a Keynote and Campus Workshops at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College
During Black History Month, campuses across the country create space to reflect on history, identity, and the ongoing work of building equitable and supportive communities. On February 26, 2026, I had the honor of delivering a keynote address at SUNY Oneonta focused on an issue that sits at the heart of student success: mental health, belonging, and community.
The event was coordinated in collaboration with Dr. Van Havercome of the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence (CRJIE) and Allsun Ozyesil, LMHC, Director of the SUNY Oneonta Counseling Center, both of whom are deeply committed to strengthening mental health support for students. The evening created space for meaningful dialogue about how universities can support student wellness not only clinically, but culturally and communally as well.
Centering Student Mental Health During Black History Month
The keynote explored the ways mental health challenges are experienced by many college students today, particularly the pressures connected to belonging, identity, academic expectations, and social adjustment.
Research continues to show that anxiety, depression, and adjustment stress are common experiences for students navigating higher education environments. In this context, conversations about mental health cannot exist separately from conversations about community, identity, and psychological safety.
The keynote focused on three pillars that support emotional wellness for students.
Self-Expression
Students need space to express who they are without feeling they must shrink themselves to fit into their environment. Authentic self-expression allows individuals to process experiences, build identity, and develop confidence in academic and social spaces.
Self-Regulation
Emotional regulation is a critical skill for navigating stress. We explored practical strategies such as grounding techniques, wellness activities, and mood regulation practices that help students manage anxiety, academic pressure, and emotional overwhelm.
Connection and Joy Through Community
Mental health is not only about coping with stress, it is also about cultivating joy, connection, and collective support. Students thrive when they feel part of a community where they are seen, valued, and supported.
Together, these pillars provide a framework for moving from survival toward growth, an essential shift for student well-being.
Supporting Student Leaders
In addition to the keynote, I facilitated workshops with SUNY Oneonta’s mental health peer mentors and residential assistants. These sessions focused on navigating and responding to racial microaggressions, an issue student leaders increasingly encounter as they support their peers across campus.
The discussions centered on helping students recognize subtle forms of bias, respond in ways that protect their own well-being, and support peers who may be experiencing harm. Student leaders often serve as the first line of support for their communities, and equipping them with the language and tools to navigate these conversations is an important part of building healthier campus environments.
Learning From the Counseling Center
One of the most meaningful aspects of the visit was the opportunity to meet with the SUNY Oneonta Counseling Center team. Conversations with counseling staff provided insight into the evolving needs of the student population and the thoughtful ways the center is working to respond.
Listening to clinicians and administrators discuss the realities students face, from adjustment stress to identity development and academic pressures, reinforced the importance of collaboration between mental health professionals, faculty, and campus leadership.
Collaboration Across Campuses
The visit also included time at Hartwick College, located just across town from SUNY Oneonta. My husband and partner, Dr. Brian Saltsman, facilitated a workshop with student-athletes focused on balancing academic demands, health, and emotional wellness.
Brian also had the opportunity to reconnect with Hartwick College President James H. Mullen, Jr., whom he had previously worked with during their time at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. Moments like these serve as reminders of how interconnected the higher education community can be.
At Hartwick, I also had the opportunity to present to an Intro to Social Work course taught by Samantha Lara. From the moment I entered the classroom, it was clear that she had created a thoughtful and supportive learning environment for her students. Our conversation focused on the realities of working in mental health and social work, the importance of maintaining personal wellness in helping professions, and the value of remaining connected to community while doing this work.
It was meaningful to engage with the students and hear their perspectives. I could see that for some, the conversation offered reassurance and connection during what can be a demanding and emotionally complex time in their studies.
Ending the Week With Community
The visit concluded with SUNY Oneonta’s Black Ball, an evening celebration where students and staff gathered wearing black in solidarity for Black History Month.
The event blended reflection with celebration, creating space for community connection, and even a dance floor moment or two. Joy, after all, is an essential component of wellness.
Looking Forward
Over the course of several days on campus, I was able to witness firsthand the dedication of faculty, counselors, student leaders, and administrators who are working to support student mental health.
Higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing that student success depends not only on academic resources, but also on emotional well-being, belonging, and supportive community structures.
The conversations at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College reaffirm an important truth:
When students feel seen, supported, and connected, they are better able to grow, lead, and thrive.
And those are the kinds of environments worth building.
As universities continue to address the growing mental health needs of students, partnerships between campuses, clinicians, educators, and community leaders remain essential. Creating spaces where students can express themselves, regulate stress, and build meaningful connections is not simply supportive, and it is foundational to their success.
About the Author
Professor Amira Martin-Saltsman, LCSW-R is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and Founder of MA Therapy, LLC, a mental health organization dedicated to culturally responsive clinical care, mental health education, and wellness programming. She teaches at Columbia University School of Social Work and provides workshops, keynote presentations, and clinical services focused on student mental health, community wellness, and inclusive excellence.
Through initiatives such as Amira Heals / The Healing Space, she works with universities, organizations, and communities to promote emotional well-being, resilience, and connection.