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Gary T. Taylor, MSW ‘15, is destigmatizing mental health support and normalizing therapy in the Black community one barbershop at a time. “Barbershops are this safe space for Black men,” explains Taylor who has been working with local barbershops in the Rappahannock region since 2022 to foster healthy discussions about mental health by educating barbers on “mental health first aid” for their patrons.

Kayla Moore sees testing for sexually transmitted diseases as a key part of public health, and the doorway to a healthy community. Moore is currently getting her Master of Clinical Social Work at 911����’s College of Public Health, and in recognition of the 25th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, has organized a two-part event at Mason’s Fairfax Campus that speaks to public health.

28 Master of Social Work students work with a substance-engaged adolescent in a Virtual Reality simulation. The majority of students felt more prepared to respond to changes in their client’s condition after participating in the simulation 

Arion Lillard-Green, already a Mason alum, returned to complete her PhD in health services research.

A 911���� multidisciplinary research team recently received $5,000 in funding from the VentureWell Accelerator to continue to develop their app iCONNECT SUD.

With the grant,College of Public Health professor Y. Alicia Hong and an interdisciplinary team aim to improve caregiving skills, reduce social distress, and improve quality of life for caregivers. 

Researchers from the Schar School of Policy and Government’s Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence! and the College of Health and Human Services are translating research into actionable guidelines to help probation officers support their clients to achieve better outcomes. 

Mason professor Kerri LaCharite writes and teaches about sustainable food systems, urban agriculture and the effects of agriculture-based learning on eating behaviors.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner students treat patients supervised by licensed practitioners at the only teaching clinic in the country for psychiatric medication management service that is affordable for all. The behavioral health clinic partners with the Center for Psychological Services to provide complete mental health care.

Bachelor’s to accelerated master’s Master of Public Health student Nicole Sanz shares how the bachelor’s to accelerated master’s program has supported her goal of becoming an epidemiologist.