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Charleston Health & Well-being Consortium: Who We Are

Who We Are

The Charleston Health & Well-being Consortium, an alliance formed in 2022 by the Citadel, College of Charleston, and Medical University of South Carolina, focuses on what institutions are doing at local, state, and national levels to promote student well-being, and promotes education for faculty and staff of all members.

Founding Members

Sharlene D. Wedin, PsyD, ABPP
Interim Associate Provost for Education Innovation & Student Life
Medical University of South Carolina
wedin@musc.edu

Ann Almasi-Bush
Associate Vice President for Student Well-being
Dean, Students
College of Charleston
almasibusha@cofc.edu

Alicia Caudill, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President for Student Affairs
College of Charleston
caudillad@cofc.edu

LTC Stephanie Fye, MEd
Director, Advising
The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina
sfye@citadel.edu

COL John Robinson, Jr., JD, MBA
Executive Director,Student Affairs & Academic Services
The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina
jrobin21@citadel.edu

Joyce Antonetty
Director, InterTech Group Wellness Center 
Trident Technical College 
Joyce.Antonetty@tridenttech.edu

Kimberly Perkins LPC, LPCMH, NCC, LAC, CCTP 
Director of Counseling 
Charleston Southern University 
KPerkins@csuniv.edu

Founding Member Institutions

Medical University of South Carolina

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is home to the oldest medical school in the South as well as the state's only integrated academic health sciences center, with a unique charge to serve the state through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and 850 residents and fellows in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.

College of Charleston

The College of Charleston fosters a culture that values various perspectives, uniting students to shape a better future. As a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university, it emphasizes hands-on learning and personalized education, with professors serving as mentors. Located in downtown Charleston, the city itself becomes part of the campus experience. Vibrant student life and strong academic programs make it one of the nation's top public universities.

The College prioritizes student well-being through academic support, social involvement, and clinical services. The Office of Student Wellness and Well-being enhances quality of life, while the Dean of Students provides resources for housing, food insecurity, and emergency funding. Additionally, the Student of Concern committee focuses on prevention and threat assessment. The Division of Student Affairs ensures a safe, healthy campus environment by reducing high-risk behaviors and promoting student success.

Citadel

The Citadel, located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. The approximately 2,300 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military, but about one-third of each class earn commissions to become officers in every branch of U.S. military service. Citadel alumni have served the nation, their states and their communities as principled leaders since 1842. The Citadel Graduate College, founded more than 50 years ago, offers dozens of graduate degree, graduate certificate and evening undergraduate programs in the evening or online. Consecutively named Best Public College in the South by U.S. News & World Report for 12 years and No. 1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South for five years.

Consortium Membership

All South Carolina institutions of higher learning are invited to join the Consortium. For more information, please email Dr. Sharlene Wedin, Associate Provost for Education Innovation & Student Life.

Email Dr. Wedin

Past Conferences

Explore past conferences, keynote presentations, and milestone achievements as we continue working toward a healthier, more supportive learning environment for all.

Connect with faculty and staff from MUSC, College of Charleston, and the Citadel to learn from national and local experts about supporting student well-being on our campuses. Leah Finch, Senior Campus Advisor at The Jed Foundation in New York City and Adjunct Faculty at New York University, will share her experiences and expertise as a mental health consultant, therapist, and educator. Other presentation topics focus on using social media to educate students about available resources, making internal and external community connections, and legal issues regarding mental health events and accommodations. A student-led panel discussion offers insight into the needs of students and how university/college faculty, administrators, and staff can best support students.

The event is being held in the MUSC Bioengineering Building, which is located at 68 President Street, from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Refreshments and lunch are included. Registration is required and limited to 120 participants. Registration is on a first come first served basis.

Full Agenda

 Time  Description 
 8:30-9:00 am  Meet and Greet Continental Breakfast
 9:00-9:15 am  Welcome
 9:15-10:15 am  Keynote Address: Student Well-being and Saving Lives: The Status of Student Mental Health in Higher Education
 Leah Finch, JED Foundation Senior Advisor
 10:15-10:35 am  Break with light refreshments
 10:35-11:05 am  Gaining Student Buy-in Through Social Media
 Rachel McNamara, MA
 Health Educator, Counseling Center, College of Charleston
 11:05-12:00 pm

 Community Connections: Best Practices with Internal and External

  • Alice Libet, Ph.D., Director, Counseling & Psychological Services, MUSC
  • Sharlene Wedin, Ph.D., Chair, Behavioral Support & Intervention Team, MUSC
  • Jennifer Wray, Ph.D., Supervisory Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Ralph Johnson VA and MUSC Military Sciences Division, Citadel
  • Marcie Weisman, Director of Counseling, Citadel
  • Ann Osatsky, Director Of Disability Services
 12:00-12:30 pm  Lunch
 12:30-1:15 pm  Student Health Panel: Heart it Directly from the Source
 College of Charleston, Citadel, and MUSC Students
 1:15-2:15 pm

 Legal Hot Topics in Health Education

  • Leah Finch, LMHC, Senior Campus Advisor, The Jed Foundation
  • Vivian Fairbairn, JD, Assistant General Counsel, Legal Affairs, MUSC
  • Carrie Cottingham, Associate Counsel, Legal Affairs, MUSC
 2:15-2:30 pm  Wrap-up & Evaluation
 

Location

Medical University of South Carolina

Bioengineering Sciences Building (BSB)

Room 110

MUSC Campus map

The Bioengineering Building is on the corner of Jonathan Lucas and President.
Parking

Rate: $1.50/hour
Jonathan Lucas Garage (closest to Bioengineering Building)

97 Jonathan Lucas St, Charleston, SC

(Entrance is located at President & Jonathan Lucas)

Ashley/Rutledge Parking Garage

158 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC

(Entrances are located on both Ashley and Rutledge Avenues)

MUSC Campus Map

Conference Outcomes

  • Define the current mental health crisis occurring in students in institutions of higher education.
  • Discuss how social media is an accepted way to disseminate student resource information.
  • Identify campus and community resources that support students experiencing mental health challenges.
  • Review challenges related to mental health events and need for accommodations.
  • Listen to students sharing what is most helpful to them in addressing their mental health and well-being on campus.

About the Presenters

Leah Finch

Leah is a Senior Campus Advisor at The Jed Foundation in New York City, where she guides colleges and universities across the country through a collaborative assessment and strategic planning process to build upon existing student mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention efforts. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the states of New York and North Carolina, and teaches counseling graduate students as an adjunct instructor at New York University. Her background in higher education includes working as a clinical counselor, adjunct professor, and career counselor. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is a member of the American College Counseling Association and the American College Health Association.

Presentations

Keynote Address: Catalyzing Innovation Improvement in Pursuit of Student Well-being

Student well-being is essential for student success. Despite increased investments in student mental health and well-being, colleges and universities continue to grapple with worsening outcomes and widening equity gaps--underscoring the imperative for a profound shift in approach. Achieving improved student well-being will require institutions to fundamentally change not only the programs, services, and policies we implement but also in how we innovate, improve, and adapt to the ever-evolving needs, strengths, priorities, and values of our students and institutions. This session will highlight key insights and learning about catalyzing innovation and improvement in pursuit of student well-being.

Allison, J. Smith, MPA
Director, Health Strategy & Outcomes
New York University
Mental Health Strategies to Cope, Prevent, and Recover from RUST

S. Akeya Harrold, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Counseling & Psychological Services
Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Clinical Instructor, PARTNER Program, College of Nursing
Medical University of South Carolina

Donna Lee Williams, DNP, PMHNP-BC, APRN
Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Counseling & Psychological Services
Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Medical University of South Carolina
Student Panel: Identifying Student Needs and How to best Meet These Needs

Caroline Moore MSW, LISW-CP
Program Manager, The Guide To Thrive Program
Counseling & Psychological Services
Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Medical University of South Carolina

Additional Breakout Sessions

  • Guide to Thrive
  • BIT Team Round Table
  • Mental Health Board
  • EAB and Generation P
  • Legal Conversations
  • Drivers of Poor Mental Health

Questions?

Should you have any questions, please contact one of the following consortium members.

College of Charleston: Ann Almasi-Bush and Alicia Caudill
Medical University of South Carolina: Gigi Smith
The Citadel: John Robinson and Stephanie Fye

Keynote Speaker

Allison, J. Smith, MPA
Director, Health Strategy & Outcomes
New York University

Ms. Smith is the director of Health Strategy & Outcomes at NYU. She specializes in designing and leading networks, driving innovation, and implementing systemic improvements. Allison has led national improvement collaboratives involving over 100 higher education institutions, achieving measurable success. She developed the Wellbeing Improvement Survey for Higher Education Settings (WISHES) and has driven broad institutional change at NYU, earning national recognition for innovation. Her recent work focuses on closing gaps in student support and developing strategies to enhance student engagement in their own wellbeing and community wellness. Through her leadership, she continues to shape transformative initiatives that improve institutional outcomes and student experiences.

Featured Speakers

S. Akeya Harrold, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Counseling & Psychological Services
Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Clinical Instructor, PARTNER Program, College of Nursing
Medical University of South Carolina

Dr. Harrold is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at MUSC’s Counseling and Psychological Services, supporting students' mental health. She is also a College of Nursing faculty member and mentors nurse practitioner residents through the PARTNER Grant, expanding mental health access via telehealth in rural areas. Dr. Harrold earned her BSN from USC Upstate and her MSN and DNP from MUSC. She has served South Carolina’s underserved populations and veterans at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. A leader in mental health nursing, she directed the VA’s PMHNP Residency Program and received the SAMHSA/ANA Minority Fellowship Award. Active in professional organizations, her passions include reducing mental health stigma and mentoring future clinicians. She also volunteers with her therapy dog, Atlas, at MUSC.

Caroline Moore MSW, LISW-CP
Program Manager, The Guide To Thrive Program
Counseling & Psychological Services
Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Medical University of South Carolina

Ms. Moore, LISW-CP, is a counselor and program manager at MUSC Counseling and Psychological Services with a background in victim advocacy and anti-human trafficking (AHT). She previously worked with the Central Ohio HT Task Force, helping survivors reintegrate into the community. After earning her master’s in social work from Ohio State, she became the clinician for CATCH Court, managing client and partner relations. As CATCH Court Coordinator, she assessed candidates in correctional facilities and worked with court staff to support rehabilitation. Excited to bring her expertise to Charleston, Caroline now serves at MUSC and volunteers at Shawn Jenkins NICU, where she cuddles babies weekly. Her extensive experience in advocacy and rehabilitation continues to make an impact in her new role.

Donna Lee Williams, DNP, PMHNP-BC, APRN
Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Counseling & Psychological Services
Division of Education Innovation & Student Life
Medical University of South Carolina

Dr. Williams blends science and art in her practice, drawing from her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Fine Arts training. Known for her candor, compassion, and authenticity, she engages audiences through storytelling and interactive demonstrations. For four years, she has supported MUSC students, managing cases and coordinating Mental Health First Aid training. She has introduced innovative programs like therapeutic improv and plant therapy. A nominee for the 2024 MUSC MLK Humanitarian Award, she also serves as President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s South Carolina Chapter and founded Remnant Cares, a nonprofit aiding marginalized communities. When not enjoying the South Carolina Lowcountry, she participates in short-term global mission trips, furthering her dedication to service and mental health advocacy.