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MENTAL HEALTH
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University Mental Health Task Forces

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Task Force Groups Addressing Mental Health and Agnes Arnold Hall

University of Houston President Renu Khator has established two task force groups that will explore best practices for campus mental health and wellness and the future of Agnes Arnold Hall. She has appointed former interim provost Robert “Bob” McPherson as the chair of both groups. Members will include leaders from the University’s shared governance organizations—Faculty Senate, Staff Council and the Student Government Association—as well as mental health experts.

Your feedback is appreciated. Please complete the Task Force Feedback form to leave your comments or suggestions.

Chair

Dr. Robert H. Mcpherson

Dr. Robert H. Mcpherson

Robert “Bob” McPherson, professor of counseling psychology, has held numerous leadership roles during his four decades at the University of Houston. Most recently, he served as interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs for the UH System and senior vice president for academic affairs and provost for UH from Aug. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2023. He held the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Chair and served as dean of the UH College of Education from 2011 through July 2022, overseeing increased research activity, a transformation of the teacher education program, the launch of two additional Ph.D. programs and other academic gains.

McPherson’s other positions included interim associate provost for academic affairs and operations for UH at Sugar Land and at Katy; assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs/dean of students; coordinator of Learning Support Services; and staff psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services. In the College of Education, he also served as Ph.D. program director, department chair and executive associate dean.

Task Force for Mental Health

The Task Force for Mental Health will look toward future campus efforts to promote mental health and building a community of care and resilience. This task force is also charged with surveying the national higher education landscape and gathering best practices for mental health support on college campuses.

Co-Chairs

  • Diane Chase, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
  • Robert “Bob” H. McPherson, Ph.D., Special Assistant to UHS Chancellor & UH President; Professor, Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, College of Education

Members

  • Ana Medrano, Ph.D., Faculty Senate Representative, Instructional Professor, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • DaNesha Allen, Staff Council Representative, Director of Contract Compliance, Food Service & Vending, Division of Administration and Finance
  • Tyler Luc, Student Government Association Vice President
  • Jared Lewis, Student Government Association Senator
  • Bettina Beech, Dr.PH., M.P.H., UH Chief Population Health Officer
  • David Curtis Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
  • Bill Elder, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
  • Kristin Kassaw, M.D., Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
  • Nathan Smith, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Health, Psychological, and Learning Science, College of Education
  • Consuelo Arbona, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Health, Psychological, and Learning Sciences, College of Education
  • Carla Sharp, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty & Research, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Director of the Adolescent Diagnosis Assessment Prevention and Treatment Center and the Developmental Psychopathology Lab
  • Rheeda Walker, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Training Clinical, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Director, Culture, Risk, and Resilience Lab
  • Anka Vujanovic, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Director, Trauma and Stress Studies Center, First Responder Program, Investigator Development Core - HEALTH Institute, and Graduate Education Clinical Psychology
  • Deborah Smith, DNP, Ed.D., MSN, CNE, RN, Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Nursing
  • Robin Gearing, Ph.D., Professor, Graduate College of Social Work; Director of MH-RITES Research Center
  • Alan Witt, Ph.D., Professor, Hobby School of Public Affairs; Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies; Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Professor, Department of Management, C.T. Bauer College of Business

Ex-officio

Community Resources and Peer Institutions

  • Maureen Hackett, Board of Directors, The Hackett Center for Mental Health; Co-Founder and President, Hackett Family Foundation
  • Elizabeth McIngvale, Ph.D., LCSW, Director, McLean OCD Institute Houston; UH Board of Visitors
  • David Rudd, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Past President, University of Memphis
  • Chris Brownson, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Health and Well-being, Clinical Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Texas
  • Julie Kaplow

Agnes Arnold Hall Task Force

The Agnes Arnold Hall Task Force will consider all options regarding the future role of the facility and the ramifications of those options on UH’s academic delivery and university operations. This team will also consider alternatives to permanent closure that could possibly make the building available for use as early as the fall 2023 semester.

Co-Chairs

  • Raymond Bartlett, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance
  • Robert “Bob” H. McPherson, Special Assistant to UHS Chancellor & UH President; Professor, Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences, College of Education

Members

  • Patrick Peters, Faculty Senate Representative, Professor of Architecture, Director of Graduate Design/Build Studio, Associate Director of designLAB, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design
  • Whitney Johnson, Staff Council, Director of Student Success, C. T. Bauer College of Business
  • Ylleza Sylejmani, Student Government Association Senator
  • Hildegard Glass, Ph.D., Modern and Classical Languages Associate Professor and Chair, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Director of German Studies
  • Liz Goodin-Mayeda, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics, Hispanic Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
  • Nancy Beck Young, Ph.D., Moores Professor and Chair, Department of History; College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Associate Director, UH Center for Public History
  • David McMullen, Executive Director of Business Operations, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Office of the Dean
  • Angie Williams, Department Business Administrator, College of Liberal Arts And Social Sciences
  • Maricela Villanueva, Academic Advisor 3, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Office of the Dean
  • Karla Lira, Doctoral Student, History, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
  • Caitlyn Ramirez, Undergraduate Student, President of College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Ambassadors
  • Nicole Harris, Undergraduate Student, Residential Advisor, VP of External Relations of College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Ambassadors

Ex-0fficio

  • Dan O’Connor, Ph.D., Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Professor of Health and Human Performance
  • David Oliver, Sr. Associate Vice President, Facilities & Construction Management, Division of Administration and Finance

Suggestions?

If you have any suggestions for how we can continue to build a community of care at UH, please email CoogsCare@uh.edu.