Big Ten Counseling Centers Conference

Dear Colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Big Ten Counseling Center Conference here at Indiana University Bloomington. We are honored to host this gathering on our beautiful campus and to welcome so many dedicated professionals who play such an essential role in supporting the mental health and well-being of our students. Your presence here represents a shared commitment to fostering campuses where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Across the Big Ten, our institutions are united not only by academic and athletic excellence but by our collective responsibility to nurture whole, healthy individuals. The work you do, often quietly and compassionately, forms the backbone of that mission. This conference provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from one another, exchange best practices, and explore new strategies to meet the evolving needs of our campus communities.

As you engage in sessions, panels, and informal conversations, I encourage you to take time to reflect on the impact of your work and to draw inspiration from the colleagues around you. You are shaping the future of student success and well-being in higher education, one conversation at a time.

Thank you for all that you do, for your empathy, your expertise, and your unwavering dedication to our students. I hope this conference leaves you both renewed and inspired to continue the vital work ahead.

Best,

Lamar R. Hylton, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Student Life

Welcome to Indiana University Bloomington! We are grateful and elated to host the 2026 Big 10 Counseling Centers Conference.

As clinicians and administrators, you all provide invaluable support to our students and our campus communities. You not only invest in the well-being needs of clients, but many of you serve our campuses in a multitude of ways—from programs with student organizations to supporting parents and families. Your work makes a difference in the lives of our students now and in the future.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to invest in your own professional development. Thank you for the obvious and less visible ways that you all support the experiences of students and contribute to student success.

Again, welcome to the Hoosier state. Please take the time to enjoy our beautiful campus and the many opportunities available to you in the city of Bloomington!

Sincerely, 

Samantha A. Smith, PhD, MPH, CHES
Associate Vice Chancellor for Health and Well-Being

Dear colleagues,

Welcome to Indiana University Bloomington! We are honored to host you on our beautiful campus as you gather to share your insights, experiences, and innovative strategies to enhance mental health and well-being across our Big Ten institutions.

This is a unique and important opportunity for you to come together—not just as colleagues, but as committed advocates for the mental well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. Each of our campuses face distinct challenges, yet we are united by a common mission: to provide compassionate, evidence-based care and to create supportive environments where all members of our communities can thrive.

During your time together, I hope your gathering fosters a rich dialogue, sparks new ideas, and strengthens the partnerships among our universities. Your expertise and leadership are invaluable as we collectively navigate the evolving mental health landscape, address emerging student needs, and work to reduce stigma while promoting access and equity in care.

We encourage you to take full advantage of your time here—engage deeply in discussions, build new collaborations, and enjoy the spirit and culture of Bloomington. Our campus and community are excited to welcome you, and we are confident this convening will be both productive and inspiring.

Thank you for the essential work you do. We’re grateful for your presence and your commitment to making a lasting difference.

Warm regards,

Pete Grogg, MHA
Executive Director, Student Health Center

Hello, beloved attendees!

We are grateful for the opportunity to gather joyfully with each other again this year, both in person and virtually. I recognize that our leadership here at IU Bloomington—Dr. Hylton, Dr. Smith, and Mr. Grogg—have offered their rich welcomes and invitations to engage, which I invite you to review, so I will be brief.

Despite our challenges we persist. Though our time together may be limited, it is our hope that the space we co-create here in 2026 will be one of nourishment, exuberance, and boldness. Whether it's your first or 21st Big Ten Conference, come with curiosity and willingness to find joy even in the smallest of places.

Joy creates unity. Joy makes space for hope when sometimes it's hard to find. Joy counters and contrasts cruelty because it is vibrant and beautiful. 

Let's be joyful together.

Sincerely,

Kodee Walls
Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

Taisha Caldwell-Harvey founded The Black Girl Doctor in 2017 after finally figuring out how to effectively teach others how to avoid burnout and be successful. When it finally clicked for her that joy and success didn't have to compete with each other, everything changed. She has over 12 years of professional experience, is a published author in academic literature on best practices in wellness, career selection, and achievement motivation, has spent seven years as a mental health consultant for the largest public university system in the country, and has had the privilege to be mentored by several of the founders and original leaders in Black psychology, which has lead to specialized training in healing practices for Black/African people.

In terms of her formal education, Caldwell-Harvey is a proud alumna of Spelman College, and earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She completed both a nationally accredited predoctoral internship and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California Irvine.

Don (Donnie) Davis's research and clinical interests are in the area of positive psychology. His work focuses on humility and related virtues such as forgiveness and gratitude. A member of the Matheny Center for the Study of Stress, Trauma, and Resilience, Davis has worked on over 30 grants, many with the John Templeton Foundation. He also does work on the role of religion/spirituality in character development.

Davis has published over 300 articles or chapters, and has also written books on several of the themes above. A major passion of Davis's is early career investment and making that phase easier to navigate. He co-founded the Good Life Research Network and is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

Davis did undergraduate work at Yale and his doctorate at Virginia Commonwealth University. He completed his psychology pre-doctoral internship at Clemson University and is currently licensed in the state of Georgia.