As the sun sets over Santa Clara University’s historic Mission Gardens, a first-year student settles into a peer-led workshop designed to help them manage the many stresses of their first college quarter. Across campus, another student connects with a Therapist in Residence in their residence hall. That evening, a senior attends a sober social event planned by Broncos in Recovery.
All across campus, students of all backgrounds are finding hope in Santa Clara’s commitment to reimagine student well-being.
This bold, comprehensive effort, The Initiative for Student Well-Being, was launched with the support of a $1.5 million gift from Taube Philanthropies and has transformed how the University cares for its students.
“The Jesuit educational philosophy has long focused on developing and caring for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit,” said Jeanne Rosenberger, vice provost for student life and dean of students. “The Initiative wraps around our students the moment they step on campus to support them in their educational journey.”
Grounded in the Jesuit value of cura personalis—care for the whole person—this initiative brings together cutting-edge resources, community-building activities, and professional expertise across eight dimensions of well-being: emotional, intellectual, spiritual, physical, communal, environmental, vocational, and financial. Collaborating with regional experts in psychiatry and neurodiversity, Santa Clara University has designed programs that not only support students in times of need but also equip them with tools for lifelong resilience.
Support in Residence Halls
One standout feature is the Therapist in Residence Program, where mental health clinicians live in residence halls to make counseling services more accessible. For students, this proximity has removed the stigma and barriers often associated with seeking help.
“When they first arrive, students are getting used to college, and as part of the adjustment, they may also be struggling with issues like not getting enough sleep,” says Melba Mathew, a therapist in residence. “Or they may have social anxiety that comes with building confidence, making new friends, academic pressures, and wondering if college or Santa Clara is the right fit. It can be overwhelming.”
Fellow therapist in residence Kristin Tappan, who lives among mostly junior and senior students, encounters a different set of anxieties.
“There’s a greater pressure around what life is supposed to be like after college; there’s this intensity that the rat race has really begun,” Tappan says. “They’re comparing themselves to where their counterparts are.” With that in mind, she teaches them coping strategies, about resilience, and reminds them that they’re not the only people feeling this way.
Tappan also has a trained therapy dog on site, and its warm presence and wagging tail helps to break the ice for apprehensive students.
Joining these therapists in residence are Campus Ministry-trained graduate student Spirituality Facilitators who also live alongside students offering connection and guidance to those navigating questions of meaning and purpose.
Expanded Access to Therapy and Mental-Health Services
Additionally, over the last few years, Santa Clara’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has expanded its services with a greater number of diverse hires, virtual therapy options, a 24/7 crisis support line, new student therapy groups, private on-campus wellness spaces, and more. The goal? To minimize wait times and other barriers to treatment and preventative care at a time when students are too often exceeding their ability to cope.
“Often our society sees mental health as focused on reaction and recovery,” says Bryan Nguyen,, assistant director of the Therapists in Residence program and the facilitator of the Stronger Together trauma therapy group. “But, there’s a whole spectrum of mental health care, and that includes wellness, which is proactive. It means a lot when students ask us how to maintain positive self-esteem or how to promote ongoing mindfulness. A lot of CAPS’s growth is looking at prevention, education, and destigmatization where we can stay ahead of the game.”
Students curious about improving their mental health in areas like time management or stress relief can participate in Wellness Coaching sessions.
To empower the wider community, Santa Clara has implemented Mental Health First Aid courses and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training for faculty and staff to recognize, respond to, and support students in distress. More than 400 employees have participated in Mental Health First Aid, and over 150 have completed QPR training. Additionally, the University’s Active Minds chapter provides a platform for student advocacy around mental health.
Meeting Basic Needs
Santa Clara University also recognizes that a holistic approach must also address the foundational needs that underpin academic and personal success—such as access to food, housing, and recovery services.
SCU’s Basic Needs Coordinator Alexis Takagi acts as a central resource in areas such as food security, housing assistance, and financial assistance, ensuring students can navigate crises with dignity and care. “My role is about ensuring that no student has to choose between their education and their basic needs,” said Takagi. “By connecting students with resources and providing compassionate support, we’re creating a community where everyone can focus on their potential, not their hardships.”
“The Initiative for Student Health is all of this and so much more,” said Heather Dumas-Dyer, associate vice provost for student health, counseling and well-being. “What sets it apart is its infusion of hope and joy. We’re not just addressing problems; we’re cultivating possibilities. We’re so grateful to Taube Philanthropies for helping make this possible.”
By Lisa Robinson, associate director of communications, and Nic Calande, associate director of storytelling at Santa Clara University