A few months ago, The Healthy Minds Network and the American College Health Association conducted a survey of college students to examine the impact of COVID-19 on college student well-being. The study included 18,764 students on 14 campuses and found that 30.5% of students, compared to 21.9% the prior fall, reported that their mental health negatively affected their academic performance on at least six days during the prior four weeks. So, this is a good time to discuss college students' mental health and it's the focus of this episode of Speaking of College. Dr. P. and Dr. Zainab Okolo chat about the importance of addressing mental health and how students can do so in proactive ways. Dr. Okolo is a passionate educator, policy expert, and change agent focused on helping students overcome barriers so they can learn, earn, and lead fulfilling lives. Zainab is a strategy officer at Lumina Foundation, a philanthropic organization that has a goal of helping more individuals earn a college credential. Zainab is focused on the urgent needs of first-generation college students, people of color, adult learners, immigrants, inmates, and others who have traditionally struggled to succeed at learning beyond high school. Zainab is an expert on student mental health and is often asked to speak about ways to help students overcome stress and anxiety. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Dr. Okolo enjoyed working for several years with young adults to help them succeed in school and beyond. Dr. Okolo previously served as an associate on HCM Strategists' postsecondary team, where she worked on policy issues aimed at making higher education more accessible, affordable, and relevant. She also held various posts at the University of Maryland, the American Council on Education, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Zainab earned her doctorate in education at The George Washington University, her masters degree from Syracuse University, and her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Zainab is a native of Washington, DC and when she isn't devoting time to her work, family, and friends, she enjoys yoga, taking spin classes, and all kinds of music and sports.The Did You Know segment offers a possible option for earning credits toward an associate degree while earning a bachelor's degree. The Ask Dr. P. segment features a listener's question about choosing a major.Time Markers02:40-Welcome Dr. Zainab Okolo08:40-The Importance of Mental Health23:05-Did You Know: Reverse Transfer24:15-Ask the Expert: Zainab's Tips for Proactively Addressing Mental Health44:00-Ask Dr. P: Suggestions for Choosing a College MajorResources Mentioned in this EpisodeInside Higher Ed Article: Pandemic Hurts Student Mental HealthPsychology TodayTruCircleDr. Zainab Okolo on TwitterGot a question about college? Email Dr. P. at [email protected]