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Nearly one third of students (32%) currently pursuing a degree or certificate say they have considered stopping out in the past six months — and almost half (49%) of those students cite emotional stress as their primary reason. Adding to this stress, students are facing increasing isolation, mounting financial burdens, caregiving responsibilities and general distrust of higher education systems — especially students who have already been historically underserved in these spaces.
As institutions, states and systems seek to confront these challenges, it’s more important than ever to tap into wraparound care models that prioritize proactive connection, deliver holistic support and center on well-being for all students. Join experts from The Jed Foundation (JED), TimelyCare, InsideTrack and CAEL in a panel-style discussion offering proven strategies to address student mental health, best practices for supporting students before they consider stopping out, and advice for how institutions and organizations can partner to effect systems-level change.
Ashley Faubion, Director, Initiatives, CAEL
As director of Initiatives, Faubion brings a wealth of experience and expertise in enrollment management, advising, retention, and student experience, all focused on improving career and college readiness. She directly supports projects that help build better access and more straightforward navigation to and through educational pathways leading to economic mobility for adult learners. Most recently, serving as a Client Diagnostic Specialist at InsideTrack, Faubion provided technical assistance to deliver and implement coaching programs to build enterprise-wide capacity and professional services with various institutions and organizations. Before joining InsideTrack, Faubion worked as a Partnership Account Specialist for FA Solutions, supporting students through financial aid counseling, admissions assistance, and retention. She and her team worked through school partners to provide students with high-level, easy-to-reach contact support. Faubion also has held roles at the Florida Institute of Technology, Rollins College, Salisbury University, and Technical College of the Lowcountry.
Panelists:
Seli Fakorzi, Director, Mental Health Operations, TimelyCare
Seli serves as the Director of Mental Health Operations for TimelyCare. She is a practicing clinician with experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services, crisis intervention, and clinician development. She has also served as the director of psychiatric services for multiple youth residential treatment centers. Prior to becoming a licensed clinician, she focused her career in the area of human resources and organizational development servicing aerospace and defense companies. She has also served as a consultant to small and mid-size businesses for human resources, organizational development, employee retention, and diversity best practices. Seli has a BA in Business Management and Public Relations from Coe College, and a Master of Counseling from Dallas Baptist University.
Mark Patishnock, Ph.D., Vice President, School Programs Implementation, The Jed Foundation
Mark is JED’s Vice President of School Programs Implementation. In his role, he implements and ensures consistency and excellence in all of JED’s programs in higher education, high school, and pre-K–12 school districts. Mark has spent his career focused on improving mental health outcomes for youth and young adults.
Mark trained at the counseling centers at Penn State and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; worked as a staff psychologist and suicide prevention coordinator at Virginia Tech; and oversaw counseling and psychiatric services as the inaugural director at both Augusta University and Michigan State University, where he helped integrate and innovate programs and services following institutional and departmental mergers. He also implemented the JED Campus program at both of these institutions. During his career, he has served as an adjunct faculty member, consultant, executive coach, executive recruiter, strategic planner, and has held various voluntary service and community counseling roles.
Ann Werbach, Senior Director, Programs, InsideTrack
Ann Werbach joined InsideTrack in 2008 and is currently a Sr. Program Director. She started as a coach supporting individuals in reaching their educational and career goals, and in her current role she enjoys supporting organizations as they build transformational coaching programs with the goal of widespread social mobility and positive impact. Ann got her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from DePauw University in Indiana and has worked in education for the duration of her career starting at SCORE! Educational Centers in Chicago prior to joining InsideTrack in 2008. In 2015, Ann and her husband, Matt welcomed their son Ernest into the world and learned that he had Down syndrome. Since then, Ann has been focused on building awareness of the capabilities of those with Down syndrome and creating inclusive educational and career pathways for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Think College, the National Coordinating Center for Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Matt, her son Ernest, and her dog Huckleberry.