Policy Committee
Committee Purpose
The purpose of the Policy Committee is to provide strategic input, review and/or develop policies for mental health services for students in higher education at public community colleges and universities in Illinois, and support campus implementation efforts. Responsibilities align with the MHEAC Act and guide the development of statewide sample policies and policy language..
Committee Functions & Member Expectations
The committee carries out essential work that supports the statewide implementation of the MHEAC Act and ensures that:
• policies and policy review reflect input from practitioners and meet the institutional needs of both community colleges and universities;
• deliverables are grounded in expertise from campuses across Illinois;
• collaboration, information sharing, and consistency are promoted across the higher education system; and
• MHEAC-funded institutions are responding to emerging needs with timely strategies and resources.
Policy Committee Goals
1. Determine the priority policy issues that create the greatest challenges for improving the mental health of higher education students in Illinois.
2. Bring insights from their institutional roles and campus communities to help design and finalize guidance and tools to be shared statewide.
3. Serve as a resource to the Illinois General Assembly and state agencies on policies that affect the development and implementation of higher education student mental health services in Illinois.
4. Committee members will dedicate at least 2 hours per month to ICC TAC Policy Committee work.
| Appointee Name | Appointee Position | Affiliation/Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Jorge Arteaga | Midwest Program Manager | Young Invincibles |
| Stephanie Casteneda-Arteaga, MA, LPC | IVCC Program Coordinator, Counselor | Transformative Growth Counseling at Illinois Valley Community College |
| Christine Brown, EdD, LCPC, NCC, ACS | Director of Counseling Center | Chicago State University |
| Guadalupe Cabrera | Academic Success & Advising | Chicago State University |
| Vinny Cascio | Director of TRIP Student Support Services/ESL | Elgin Community College |
| Sarah Damhof | Policy Analyst | NAMI Chicago |
| Erick Deshaun Dorris | Midwest Regional Director | Young Invincibles |
| Liz Gerber | Vice President Student Development & Support/CSSO | Highland Community College |
| Sydney Greenwalt, PhD | Counseling Services Director | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville |
| Destinee Miguest | District Director of Student Basic Needs - Office of Student Experience | Richard J. Daley College, City Colleges of Chicago |
| Blake Muehlich | Counseling Services/Counselor | Illinois Central College |
| Lowa Mwilambwe | Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Tony Ohlhausen | Director of Research and Policy | NAMI Illinois |
| Jim Poole, LSW | Sr. Director of Pilicy | NAMI Chicago |
| Hoyam Tanon, LCPC | Clinical Director - Wellness Center | Wilbur Wright College |
| Mike Trame | Vice President for Student Services/Chief Student Services Officer | Parkland Community College |