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LeAnna Rice, Campus Advisor for the JED Foundation and former Mental Health Counselor and Outreach Coordinator for SUNY Binghamton University, will be 51����’s next director of , effective June 18, 2018.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rice holds a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in African Studies. At UNC–Charlotte, Rice was inducted into the Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society, held positions in Housing and Residence Life, and was a graduate assistant in the Leadership Learning Community where she co-taught courses in leadership and ethics. Rice has also held positions at Duke University and Lenoir-Rhyne University.

In her role at the JED Foundation, Rice provides direct consultation and assistance in the creation of programs to support mental health for students of color, utilizing the Equity in Mental Health Framework, which is an interdisciplinary and public health approach for college and university campuses to address inequities that students of color face on campus.

Rice has presented nationally on cultural identities and authenticity as a pathway to wellness, student success and transition to college, and is scheduled to present at the upcoming NCORE conference on a comprehensive model for addressing the mental health of students from marginalized identities.

“I am passionate about building educational environments in which underrepresented and/or marginalized students can thrive and feel supported,” Rice said during the nationwide search process. “I am a vocal advocate for social justice and feel that this work is my calling.”

“Students who met with Rice during her campus visit described her as warm and friendly and commented on her ability to see the complexities and intersectionality of students’ identities,” said Dean of the College Paul J. McLoughlin II. “LeAnna brings experience as an outreach coordinator and educator who has worked to further understanding of how campus systems impact the health and success of underrepresented groups and to develop practical strategies for improving those systems.”