East Tennessee State University’s Graduate and Professional Student Association will host a panel discussion Sept. 15 on regional substance use and mental healthcare.

 

The event titled “The Mental Health and Addiction Landscape Within Appalachia” begins at noon in the Culp Student Center Forum. Organized in collaboration with the ETSU Office of Research, and supported by Vice Provost for Research Dr. Nick Hagemeier, the panel aims to bring together students, faculty, and local residents to highlight research happening across campus.

 

Rather than a traditional lecture, the event will begin with storytellers sharing personal and professional experiences from the region. Graduate and professional students from various disciplines across campus will then present their current research on topics including addiction, access to treatment, mental health and community recovery.

 

“We wanted to create a space where students across different programs could step out of their academic bubbles, share their work, and show how interconnected these regional issues really are,” the GPSA executive board said in a statement.

 

The session will conclude with an open floor for audience Q&A, Organizers said the event is free and open to the public, including undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and community members. Panelists plan to keep presentations nontechnical, requiring no research or clinical background to attend.

 

Organizers emphasize that the event is free and open to everyone, including undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and local community members. Panelists plan to keep presentations accessible and conversational, meaning no prior background in research or clinical work is needed to attend.

 

This forum marks the start of an ongoing panel series GPSA is developing for the academic year. Future topics under consideration include artificial intelligence in higher education, sleep science, food insecurity, and interdisciplinary creative projects.

 

Students interested in participating as panelists for this or future events can contact Alex Simmons at simmonsae3@mail.etsu.edu.

Author

  • Cristal Ahmed

    I am a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science program at Quillen College of Medicine, specializing in the Neuroscience concentration. As a first-generation Latina researcher, my doctoral work in the Justin T. Gass Laboratory focuses on the neurobiological intersections of Alcohol Use Disorder and PTSD, with a specific emphasis on mitochondrial health. Beyond the lab, I serve as the Social Media Manager and Activities Coordinator for the Biomedical Science graduate program, where I work to foster a connected and vibrant community for my fellow graduate students at East Tennessee State University.

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