(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)August 5, 2025

The Insight into Academia Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award was earned for the campus-wide integration of mental health initiatives, including accessible services, peer support, emotional resilience, and proactive policy.

Mahwah, NJ—Ramapo College of New Jersey received the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award is a measure of an institution’s individual programs and initiatives that significantly advance the core values of inclusive excellence and belonging through programs, initiatives, and many other campus priorities deserving of this national recognition.

Wellness initiatives are inclusive of the entire Ramapo campus community. The Center for Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) and People Operations and Employee Resources (POER) focus on creating, maintaining, and delivering resources and activities for students, staff and faculty, which supports the College’s strategic plan, Boldly Ascending, in prioritizing “personal well-being by promoting healthy practices and environments.”

“It is an honor to receive this award acknowledging the hard work we do to support the mental health and well-being of our students. However, we don’t do it for recognition; we do it because we are helpers and advocates,” said Judith Green, Psy.D., CHCS director. 

Feedback about POER’s wellness initiatives has been very positive. “People have been truly appreciative of our efforts, big and small,” said Jill Brown, POER director of people operations.  “We have employees reaching out with suggestions for future offerings and encouraging us to continue with the programming.”

Insight Into Academia magazine selected Ramapo College because it adopted a wellness philosophy for employees that encompasses financial, physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational and spiritual health. These offerings include various campus activities such as social gatherings, wellness walks, meditation, yoga, strength training, swimming, tai chi, biometric screenings, wellness vaccines on premises and wellness days. 

The College was also lauded for its work on student wellness. One example, in addition to the standard educational and mental health treatment components, is the wellness room for students. The wellness room features relaxation activities, including yoga mats, coloring activities, a light therapy lamp, massage chair, weighted blanket and stress reduction pamphlets. 

“The Wellness Room is extremely popular with students,” said Green. “Surveys demonstrate that students’ stress levels decrease after they use the resources such as the massage chair, fidget toys, weighted blanket and the tea station.” The College also holds an annual student wellness fair and provides pet therapy multiple times throughout each semester, thanks to a strong partnership with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy.

“We know that institutions are not always recognized for their dedication to their mental health and well-being services and support for their students and employees,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “We are proud to honor these colleges and universities as role models for other institutions of higher education.”

To learn more about wellness initiatives at Ramapo College, visit ramapo.edu. For more information about the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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