Gift enables Alfred University to create student wellness initiative

Kevin Oklobzija//September 15, 2020//

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Alfred University students will have a better chance to achieve academic success through a program focusing on mental health and wellness development, thanks to a gift from a former student and current member of the board of trustees

Kristen Caruso Klabin and her husband, Alex, have provided funding for the Saxon Success Progam, which will help to ensure the whole well-being of students.

A native of Hornell, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1992 and master’s degree in school counseling in 1993.

“As a psychology major and graduate of the Masters of School Counseling program at AU, I value the foundation for strong mental health and wellness development,” Kristen Klabin said in a news release. “I wanted to support a proactive and comprehensive initiative focusing on the social, emotional and academic success of all Alfred University students.”

The gift from the Klabins will be used primarily to establish an endowment but also will enable the hiring of a program coordinator/mental health counselor in the Wellness Center. The coordinator will oversee the work of a team of graduate assistants in the College Student Development, School Counseling and School Psychology programs, who will advise students and ensure the necessary resources are in place.

“Mental health concerns among college students have been on the rise, with generalized anxiety, social anxiety and depression being the most common in the last decade,” said Del Ray Honeycutt, director of the school’s Wellness Center. “I believe this role helps show that Alfred University is making mental health and well-being of our students a priority.

“Not only is it going to provide continuous support, offering a smoother transition into adulthood for our undergraduate students, but it’s going to offer practical experience to our graduate students looking forward to a career in school counseling and college student development.”

In helping students achieve their goals, the Saxon Success Program will support recruitment and retention initiatives contained in Alfred University’s Strategic Plan.

“This program involves many people, programs and services coming together, and demonstrates that it still takes a village,” Kristen Klabin said.

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