Jacqui Springer celebrated for leadership in higher education case management

KINGSTON, R.I. – Aug. 29, 2024 – Jacqui Springer in the Dean of Students office at the University of Rhode Island is starting the new school year with a new award on her office wall, but it might need to fight for space with her diplomas, travel and family mementos, and a small collection of koalas, mascots for URI’s Mental Health First Aid Training program, which Springer helps facilitate.

But there is a new award she’s making room for. This summer, Springer was awarded the Higher Education Case Managers Association Leadership Award at the group’s annual meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.

Colleagues call her an invaluable asset in URI’s Division of Student Affairs and say that Springer is a deserving recipient of the award because of her commitment to student advocacy and support; in fact, they recommended her for it.

Managing mental health

Springer also received a 2024 URI Inclusive Excellence award earlier this year; shown with University President Marc Parlange and Markeisha Miner, vice president for community, equity and diversity, this spring. (URI Photo / Mike Salerno)

Higher education case management is a relatively new field, developed in the wake of the shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. Part of the work is promoting well-being, part of it is keeping an eye on campus safety and needed interventions. What began as a grassroots effort in the wake of Virginia Tech is now an active network of support and collaboration for people like Springer doing this work at institutions nationwide.

URI was one of the first colleges in Rhode Island to hire a dedicated case manager.

When the University created a new department to provide case management support for students, Springer was chosen as the school’s first assistant director of outreach and intervention. She became involved in the association right away, building on her prior work at the University. She had recently obtained her doctorate in school psychology at URI and had worked in the Dean of Students Office, specifically Disability Services for Students (now Disability Access and Inclusion). When Springer completed her Ph.D., she returned to the Dean of Students Office full-time and also completed her postdoc hours at URI’s Psychological Consultation Center. While her compassion and willingness to innovate led the way for this kind of work at URI, she says the position has allowed her to hone her skills as a school psychologist and develop skills as a higher education practitioner. And she says URI has become her professional home.

“The Dean of Students Office team feels like a family,” Springer says. “We all take care of and encourage one another.”

Springer and her team are motivated to keep up with the demand they see for student support. A few factors have increased demand for such services: K-12 needs, an increase in students from all backgrounds being able to access college, inflation impacting students’ ability to afford college, and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Springer’s colleague Lukas Chaves says students facing complex, seemingly insurmountable circumstances find a staunch ally in Springer, and a path to positive outcomes. “Dr. Springer is like a lighthouse during the storms of life; we are all happy to see her efforts be recognized and celebrated.”

Wellness leader

A certified Mental Health First Aid instructor since 2017, Springer collaborated with URI’s Psychological Consultation Center and Disability, Access, and Inclusion to secure funding for URI’s campus-wide Mental Health First Aid initiative to increase campus mental health literacy at URI. Not just a one-off workshop or training, URI offers a one-credit course in Mental Health First Aid (EDC 203) as well as open faculty and staff trainings. Since it was introduced at the University in 2017, the University has trained several thousand faculty, staff, and students. Anyone can sign up and the next class starts in September.

She is also the co-facilitator of URI’s Women of Color Network and teaches at College Unbound, helping Rhode Island teaching assistants earn their bachelor’s degrees to increase classroom teachers who match the demographic of Rhode Island students.

As a new class of students makes its way to URI, to pursue undergraduate degrees, Springer has a few things she’d like them to know. First is, “I want every student at URI to know that they deserve the opportunity to attain a college degree! They may experience hurdles along their journey, it may take longer than expected, and they may not think that others are experiencing similar challenges, but we are here to support every student and want them to know that they belong.”

With a focus on mental health in her work at URI, keeping her own mental health in good shape is key.

“I try to model a culture where we embrace life outside of work,” she says. When not on campus, she enjoys Latin dance, cycling, languages, the beach, spending time with family and friends — and is a self-described thrill seeker.

Barbara Sweeney has worked with Springer for two years and was one of those co-workers who advocated for Springer’s recognition.

“Jacqui’s leadership and skills are evident throughout the URI community and in the field of higher education,” she says. “She leads with humility, profound knowledge of policies and procedures, and an unwavering commitment to the wellness of our students. She is a remarkable person and role model.”