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10th Annual Wellness Together Conference has ended
Audience: Higher Ed Faculty clear filter
Wednesday, September 9
 

11:00am PDT

Registration, Connection, & Networking
Wednesday September 9, 2026 11:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Start the Wellness Together Conference off with: 
  1. Drop-in registration
  2. Live music
  3. Lawn games
  4. Analog experiences
  5. Book exchange
  6. Art
  7. Connection

Wednesday September 9, 2026 11:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Ballroom 20 Lobby & Center Terrace

11:15am PDT

1:00pm PDT

1:15pm PDT

A Shared Musical Experience: James Sills
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
James Sills’ mainstage session will help attendees:
  1. Reduce stress and emotional fatigue
  2. Build staff trust and morale
  3. Energize your team for the school year
Speakers
avatar for James Sills

James Sills

James is an award-winning musician, speaker, author and choirstarter whose work explores the power of collective singing to build connection and belonging. For more than two decades, he has brought together tens of thousands of people across the world from choirs to conferences, workshops... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

1:15pm PDT

Keynote: Jean Twenge
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
As a leading voice on generational change and the impact of technology on young people, Dr. Jean Twenge (iGen, Generations,10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World) will share her insights on the challenges shaping how the next generation lives, learns, and grows.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jean Twenge

Dr. Jean Twenge

Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, is the author of more than 190 scientific publications and seven books, including 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World and Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

1:15pm PDT

Keynote: Mychal Threets
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
As the new host of Reading Rainbow and Resident Librarian for PBS, Mychal will equip your team with tools to foster belonging and curiosity in your schools.
Speakers
avatar for Mychal Threets

Mychal Threets

New host of Reading Rainbow and Resident Librarian for PBS
Mychal Threets is a librarian, mental health advocate, and, by his own admission, the library’s number-one fan.

A lifelong lover of libraries, Mychal was homeschooled and raised among the stacks, receiving his first library card at the age of five.

He began his career as a library shelver at the same library he grew up in, eventually working his way up to become its Supervising Librarian. Mychal is open and honest about his mental health, sharing his experiences in hopes of helping others on their own journeys. He’s known... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

1:15pm PDT

Welcome Address: Richard Barrera
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
Welcome to WTC10! Richard Barrera delivers the opening plenary welcome to kick off "This Helps Day," framing our shared mission for student mental health wellness.
Speakers
avatar for Richard Barrera

Richard Barrera

Senior Policy Advisor, California Department of Education
Richard Barrera was first elected to represent District D on the San Diego Unified School Board in 2008 and then re-elected by overwhelming margins in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024.  During the 2008-2012 recession, he helped lead the District through the most devastating financial cutbacks... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:15pm - 3:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

1:15pm PDT

4:15pm PDT

4:30pm PDT

Keynote: Chris Duffy
Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Chris Duffy, TED podcast host, author, and comedian, shares how connection, laughter, and belonging can help re-energize classrooms, strengthen staff culture, and support students in an increasingly disconnected world.
Speakers
avatar for Chris Duffy

Chris Duffy

Author, comedian, and host of TED’s How to Be a Better Human podcast
Chris Duffy is a stand-up comedian who has worked as a television writer (Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas on HBO, National Geographic Explorer) and is currently host of TED’s hit podcast How to Be a Better Human, winner of the 2025 Webby Award for Advice & How-To Podcasts. He has appeared... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

4:30pm PDT

Keynote: Elyse Cohen
Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Chris Duffy will sit down with Elyse Cohen as she shares about how she has lead organizations and programs such as Rare Beauty's Rare Impact Fund and Michelle Obama's Let's Move in order to improve student mental health across the nation. 
Speakers
avatar for Elyse Cohen

Elyse Cohen

President of the Rare Impact Fund, Chief Impact Officer at Rare Beauty
Elyse Cohen is the Chief Impact Officer at Rare Beauty and President of the Rare Impact Fund, the nonprofit launched by Selena Gomez with the goal of mobilizing $100M to expand access to mental health services for young people around the world. A pre-launch hire, Elyse helped shape... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

4:30pm PDT

Keynote: Senator Weber Pierson
Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson is a California State Senator, physician, and educator, bringing expertise across healthcare, education, and public policy. As Chair of the Senate Health Committee, she advocates for equitable healthcare access, housing, and student well-being. Learn more here.
Speakers
avatar for Senator Akilah Weber Pierson

Senator Akilah Weber Pierson

District 39, California State Senate
Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson is a medical doctor, educator, former City Councilmember, San Diego native, wife and mom of four boys – two biological and two stepsons.

Dr. Weber Pierson is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, and she is the founder and past director of the Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. She also served as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics... Read More →
Wednesday September 9, 2026 4:30pm - 5:15pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB
 
Thursday, September 10
 

7:30am PDT

7:30am PDT

9:00am PDT

9:15am PDT

Keynote: CA Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber
Thursday September 10, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Dr. Shirley N. Weber is California’s first Black Secretary of State and has spent decades advancing education, equity, and civil rights. Her extensive career in education and public service has included strengthening educational access, campus climate, and state accountability. Learn more here.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Shirley Weber

Dr. Shirley Weber

California Secretary of State
Thursday September 10, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

9:15am PDT

Keynote: Chris Gethard
Thursday September 10, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT

Renowned comedian, author, and mental health advocate Chris Gethard brings his signature blend of humor and vulnerability to the main stage, sharing insights on human connection, resilience, and navigating mental health struggles.
Speakers
avatar for Chris Gethard

Chris Gethard

Comedian, Actor, and Author, Wellness Together
Chris Gethard is a comedian, podcaster, author, actor, and former television host. He’s been an active performer for over two decades. His work expanded to include mental health advocacy and activism after the release of his 2017 HBO special Career Suicide, in which he detailed... Read More →
Thursday September 10, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

9:15am PDT

Keynote: Dr. Zainab Okolo
Thursday September 10, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Zainab Okolo explores how today’s changing policy landscape is shaping youth mental health and education. Through an inspiring message of purpose and possibility, she’ll show how each of us, regardless of role or title, can help create meaningful change for young people.
Speakers
avatar for Zainab Okolo, Ed.D., LCMFT

Zainab Okolo, Ed.D., LCMFT

Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy & Government Relations, The Jed Foundation
Dr. Zainab Okolo is a seasoned expert in higher education policy and mental health, dedicating her career
to breaking down barriers for students, enabling them to thrive academically and lead fulfilling lives.
Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and... Read More →
Thursday September 10, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Ballroom 20 AB

10:30am PDT

Laughing Together
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Improvised comedy has placed many legendary actors in television shows and movies - but it all started as social work. Laughing Together brings improv back to its roots, providing schools with workshops that allow participants to connect through the power of improvised play, bond through laughter, feel the joy of failure, practice unconditional support, and teach ways to communicate ideas simply and clearly. During our workshop, audience members will have a chance to play games and look at the many ways comedy is a Trojan horse that increases social health.

Continuing Education Session Information:

Course Syllabus | Speaker Resume | Session Flyer | Course Attendance | Course Evaluation

Upon completion of the course, attendance form, and evaluation, you will receive a Confirmation of Attendance Certificate through email. If you do not receive your Confirmation of Attendance Certificate within ten business days, please contact [email protected]

This course meets the qualifications for 1.0 hours of Continuing Education Credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Wellness Together, Inc., Provider #141369, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor Continuing Education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Wellness Together maintains responsibility for this course and its content.
Speakers
avatar for Chris Gethard

Chris Gethard

Comedian, Actor, and Author, Wellness Together
Chris Gethard is a comedian, podcaster, author, actor, and former television host. He’s been an active performer for over two decades. His work expanded to include mental health advocacy and activism after the release of his 2017 HBO special Career Suicide, in which he detailed... Read More →
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
33 A

10:30am PDT

Lighthouse Talk: Self-Care Accountability Buddies: A Collaboration Across the Pacific Ocean
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Join us for a dynamic 12-minute Lighthouse Talk, designed to showcase bold ideas, innovative practices, and inspiring stories shaping the future of student mental health and wellness. This presentation is one of four featured during this one-hour block. Due to the fast-paced format, there will be no formal Q&A, but we encourage you to connect with the speaker directly after the block to continue the conversation.
Speakers
WJ

Wendy J Lum

Workforce Development Hub Director, University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
30 C

10:30am PDT

Lighthouse Talk: Values, Identity & Youth Mental Wellness
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Join us for a dynamic 12-minute Lighthouse Talk, designed to showcase bold ideas, innovative practices, and inspiring stories shaping the future of student mental health and wellness. This presentation is one of four featured during this one-hour block. Due to the fast-paced format, there will be no formal Q&A, but we encourage you to connect with the speaker directly after the block to continue the conversation.
Speakers
avatar for Rudy Regalado

Rudy Regalado

Community Education Manager, PRO Youth
Hello! I serve as a community education manager at PRO youth. For the past eight years, I have worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting young people and reaching their goals. I pulled a masters degree in educational leadership from Sacramento state I have mentor youth supported... Read More →
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
30 C

11:30am PDT

1:15pm PDT

1:20pm PDT

Growing Up Now: Identity, Resilience, and Belonging - How Families, Communities, and Culture Shape the Next Generation
Thursday September 10, 2026 1:20pm - 2:15pm PDT

Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs, Dr. Lisa Damour, and Dr. Nicole Stelter explore how identity, family, culture, and community shape young people’s emotional development and sense of possibility. This timely conversation offers practical, hopeful ways to foster resilience and belonging amid today’s complex challenges.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Nicole Stelter

Dr. Nicole Stelter

Blue Shield of California
avatar for Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs

Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs

Sociologist and Author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Three Mothers
Anna Malaika Tubbs is a New York Times bestselling author and multidisciplinary expert on current and historical understandings of race, gender, and equity. With a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge in addition to... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Lisa Damour

Dr. Lisa Damour

Clinical Psychologist, Bestselling Author, & Scientific Consultant for Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out 2
Dr. Lisa Damour is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and internationally recognized expert on adolescent development and student mental health. For more than two decades, she has worked directly with young people and families while translating psychological research into... Read More →
Thursday September 10, 2026 1:20pm - 2:15pm PDT
Ballroom 20 AB
 
Friday, September 11
 

7:30am PDT

8:00am PDT

Lighthouse Talk: I’m Glad You’re Here: How Unconditional Positive Regard Promotes Well-Being
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Join us for a dynamic 12-minute Lighthouse Talk, designed to showcase bold ideas, innovative practices, and inspiring stories shaping the future of student mental health and wellness. This presentation is one of four featured during this one-hour block. Due to the fast-paced format, there will be no formal Q&A, but we encourage you to connect with the speaker directly after the block to continue the conversation.

Let’s talk about how Unconditional Positive Regard for students and families cultivates a sense of belonging among students.  We’ll engage in a collaborative discussion format to explore the ways in which we may provide care and understanding to three historically marginalized communities (Newcomer students and families, Muslim students and families, & LGBTQIA+ students and families) and, in the process, improve student well-being and school culture and climate.
Speakers
avatar for Kassie Cardona

Kassie Cardona

Pupil Personnel Worker, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
My name is Kassie Cardona and I’m a Pupil Personnel Worker in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. I have worked for 20 years as a Mental Health Professional and Educator and I continue to learn as I serve children and families each day. The best way to explain my professional role is... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
30 E

8:00am PDT

Lighthouse Talk: Mind Out Loud
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Join us for a dynamic 12-minute Lighthouse Talk, designed to showcase bold ideas, innovative practices, and inspiring stories shaping the future of student mental health and wellness. This presentation is one of four featured during this one-hour block. Due to the fast-paced format, there will be no formal Q&A, but we encourage you to connect with the speaker directly after the block to continue the conversation.

Speakers
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
30 E

8:00am PDT

Lighthouse Talk: Navigating the Licensure Bottleneck: Accelerating and Diversifying the Youth Mental Health Workforce
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Join us for a dynamic 12-minute Lighthouse Talk, designed to showcase bold ideas, innovative practices, and inspiring stories shaping the future of student mental health and wellness. This presentation is one of four featured during this one-hour block. Due to the fast-paced format, there will be no formal Q&A, but we encourage you to connect with the speaker directly after the block to continue the conversation.

Communities nationwide face a critical shortage of licensed mental health clinicians—especially in underserved and rural areas—while early career professionals encounter financial, structural, and policy barriers to licensure. This Session shares a multistate, real world solution: the Mental Health Workforce Acceleration Program. Grounded in lived implementation across California and Hawaiʻi, this session will guide participants through a replicable workforce navigation framework that accelerates licensure, centers equity, and strengthens youth serving systems—without losing human connection at the core.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kristina Gordon

Dr. Kristina Gordon

Assistant Professor, California Baptist University
Dr. Kristina West Gordon is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program at California Baptist University. She also serves as the Director of the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Career Accelerator in Southern California, leading efforts to expand... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
30 E

8:00am PDT

Lighthouse Talk: The AI Sandwich & Authentic Student Learning and Leadership
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Join us for a dynamic 12-minute Lighthouse Talk, designed to showcase bold ideas, innovative practices, and inspiring stories shaping the future of student mental health and wellness. This presentation is one of four featured during this one-hour block. Due to the fast-paced format, there will be no formal Q&A, but we encourage you to connect with the speaker directly after the block to continue the conversation.

Generative AI presents a profound challenge to youth mental wellness by tempting students to short-circuit their learning process, subvert their unique voices, and disconnect from their educational communities. To address this urgent issue, this presentation offers an actionable framework grounded in Transformational Leadership and Design Thinking that teaches students how to ethically engage with technology while bringing their authentic selves to their work. Rather than fighting digital trends, attendees will learn how to leverage empathy to understand the underlying pressures driving students toward academic shortcuts, and use innovation to foster safe risk-taking and collaborative problem-solving. The core of this highly interactive session centers on the "AI Sandwich" method—a practical, easily replicable strategy for healthy tech engagement. Participants will discover how to guide students to establish their own ideas and drafts first to build honesty and authenticity (the "Top Bun"), utilize AI strictly as a collaborative brainstorming and refining partner (the "Filling"), and conduct the final edits to retain ultimate ownership and accountability (the "Bottom Bun"). By shifting the focus from digital reliance back to human connection, this evidence-based approach equips educators and clinicians with the immediate tools needed to protect academic integrity, alleviate performance anxiety, and empower the next generation of confident, authentic learners and leaders.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Dave Heitman

Dr. Dave Heitman

Leadership Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, JESSUP UNIVERSITY
Dave is originally from California and has studied and worked in over 30 countries. Dave has worked in higher education since 2001, completing an Ed.D. in Innovation and Leadership from University of the Pacific. Dave is passionate about developing leaders to produce change and build... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
30 E

9:15am PDT

Beyond the Degree: Navigating Your Path as a California Certified Wellness Coach (CWC)
Friday September 11, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
The Challenge: The "Experience Trap" & Youth Distress
College students and recent grads face a frustrating paradox: they are passionate about solving the youth mental health crisis, but entry-level jobs often demand years of clinical experience or expensive master's degrees. Meanwhile, California youth are drowning in stress and isolation, desperately needing relatable, culturally responsive mentors before they reach a clinical crisis point.


The Compass: The CWC Role (The Non-Clinical Revolution)
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) created the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) role specifically to bridge this chasm. It is a free, non-clinical certification for people with Associate (CWC I) or Bachelor's (CWC II) degrees. It validates your lived experience and field hours, allowing you to get paid to deliver critical preventive care (wellness promotion, screenings, and group support) under supportive supervision.

The Map: The Certification Roadmap
A clear, step-by-step framework showing students how to leverage their current classes and practicum hours, navigate the "Registered" status, and step directly into a thriving career in schools or community clinics.
Speakers
avatar for Kimberly Lee

Kimberly Lee

Sr. Director, Operations, Wellness Together
I'm Kim Lee, Senior Director of Operations at Wellness Together. I oversee HR, IT, and internal communications for the organization. Talk to me about what it's actually like to work here, whether you're curious about joining the team as a Mental Health Specialist, becoming a Certified... Read More →
Friday September 11, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
33 B
 
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