Student Support and Counseling Services Rise in the Rankings at UMW

On a sunny autumn afternoon, University of Mary Washington students flock to a table on Campus Walk. While snacking on sandwiches and cookies donated by local businesses, they’re learning about UMW’s Talley Center for Counseling Services and contributing to an increasingly prevalent discussion about mental health on college campuses.

“We’re young adults who are on our own for the first time, and that can be a challenging transition,” said senior James Turgeon, an applied physics major who stopped by Talley Treats. Held on Thursdays throughout October – a month dedicated to mental health awareness and education with events across the globe – the initiative promotes student well-being and connection at a point in the semester that can feel overwhelming to students. “I’m glad to know these resources are here at UMW.”

The enthusiasm surrounding the event helps explain why the University earned national recognition, as #15 for Best Student Support and Counseling Services in Princeton Review’s The Best 391 Colleges guide for 2026.

Talley Center staff Amira Niori (right), Jimmy Nguyen (left) and Debbie Huff (not pictured), along with Marissa Miller (center), director of UMW’s Center for Prevention and Education, hand out cookies and sandwiches on Campus Walk during Talley Treats. Held on Thursdays throughout October, the initiative promotes well-being and connection at a point in the semester that can feel overwhelming to students. Local vendors, including several alumni, provide the treats and gift cards for raffles.

‘Worry Worms’ crocheted by UMW alumna Analisa Ayala ’24, who donated the trinkets to the Talley Center. “Students like to put them on their backpacks to remind others about the Talley Center resources,” said Debbie Huff, the center’s office manager.

During Talley Treats, held every Thursday through October, staff share brochures and other information about the Talley Center’s resources with students, along with stickers, trinkets and fidget toys to help calm them during stressful moments.

Staff Counselor Jimmy Nguyen passes out information about the Talley Center to students while wearing a T-shirt designed by UMW alum Ty Duenas ’16 of Archaic Artisans.

Under new leadership, the Talley Center is building on its strong foundation of providing high-quality clinical care, such as individual consultations, group therapy, crisis intervention and more, at its locations in Lee Hall and Tyler House. Betty Talley ’68, who made a generous naming gift over a decade ago and has continued to support the Talley Center through her philanthropic giving, visited the center earlier this month to meet with its new director, Chad Sims. Together, they discussed his vision for the future of counseling at UMW, bringing a fresh focus on mental health promotion through campus partnerships.

“What drew me to the Talley Center is UMW’s strong commitment to student success and holistic development,” said Sims, who holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Ball State University. He also earned a master’s degree in counseling and counselor education from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Betty Talley ’68, who made a generous gift over a decade ago to name the Talley Center, meets with Chad Sims, the center’s new director. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Sims listens to Talley, who shared that there were limited-to-no resources for mental health when she was a student at Mary Washington in the late 1960s. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Juliette Landphair (left), associate vice president for health and well-being at Mary Washington, shows Betty Talley a copy of Princeton Review’s ‘The Best 391 Colleges’ guide for 2026, which lists Mary Washington at #15 Best Student Support and Counseling Services. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

“The national conversation about well-being has led to an increased willingness among UMW students to pursue treatment or just someone to talk to,” said Juliette Landphair, associate vice president for health and well-being. After serving as UMW’s vice president for student affairs for over a decade, she transitioned to the new role this year, overseeing the Talley Center, Student Health Center, Campus Recreation and Center for Prevention and Education. “Dr. Sims’s holistic approach to mental health and well-being aligns perfectly with what students need and are seeking. We’re so lucky to have him leading the Talley Center at this time.”

Sims previously served as associate director of training at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Christine F. Price Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, where he developed programs to enhance student well-being in a supportive campus environment. He was also a clinician at Virginia Commonwealth University, working to destigmatize mental health among marginalized populations, a priority he hopes to focus on at Mary Washington.

“These experiences taught me the importance of building strong, intentional partnerships across campus to meet students’ diverse needs,” said Sims, who plans to increase accessibility, expand digital outreach and enhance virtual counseling services through TimelyCare. He also aims to provide more professional development opportunities for his team of six clinicians and two office administrators. “I’m so impressed with their desire to learn and build upon the skills they’ve already acquired.”

Sims came to UMW after serving as associate director of training at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Christine F. Price Center for Counseling and Psychological Services and as a clinician at Virginia Commonwealth University. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Talley chats with Katie Turcotte, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement and executive director of the UMW Foundation, as well as Talley Center Director Chad Sims. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Betty Talley ’68 (center), who made the generous gift to name the Talley Center over a decade ago, along with Talley Center staff. From left: Chad Sims, Jimmy Nguyen, Rebekah Michael, Glorya Askew, Betty Talley, Krysta Thomas, Melissa Palguta, Debbie Huff and Demi Thompson. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Foreground: Betty Talley (left) chats with Melissa Palguta, a staff counselor in the Talley Center. Background: Glorya Askew (left), a licensed clinical social worker and trainee, and Krysta Thomas, a staff counselor, converse. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

“We chose to support the two institutions that gave us our initial start in our careers,” Talley said. She and her late husband, Page, were both lifelong counselors and educators. When they developed their estate plans, they established endowments to support the counseling centers at Mary Washington and his alma mater, Western Kentucky University. Photo by K Pearlman Photography.

Talley said there was limited-to-no access to mental health care when she was a college student in the late 1960s. After earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology, she received a master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University, then embarked on a counseling career spanning four decades.

When she and late husband Page, also a lifelong counselor and educator, developed their estate plans, they established endowments to support the counseling centers at Mary Washington and his alma mater, Western Kentucky University.

“We chose to support the two institutions that gave us our initial start in our careers,” said Talley, who requested that “psychological” not be included in the name, to reduce stigmas that often hinder students from seeking mental health care.

Her generosity has inspired both the Class of 1970 and a group of 2010 graduates to establish their own endowments to support the Talley Center.

“After spending 45 years as a counselor in public education,” she said, “to see counseling services at UMW thrive in an environment where services are so needed is such a fulfilling end to my career.”

This story originally ran on Giving.umw.edu. For more information about estate planning, visit https://umw.giftlegacy.com/ or contact Executive Director of Gift Planning and Major Gifts Jeremy Vaughn ’08 at jvaughn@umw.edu or 540-654-2063.