Beginning July 15, Monmouth College will have a new director of student well-being.
Licensed clinical professional counselor Megan McGruder has been named to the position that helps support Monmouth students’ mental health needs. She’s spent the past nine years in a related role at nearby Knox College.
“We’re fortunate to have Megan join the Monmouth College family,” said Dean of Equity and Well-Being Michelle Merritt. “She brings a wealth of experience and vision to the director of student well-being position. Through education, training and collaborative partnerships, Megan will broaden the net of community support to help students with mental health challenges.”
In her role, McGruder will oversee the delivery of mental health services to Monmouth students, with a focus on a proactive approach to overall campus wellness.
“I’ll be helping connect students to resources, which will continue to include the 24/7 service provided by TimelyCare,” said McGruder. “I managed TimelyCare during my time at Knox, so I’m very familiar with that.”
An online healthcare app, TimelyCare gives students access to multiple resources that support their mental and physical health, including helplines that always remain open.
McGruder will serve as the adviser to the college’s Mental Health Peer Educators program and teach a psychology course related to it. She’ll also teach the 300-level “Theories of Counseling” course.
‘An increase in mental health issues’
The programs and counseling that McGruder will oversee have always been integral to the Monmouth experience, but the need for them has been amplified in recent years.
“It’s important to provide mental health resources,” said McGruder. “There’s been an increase in mental health issues for several years now, especially post-COVID. The pandemic really disrupted important growth skills such as resiliency. Young people are dealing with loneliness, isolation and anxiety, in addition to the stresses of being in college,” such as being away from home and academic or social struggles.
“It’s important to help students connect and feel like they matter,” she said.
A first-generation college student who was in the last graduating class at nearby Warren High School, McGruder was drawn to psychology at Lincoln (Illinois) College because of her “interest in the mind, personalities and behavior.”
She completed her undergraduate degree at Western Illinois University, then earned a master’s degree in education there. She’s pursuing a doctoral degree from Western in counselor education and supervision.
Prior to her time at Knox, McGruder did crisis work at a hospital in Macomb, where she lives. Married with two stepchildren, McGruder said her hobbies include traveling and movies.
***Courtesy of Barry McNamara, Monmouth College***
