Critical Conversations Series

2019 NGLA Critical Conversations Series

NGLA is excited to announce our Critical Conversations Series for the 2019 NGLA Annual Conference!

This program is five concurrent programs attendees have the opportunity to attend on Friday, March 1, 2019 from 10:30am - 12:00pm.

This series of presentations is intended to engage the audience with topics that are viewed as “critical” to fraternity and sorority life in today’s context. The program format is approximately 60 minutes of content with the remaining time available for in-session application of concepts. Facilitated activities may include peer-to-peer interaction, experience-based activities, and reflection exercises.

The Critical Conversations Series is sponsored by Order of Omega.

Why Mental Health Matters

Colleen Coffey
Speaker and Trainer, Active Minds / Phired Up Productions

It is estimated that 20% of college students each year will deal with a diagnosed mental health disorder. All of us struggle with mental health issues at some point in our lives. This program highlights one woman's story of struggle and survival dealing with mental illness and how fraternity and sorority membership can save a life. Our chapters should be the vessel for open dialogue about these issues. In this workshop you will learn warning signs and how to approach members that are struggling. Our chapters can and should be a place where care comes first and people feel safe. This experience will make you laugh and think and feel more confident that you are not alone and that you can take action to help others and yourself lead a complete and healthy life.

Presenter Biography

Colleen Coffey, EdD is a seasoned speaker and mental health advocate. For over a decade, she has been speaking life into audiences and organizations across the country. Colleen has worked with the renowned programming company, Phired Up Productions, for the last 10 years, and currently serves as a trainer with a special interest in organizational recruitment, retention, and relationship focused training. Colleen was also instrumental in the creation and training of the Active Minds Speakers Bureau, serving as a leader in the Active Minds/National Mental Health Awareness Campaign bureau merger.

Colleen has a degree in Social Work from Belmont University, a Master’s Degree in Student Affairs from Eastern Illinois University, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University. She has served as principle investigator on over 10 research projects including a large project evaluating the impact of mental health programming on college students. She has also studied retention and exit voice loyalty among fraternity and sorority members and has special interests in program evaluation, qualitative research, fraternity and sorority recruitment and retention practices, and member/employee efficacy. Colleen is a published author and served as a volunteer advisor to fraternity and sorority chapters for eight years.

Colleen is the mother of three young children, the oldest of whom had a heart transplant at the age of 3. She is a passionate advocate for organ donation, parent-doctor relationships, and congenital heart disease research, and has navigated motherhood against some remarkable odds. She is an active blogger, an avid student and teacher of yoga and Pilates, a dater of her husband whom she has loved for over half her life, and mentor to a variety of young professionals in many different fields. Colleen's presence is appreciated as a loving member at South End United Methodist Church and a parent at High Hopes Inclusive Preschool and Therapy Center.

Dr. Coffey challenges her audiences and clients to make a difference, with genuine warmth and strong regard for each and every person listening to her. Her presence on stage and in any organization is contagious, welcoming, and impactful and, in some instances, has proven to be life-saving.