SUNY Chancellor King Celebrates Recipients of Third Annual SUNY/OMH Scholarship Program
May 19, 2025
Fifteen Students from Nine SUNY Campuses Awarded
Albany, NY – During Mental Health Awareness Month, State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced 15 students from across nine SUNY campuses have been recognized as recipients of the SUNY/OMH Scholarship Program. The scholarship program was established in August 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul, and is part of SUNY's partnership with New York State's Office of Mental Health (OMH) to strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on serving New Yorkers who may have historically lacked quality mental health care. The program, which distributes scholarships for up to three years per student, also offers paid internships, fee waivers for graduate school applicants, and more to support students in mental health degree programs.
"At SUNY, we are committed to helping more students gain the education they need to be our future healthcare professionals," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The mental health workforce has long struggled with retaining a diverse field of professionals, which we know is essential to providing New Yorkers with the quality care they deserve. That is why we are proud to partner with New York State's Office of Mental Health to help resolve this issue and empower more SUNY students to take on roles within this career path."
SUNY Board of Trustee Eunice A. Lewin said, "Congratulations to the distinguished students selected for the OMH Scholarship. SUNY is proud to provide an affordable education that strives for excellence and provides students with the resources they need to achieve their goals. The scholarship funds announced today will ease the financial commitment that these students, many who are pursuing master's degrees and doctorates, make, so they can focus their efforts on improving mental health outcomes for New York's communities."
OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "Our continuing partnership with SUNY is engaging college-aged students in the exciting opportunities available to them in the field of mental health. The SUNY Mental Health Scholarship Program is opening the door to careers in mental health for a talented and increasingly diverse group of students, which are a critical component in our efforts to build the workforce of tomorrow. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these students will have on our field and on the individuals they will serve throughout their career."
State Senator Samra G. Brouk said, "As Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I am proud of the exceptional students who are being recognized as part of the SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Program. In the legislature, I am seeking to improve mental health literacy in higher education institutions like SUNY. Students, in turn, are demonstrating that mental health matters–and that they are uniquely qualified to join the mental health workforce to serve individuals who are often left in the margins."
State Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, Chair of the Higher Education Committee, said, "I believe that providing funding and pathways for degree completion in New York State is of paramount importance. The scholarship established in August 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul represents an incredible opportunity for 15 deserving students. This $4 million investment over three years will undoubtedly set these students on a trajectory of success. The impactful partnership between the State University of New York and the New York State Office of Mental Health in creating this scholarship is truly commendable."
State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, Chair, Assembly Committee on Mental Health, said, "Expanding access to mental health care starts with building a strong, diverse workforce, and these scholarships are a critical investment in that future. By supporting students from all backgrounds in pursuing careers in mental health, we are strengthening the pipeline of professionals ready to serve communities across New York. I commend SUNY for its continued leadership in addressing the mental health workforce crisis and for providing students with the resources they need to succeed."
State Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles said, "Our state and country are facing a continually escalating mental health crisis compounded by a declining number of mental health professionals. There is also a huge disparity between the current demographic make-up of mental health professionals and the general population, a factor that can greatly impact trust building and long-term success of treatment. This Mental Health Scholarship Pipeline Program, is brilliant and forward thinking facing these challenges head on and creating a pathway to build the next generation of diverse mental health professionals. My only hope is that this is just the beginning of a program with a bright future in our SUNY education system and highlights the states commitment to meet the needs of New Yorkers."
Scholarships were distributed this year to the following students selected for the award:
Doctoral Students
- Vanessa Aryee, University at Albany
- Long Jie Huang, University at Albany
- Jeannie Yamazaki, University at Albany
Master's Students
- Roy Choi, Stony Brook University
- Chenelle Gordon, University at Albany
- Yuliana Henao Laufer, Stony Brook University
- Pakiza Ikram, Stony Brook University
- Charlson Joseph, SUNY Plattsburgh
- Lesly Lopez, SUNY Old Westbury
- Doris Minder, Stony Brook University
- Nilay Samara, SUNY Brockport
- Taniqua Stewart, Binghamton University
- Aishwarya Udayan, SUNY Plattsburgh
- Girgis Welsen, SUNY Downstate
Undergraduate Student
- Patrycja Kulesza, SUNY Oswego
In addition to this program, SUNY is investing nearly $10 million in recurring annual funding to support State-operated campuses in expanding mental health services – which will reach 29 campuses enrolling more than 200,000 students – and is investing $3 million in recurring annual funding to support mental health services at Community Colleges.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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