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.
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 earlier this month to meet with its new director, Dr. 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.
“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.”
Betty 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 Betty, 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.”
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.
-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04
