Michael Gilmer, dean of students at UW-River Falls, interacts with a student during a Mental Health Mondays event at the university. Gilmer has spent much of his time during his first semester at UWRF helping address programs regarding student mental health. UWRF photo. 
 

Meeting the challenge: New dean of students helps address mental health needs

Listening to students is key to engaging them, Gilmer says 

May 10, 2024 - When Michael Gilmer accepted the job as dean of students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he expected to learn, bit by bit, how to best ensure and enact services to help students find success. 

Gilmer did just that, but at a rapid-fire rate with high-stakes outcomes. Instead of easing into his new position, Gilmer spent his first semester at UW-River Falls urgently working, right from the start, with others to address students’ mental health concerns in the wake of four student suicides during fall semester. The university announced Gilmer’s hiring on Dec. 4, 2023, and he started his job Jan. 9. 

“It was certainly not the way I thought I would begin my job at a new school,” Gilmer recalled. “I thought about how tragic it must have been for this campus to lose four students in such a short amount of time. And my knee-jerk reaction was ‘How can I help?’”

Gilmer got busy collaborating with others on campus to best address student mental health. They met with state and regional mental health experts and as quickly as possible implemented initiatives designed to increase resources and programs to meet student needs. More long-term plans aimed at improving mental health services are being worked on. 

A continued focus on the topic is needed, given mental health challenges many young people across the country face, Gilmer said. The issue is garnering increased attention as May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  

While dealing with mental health challenges can seem daunting at times, Gilmer’s experience had prepared him. Before coming to UW-River Falls, he worked as director of student conduct and academic integrity at the University of Central Florida, the largest university in that state. Unfortunately, student suicides occurred there on an annual basis, he said. 

“My past experiences, dealing with deaths at my previous place of employment, they helped me in a way to deal with what was happening when I started my job here (at UW-River Falls),” Gilmer said. “It was really hard. But we all worked together to do our best to help our students and everyone on campus get through it.”

Gilmer said he was inspired by how the UW-River Falls campus and the surrounding community pulled together as they dealt with the tragedies. 

“Every student’s death here mattered a lot,” he said.

The approach to address students mental health concerns at UW-River Falls has included a purposeful willingness to listen to student perspectives, Gilmer said. Having honest conversations with students and answering their questions has enabled improved student mental health services. He cited changes to Mental Health Mondays, a monthly effort to engage with students around mental health, as an example. 

At a recent Mental Health Mondays event, Gilmer spoke with one student after another about a variety of topics, including what the university can do better in terms of addressing mental health. 

“We’re not afraid to listen,” he said, “and we’re not afraid to admit we don’t have all the answers. By listening to our students, by engaging with them and hearing what they want us to do, we are improving how we can best meet their needs.”

Wes Chapin, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said Gilmer’s engagement with students is symbolic of his commitment to ensuring success for as many students as possible. Gilmer frequently seeks new ways of supporting students and finds additional ways for them to engage with the university. 

“He is dedicated to strengthening the welcoming environment that we embrace for all students, where both student organizations and student activities flourish,” Chapin said of Gilmer. “That is critical to the success of anyone serving as dean of students and vital to a healthy campus environment.”

Elise Peters oversees Mental Health Mondays and other student activities in her role as events and activities coordinator for Student Involvement. She praised Gilmer for his willingness to engage with students and his ability to think outside the box to meet student needs.

“It is exciting to be able to work with Michael and his office to support some of these purposeful efforts to work with students who have specific needs,” Peters said. “He is definitely committed to helping students.”

Gilmer said he was drawn to UW-River Falls because of its relatively small size of about 5,000 students and its close-knit community. After being employed at Florida’s largest university, the idea of working in a place where people are more familiar with each other is appealing, he said. He enjoys being invited to classes, listening to students sing in choir, and talking about student government. He appreciated being asked to judge a recent hog-calling contest on campus. 

“I wanted to work at an institution small enough where you believed you were more than just a number,” Gilmer said. “Everything I found about UW-River Falls is that this is a place where students matter. And I feel like I can play a critical role in helping them know that they matter.”

As spring semester comes to an end, Gilmer is working toward more mental health initiatives, more ways to help students feel connected to the university he said he already feels attached to. Doing so successfully will require continued engagement with students and a willingness to listen to them.

“There are days that are hard for sure,” he said. “But I do this because I love it. I love learning from the students and all that they have to teach us.”

This is the body.