Counseling Center Has Long-Standing History of Mental Health Support
The 2024-25 Springfield College Counseling Center staff.
By: Damon Markiewicz
Springfield College continues to be a progressive leader within higher education when it comes to offering mental health support and awareness programs for the entire campus community. The recent successes of programs like Pride Cares, Campus Cares, and Fresh Check Day, represent a continued commitment to mental health support that has been a constant for many decades, and is deeply rooted in our Humanics philosophy.
For alumnus Dr. Dick Whiting ’66, G’68, he’s had the pleasure of witnessing first-hand the growth of mental health support offered to students for more than 40 years. Whiting was named the director of the Springfield College Counseling Center in 1970, and during the next four decades, he would help lead the growth of mental health support services offered on the campus. Whiting is a proud double alumnus of the College, earning his bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and receiving a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.
“I really got involved with the counseling center when Jack Costello ’57, G’58, was named the dean of students,” explained Whiting, who was also the starting tackle on the 1965 undefeated Springfield College football team, and residence director of Lakeside Hall. “He was looking to expand the Counseling Center services and have it be a part of the Student Affairs office. I had developed a very good working relationship with Jack during my time as a student. Following my graduation in 1968, I received a commission in the United States Public Health Service, and I began working at the Federal Narcotic Office in Kentucky. During a visit back to campus, Jack asked me if I would be interested in becoming the Counseling Center director at the College.”
When Costello was named the dean of students prior to the start of the 1968-69 academic year, it was his mission to increase mental health support services for students. Previously, Counseling Center support was mainly offered as a branch within the Psychology Department. Costello was determined to have a full-time Counseling Center, and he knew Whiting was the perfect person for the job. It was the beginning of a 40-year career for Whiting that just kept evolving with the times.
“The mental health support services were really expanding during that time, and I was proud to come back to the College and be a part of it,” explained Whiting. “It started with myself and three graduate students, and we really just started with a lot of outreach to students on the campus. Building those connections and allowing them to feel comfortable to ask for support.”
As part of Whiting’s commitment to building awareness for the Counseling Center, he would meet with residence directors, athletic teams, student groups, and he would even try out new sports he hadn’t experienced before.
“We really wanted to build up awareness, and also establish trust with the students,” explained Whiting. “Along with attending Residence Life meetings, and attending athletic team practices, I also joined the rugby team as a way to have conversations with students. The support we were offering, and continues to be offered, is all about connections.”
As Whiting and his team of students started to gain momentum, the demand for services also grew as well. The time was not only right to expand office space, but there was also a commitment to start hiring more professional staff.
“The connections were working, and more students were feeling comfortable in taking advantage of the services being offered,” explained Whiting. “We were adding staff, and we had a great team that included Terry Vecchio, Ann Whitall, G'98, Richard Fleming, G’93, Gary Enright ’79, G’87, and many others. We were also getting help from numerous graduate students.”
Together, the entire Counseling Center team would help lead a culture that was built on trust with the students. For Whiting, it’s not about diagnosing a student, it’s more about finding that common understanding of why they are feeling a certain way.
“The connections you build with the students, they really are special, and it never stops,” explained Whiting. “It feels like you are their coach in a way, and when you see the impact, you can have and the guidance you can provide, it’s a great feeling to witness the progress.”
As Whiting transitioned into retirement in 2010, the search was on to find Whiting’s replacement. In 2012, the baton was passed to the current Counseling Center Director Dr. Brian Krylowicz. Similar to Whiting’s vision, Krylowicz also brought to campus a mission of establishing strong relationships with the students, and growing the services that are offered.
Krylowicz’s innovative approach has been on display since his arrival on campus. In 2014, Fresh Check Day was introduced to the campus community, an annual event that highlights mental health resources and coping strategies in a setting that includes interactive expo booths, free food, entertainment, and exciting prizes and giveaways. Springfield College was one of the first colleges in the country to adopt this interactive type of mental health support and awareness. Collaborating with Springfield College Director of Campus Recreation and Health Promotion Christine Johnston, Krylowicz has made sure Fresh Check Day has remained an annual event on the campus.
“For us, it’s destigmatizing mental health and making sure that everybody knows that there’s a lot of support on our campus,” explained Krylowicz. “Building on the history of our Counseling Center’s mission to establish comfort in our students to ask for help, taking away stereotypes and the barriers that get in the way of working on your mental health is very important.”
The establishment of Fresh Check Day allowed Krylowicz to build a strong friendship with alumnus Tom Steen ’78, and Marisa Giarnella-Porco, who co-founded the Jordan Porco Foundation in 2011. The Jordan Porco Foundation established Fresh Check Day on college campuses throughout the country, and remains committed to preventing suicide nationwide in the high school, college, and college-entry student population. During this year’s 10th anniversary of Fresh Check Day, Krylowicz was able to welcome Steen, Steen’s wife Tina and sister Cindy back to Alden Street. In addition, Giarnella-Porco also attended this year’s milestone event.
“We are so appreciative of the Steen family and establishment of the ‘The Hope Fund,’ which provides support for mental health advocacy at Springfield College and assists with Fresh Check Day,” explained Krylowicz.
Steen also explained, “The Hope Fund was created a few years after my own son Tyler passed away from suicide, and our family really thought it was important to try and honor him with this endowed fund. We need to continue to be open about mental health, and supporting events like this is all about helping students understand that your mental health is just as important as your physical health."
In addition to Steen’s support of Fresh Check Day, he also has been a supporter of the Pride Cares campus initiative, which uses a peer-to-peer model to engage and support students who may be experiencing a mental health challenge. To Steen’s delight, Pride Cares is an example of constant collaboration that focuses on using all of the support systems available. Through the adoption of Pride Cares, Krylowicz, Johnston, Counseling Center staff member Lauren Gray, Exercise Science Professor Adam Feit, and faculty emeritus Bob Accorsi, all continue to ensure that there is a mission to equip students with skills to assist their peers in need. As a result of the student model being so successful, the creation of a support system for faculty and staff has also been introduced in the form of Campus Cares.
“The College’s commitment to mental health awareness and support remains at the forefront of everything we do,” added Krylowicz. “Starting with the great work of Dick Whiting, we have been determined to keep building our support outreaches to our campus community, and make sure they have the best support possible.”
And anytime Whiting returns to campus, he can smile at the fact that what was established almost 50 years ago, is still going strong in an environment that is always focused on serving others.
“I love the fact that the College remains as dedicated as ever to helping people,” added Whiting. “That’s really what Springfield College is all about, living our mission.”
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