Cornell University has received a generous $20 million donation from John and Melissa Ceriale, parents of Cornell alumni, to improve mental health services on its Ithaca campus. This significant gift will fund the placement of embedded therapists in various schools and colleges and significantly expand a well-being coaching program for all students.
In recognition of this contribution, the building housing Cornell Health will be named The Ceriale Center for Cornell Health. This naming was approved on October 17 by the Cornell Board of Trustees’ executive committee.
“The university is grateful to the Ceriale family for their extraordinary generosity to further Cornell’s commitment to our students’ health,” said Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff. “Mental health support has been and continues to be a priority at Cornell. This gift will help the university augment our comprehensive, campus-wide public health approach to mental health and well-being.”
The donation is made through the Melissa and John V. Ceriale Family Foundation, for which the couple serves as trustees. John Ceriale is also a member of the Cornell Board of Trustees. The Ceriales have four children who are alumni of Cornell: Sheena Thomas, J.D. ’15; Christy Ceriale ’16; Robby Ceriale ’18; and Jack Ceriale ’23.
Melissa Ceriale emphasized the importance of changing the perception around mental health, stating that seeking support has long been stigmatized. “It is our hope that with this gift we can enhance the culture of acceptance and availability around mental health services at Cornell, providing students and faculty with the tools to recognize and address the needs of those in distress in a caring and compassionate manner,” she said. “We hope that by supporting efforts to address mental health in a substantive way, Cornell can continue to set an example for institutions of higher learning everywhere.”
The donation will bolster two essential programs at the university. It will facilitate the hiring of new full-time therapists to be embedded within Cornell’s undergraduate colleges and graduate and professional schools. Additionally, it will significantly increase the number of well-being coaches—trained Cornell employees dedicated to helping students achieve their personal and professional goals—across the Ithaca campus.
Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life, noted that this expansion ensures all Cornell students—undergraduate, graduate, and professional—can access specialized mental health care and coaching.
The embedded therapists will provide various services, including individual counseling, psychoeducational support, mental health guidance related to academic stress, and connections to campus resources. By placing therapists within colleges and schools, students will have easier access to holistic mental health support tailored to their specific academic environments.
“This remarkable gift from the Ceriale family—of which I am so grateful—will serve as a powerful catalyst, laying the groundwork for future progress and elevating the student experience across our campus,” Lombardi said. “I look forward to seeing the impact of these resources as they enhance our support for students and energize the programs already driving student well-being and success.”
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