Ceriale family foundation $20M gift will support student mental health

A $20 million gift from Cornellian parents John and Melissa Ceriale will fund the placement of embedded therapists in Cornell's Ithaca campus schools and colleges, and will significantly expand a well-being coaching program for all students.

In recognition of the gift, the building that houses Cornell Healthwill be named The Ceriale Center for Cornell Health. The naming was approved Oct. 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," Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff said. "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 gift is from the Melissa and John V. Ceriale Family Foundation, for which the Ceriales serve as trustees. John Ceriale is also a member of the Cornell Board of Trustees. The couple have four children who are Cornell alumni: Sheena Thomas, J.D. '15; Christy Ceriale '16; Robby Ceriale '18; and Jack Ceriale '23.

For too long, Melissa Ceriale said, seeking mental health support has been seen as a sign of weakness and shame, depriving those in need of critical mental health services.

"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."

This gift will expand two current pivotal programs. It will facilitate the recruitment of new, full-time therapists who will be placed in Cornell's undergraduate colleges and graduate and professional schools. And it will engage significantly more well-being coaches - trained Cornell employees who help students achieve their personal and professional goals - across the Ithaca campus.

The expansion of these programs ensures access for all Cornell students - undergraduate, graduate and professional - to receive meaningful, specialized mental health care and coaching, said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life.

The college and school therapists will provide a range of services, including individual counseling, psychoeducational support, mental health guidance related to academic stressors, and connections to campus and other resources.

Embedding a therapist in colleges and schools will give students easier access to holistic mental health support; enable the therapists to understand the college or school's culture and mental health needs; and ensure that faculty and staff receive the therapist's timely and proactive guidance.

"This remarkable gift from the Ceriale family - for 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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