Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Mason researchers connect with community members to develop an app for individuals recovering from opioid use disorder

Shayla Brown — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:39:08 +0000

Mason researchers connect with community members to develop an app for individuals recovering from opioid use disorder Shayla Brown Thu, 03/30/2023 - 14:39

In This Story

Holly Matto, PhD, LCSW-C

Siddhartha Sikdar

Screenshots of the app iCONNECT by Rebecca Leung, Dylan Scarton, Jonathan Mbuya, and Srinath Silla. Photos provided.

��AV graduate student Rebecca Leung is part of a team finding ways to use smart technology in order to help those who are struggling with or recovering from substance use disorder (SUD).

“I have always wanted to use smart technology to help different populations,” said Leung, who is working on her master of social work degree.

Leung is teaming up with other Mason researchers to develop an app called iCONNECT, which is intended to help peer support specialists, individuals in recovery from SUD, and their families connect with the specific resources needed to sustain recovery.

Leung was a 2021-22 fellow in Mason’s National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) program, which is training the next generation of leaders to take on some of the most challenging problems faced by society today. The program, led by Mason researcher Siddhartha Sikdar, is a part of the Center for Adaptive Systems of Brain-Body Interactions (CASBBI) program.

During the fellowship, Leung teamed with Dylan Scarton, a third-year PhD student in neuroscience, and Jonathan Mbuya, a PhD student in computer science. The team calls themselves the Good Troublers, and they are mentored by Mason researcher Holly Matto, as a core CASBBI faculty member and mentor in the NRT program, who studies addiction and recovery.

Matto, who was working on her own app to help with mental disease, told Leung about the program and recommended that she apply for it. “I saw an opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary team to solve a social problem that I was keen on solving,” said Leung. After interviewing with CASBBI faculty Leung was chosen to be part of the cohort. “Fortunately, I met Dylan and Jonathan – who were also motivated to help with the opioid epidemic,” said Leung.

Screenshots of the app iCONNECT by Rebecca Leung, Dylan Scarton, Jonathan Mbuya, and Srinath Silla. Photos provided.

“The app will have immediate local impact on the ways in which peer support specialists, individuals in recovery from substance use, and their families are able to connect with the specific resources needed to sustain recovery,” said Matto.

“If someone needs transportation to get to appointments or they need to find a methadone clinic or inpatient places, we put all the local resources together in the app,” said Leung. “It turns out it's very hard to Google, and even when you go to [the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration] to look for resources, you don't know if they're available or if the address or hours are updated.”

“The three of us have been personally affected by the opioid epidemic in different ways, and we're motivated to try to address that crisis in some form or fashion,” said Scarton. “We're designing the app with accessible user interface considerations, to minimize the number of clicks and present the information very clearly, for anyone not familiar with this domain like a caregiver, family member, concerned friend.”

Working with the nonprofit The Chris Atwood Foundation, the team spoke with multiple peer recovery specialists, individuals who have history with either mental health or substance use issues. These certified peer recovery specialists consult and guide individuals who are struggling with those issues, as well as their family members.

CAF is a nonprofit organization that provides free harm reduction, and recovery support services and resources. Daniel Adams, a certified peer recovery specialist at CAF, is working alongside the Mason research team as they develop iCONNECT.

“Through The Chris Atwood Foundation we realized that a big need of theirs is connecting individuals in recovery with necessary resources,” said Scarton. “That’s why we're currently developing a smartphone application to address that need.”

“People caught up in substance use and trying to recover have limited information about the resources available to them,” said Adams. “As a peer recovery specialist, you always have resources at your fingertips.”

The team has provided the first Android version of the app to community partners for testing. The peer recovery specialists will continue to test out iCONNECT once it is coded to the Apple platform, before being released to a limited number of users in the county for further feedback.

CAF is in the process of developing a peer drop-in center near Mason’s Fairfax Campus for community members to use. Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center also provides resources for individuals dealing with substance use issues on and off campus such as recovery and support meetings.

“It's been a blessing to partner with ��AV,” said Adams. “This app is a tremendous idea and something that I can pass on to the individuals I help and teach them how to be self-reliant in a positive way.”

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doctoral students

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

master of social work

CEC faculty research

National Science Foundation

Mason alumna remembers special gift from esteemed journalist Barbara Walters

Shayla Brown — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:50:33 +0000

Mason alumna remembers special gift from esteemed journalist Barbara Walters Shayla Brown Wed, 02/15/2023 - 11:50

It took Kami Watson-Huyse six years and many jobs on and off campus to get an undergraduate degree at ��AV. Watson-Huyse, BA Speech Communication ’94, was entering her last semester when she found herself out of options and feared that she wouldn’t be able to graduate.

Headshot of Kami Watson-Huyse. Photo provided.

“There were just a lot of really difficult semesters and that particular semester, I was short the money,” said Watson-Huyse. “I didn’t know what I was going to do, and back then there was no such thing as a GoFundMe, you know?”

"I got the news that I was going to get that scholarship, and it was just such a relief,” said Watson-Huyse.

That scholarship was a gift from journalist Barbara Walters who spoke at Mason in 1993 and asked that her speaking fee be donated to a deserving female journalism student.

Thanks to Walters’ scholarship, Watson-Huyse was able to graduate at the end of that semester. Walters, who died in December, was known worldwide for breaking barriers and being the first woman to co-host a U.S. news program.

“I've also got a nice little letter from Barbara Walters here,” said Watson-Huyse. “She said, ‘I was pleased to hear from you and to hear that you've received the Central Fidelity Barbara Walter Scholarship. Congratulations. Your letter made my day. With best wishes,’ and then she signed it.”

Letter from Barbara Walters to Kami Watson-Huyse. Photo provided.

Although Walters wanted the scholarship to go to a female journalism student, there wasn't a journalism major at Mason at the time, but journalism classes were offered to in the Department of Communication.

Mason now offers resources to students who face financial challenges similar to Watson-Huyse's such as the Stay Mason Student Support Fund.

“Stay Mason was created in 2015 to assist students facing unexpected financial hardships and emergencies,” said Maggie Olszewska, the director of the Student Support and Advocacy Center. “Students who meet the basic eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for funding.”

“The center also offers consultations for students who wish to explore their financial well-being and develop a plan for financing their education. Students can request a meeting with the financial well-being staff by filling out the Request Support form,” said Olszewska.

Tribute tweet from Kami Watson-Huyse's Twitter account for Barbara Walters.

Some of Watson-Huyse’s on-campus jobs included being a residential advisor and working as the advertising manager for the student-run newspaper, Broadside, the precursor to The Fourth Estate.

“It was so much fun, and I met so many great friends. I just loved the work,” said Watson-Huyse. “I had this tiny little Mac computer, and it had Adobe PageMaker. We'd create the ads, print them out, and then we'd cut and wax them onto the pages—it’s so old fashioned.”

Her love of advertising and marketing continued to grow throughout her time at Mason.

“I learned that I loved [public relations] because of one of my professors, Steven Gladis,” said Watson-Huyse, who went on to work in D.C. as a director of communications for the Manufactured Housing Institute for 10 years. She started blogging in 2005 and also began working with social media influencers.

“I always look for what I call the magic middle of influencers, people that have really strong devoted communities,” she said. “[Because of my job] I got to do so many great things, like go to the White House when Bill Clinton was president. We filmed in the Oval Office.”

Watson-Huyse is currently the CEO of her own company, Zoetica, and works mostly in health care. She is accredited in Public Relations with the Public Relations Society of America. Watson-Huyse also won the Women Who Mean Business Award from the Washington Business Journal in 2022.

She founded multiple organizations including Social Media Breakfast of Houston, a free grassroots monthly meetup of social media marketing professionals.

She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and three children.

Topics

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Meet the Mason Nation: Shayna Marlowe

Colleen Rich — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:30:56 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Shayna Marlowe Colleen Rich Thu, 02/09/2023 - 11:30

Shayna Marlowe

Job: Assistant Director for Sexual and Interpersonal Violence and Student Support Services, Student Support and Advocacy Center

Shayna Marlowe is assistant director for sexual and interpersonal violence and student support services at Student Support and Advocacy Center at Mason Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

In January 2020, Shayna Marlowe became the first full-time Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) staff member based at Mason Square. Marlowe’s role is unique because she assists both student survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence and students who are experiencing personal concerns that impact their academic success or overall well-being.

Rethinking Well-being and Higher Education: Marlowe’s work with SSAC has made her believe universities can have a great impact on developing stronger people. Encouraging students simply to earn degrees is not enough, she said, Mason graduates should be able to connect with others in empathetic and genuine ways. She proposes institutions place more emphasis on student well-being, which fits Mason’s bolder, more inclusive ideal for higher education. “If we get both pieces together, we're creating the strongest human being for ultimate success in life.”

Knowing there is a support system in place is key to the start of that success. “The best thing I can do is keep figuring out ways to create safe spaces that foster bravery, understanding, and compassion, so that students feel comfortable reaching out for assistance,” Marlowe said.

Toward More Diverse Advocacy: Marlowe’s path to advocacy was influenced by seeing how interpersonal violence can affect Black girls and women and their worldviews. With 10 years of experience as an advocate, she’s built a wealth of knowledge on navigating legal systems, reporting processes, and health care services. Recently she completed a graduate certificate at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution that focused on collaborative community action.

She cites course work at the Carter School and her training with Restorative Arlington for guiding her toward trauma-informed restorative justice practices. Her additional work with Restorative Arlington includes facilitating restorative practices within the Arlington community and trying to bring those practices to universities. “[Advocacy] work needs to move toward restorative practices that intentionally focus on survivor autonomy to create a truly understanding process, so survivors can be at the forefront of that healing process.”

Meeting Students Where They Are: Marlowe said SSAC provides confidential informational and emotional support for anyone impacted by sexual and interpersonal violence, including those involved in Title IX cases; support for those with substance-use recovery needs; and assistance for students experiencing financial needs and food hardship. Some of the center’s many programs include the Stay Mason Fund, Patriots for Recovery peer support group, and Patriot Pantry. This year, Marlowe wants to connect more with other offices and departments, especially those at Mason Square, so they know how to best help students while also supporting each other.

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Meet the Mason Nation

Faculty and Staff News

Mason Square

University Life

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund accepting applications for aid

Colleen Rich — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:58:56 +0000

Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund accepting applications for aid Colleen Rich Wed, 03/23/2022 - 12:58

In response to the growing need within the ��AV community, the Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) recently launched the application for the Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund (UCSSF). The fund is available to Mason students from Ukraine and Russia who are experiencing financial challenges and hardships due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The war has not only affected our students psychologically and emotionally, but also financially. Our international students from the region have in some cases been cut off from family support as their loved ones back home are fighting for survival,” Maggie Olszewska, SSAC director said. “My hope is that with the help of this fund they are able to stay at Mason, graduate and pursue careers in their field.”

Because the banking systems in Ukraine and Russia have been negatively impacted, many students need jobs on top of financial assistance. SSAC offers resource navigation to such campus partners as University Career Services, which can help with resume preparation and the job search, and International Programs and Services, which can assist international students with filing for work authorization.

In addition to financial assistance through UCSSF, students can also receive access to the Patriot Pantry, which provides nonperishable food and hygiene products.

Most important, however, is the availability of counseling services. Olszewska said the impact of war and the uncertainty of what is happening with their family and friends back home will leave a permanent scar. Students can seek support at Counseling and Psychological Services or through the Center for Psychological Services Emotional Support Line.

"Even thought our students are safe physically, some may be living with trauma," she said." Students can and should seek out support services at Mason. Anyone who is worried about a student is encouraged to submit a referral."

UCSSF is made possible through the generous support of ��AV and donors committed to helping students. If you would like to donate to UCSSF, click here.

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Campus News

Students

Ukraine

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center receives grant to help fight sexual violence

Colleen Rich — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:08:51 +0000

Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center receives grant to help fight sexual violence Colleen Rich Thu, 03/17/2022 - 10:08

��AV’s Student Support and Advocacy Center received for the first time a $75,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Health to strengthen its peer education program and prevention efforts in the area of sexual and interpersonal violence. The grant is renewable for four additional years, resulting in a total of $375,000 for five years.

“This grant will allow us to further develop our peer education program and bolster our prevention efforts,” said Maggie Olszewska, the center's director. “The aim of this grant is perfectly aligned with our ultimate goal to help create a safe and healthy campus community.”

As part of the grant, the center will receive technical assistance and training from the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Action Alliance. The center will also be able to connect with campus peer educator offices at other universities and colleges in the commonwealth to support the promotion of sexual and interpersonal violence prevention.

“Education and training are critical components of creating positive change, and this grant will help to support the important work that the Student Support and Advocacy Center provides to the campus community,” said Juliet Blank-Godlove, dean of students.

With the grant funding, the center will also be able to hire two part-time graduate students to help in their efforts to fight sexual and interpersonal violence.

“Through this grant, Mason is going to be better positioned to serve the greater community by becoming a regional hub assisting other universities in addressing their prevention education needs,” Olszewska said.

The center, a University Life unit, is committed to providing an empowering environment for all Mason students to seek support services and to explore healthy life choices. In addition to sexual and interpersonal violence, the center offers direct intervention services and prevention in the areas of financial well-being as well as substance abuse and recovery. The center also assists students encountering barriers to personal success. Additionally, the center houses the Patriot Pantry for Mason students experiencing food insecurity.

The center’s volunteer peer educators are trained in conducting workshops to provide information about preventing violence and establishing healthy relationships and boundaries, along with bystander intervention.

“We want to create change not just on an individual level but on a systemic level,” said Caitlyn Largent, assistant director for sexual and interpersonal violence response, who will serve as the principal investigator for the grant. “The ultimate goal is to eradicate sexual and interpersonal violence, improving the lives of all students.”

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Campus News

University Life

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Student Support and Advocacy Center helps Patriots in need

Colleen Rich — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:00:49 +0000

Student Support and Advocacy Center helps Patriots in need Colleen Rich Thu, 07/30/2020 - 05:00

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University Life

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Well-Being

Campus News

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Mason researchers connect with community members to develop an app for individuals recovering from opioid use disorder

In This Story

Topics

Mason alumna remembers special gift from esteemed journalist Barbara Walters

It took Kami Watson-Huyse six years and many jobs on and off campus to get an undergraduate degree at ����AV. Watson-Huyse, BA Speech Communication ’94, was entering her last semester when she found herself out of options and feared that she wouldn’t be able to graduate.

Topics

Meet the Mason Nation: Shayna Marlowe

Read more Meet the Mason Nation

Shayna Marlowe

Job: Assistant Director for Sexual and Interpersonal Violence and Student Support Services, Student Support and Advocacy Center

Topics

Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund accepting applications for aid

Topics

Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center receives grant to help fight sexual violence

Topics

Student Support and Advocacy Center helps Patriots in need

Topics

It took Kami Watson-Huyse six years and many jobs on and off campus to get an undergraduate degree at ��AV. Watson-Huyse, BA Speech Communication ’94, was entering her last semester when she found herself out of options and feared that she wouldn’t be able to graduate.