The Naveed Arif Iqball Keynote Lecture highlights the work of individuals advancing understanding and improving college student mental health. The lecture is held annually at the Mental Health on College Campuses conference. This year, we are honored to host Jennifer Wallace, founder of The Mattering Institute and co-founder of The Mattering Movement, for her presentation titled "The Mattering Campus: Building an Ecosystem Where Everyone Feels Valued." The Mattering Campus is built on a simple idea: students thrive when they feel they matter. Despite being more connected than ever, many students feel lonely, anxious, and disengaged. Seen through a mattering lens, these aren’t separate crises but signs of the same problem: namely, that students don’t feel seen, needed, or significant. This talk explores how campuses can intentionally rebuild mattering at every stage of the student journey—from orientation to graduation. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend. CE credit available for social workers!

The support for this lecture is provided by the Naveed Arif Iqball Mental Health Advocacy Endowment Fund, established by Arif Iqball of Kyoto, Japan, in memory of his son, Naveed, who sadly lost his battle with depression in 2019. He believed stigma prevented his son from seeking treatment or sharing his struggles with his family and friends. Through this lecture, Mr. Iqball aims to raise awareness of student mental health and reduce stigma across our communities.