Dear Readers and Listeners:
As we move into 2026, I have been reflecting on the year’s worth of stories we have been honored to share in LearningWell. So much of LearningWell’s coverage mirrors what influences your work supporting student flourishing. Here’s a reference to some of the top stories that captured those struggles and gains.
2025 may be remembered as one of the most disruptive years in higher education, set apart by numerous drivers of uncertainty and anxiety, all of which influenced campus wellbeing. “Without a Net,” “A Voice for High-Needs Students,”and “Uncertainty Weighs on Mental Health Researchers” were some of our stories that captured those dynamics, including the impact of federal upheaval on financial distress, equity initiatives, and research.
Student mental health issues remained at the forefront of higher education concerns and policies. At LearningWell, we tracked the latest national data in student wellbeing, while delving into the key factors at play: We heard about the influence of social media from psychologist Jean Twenge and of A.I. from reporter Beth McMurtry. Reflections from students and recent graduates offered first-hand insight into the mounting pressures they’re feeling. And we acknowledged the continued rise of mental health and wellbeing among institutional priorities, covering the Princeton Review’s Campus Mental Health Survey and The Wall Street Journal’s use of the Human Flourishing Project’sflourishing scale to rank the best colleges.
But amidst these challenges, resilience, perseverance and innovation abounded. Practitioners and administrators across the country began thinking more holistically about student mental health, focusing on population outcomes, preventative strategies, and curricular and co-curricular partnerships, as reflected in these articles: “Leading the Next Chapter of College Mental Health,” “New Thinking in College Student Mental Health,” “Be REAL,” and “Experience U.”
Perhaps the best way of chronicling this progress in student-centered education is by telling the stories of the people doing this work and the places where it is unfolding. The institutions within the LearningWell Coalition continue to forge new programs and pedagogies aimed at preparing students to flourish in life and work — schools like Lehigh University, Roanoke College, Boston College and the University of Utah, among others.
Character education has emerged as a constructive pathway toward human development goals, like curiosity, empathy, and intellectual integrity. LearningWell has featured a number of these programs set in unusual contexts, such as sports fandoms, cultural reconciliation, global peacebuilding, and intellectual virtues.
As we look forward to another year of telling your stories, a sincere thank you for supporting ours at LearningWell magazine.
All the best for a great new year!
Marjorie Malpiede, Editor-in-Chief
You can reach LearningWell Editor-in-Chief Marjorie Malpiede at mmalpiede@learningwellmag.org with comments, ideas, or tips.