MAC director selected for Harvard Leadership Institute

BOSTON -- Dr. Meagan McBride, Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) program at Heidelberg, was selected to attend the inaugural B.R.A.V.E. Institute at the Harvard Graduate School of Education this May. The intensive, invitation-only institute brought together educators, advocates, and leaders from across the country for three days of deep training on Building Resilience, Advocacy, Voice, and Engagement.

Led by Harvard professor and award-winning educator Dr. Timothy Patrick McCarthy, the B.R.A.V.E. Institute featured an extraordinary lineup of national and international experts, including:
•    Juliette Kayyem, former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security and national crisis response leader
•    Whitney Benns, Harvard Law faculty and negotiation expert
•    Cornell William Brooks, former president of the NAACP and civil rights attorney
•    Diane Paulus, Tony Award–winning director and creative strategist
•    A keynote discussion with Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, on leading with empathy in the face of terrorism and crisis

Each day focused on critical skills for today’s educational and mental health leaders: ethical advocacy, effective crisis response, courageous communication, and inclusive leadership.

“The goal of the B.R.A.V.E. Institute is to prepare leaders to meet this moment—not only with expertise, but with empathy, action, and a commitment to equity,” McCarthy shared during the closing session.

Meagan’s participation was supported through her dual role as MAC program director and a community mental health advocate. “Representing Heidelberg at this level of conversation is a testament to the kind of impact our institution is making — not just regionally, but nationally,” she said. “Our work in counseling, advocacy, and education intersects with some of the most pressing challenges of our time. It’s essential we prepare students for more than just licensure. We’re preparing them for leadership.”

Heidelberg’s MAC program is grounded in clinical excellence, social justice, and real-world impact. Through funding from the HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce grant, MAC students have opportunities to engage in hands-on learning, community partnerships, and professional development experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

Interested in where a counseling degree can take you? Learn more about the MAC program.