Mental Health Summit Keynote

Recognizing that connection is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health, Tiffin University and Heidelberg University are partnering to present the 2026 Mental Health Summit on Thursday, Sept. 10 – National Suicide Prevention Day.

The two universities will host a day of programming around the theme Connection and Belonging, bringing together college students and local high school students for education, conversation, and community-building, with the goal of promoting mental wellness and suicide prevention.

The day will begin at Tiffin University, where nationally recognized psychologist, author, and connection expert Dr. Marisa G. Franco will deliver the summit keynote from 12:30-2 p.m. in Heminger Center. Heidelberg students will have a shuttle bus available to drive them to and from the keynote at Tiffin University. The pick-up location is at the front doors of Saurwein on Rebecca Street. The shuttle will do rotations starting at 11:30 a.m. The final shuttle will leave campus for Tiffin University at 12:15 p.m.

The summit will conclude at Heidelberg's Frann's Fieldhouse with Dragon Princes: After Hours. Two Campuses. One Night. From 7-9 p.m., students from both campuses will gather for an interactive social event featuring inflatables, bingo, an ice cream truck, prizes and other activities designed to encourage conversation, friendship and community.

A leading expert on human connection, TED speaker and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Marisa G. Franco helps individuals and organizations understand how meaningful relationships improve mental health and overall well-being. A psychologist, professor and nationally recognized connection expert, Dr. Franco has studied social connection through research funded by the National Institutes of Health and writes about relationships and belonging for Psychology Today.

Known for translating complex research into practical, actionable advice, Dr. Franco has delivered presentations for organizations including Lyft, Comcast, HarperCollins, the University of California, Berkeley, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Franco is the author of the New York Times bestseller Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends. Her forthcoming book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment, will be released in September. She has been featured as an expert on human connection by The New York Times, The Telegraph, Vice, NPR and Good Morning America.

A graduate of New York University, she earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland.