Strong BRAIN Institute

04/30/2026

04/28/2026

Join the ETSU Strong BRAIN Institute in welcoming Kylan Hadley, MSSW, Public Health Manager of Resilient Communities and PACEs Education, Metro Public Health Department, Nashville and Davidson County, as she presents Two Cities, One Mission: A Resilience Driven Approach to Ending Community Violence. Learn how Metro Nashville Public Health and Miami's Miller School of Medicine Trauma Hospital are transforming trauma response into violence prevention through a resilience-driven, public health approach. The presentation is free via Zoom; however, registration is required. https://ow.ly/XkY350YNxFm

04/28/2026

The 2026 first-quarter issue of Connections—the SBI newsletter—is hot off the press! This edition is packed with updates, highlights, and insights showcasing the impactful work and achievements across our SBI community. Take a moment to explore what’s new and see how we’re continuing to make a difference. Enjoy!

https://ow.ly/WWTO50YR2AF

04/24/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE! Join us at the Insight Café for a conversation with Robert Pack, PhD, MPH, who serves as the Executive Vice Provost at East Tennessee State University and as a Professor of Community and Behavioral Health in the ETSU College of Public Health. He is the Director of the ETSU Addiction Science Center and Co-Director of the Opioids Research Consortium of Central Appalachia.

Spotify: https://ow.ly/3ePR50YNz22

Amazon: https://ow.ly/uNGa50YNz20

Apple: https://ow.ly/3PgN50YNz26

04/21/2026

Join the ETSU Strong BRAIN Institute in welcoming Kylan Hadley, MSSW, Public Health Manager of Resilient Communities and PACEs Education, Metro Public Health Department, Nashville and Davidson County, as she presents Two Cities, One Mission: A Resilience Driven Approach to Ending Community Violence. Learn how Netro Nashville Public Health and Miami's Miller School of Medicine Trauma Hospital are transforming trauma response into violence prevention through a resilience-driven, public health approach. The presentation is free via Zoom; however, registration is required. https://ow.ly/XkY350YNxFm

04/13/2026

Congratulations to Jessica Templeton!

Jessica Templeton, an SBI member and Psychology graduate assistant of Dr. Wally Dixon, was recently recognized with two prestigious honors: the Excellence in Service Award from the ETSU Department of Psychology and the Outstanding Thesis in Social Science and Education Award from the ETSU Graduate School.

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes graduate students who have made significant contributions to the department, university, and broader community through service. The Outstanding Thesis Award is presented annually to one graduate student in this category and celebrates exceptional research, scholarly achievement, and overall excellence in graduate education.

Reflecting on the recognition, Jessica shared:

“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to receive both of these awards. Together, they reflect the service and research experiences that have shaped my time at ETSU—from leading Students STRONG and facilitating trauma-informed initiatives to conducting research on early childhood experiences and how they influence later outcomes. I’m thankful for the opportunity to contribute to work that supports students, the campus community, and the broader region, and for the many people who supported me along the way.”

We are proud to celebrate Jessica and the meaningful impact she continues to make through her service and research.

04/02/2026

https://johnsoncitypress.com/news/366097/etsu-study-examines-covids-impact-on-early-childhood/

An East Tennessee State University research team is surveying parents to better understand how pandemic-related stress and support systems affected early childhood development.

03/31/2026

Students STRONG, the ETSU Strong BRAIN Institute sponsored campus organization, is distributing kindness BINGO cards across the campus for foster kindness during the final weeks of the semester. Take a moment to scan the QR code to share your anonymous acts of kindness or bring a completed BINGO card to any Students STRONG event for a prize!

03/24/2026

NEW PODCAST EDITION. Natural Connections and Their Holistic Benefits. Join us in welcoming Dr. Bethany Novotny, Associate Professor in Counseling and Human Services at East Tennessee State University and coordinator of the Nature-Based Therapy Graduate Certificate to the Insight Café: An SBI podcast.
Dr. Novotny will share insights on our connection to the natural world, how we can connect with nature within ourselves, and how our emotional experiences may be linked to environmental grief.
Spotify: https://ow.ly/5wL550YvTN3
Amazon: https://ow.ly/QuY750YvTN4
Apple Podcasts: https://ow.ly/AM2K50YvTN6