Letter From ACHF Chair Michael Huey, MD
Greetings, College Health and Well-being Colleagues;
It is difficult to believe that the fall semester is already here! It seems like only yesterday that we were walking on the beach or hiking in the mountains.
For those of us lucky enough to work at colleges and universities, a new school year has barely begun. And yet, we are already planning for flu season or mental health crises that occur during finals week or spring semester programming challenges. Why is that? Why do we spend so much time thinking about the future when there is so much to do in the present?
I guess it is an occupational hazard. College health and well-being is, by its very nature, future focused. Students are with us for a relatively short and defined period of time. Our goal is to both keep them healthy now and to help prepare them for future success and a healthy life. So, we always have one eye on the presenting problem and one eye on the future.
Your American College Health Foundation is a lot like that. Your generous gifts to ACHF provide immediate funding for ACHA and ACHF educational programming, including the Annual Meeting, as well as ACHF grants and awards. But your gifts also fund projects and initiatives focused on the future, such as immunization practices and environmental factors. Gifts to ACHF also make a significant contribution to the ACHA mission and strategic priorities.
In this Fall 2026 ACHF Impact Newsletter, you can learn more about Foundation projects, grant programs, and awards. You can read about why past and current donors have chosen to contribute to the future health and well-being of college students and our college communities. You also will hear some exciting news: the ACHF Guide for Travel Health Practices is being translated into Japanese!
So, get started reading the ACHF Impact right now. Or, if you prefer, you can focus on it in the future. Both approaches work in college health.
Yours in Health and Well-being,
Michael Huey, MD, FACHA
Chair, American College Health Foundation Board of Directors
Emory University School of Medicine and Student Health Services (retired)
Consultant, ACHA College Health and Wellness Consulting
Community College Vending Machine Grant Program
ACHF, in partnership with the American Society for Emergency Contraception (ASEC) and with generous support from a private donor, is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Community College Vending Machine Grant Program.
Meet the 2026 ACHF Award and Scholarship Recipients
Each year, ACHF awards several grants that help ACHA members build and sustain programs that improve campus well-being and access to care. ACHA also offers travel funding and scholarships to help students and professionals attend the ACHA Annual Meeting. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, in 2026, we awarded six Student Travel Awards, two College Well-Being Awards, one TKoster Charitable Innovative Health Care Award, one Stephan D. Weiss Student Mental Health Award, and one Weiss Writing Prize. Learn about each the award recipients, the impactful work they are doing, and their aspirations for the future of college health and well-being.
We’ll start accepting nominations for 2027 awards and scholarships later this month; watch your inbox for an announcement.
Donor Spotlight: Gary MacLachlan
Gary and his wife Kathleen (Kathy) MacLachlan have been long-time supporters of ACHA and ACHF. In December 2018, Kathy passed away, and in 2019, the MacLachlan family created the ACHF Kathy Mac Scholar Funding Opportunity in her memory. The fund provides scholarships to nurse and nurse practitioners to partially offset travel expenses and ACHA Annual Meeting costs. In this donor spotlight, Gary shares why he supports ACHF.
Your Legacy Can Change Lives
A planned gift is one of the most powerful ways to support ACHF’s mission for years to come. Through a bequest in your will, trust, retirement account, or life insurance policy, you can make a significant impact without affecting your finances today.
Planned giving is a simple and thoughtful way to invest in the future of our college communities. These gifts provide a reliable source of support, allowing ACHF to confidently fund innovative programs, expand opportunities, and meet emerging needs.
Together, we can create a stronger future through the power of planned giving.
Our Legacy Society members are empowered to create a lasting legacy that reflects their values and passion for student health and well-being. To join the ACHF Legacy Society, please download the Declaration of Intent Form.
An Early-Career Researcher Discovers New Perspectives and Methodologies at the ACHA Annual Meeting
Chidimma Okoli is a student at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Okoli is a Graduate Research Assistant, Instructor of Record Campus pantry volunteer, and Swipe Out Hunger Tabling volunteer.
As a 4th-year Epidemiology PhD student, her academic work and service experiences have centered on improving college student health outcomes, particularly in relation to food insecurity, mental health, and behavioral health disparities among minority populations, including international students and student parents. Here she shares her thoughts on receiving the 2026 Student Travel Award and attending the ACHA Annual Meeting in Denver.
ACHF Travel Health Practices Guide Will Soon Be Available in Japanese
The American College Health Foundation’s (ACHF) A Guide for Travel Health Practices at Institutions of Higher Education will soon be available in Japanese, expanding access to the resource for higher education and health professionals in Japan.
Originally developed for U.S. colleges and universities, the Guide provides practical information and recommendations to help institutions strengthen travel health practices and better prepare students for international experiences. The Japanese translation grew out of a longstanding relationship with the Japan University Health Association (JUHA) and a shared interest in making travel health resources more accessible across global higher education communities.
At ACHA 2026, Gaining a Deeper Understanding of How Institutions Can Support Student Well-Being
Sochi Ikemefuna is an MBA student with a concentration in health administration at the Texas State University. Ikemefuna values data-driven decision-making as a critical tool for improving health services and outcomes on college campuses. Ikemefuna received a 2026 ACHF Travel Award to attend the ACHA Annual Meeting in Denver. She shares what made the meeting meaningful for her.
Give Monthly. Change Lives Daily.
Every student deserves access to the resources and support that promote health, well-being, and success.
Recurring gifts are one of the most powerful ways to support the Foundation’s mission. Your monthly, biweekly, quarterly, or annual contribution helps fund innovative programs, mini-grants, educational opportunities, and professional development initiatives that strengthen student wellness nationwide.
By choosing a recurring gift, you’ll maximize your impact while providing a steady, predictable stream of support that helps us deliver critical resources whenever they are needed most.
Make your commitment today and help build a healthier future for students everywhere.
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