Melissa Grinslade, LCSW

2026 RECIPIENT

ACHF College Well-Being Award

“Rooted in Awareness”

Melissa Grinslade, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in mental health and higher education settings. She earned her degree from Indiana University and has dedicated her career to supporting college students navigating anxiety, trauma, and life transitions. Her clinical approach is grounded in trauma-informed, relational, and skills-based practices that promote resilience and holistic well-being. Melissa has extensive experience working with complex trauma and is deeply committed to fostering inclusive, accessible mental health care on college campuses. In her current role, she provides clinical services, supervises graduate-level trainees, and partners with campus stakeholders to expand and innovate wellness initiatives.

About the Project:
Rooted in Awareness is a campus-wide initiative at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) designed to strengthen student well-being by promoting safety, consent, respect, and shared responsibility. Grounded in trauma-informed practices, it focuses on preventing sexual and interpersonal violence while ensuring coordinated, compassionate support for survivors. By engaging students, faculty, and staff, the initiative fosters connection, empowerment, and a culture of care. Rooted in Awareness provides a timely, coordinated approach to prevention that aligns with the college’s values of dignity, belonging, and accountability. The initiative will include healthy relationship
education, bystander intervention training, faculty and staff workshops, and a campus-wide awareness campaign culminating in a signature community event. Programming will target student athletes and residential students while remaining accessible to the broader campus community.