(l-r) Dr. Laurie Sharp, WTC President; Dr. Melissa Perryman, WTC Assistant Vice President for Student Services; Collin McLarty, Chief Executive Officer of Cogdell Memorial Hospital; TeriJo Gonzales, MA, LPC-S, Director of CMH Behavioral Health Strategic Planning and Director of Cogdell Cares & Growing in Grace Clinics; and Ralph Ramon, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
Western Texas College and Cogdell Behavioral Health proudly announce a new collaborative partnership designed to strengthen behavioral health access, expand wellness resources, and enhance support systems for the College’s students and employees.
The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, reflects a shared commitment to addressing the growing behavioral health needs of rural West Texas while promoting a culture of wellness, resilience, and care. Through collaborative programming, referral pathways, crisis response coordination, educational initiatives, and expanded access to behavioral health services, the organizations aim to improve outcomes for individuals and strengthen the wellbeing of the communities they serve.
“At Western Texas College, we believe that student success and employee wellbeing are inseparable from mental health and overall wellness,” said Dr. Laurie Sharp, President of Western Texas College. “This partnership with Cogdell Behavioral Health reflects our commitment to supporting the whole person. Together, we are creating new opportunities for students and employees to access the resources, support, and care they need to thrive both personally and professionally.”
Rural communities often face unique challenges in accessing behavioral healthcare, including provider shortages, transportation barriers, limited specialty care, and social stigma associated with seeking mental health services. Through this partnership, Western Texas College (WTC) and Cogdell Behavioral Health (CBH) will work together to improve access to behavioral health resources, support early intervention efforts, promote mental health awareness, and strengthen continuity of care for those seeking assistance.
Key areas of collaboration include behavioral health referral coordination, wellness education, suicide prevention and awareness programming, resilience and stress-management initiatives, employee assistance and wellness resources, telebehavioral health opportunities, and support for WTC’s Concern, Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) Team processes. The organizations will also explore future opportunities involving workforce development, grant-funded initiatives, community outreach programs, and innovative approaches to addressing behavioral health needs in rural communities.
This partnership emerged from WTC’s participation in the inaugural Minding College Minds Postsecondary Mental Health Learning Community, where WTC worked alongside behavioral health leaders from August 2024 through May 2025 to strengthen campus mental health supports and develop a more coordinated approach to wellbeing. The collaboration laid the foundation for a broader partnership dedicated to expanding behavioral health access and support throughout the region.
“Supporting student wellbeing requires strong partnerships and a coordinated network of care,” said Ralph Ramon, WTC’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
“This collaboration expands access to critical behavioral health resources and reflects our commitment to creating a campus environment where students and employees can thrive,” added Melissa Perryman, WTC’s Assistant Vice President for Student Services.
“We are proud to partner with Western Texas College in advancing behavioral health support for students, employees, and families across our region,” said TeriJo Gonzales, MA, LPC-S, Director of CMH Behavioral Health Strategic Planning and Director of Cogdell Cares & Growing in Grace Clinics. “By combining our strengths and resources, we can help reduce barriers to care, increase awareness of available services, and create stronger pathways to support for those who need it most.”
The partnership reflects a broader vision shared by both organizations: building healthier communities through collaboration, education, prevention, and access to quality care. By leveraging the expertise of behavioral health professionals alongside the educational mission of WTC, the initiative seeks to create lasting impact both on campus and throughout the region.
“This partnership demonstrates the power of community collaboration,” said Collin McLarty, Chief Executive Officer of Cogdell Memorial Hospital. “When healthcare and education work together, we create stronger support systems and healthier communities. As we pursue our vision of becoming the premier rural healthcare provider in Texas, partnerships like this allow us to expand access to behavioral health resources and invest in the long-term wellbeing of the people we serve.”
The agreement became effective upon execution and establishes a framework for collaboration over the next three years, with opportunities for continued growth and expansion based on community needs and shared priorities.