First responders across the country are facing rising levels of stress, trauma exposure, and burnout, and the University of Iowa College of Education has been tapped to help lead a national effort to advance mental wellness for fire service, EMS, and law enforcement professionals. 

College of Education Dean Daniel Clay, and UI Baker Teacher Leader Center Director Kari Vogelgesang, are partnering with First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) Managing Director Frank Leeb, and FRCE Program Manager for Behavioral Health Dena Ali, to create professional development modules focused on wellness and mental health for first responders across the country.

“This partnership reflects what higher education can and should do — bring research, training and community engagement together to address complex societal challenges,” says Clay. “First responders serve on the front lines of crisis every day. By combining the University of Iowa’s expertise in mental health, trauma, and resilience with the lived experience of these professionals, together with FRCE, we can help develop solutions that are both evidence-based and immediately actionable.”

The college’s role in the initiative reflects its broader strengths in mental and behavioral health, spanning research, clinical insight, and scalable training. Clay has helped guide that work, bringing both academic leadership and firsthand experience in law enforcement as a former police officer. 

The professional development modules, when put into practice, revealed strong parallels between classrooms and emergency response environments.

“The needs for continuing professional development of first responders were similar to that of educators,” says Clay. “First responders are often faced with stressful and life-threatening situations, which are inherently stressful and can be traumatic. Combine this stress with disrupted sleep, and you have the ingredients for chronic stress. Developing awareness, skills, and good sleep and nutrition habits can have a substantial positive impact on mental wellness. As helpers themselves, first responders frequently fail to seek help when they need it.”

Leeb says that by working together, the university and FRCE are creating practical, evidence-based solutions that raise awareness and give first responders the tools they need to navigate the challenges of the job and protect their long-term well-being. 

“This partnership represents exactly how we move the fire service forward, by connecting cutting-edge research with the real-world experiences of first responders,” says Leeb, who previously served as a deputy assistant chief in the Fire Department of New York.

The collaboration between the two institutions began when FRCE Board of Directors member John Miclot, a UI graduate, recognized the university’s leadership and expertise in mental health education—particularly through the College of Education’s Scanlan Center for School Mental Health. Before his death, he initiated a collaboration with the college that has continued and expanded.

“We are deeply grateful to the University of Iowa for its partnership and its commitment, and dedication to protecting the health, safety, and resilience of first responders nationwide,” says Leeb. “It reflects a belief we hold firmly at the First Responder Center for Excellence: We are stronger together.”

National symposium comes to campus

From May 31 to June 3, fire service, EMS and law enforcement professionals from across the country will gather for the 2026 Mental Wellness Symposium at the UI. The four-day event will bring together leading experts, fire service professionals, and mental health specialists to discuss mental wellness.

The symposium reflects the ongoing partnership between UI and FRCE, grounded in a shared commitment to raising awareness and advancing evidence-based solutions for first responders while promoting wellness and mental health.

“We’re proud that the College of Education’s groundbreaking work in mental health is making a positive impact beyond schools,” Clay says, “and we’re grateful for this valuable partnership with the First Responder Center for Excellence.”

Throughout the symposium, participants will engage in sessions on topics such as suicide prevention, moral injury, peer-support models and the impact of stress on relationships and job performance. The emphasis is on practical application, ensuring attendees leave with tools they can implement within their own departments and communities.

For more information, visit the 2026 Mental Wellness Symposium website.