Posters
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Fall 2026
Abstract
College is often a pivotal period in young adults’ lives. Adulthood may seem like a distant concept. However, grief and trauma appear to affect young adults significantly, often without a safe space to digest or comprehend. Thus, current student support may limit and disrupt a student’s ability to understand their emotional regulation, virtues, and identity. This analysis aims to understand how student support services provide resources and spaces for students experiencing grief and/or trauma and identify how grief intersects with student success. Using student development theory with an empathetic, trauma-informed lens, faculty and staff will be able to support students holistically and shape compassionate students, while improving student success, flourishing, and retention.
Recommended Citation
Albea, TyNia J. (August 8, 2026). Grieving while Becoming: Examining where grief, whole person formation, and student support meet. White paper produced for The Belmont Formation Scholar Cohort for Character Research and Writing.
Comments
This project was an output for The Belmont Formation Scholars Cohort for Character Research and Writing, which received generous support funding from The Kern Family Foundation.
I gratefully acknowledge peer review feedback on this project, and I am accountable for writing of this product without generative AI and in alignment with the aspirations of Belmont’s AI policy and the Psalm 8 AI Taskforce as of this date.