Grace Kelly: Championing Mental Health Through Advocacy and Action

Published: January 23, 2026

Grace Kelly is a UT Austin graduate from McAllen, Texas, and a Mental Health Policy Fellow with the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) and Longhorn Wellness Center (LWC), whose work has helped transform how mental health is addressed across the university. A former Student Government President and dedicated advocate for student well-being, Grace has played a key role in expanding access to mental health education and resources for the UT community.

Her advocacy journey began long before college. In high school, she turned her own mental health experiences into creativity by founding Cope With Hope, an organization that uses art and design to spark open conversations about emotional well-being. That same passion for destigmatizing mental health continues to guide her work today.

When she first arrived on campus, Grace was on the pre-med track, serving as co-president of the Plan II Pre-Med Society and envisioning a future as a neurosurgeon. But her involvement in campus leadership roles—including Student Government, Greek life and other student organizations—led her toward a new purpose: one focused not just on the brain’s anatomy but on the emotional and systemic factors that influence student well-being.

As Vice President of Risk Management for Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and a member of the Plan II Mental Health Alliance, Grace began championing mental health awareness and access across campus.

Her commitment deepened during her term as Student Government President, when she saw an opportunity to help students learn more about available mental health resources early in their college experience.

During her presidency, Grace worked on several key initiatives, including:

• Partnering with Dr. Chris Brownson, Associate Vice President for Health and Well-Being, Grace helped add a new mental health module to the required health and well-being curriculum completed by all incoming students across UT System institutions. The module introduced a mental health component to complement two existing required modules: AlcoholEdu, which focuses on substance use safety, and Sexual Assault Prevention (SAPU for undergraduates and SAPG for graduate students), which covers consent, preventing sexual violence and promoting healthy relationships. The new mental health module helps students recognize common mental health challenges, practice self-care strategies and support peers in distress. Together, these three modules ensure every student begins their collegiate journey with a strong foundation in health, safety and well-being.
• Participating in a multi-year collaborative called the Texas Higher Education Collaborative for Well-being. At UT Austin, the collaborative works to study and launch well-being initiatives for students to increase social connection and decrease loneliness.

Grace graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in May 2025 with degrees in Plan II Honors and Human Development and Family Sciences.

“We are fortunate to have Grace as part of our campus community as she continues the work she began as a student and strengthens her impact as an alum,” said Dr. Chris Brownson, Associate Vice President of Health and Well-being.

In fall 2025, Grace became a Mental Health Policy Fellow with the Counseling and Mental Health Center and Longhorn Wellness Center, where she contributes to several key projects, including:

• Research through the Texas Higher Education (THE) Collaborative, a statewide network focused on data-driven strategies to improve student well-being. Her Plan II Honors thesis examined the experiences of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds within the College of Natural Sciences—research she continues to expand through her current role.
• Exploring the widening gap between the growing demand for mental healthcare and the limited supply of professionals. By collaborating with psychologists, insurers and clients, Grace aims to identify policy and workforce strategies that increase access to care.
• Supporting outreach and engagement across the Longhorn Wellness Center, helping implement workshops, events and initiatives that support student well-being.
• Facilitating Longhorns Listen, a workshop that teaches participants how to recognize signs and take action to prevent suicide.

Grace’s fellowship runs through July 2026, after which she plans to attend law school to continue her advocacy from a policy perspective.

“Grace brings a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of our student community,” says Brittany O’Malley, Associate Director for Prevention and Wellness at the Longhorn Wellness Center. “Her passion for population-level change shows up in every project she touches, and she’s been a wonderful addition to our team.”

Through her work, Grace Kelly exemplifies what it means to be a Longhorn advocate—leading with compassion, collaboration and a vision for a healthier future.