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 Colleen Coffey grew up in an environment that set her up to
have every success in life. In that world she never imagined that she would
suffer from a mental disorder. However, Colleen was hospitalized in 9th grade
due to multiple disorders. She struggled with eating disorders, anxiety and
depression throughout high school and college before finding a way to treat the
disorders and find balance in her life. Colleen is an entertainer, charmer, and
inspirational survivor. Colleen is committed to challenging the
stigma that surrounds mental disorders and puts that commitment to practice
working full time as the Speakers Bureau Program Manager for Active
Minds. Colleen is a
doctoral student in the field of Leadership. Colleen holds a
Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Belmont University and a Masters in
College Student Affairs from Eastern Illinois University. At EIU, she served as
an Associate Resident Director to the Greek Court housing community and an
advisor to the college Panhellenic. As a consultant
for Phired Up Productions, she co-authored and published the first book on
sorority recruitment: I Heart
Recruitment: The Eight Steps to Limitless Possibilities for Sororities. She
has been actively involved in sorority life since her undergraduate days,
having served the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority in several capacities. Colleen
volunteers her time with The Leadership Institute - Women with Purpose, Inc,
and has been a member of the Association of Fraternity Advisors for seven years
where she is currently serving as a member of the mental health education
workgroup. She is the recipient of the Eberly Essence of Fraternal Values Award and the Eastern Illinois University Rising Star Award for young alumnae.
Topics: Depression,Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Mental Health Education Research, Staff Training, Advocacy
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Programs/Events 
"It is so important to reach that hand out to someone when
he or she is feeling down or provide an ear so someone's story can be heard. Active Minds is more than just another
student organization- it's a community of people who are dedicated to mental
health outreach."
