Making Cornell feel like home

Cornell Minds Matter (CMM) is leading an initiative to promote mental health and combat seasonal gloom. The student-led effort, with the support of Student & Campus Life, featured a “Light Up the Season” event, helping create a festive and welcoming space for the entire Cornell community to gather, unwind, and connect throughout the winter season.

This initiative is meant to make campus feel more like home, says Zoey Preza ’25, co-president of CMM. The organization, which is supported by Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives, hosts a range of programs and events.

“Our primary focus is to reduce the stigma of mental illness and mental health issues across campus and encourage peers to get involved in the conversation,” Preza said. “We really want to convey the message to students that they’re supported—that their mental health is valued and prioritized on campus.”