Dr. Mary Ann Laufer has been a pivotal asset to the Registered Nursing Program. There has been tremendous growth in nursing programs across the San Joaquin Valley over the last couple of years. With that growth came an increased need for clinical experiences and meeting the clinical hour requirements for students. When faced with a dilemma to meet the required student clinical hours for mental health, Dr. Laufer embarked on a quest to meet those needs. In May of 2023, she arranged a meeting with Ed Largoza from the non-profit organization Salt and Light. During this meeting, the needs of the community and the goal to care for the health and well being of the homeless population was made known. Salt and Light have made great strides cultivating a sense of belonging and community with a focus on those experiencing homelessness and those at risk for homelessness, now known as neighbors. With Dr. Laufer's guidance, a partnership was developed between San Joaquin Valley College and Salt and Light to meet both needs for student clinical hours and to support the community and neighbors. In addition to this, Dr. Laufer took a deep dive into evidenced-based literature and added several key elements to the mental health curriculum, to include stigma surrounding mental health and the subsequent discrimination, prejudices, and barriers it causes in communities. Understanding that knowing or having contact with someone with a mental illness is the best way to reduce stigma Dr. Laufer has provided hands-on clinical experiences through the No Stigma Speakers Bureau and the partnership with Salt and Light. Students are provided additional experiences where they walk in the shoes of people with mental illness; from hearing distressing voices or simply trying to live a day in their lives.

Dr. Laufer's endeavors go beyond the classroom. She attends the clinical rotations with the students at the mental health hospital and Salt and Light. She guides students in having therapeutic conversations with them and determining client needs. She demonstrates how serving and kindness can open the doors to healing. Graduates and current students have expressed their gratitude for Dr. Laufer and the knowledge she has shared. She has opened the eyes of many nurses and future nurses so they are equipped with the tools and the hearts to care for those with mental illness. It is with great admiration that we would like to honor Dr. Mary Ann Laufer for her great work and her kind heart.