University of Evansville partners with Riley Children's Health and Indiana University School of Medicine for expanded mental health training

The University of Evansville has partnered with Riley Children’s Health and the Indiana University School of Medicine for an expanded mental health training initiative, as announced on November 14 during an event called Be the Light: A Celebration of Hope. The collaborative effort will include a Psychology Practicum at Riley Children's Health/IU School of Medicine and an Annual Psychology Symposium, which will provide Doctor of Psychology students at the University of Evansville with opportunities for clinical experiences that will help them better address childhood mental and behavioral health needs.

According to an article on the University of Evansville’s website, Leslie Hulvershorn, M.D., who is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Riley Children's Health and the chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine, was quoted as saying, "Every child deserves access to compassionate, expert mental health care and that begins with training and supporting the professionals who will provide it. Thanks to Bob and Lisa Jones and their generous gift, this partnership gives future psychologists hands-on experience while meeting an urgent need. It's a meaningful step toward brighter futures for children and families across Indiana."

Lisa and Bob Jones are the driving forces behind the new Riley Partnership. They are longtime financial supporters of both Riley Children’s Health and of Indiana University. Bob Jones served as the Chair of the UE Board of Trustees until earlier in 2025, and will retire from the Riley Children's Foundation this year after two decades of being a chair member. The Joneses provided a gift via the Riley Children's Foundation Every Child Deserves Riley $300 million campaign, which is seeking to create greater access to children’s mental and behavioral health services. 

In 2023, the Joneses provided the lead gift for the Emily M. Young Assessment Center within the UE Mental Health and Wellness Clinic, in support of Judge Richard L. and Roseann Young and in memory of their daughter Emily. 

During Be the Light: A Celebration of Hope, the University of Evansville announced the clinic would be rededicated as the UE Emily M. Young Mental Health Clinic, and that the university’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program would be renamed to the Koch Family Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Program.

University President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz said, "The generosity of the Jones family, the Koch family, and so many others continues to create pathways of hope-honoring lives, strengthening communities, and preparing the next generation of compassionate mental health professionals. The event served as both reflection and renewal, celebrating lives lost to mental illness, uplifting families who continue to advocate for change, and recognizing the collective hope made possible through community support and collaboration."

For more information about the University of Evansville, visit the school’s website.