Quinnipiac University to host ‘Speaking of Mental Health’ open mic featuring Dr. Laurie Santos

Quinnipiac University to host ‘Speaking of Mental Health’ open mic featuring Dr. Laurie Santos on April 1

HAMDEN, Conn. – March 26, 2026 – Quinnipiac University will host its next “Speaking of Mental Health” open mic, featuring a talk by Laurie Santos, on Wednesday, April 1, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the SITE 201 Auditorium on the Mount Carmel Campus, 275 Mount Carmel Ave.

The event is free and open to the public. It will begin with a 30-minute open mic session reserved for Quinnipiac students, faculty and staff to share original writing focused on mental health. Participants may sign up at the event and present one piece of up to four minutes.

Following the open mic, Santos will deliver a 20-minute talk exploring how insights from psychology can help individuals make better decisions and lead more fulfilling lives. The program will conclude with a Q&A session with the audience. A reception will follow from approximately 6:30-7 p.m.

Santos is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University, where she teaches “Psychology and the Good Life,” a highly popular course that explores how the science of psychology can provide important insights into living a happier and more fulfilling life. She is also the host of the widely acclaimed podcast, “The Happiness Lab,” which explores the science of happiness and has ranked among the top podcasts on Apple platforms.

“I’ve been a devoted fan of ‘The Happiness Lab’ since it first aired in 2019, so I couldn’t be more honored and excited that Laurie Santos will be joining us for this iteration of ‘Speaking of Mental Health,’ said Jason Koo, associate teaching professor of English and director of creative writing at Quinnipiac. “She is one of the preeminent voices in the field of mental health today and has uplifted so many people through her podcast and work as a professor. We have so much to learn from her.”

The “Speaking of Mental Health” series aims to foster open dialogue, creative expression and community engagement about mental health topics, bringing together creative writing and science to promote well-being and understanding.