a2ru Conference Panel – Creative Futures: Driving Interdisciplinary Innovation Through the Arts
Hamel Music Center Concert Hall.
Panelists:
Chris Appleton, CEO and Founder, Art Pharmacy
Andrew Schulz, PhD, Vice President for the Arts, University of Arizona;
Deborah Cullinan, Vice President for the Arts, Stanford University Laurel N. Donley, M.S., Vice Provost, Student Affairs, University of North Carolina School of the Arts
As student loneliness and mental health challenges rise, U.S. universities are exploring social prescribing—connecting students to non-clinical resources like arts and culture—to foster wellbeing and belonging. This panel, moderated by Art Pharmacy CEO Chris Appleton, features leaders from Stanford, UNC School of the Arts, and the University of Arizona sharing campus-based models and strategies. Topics include cross-sector partnerships, referral systems, data-driven evaluation, and alignment with equity and retention goals. Designed for faculty, administrators, artists, and researchers, the session offers actionable tools for integrating arts-based interventions into campus life, advancing holistic, inclusive approaches to student connection and institutional transformation.
