Calendar
Get Psyched with MTC 2026
Mar 19, 2026 - Mar 21, 2026 - 1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia, SC
Looking for other upcoming events? You'll find all important dates and deadlines on our events calendar.The Past, Present, & Future of Mental Health
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Bull Street: History, Memory, and Mental Health in South Carolina
Academic Center Auditorium, Rm 116, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm
Kick off the Get Psyched Conference with author Dr. Len Lawson as he explores key themes from his work, followed by a Bull Street documentary screening and a panel discussion.
Register for Screening & Panel Discussion
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Friday, March 20, 2026
Workshops & College and Community Resource Fair
Academic Center Auditorium, Rm 116, 8:30 am-2:00 pm
Guests can choose from the following topic-focused breakout sessions:
- Pathways with a Purpose: 9:15 am – 10:00 am
- Stress Management: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
- Cultural Psychology - Japan: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
- Psychology & AI: 10:50 am – 11:35 am
- Suicide Awareness & Prevention: 10:50 am – 11:50 am
Food trucks will be available onsite to purchase lunch.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Mental Health First Aid Training
Academic Center Auditorium, Rm 116, 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Guests will take part in a full-day Mental Health First Aid training designed to build practical skills and awareness. Advance registration is required, sign-up below.
- Who is this event for?
This event is free and open to high school students, college students, educators, and adult community members.
- Do I need to register for this event?
Yes, registration is required for the Thursday's and Saturday's events. You can find the links to register below.
- Where is parking?
Parking is free and can be found on the map below.
Register for the Events
Screening & Panel Discussion
Mental Health First Aid Training
Meet Our Guest Speakers
- Len Lawson, Ph.D
Dr. Len Lawson is an Assistant Professor of English and Director of African American Studies at Newberry College in South Carolina. He is the author of New Names for Stars (Lit Fox Books, forthcoming 2026), winner of the Lit Fox Award, as well as Negro Asylum for the Lunatic Insane (2023) and Chime (2019).
Dr. Lawson is also the editor of The Future of Black: Afrofuturism, Black Comics, and Superhero Poetry and Hand in Hand: Poets Respond to Race. His work appears in African American Review, Callaloo, Ninth Letter, Verse Daily, and other journals, and has been translated internationally.
A recipient of fellowships from Tin House, Callaloo Barbados, and the Vermont Studio Center, Dr. Lawson holds a PhD in English Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing.
- Meredith Brown M.S., LPC
Meredith Brown teaches psychology at Midlands Technical College. Brown's unique life experiences, passion for people, and love of learning places her at the top of her craft. With her motivating data driven facts, humor, real stories, and open discussions, Meredith motivates people to challenge their minds and behavior so they can make the necessary changes to achieve their goals. A 20-year veteran in her field, Brown continues to innovate, receiving the 2020 SCTEA, NISOD, and SCATCC awards.
- Chad Mortensen, Ph.D
Dr. Chad Mortensen has been a psychology instructor at Midlands Tech since 2014. He found my passion and interest for psychology while working on his associates degree and Ventura Community College in Ventura, California. He completed his bachelor's and master's degree in psychology at California State University, Chico in Chico, California. He holds a Ph.D. in instructional psychology and technology from the University of Oklahoma. He was trained to be a researcher and conducted research on learning with texts and graphics; how video games affect memory; and student motivation and academic procrastination. When he is not in the classroom, he enjoys spending time with in the outdoors, fishing, hiking, camping, and cycling.
- Ovetta Heyward-Robinson
Ovetta holds a B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University and an M.A. in Social Psychology from Atlanta University. Her professional experience includes working with autistic children in Washington, D.C., serving as a Mental Health Counselor in a psychosocial program for individuals with chronic schizophrenia from 1987 to 1991, and teaching as an adjunct professor at Midlands Technical College during the same period. She joined Midlands Technical College as full-time sociology faculty in 1991 in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department.
In 1998, Ovetta was selected for a fellowship to study in Cameroon, West Africa. She earned Certification in Educational Leadership from the University of South Carolina in 2004 and an M.C.A.T. in Curriculum Development and Technology Integration from the University of Phoenix in 2005. She later completed coursework toward licensure at the University of South Carolina and began doctoral studies in education at Concordia University in 2017.
Her research and academic interests include culture, gender, race and ethnicity, intersex and transgender studies, family and domestic issues, globalization, and contemporary challenges such as classism, racism, sexism, and cybercrime, including human trafficking and identity theft.
- Elaine Belton, Ph.D
Dr. Elaine Belton is a Psychology Professor in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at Midlands Technical College, where she has taught since 2016. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Clinical Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina and currently teaches General Psychology and Psychology of Personality.
Previously, Dr. Belton served as a full-time Assistant Professor of Psychology at Benedict College beginning in 2008, teaching courses such as Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Human Sexual Behavior, Theories of Personality, Psychological Theories, and Psychology of the African American Experience. She also spent much of her professional career as a psychologist with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, where she conducted court-ordered psychological evaluations, testified as an expert witness, trained staff, and provided individual, family, and group treatment for justice-involved youth and their families.
Her professional interests include juvenile delinquency, disproportionate minority incarceration, and resilience.
- Angela Griffin, Ph.D
Dr. Angela Griffin is a Professor of Psychology and the Student Success Coordinator for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at MTC. Her professional passions are student success, human growth and development, and the intersection of psychology and pedagogy. During her time in SC, Dr. Griffin has taught at USC and MTC and worked with the SC Department of Education. She is a developmental psychologist with expertise in social development, developmental neuroscience, parenting, student transitions through higher education, and social stereotypes (e.g., race, gender).
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