By Kelsey Kendall
For a long time, the mental health of first responders was not something discussed, said Garrett Shelton, Old Dominion University Police Chief and Assistant Vice President of Public Safety. When he first got into the field, serving in the City of Portsmouth, he remembers a culture in which talking about one’s struggles led to mistrust and judgment despite the dark moments they witness.
“I have seen more that I wish I could forget — things I hope my family never has to experience,” Chief Shelton said. “Those moments stay with you. They don’t go away. They become part of who you are.”
So when the University and Virginia Beach Police Department officials came together on February 11 to sign a memorandum of understanding that unites them to address the need for mental health care for first responders, Shelton said it was cause for celebration.
“This is something this profession — and all of public safety — has needed for a long time,” Chief Shelton said.
This agreement launches Frontline, an initiative that will assign graduate students in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University’s counseling program to participatingfirst responder agencies beginning in Fall 2026. These Frontline Counseling Fellows will receive training in trauma-informed, culturally responsive and occupation-specific care, while embedded in these environments for a one-year period.
An additional aspect of this initiative supports workforce development and welcomes first responders to pursue counseling degrees, becoming a part of a network in which these professionals can provide support to each other.
Millicent Lee, Ed.D., (B.S. ’01), the University’s director of community relations and founding director and member of the executive leadership team for the Frontline initiative, said this agreement will promote mental health and wellness care for first responders in the region.
“The Frontline initiative reflects the very best of Old Dominion University’s commitment to innovation, inclusion, respect and collaboration — values that ground our mission and drive our impact across the region,” Dr. Lee said.
Currently, the Virginia Beach and Old Dominion University police departments are participating in the Frontline initiative. Dr. Lee hopes to expand the initiative to other regional agencies.
“By joining forces with Old Dominion University, we are building a support system that not only strengthens the well-being of our personnel today but also invests in a future where mental health care is informed by people who truly understand this profession,” Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said. “This is a win for our officers, a win for our community and a model for how agencies and universities can work together to create lasting change.”
Tammi Dice, Ph.D., dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, said this initiative reflects the college’s commitment to supporting workforce development, community engagement and applied learning.
“We are building a pipeline of mental health professionals uniquely prepared to support those who protect and serve our communities,” Dean Dice said. “This partnership strengthens workforce resilience across Hampton Roads, while ensuring our students graduate career-ready — equipped with specialized skills, cultural competence and practical experience that translates immediately into meaningful impact.”
Through Frontline, Old Dominion University is supporting the Hampton Roads region by creating an opportunity for students and first responders to prepare for the unique needs of those who serve and protect the community.