First Cowgirl Angela Hess launches Cowboys Care mental health initiative

Monday, August 25, 2025

Media Contact: Jeff Hopper | Communications and Media Relations Manager | 405-744-5827 | jeff.hopper@okstate.edu

First Cowgirl Angela Hess has become the driving force behind Cowboys Care, a new mental health initiative at Oklahoma State University. 

Aimed at serving OSU students, faculty and staff, the initiative was recently introduced at the annual Rock the Block event on Friday, August 15 at the Colvin Center. It will encompass various resources and programs across OSU, including clinical counseling, health services, wellness and prevention programs, and a student support system. The initiative also encourages students to look out for one another and to seek help when needed.

“Our goal is to make this a comfortable conversation,” Hess said. “We want our faculty, staff, students, parents of students, everyone to be comfortable seeking help for themselves or someone they know. 

“We have great resources available, not just in Stillwater, but across the entire OSU System, and we want those in need to feel comfortable getting connected to those resources.”

The Cowboys Care initiative will build upon a solid foundation of resources already in place, such as the TimelyCare program, which is available to students 24/7 and connects them to services including: an instant messaging platform, scheduled counseling, health coaching, self-care content, basic needs support and a peer community forum.

New resources also will become available as part of the Cowboys Care initiative, including a new Cowboys Care ambassador program. The program will aim to train volunteers across campus to act as a hub for mental health and well-being resources. The goal is not for these individuals to act as clinicians, but rather a friendly face that can help point an individual in need to the right place.

“This is not an overhaul of resources,” Hess said. “It’s about creating a collaborative environment that will allow these resources to be accessed by anybody and everybody. It’s about identifying the systems that work the best and making those available across the system.”

Once the program launches, Cowboys Care ambassadors will be easily recognizable by a button or handkerchief they wear to symbolize their involvement in the program, creating accessible entry points for students, faculty and staff to connect with resources.

The initiative also aims to encourage students to take an active role in identifying those around them who are in need and helping connect them to someone who can help.

“When resources are visible, approachable and easy to access, students are more likely to seek help before struggles become overwhelming,” said Bella Ridener, a psychology junior and student intern in the president’s office who shares Hess’ passion for mental health. “Accessible mental health support not only helps students cope during difficult times but also fosters a culture where seeking help is normalized, valued and encouraged.”

Lilly Ruark, a nutritional sciences master’s student, echoed the importance of mental health resources for the OSU family.

“Knowing that students have access to that kind of resource really just allows everyone to feel like they have something they know they can lean on,” Ruark said. “No one has to feel alone, and there's always a resource that's available.”

The First Cowgirl knows that as Cowboys Care navigates its infancy, there will be challenges to face and overcome. However, she hopes that when it’s all said and done, OSU will be a beacon of mental health awareness and resources.

“I have great hopes that when our time here is done, it’s not our legacy, but the university’s legacy to embrace mental health. I hope OSU sets the standard that other universities can look at,” Hess said.

It is evident that the Cowboy first family is passionate about the well-being of OSU students, especially mental health. And that passion has not gone unnoticed.

“As a student, it is so encouraging to have the support of the First Cowgirl,” Ridener said. “It shows that her acknowledgment of overall mental health and wellness can lead Oklahoma State in a positive direction. Having the support of a leader allows the students to feel cared for — not just as students — but as individuals navigating this time in their lives. 

“When I found out that Angela and I shared this common passion, we could not stop talking about ideas. She encourages me to allow others to feel seen, valued and more confident that the university is committed to creating a community where mental health and wellness are a priority for students. Her heart for others is so evident and I strive to be more like her every day.”

Hess knows that the first, and most important, challenge is to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health. She believes that the more the topic is discussed, the more likely someone will take the first step toward seeking help.  

“I don’t care who you are, a freshman on campus or a 65-year-old First Cowgirl, it takes courage to say, ‘I need help. I need to talk to somebody,’” Hess said.