Across the last two years, the spotlight has been on mental health more than ever before. Student mental health topped the list of presidents’ priorities five consecutive times on recent ACE surveys, and there has been growing recognition that student mental health is linked to student success and must be an institutional priority. Recent data reported graduate students as 6 times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population. Therefore, it is critical that academic leaders and faculty capitalize on opportunities to create and consider how to support the growing needs of graduate and professional students. Our EAB research on Empowering Faculty as Mental Health Champions will be shared and discussed throughout this interactive session. We will focus on what is happening across higher education, conversations we are having with institutional leaders and faculty and focus on best practices to support the wellbeing of graduate and professional students.