Fendall, Louisiana (June 24, 2026) – The University of Liberia has launched a Bachelor of Arts program in Psychology – the first of its kind since the 1950s – to train professionals to address the post-war country’s acute shortage of mental health workers amid the growing drug abuse crisis.

The undergraduate program, housed in the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, will begin classes in August for academic year 2026/2027 with its first batch of students.

The university aims to cultivate homegrown expertise to address the systemic mental health challenges through the program, which has a faculty of internationally trained Liberian psychologists led by Acting Chair Andrew Dean.

The launch in Fendall on June 24 also doubled as a fundraising event, with pledges organized into four categories: diamond, platinum, gold, and silver. Contributors will support scholarships, faculty study leave for PhD and master’s programs, the creation of a smart classroom, and resources for the department’s first batch of students.

The costs listed are diamond at US$21,750 for three years or US$12,750 for two years; platinum, for the brain and behavior fund, at US$10,750; gold, for the mind builders’ scholarship, at US$2,750; and silver, for Psychology excellence fund at US$275 (expenses per month is US$190).

The launch followed the department’s inauguration on March 25, marking a significant shift for Liberia after a prolonged civil conflict that left major gaps in mental health care.

University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan said Liberia’s development or academic excellence cannot be achieved without addressing the mental and emotional wellness of the people.

“We are equipping our students not just with Western theories, but with the practical trauma-informed tools rooted in African thought, African culture, and the Liberian context necessary to foster resilience, enhance child and youth development, strengthen families, reduce interpersonal violence, combat substance abuse, and support individuals in their journey towards healing and full vitality,” said Dr. Maparyan.

She committed the university to supporting both the Ph.D. and master’s degree faculty for study leave to have enough Ph.D. faculty for the department. Dr. Maparyan pledged to work with the Department of Psychology to equip a smart classroom to receive current educational material in the field of psychology. She also pledged personal support of a one-month contribution to the Silver Psychology Excellence Fund.

Prof. Augustine Kanneh, Senior Advisor to the President of Liberia, served as the keynote speaker and chief launcher of the Bachelor of Arts degree program in Psychology at the University of Liberia, held under the theme, “Building a Healthier Mind, a Stronger University Community and a Better Liberia.”

Dr. Kanneh said the program’s significance becomes clearer when viewed against the backdrop of Liberia’s difficult war years of the 1990s, when the country was trapped in “a no peace, no war” situation – a period when open fighting had subsided, but genuine peace remained elusive after regional peacekeepers were drawn into fighting.

During that time, Dr. Kanneh said, the University of Liberia provided hope and intellectual direction to thousands of young Liberians.

“Through various psychosocial initiatives, counseling activities, focus group discussions, student engagement programs and community dialogue efforts, the university became a platform for healing and reconciliation,” he said. He praised the launch of the degree program as a bold investment in understanding the human mind and promoting mental wellness.

On behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Dr. Kanneh announced that the Ministry of State will contribute to the diamond and gold categories of support, promising that a check will be made through the university.

Mr. Andrew Dean, Chairman of the Department of Psychology, said the program was created to respond to a critical shortage of mental health professionals while Liberia faces growing mental health and psychological well-being challenges.

“From our civil war to Ebola, to COVID-19, to the substance use crisis that we currently have, mental health cannot be overlooked any longer,” said Mr. Dean.

He praised stakeholders and partners’, including mental health professionals within his department and across government institutions. Public and private guests, and individuals at the program, for supporting the fundraising initiative. The ceremony drew university administrators, government officials, faculty, and students.