Seattle University celebrates its education college

Celebration and mental illness aren't two things that have a natural resonance.

But don't tell that to Cinda Johnson, Seattle University associate professor and special education program director.

Johnson is the driving force behind Friday's keynote address, at the College of Education's 75th anniversary event at Campion Hall. The event, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., features a presentation by Jessie Close (sister of Emmy Award winning actress Glenn Close) and her son, Calen Pick. The mother and son duo will highlight BringChange2Mind.org, a national campaign to overcome the stigma of mental illness.

"Mental illness is a treatable condition," says Johnson, "and this is a story of two people, both with very serious brain disorders living very well and leading a national movement to reduce stigma and assure treatment for others."

Though Jessie Close had lived with bipolar disorder most of her life, she wasn't properly diagnosed until 2004 when her doctor recognized psychotic tendencies. That diagnosis came a few years after her son, Calen, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in 1999 when he was 18-years-old.

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