Liza Long has been named College of Western Idaho’s Faculty of Distinction for May 2018. Long, an instructor in the English department, is an author, educator, and mom of four children – one of whom has bipolar disorder.
Her book, “The Price of Silence: A Mom's Perspective on Mental Illness”, was a "Books for a Better Life" award winner. Long volunteers as a mental health advocate and currently teaches the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Boise Basics class for families with children who have symptoms of mental illness. Liza presented talks on children’s mental health and stigma at TEDx San Antonio in October 2013 and at the National Council for Behavioral Health in March 2016.
Liza holds a master’s degree in Classics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University. Her dissertation research focused on mental health advocacy and leadership strengths. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading science fiction, and playing the piano.