Case Western Reserve University named Norah Feeny (left), the inaugural executive director of its Sara and Curt Moll Institute for Mental Health and Well-Being. With Feeny at the celebration marking the announcement of her appointment and the start of construction work were donor Sara Moll (center) and CWRU Provost Joy K. Ward. | Photo by Esterly Photography
When Case Western Reserve University announced a $60 million investment for the new Sara and Curt Moll Institute for Mental Health and Well-Being, it marked a commitment to address and advance the growing mental health crisis within and beyond Northeast Ohio.
Now, Norah Feeny, PhD, a distinguished psychologist and renowned researcher in the field of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and trauma, will lead the effort as the Moll Institute’s inaugural executive director.
In her new position, Feeny, a professor of psychological sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the PTSD Treatment and Research Program, further elevates Case Western Reserve as an international leader in clinical psychology training and practice-based research.
“The Moll Institute will provide critical research, training and resources to benefit the growing number of individuals living with mental illness as well as those who care for and support them,” Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler said during the June 4 announcement to celebrate the start of construction work on a new space for the institute. “We are deeply grateful to Sara and Curt Moll for their commitment to improving lives and outcomes through better mental health care and we are so pleased that Norah Feeny will lead the institute’s efforts.”
Feeny’s pioneering work has spanned more than three decades in diverse clinical settings, including sexual-assault programs, substance-abuse programs and outpatient clinics. Her research evaluates treatments, examines predictors of treatment success and optimizes therapies for the local community in need. She has also led treatment trials addressing pediatric PTSD, depression and bipolar disorder in youth.
“Norah’s exceptional career and dedication to advancing mental-health solutions make her the ideal leader for the Moll Institute,” said Joy K. Ward, provost and executive vice president. “Her expertise and vision will be instrumental in positioning the institute as a global leader in addressing critical mental-health challenges.”
The Moll Institute, supported through a transformative commitment from Sara and Curt Moll, with the balance covered by the university, will address the escalating mental-health crisis through innovative research, education, clinical collaboration and community outreach. It will also double the number of clinical faculty in psychology and expand PhD training programs for clinical psychologists to meet the growing demand for mental-health expertise.
The timing couldn’t be more appropriate—or needed.
“These are our loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors, many of whom never get the treatment they require,” Feeny said. “The Sara and Curt Moll Institute for Mental Health and Well-Being will begin to address this need in Northeast Ohio and beyond with the hiring of new clinical faculty, additional training opportunities for our clinical PhD students and community bridges and connections.”
The Moll Institute opens this month in temporary space at 11635 Euclid Ave., which formerly housed the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center. The institute’s permanent location in the Nursing Research Building, is scheduled to open in early summer 2027. That site was chosen for its location near key collaborators, including the university’s School of Medicine and local hospital networks.
The institute will focus on advancing and strengthening community support and promote innovative research to tackle these issues. By working with local health systems, the institute aims to improve mental health outcomes and promote well-being for all.
In addition to addressing major mental health issues, programming will offer advice on such everyday challenges as raising teenagers, caring for loved ones with dementia and caring for young children.
“This moment would not be possible without the extraordinary generosity and vision of Sara and Curt Moll,” Ward said. “Their commitment to advancing mental healthcare and research speaks volumes—not only about their values, but about their belief in what this university can do for the world.”
Sara Moll, a triple-alumna and Case Western Reserve trustee, emphasized the urgency of the institute’s mission. “Our goal with the Moll Institute is to address the mental health crisis with innovation, compassion and collaboration,” said Moll, PhD (FSM ’66; GRS ’90, ’92, psychology). “This is deeply personal to me as a psychologist and as someone who has witnessed the growing need for mental health resources in our communities. With Dr. Feeny at the helm, I am confident that the institute will make a profound and lasting difference.”
“This is an exciting day, and Sara and I are pleased to be involved,” Curt Moll said. “As important as funding is for moving this institute forward, I believe Sara’s vision and passion for helping people will be a key driver of the Moll Institute’s success.”
Feeny, who has a secondary appointment with the university’s School of Medicine, will lead the institute in fostering interdisciplinary collaborations among faculty from psychiatry, neuroscience, medicine, nursing and other fields. She will also build partnerships that will translate research findings into real-world solutions.
“I aim to build bridges between departments, schools, institutions, and the Greater Cleveland community,” she said. “My time in the School of Medicine was formative for me and Case Western Reserve, and the Cleveland community is rich with people who care about—and have expertise in—mental health and health in general.”