Meg Jay, author of the bestseller The Defining Decade, will appear at Colorado State University Tuesday, March 26, for a free public lecture.

The author and clinical psychologist — who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and gender studies from the University of California, Berkeley — will offer mental health strategies for twentysomethings, their parents and university faculty and staff. The lecture will be held at 4 p.m. in the Lory Student Center, Ballroom D.

Jay has also authored the soon-to-be-released The Twentysomething Treatment, which explores the young adult mental health crisis in America and how to address it. During her presentation at CSU, Jay will delve into practical mental health strategies tailored for college students, including why she believes the twenties are the most uncertain — and most difficult — decade of life, as well as what the latest research says about what young adults can do to be happier and healthier.

With a specialization in twentysomethings spanning 25 years, Jay has emerged as a leading voice in understanding and advocating for mental health among young adults. Her TED talk, Why 30 Is Not the New 20, has been viewed over 13 million times, and The New York Times recently called her the “Patron Saint of Striving Youth.”

Jay’s affiliation with CSU dates back to her time as a faculty member on Semester at Sea in both the Spring of 2020 and Fall of 2022. The Twentysomething Treatment includes a chapter reflecting on her time on the ship, and what she learned alongside her twentysomething students as they navigated the uncertainty of COVID-19 during their Spring 2020 Voyage.

This event is co-sponsored by CSU’s Division of Student Affairs and the College of Business, in partnership with Semester at Sea. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Jay during a Q&A session and book signing following the lecture. Copies of The Twentysomething Treatment and The Defining Decade will be on sale at the event through the CSU Bookstore.