MONROVIA — In a landmark development for higher education and public health, the University of Liberia has officially established a Department of Psychology, marking a significant step toward strengthening Liberia’s mental health capacity.
The announcement was made by UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan, who described the move as the fulfillment of a long-held vision to expand academic offerings while addressing a critical national need.
“The Republic of Liberia will now benefit from an ever-expanding, trained mental health workforce,” Dr. Maparyan said, emphasizing the department’s importance in a country still grappling with the psychological aftermath of years of conflict.
A Timely Intervention for National Healing
Liberia’s civil wars, which spanned nearly two decades and ended in August 2003, left deep emotional and psychological scars across communities. Experts have long pointed to a shortage of trained mental health professionals as a major gap in the country’s recovery and development.
The creation of the Psychology Department is expected to:
- Train clinical counselors and mental health practitioners
- Support trauma healing and post-conflict recovery programs
- Strengthen services in hospitals, schools, and communities
- Expand research into mental health and behavioral sciences in Liberia
Analysts say the initiative could play a transformative role in addressing issues such as post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, domestic violence, and youth mental health challenges.
Academic Expansion at UL
The University of Liberia, the country’s premier public university, operates multiple colleges and dozens of departments across disciplines including law, medicine, engineering, agriculture, and social sciences.
The new Psychology Department will be housed within the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, further expanding the university’s academic footprint.
Classes are expected to begin in August 2026, with Ms. Humtrice S. Dogbe already enrolled as the program’s first student.
Collaborative Effort
Dr. Maparyan credited several individuals and institutions for bringing the initiative to fruition, including:
- Acting Department Chair Andrew K. Dean
- College Dean Josephus M. Gray
- Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor
- The Massachusetts Alliance for the Restoration of UL, which provided key support
She also acknowledged MacDella Cooper for facilitating Executive Mansion backing, along with Cynthia L. Blandford for supporting the launch event.
Bridging a Critical Gap
Liberia currently faces a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with services often concentrated in urban areas and limited access in rural communities.
The new department is expected to help close this gap by producing locally trained psychologists equipped to respond to Liberia’s unique social and cultural context.
“This is more than an academic milestone,” a university official noted. “It is an investment in national healing, human development, and the future of healthcare in Liberia.”
Looking Ahead
With the launch of the Psychology Department, the University of Liberia continues its broader push to modernize curricula and align academic programs with national development priorities.
For many, the initiative signals a shift toward recognizing mental health as a central pillar of national recovery and resilience.
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