The 2011 psychology alumna has played a key role in advancing pediatric mental health resources.
By Lauren Pond
Marketing and Communications Associate
pond.71@osu.edu
Psychology alumna Dr. Ariana Hoet '11 has received the College of Arts and Sciences' 2025 Emerging Leader Award. Given at a campus ceremony on April 4, the annual honor recognizes alumni who have demonstrated distinctive professional and civic achievement, according to a recent college announcement. Galia Nurko, a 2012 Ohio State history alumna, also received the honor.
Hoet is the executive clinical director of Kids Mental Health Foundation, which provides educational resources and ensures that mental health is a vital part of every child’s upbringing. Among other notable initiatives, she has helped advance The On Our Sleeves Movement for Children's Mental Health, which has served more than 11 million people across the United States.
An immigrant to the U.S. from Venezuela, Hoet also works in pediatric primary care, where she focuses on treating immigrant children. She is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics in the Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State. The Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs recognized her as a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan for her work within the Spanish-speaking community.
Hoet attributes her accomplishments and vision in part to her Ohio State experience.
"Immigrating from Venezuela to Ohio while in high school was difficult. Attending Ohio State allowed me to finally feel like I belonged and gave me the sense of 'home' that I had been missing," she said. "I have no doubt that my experiences at Ohio State, both academic and outside of the classroom, shaped me into who I am today."
In addition to the Emerging Leader Award, the 2025 Alumni Awards recognized Arts and Sciences graduates with the Distinguished Achievement Award and Distinguished Service Award. All three honors are intended to highlight alumni "whose accomplishments are tangible evidence of the enduring value of an Arts and Sciences education," the college announcement said.
