The study examines how faculty and staff experience wellness on campus, the institutional factors that shape those experiences, and the opportunities colleges have to build healthier, more supportive environments that enhance employee well-being.

Findings show that departmental factors, such as valuing work–life balance and providing strong supervisor support, are significantly associated with positive perceptions of culture of wellness. In contrast, negative workplace experiences, including strained supervisor relationships and a lack of tools or resources, were linked to lower perceptions of culture of wellness. Moreover, the study showed a link between positive perceptions of culture of wellness and better employee health outcomes, including overall well-being and emotional well-being.

By contributing to the national conversation about workplace wellness in higher education, the authors highlight both the challenges and the potential for creating environments where faculty and staff can thrive. Their work reinforces ���ϲ�����’s leadership in this area and offers guidance as the university continues to promote well-being across the institution.

This year, seven proposals were submitted, each addressing at least one of the six dimensions of well‑being and reflecting a wide range of innovative approaches to supporting student wellness.

Every proposal underwent a review by three members of the Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee. Reviewers evaluated submissions based on their rationale, feasibility, innovation, potential impact, and alignment with both the HealthEU initiative and ���ϲ�����’s mission to positively influence student well‑being.

The selected projects will move forward during the spring, contributing new ideas and energy to the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering an institutional culture of health and well-being.

Spring 2025 Andrew G Bennett ’08 Student Wellness Innovation Grants

Beginner Barbell & Core Confidence Clinics: Mind-Body Strength Pop-Up Series

Applicant: Rachel Deegan

This project creates an inclusive, trauma-informed entry point to weightlifting where beginners can learn proper form, understand sets and reps, prevent injury, and experience the mental-health benefits of movement. By demystifying gym culture and offering a welcoming environment, the project supports students who want to exercise but don’t feel comfortable doing so independently.

Connect ���ϲ�����: A Student Wellness Video Series & Engagement Initiative

Applicant: Tyler Mastrangelo

This project aims to reduce isolation and help students plug into campus life by creating approachable, wellness-centered content that encourages participation, engagement, and relationship-building. “Connect ���ϲ�����” directly supports HealthEU’s mission by empowering students to make community-oriented, wellness-focused choices in their everyday lives, and by giving them a simple, fun pathway to get connected.

Sunday Reset!

Applicant: Evelyn (Lynsey) Hess

Sundays are a day of rest, organization, and preparation for the week ahead, yet many ���ϲ����� students spend them overwhelmed, isolated, or stressed by academic and personal demands. The Sunday Reset! program addresses rising stress levels, promotes healthier coping strategies, and provides students with a consistent opportunity to pause, breathe, and recharge. By integrating mindfulness, movement, and evidence-based wellness practices, this project has the potential to improve student well-being, build community and create sustainable habits that extend far beyond a single day of the week.

Law and Paws: A Yoga Event

Applicants: Tarrah Casey, Jsaela Barrow, Jennifer Carbajal, Adriana Hernandez-Ordonez, Elyanna Smith

Law & Paws: A Yoga Event is designed to create an inclusive, restorative, and physically engaging space that prioritizes mental health and wellness within the law school community. This program will feature a guided yoga session that encourages movement, stretching, and relaxation, complemented by puppy-engagement. This program aims to provide law students with a meaningful opportunity for physical rejuvenation, de-stressing, mindfulness and connection. Furthermore, this program supports the broader goals of the Inclusive Excellence Fellows to promote equity, well-being, and physical health, while reinforcing the law school’s commitment to cultivating a supportive and inclusive environment.

Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee

• Anu Räisänen, committee chair, director of HealthEU Initiatives and assistant professor
• Taylor Anderson, graduate apprentice, inclusive excellence, graduate and professional education
• Charles Evans, counselor, Counseling Services
• Matthew Dacey, graduate apprentice, Residence Life
• Leah Short, assistant director for Peer Health Education
• Marna Winter, associate teaching professor of education and associate director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

The review analyzes a range of studies to identify common features in program design, such as exercise selection, frequency, intensity and duration. It also highlights the health outcomes most frequently targeted, including improvements in muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, and metabolic health. The findings suggest that while most studies aiming to improve health outcomes in postmenopausal women adhere to established resistance training guidelines, they often overlook the inclusion of functional exercises.

Räisänen’s work contributes to the growing body of research focused on women’s health, and supports ���ϲ�����’s broader commitment to evidence-based wellness initiatives through HealthEU.

Anu Räisänen, director of HealthEU initiatives; Brad Moore, associate vice president for facilities and chief facilities officer; Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life and dean of student health and well-being; and Leo Lambert, professor of education and president emeritus, co-designed a workshop titled “Creating University Environments That Facilitate Healthy Relationships and Wellness.”

The workshop explored:

• Relationship-rich education, grounded in research by Peter Felten and Leo Lambert
• An overview of HealthEU, ���ϲ�����’s health and well-being initiative
• Principles of facilities and environmental design that facilitate learning, belonging, and connections between students, faculty, and staff.

Held from June 16–19, 2025, the IHPC Conference marked the 10th anniversary of the Okanagan Charter, a global framework for health promoting universities. Hosted by the University of Limerick, the event gathered international educators, health professionals, and campus leaders to reflect on progress and chart future directions for sustainable and inclusive campus health promotion and well-being strategies.

���ϲ�����’s contribution underscored its commitment to cultivating a campus culture where relationships and holistic well-being are central to the student experience.

While scattered thunderstorms rolled through the area, they fortunately steered clear of Saxapahaw and the group was treated to a lovely evening on the water. The event was facilitated by Evan Small, faculty member in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, who provided instructions for water safety and guidance on the river.

Haw River Canoe and Kayak aided getting boats in the water, after which the group was free to paddle upriver. Many in the group took the opportunity to paddle together, enjoying the gentle flow of the river. Others paddled along the shoreline, scouting wildlife and listening to bird calls. The group all made it safely back ashore as the sun sank below the trees, providing beautiful views of the sunset and gathering storm clouds in the distance.

In addition to creating ways for faculty and staff to connect in informal settings, one of the objectives of the Together@���ϲ����� events is to provide opportunities to try new things in a safe and supportive environment. For Maria Papapietro, Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, this was the first time kayaking and she had a great experience:

“Kayaking was a fun and meaningful way to engage with colleagues from all over campus,” she said. “I’m so grateful that ���ϲ����� creates opportunities for us to build relationships beyond our usual circles—it really makes our community feel more connected and vibrant.”

About Together@���ϲ�����

At ���ϲ�����, we believe that social connections and a sense of belonging will help our exceptional faculty and staff thrive. Building a community that transforms mind, body, and spirit allows employees to support student success.

Together@���ϲ����� offers monthly opportunities for ���ϲ����� employees to come together and enjoy shared experiences and connection. Events are announced quarterly. The include the 4th Friday in Burlington on July 25 (bring your family!) and Bingo Social on August 5 in McKinnon Hall.

Together@���ϲ����� is a collaboration between the Division of Inclusive Excellence, the Staff Advisory Council and HealthEU.

The eighth annual North Carolina Behavioral Health Convening brought together representatives from the UNC System, NC Community Colleges, and NC Independent Colleges & Universities. Hosted by Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, with the theme of “Adapting, Thriving, and Emerging Stronger.”

In a breakout session, Räisänen, Patterson and Williams presented on “Innovative Well-being Initiatives: Empowering Students through Programs and Resources.” This presentation highlighted resources and programming funded by the Andrew Bennett ’08 Endowment, including the Serenity Suite in Counseling Services, the Mind-Body Connection Suite in the Koury Center, and the Student Wellness Innovation Grants.

The Serenity Suite and the Mind-Body Connection Suite were established to meet students’ need for relaxation and stillness. The Serenity Suite offers amenities such as a rocking chair, aromatherapy, light therapy, sand tray, coloring books, virtual reality guided meditation and a sound machine. The Mind-Body Connection Suite features a massage chair with aromatherapy that serves as a complementary health practice.

Keynote speaker David Jackson, president and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, shared a story of resilience, collaboration and service demonstrated by App State and Boone area community organizations during recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. Jackson emphasized Boone’s readiness to welcome tourists back to enjoy the area.

The Andrew G. Bennett Student Wellness Innovation Grants support student-led initiatives that positively impact student well-being and success. In 2025, four projects were funded: a Puppy Yoga event, an arts and crafts service initiative, a peer support program for nursing students, and the renovation of the philosophy suite in Spence Pavilion. The call for the next grant applications will be announced in fall 2025.

The article, titled “Integrating Lifestyle Medicine Content into Health Professions Programs,” highlights the importance of incorporating lifestyle medicine competencies into curricula to empower future clinicians with the skills necessary for the prevention, management and reversal of lifestyle-related chronic conditions.

The research, published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, details the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Partial Academic Pathway program. This initiative aims to integrate lifestyle medicine content into various graduate level health professions programs, including physical therapy and occupational therapy. The integration of lifestyle medicine competencies into health professions curricula is expected to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and enhance clinician satisfaction.

Räisänen and her colleagues emphasize the significant role that physical and occupational therapists play in health promotion and the management of lifestyle-related conditions. In the article, they describe how different programs have implemented the lifestyle medicine competencies and provide a case example from a doctor of physical therapy curriculum.

This work underscores the potential of lifestyle medicine to transform healthcare education and practice, preparing future healthcare professionals to address chronic diseases through evidence-based lifestyle interventions that focus on the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, social connection and avoidance of risky substances.

Each proposal was reviewed by three members of the Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee and was graded based on the rationale, significance, feasibility, innovation, potential impact and alignment with HealthEU and the university’s mission to positively impact student well-being and success.

The four funded proposals include a Puppy Yoga event, an arts and crafts service initiative, establishing a peer support program for nursing students and renovating the philosophy suite in Spence Pavilion.

“I am delighted to see that the four projects that received the highest scores cover a variety of topics and focus on different dimensions of well-being,” said Anu Räisänen, director of HealthEU Initiatives and the chair of the Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee. “I am looking forward to this grant competition growing in the future. I believe that through the student wellness innovation grants we can identify great ideas that can be expanded into university wide initiatives future.”

“Serving on the Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee was an exciting experience,” said Marna Winter, senior lecturer of education. “It was inspiring to see the innovative and thoughtful ideas students from diverse departments proposed to enhance wellness and support HealthEU initiatives on campus. Their creativity and commitment to fostering a healthier, more connected campus community were truly impressive.”

“I would like to thank the members of the Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee for their work on setting up the grant competition and thoughtfully reviewing the grants,” said Räisänen. “I also want to acknowledge all the work that took place before this committee came together. We are grateful to Jana Lynn Patterson, Anita Hodnett and Charlotte Williams for their work with the Andrew G. Bennett endowment and establishing this committee.”

Spring 2025 Andrew G Bennett ’08 Student Wellness Innovation Grant Winners

Building Philosophical Community

Applicant: Morgan Seate and Phi Sigma Tau (Philosollamas)

The aim of this project is the renovation and redecoration of the philosophy suite in Spence Pavilion to transform this space into a vibrant, welcoming hub for philosophical inquiry and connection. The renovated philosophy suite will provide a space that enhances both student experience and well-being by fostering community, intellectual curiosity, and personal reflection.

Nursing Fellows Volunteer and Service Initiative

Applicant: Meredith Korwan and the Nursing Fellows

The Nursing Fellows program is committed to enriching nursing students’ clinical experience through meaningful volunteer and service-learning opportunities. This grant will support the Nursing Fellows arts and crafts program with the UNC Children’s Hospital to enhance the patient experience by creating moments of joy and normalcy as well as encourage emotional healing through hands-on, creative expression.

Nursing Student Critical Incident Stress Debrief

Applicant: Taylor Capello

The purpose of this project is to support nursing students’ mental well-being by fostering a supportive environment where students can safely express their emotions outside of an academic setting. The project comprises peer support training, regular meetings and evaluation.

Puppy Yoga

Applicant: Naomi Lockamy and the School of Health Sciences Diversity Committee

The event will combine calming yoga with mindfulness techniques to promote well-being, along with the joy of puppy therapy to boost mood and bring some lighthearted fun to a student’s day. Whether students are looking for a break from the stresses of school or seeking ways to connect with others, this event will offer a safe space for graduate and undergraduate students to unwind, practice self-care, and build meaningful connections with one another.

Student Wellness Innovation Grant Committee

Anu Räisänen, committee chair, director of HealthEU Initiatives and assistant professor
Emma Calhoun, graduate apprentice, Odyssey Program
Charles Evans, counselor, counseling services
Seth Lasher, graduate apprentice, Student Professional Development Center
Marna Winter, senior lecturer of education, Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education