Wellness Champions 2024
Science Mentors
The Student Mentorship Program for Science and Nutrition and Food Science plays a pivotal role in supporting new Science students. The Science Mentors significantly contribute to the academic and personal growth of new Science students at the University of Alberta. They enhance students’ academic performance through workshops and tutoring sessions. A sense of community is established through a variety of events such as mixers, movie screenings and other events creating connections when students often feel isolated due to being part of a large faculty. Students who become Science Mentors gain personal and professional development like mentorship, communication, time management. They also have programming to support student wellbeing such as providing wellness kits during exam seasons. Their support is vital in creating healthy and balanced university experiences. The impact of this program to students involved (mentors and mentees) builds community, teaches leadership skills, and fosters a culture of wellness on campus.
Interdisciplinary Women’s Health Association (IWHA)
The Interdisciplinary Women’s Health Association (IWHA) is a student group at the University of Alberta focusing on women’s health. The IWHA team advocates for the interdisciplinary nature of women's health, acknowledging that the historical disparities existing in women's well-being needs to be addressed across disciplines, beyond the healthcare sector. One goal of the group is create a safe space for women to express their concerns about women’s health, to create understanding and further build capacity for empathy. In March 2023, the IWHA team organized the University of Alberta’s first women's health symposium led by students. This week-long symposium featured sessions that promote social connection, learnings about skin conditions and melanin health, sexual health and wellness, and empowering women. This past March IWHA team hosted its second women’s health symposium, called “Vitality in Bloom: Navigating the Future of Women’s Health”. This symposium built upon the previous year, by fostering more collaborations between student groups and community partners. The connections made are not surface-level, attendees have shared they feel comfortable discussing topics they would not normally speak about. Such as menstrual periods or struggles with birth control pills and their side effects, emotional labour women often face in family settings and in the workplace. Their events advocate for women’s health through a holistic lens.
Natalie Van Deusen
Dr. Natalie Van Deusen is a professor in the Faculty of Arts – Modern Languages and Cultural Studies Department. Dr. Van Deusen is a pioneer in fostering a healthy academic culture at the University of Alberta for students and faculty. Through her openness of an OCD diagnosis combined with provincial recognition as a Wellness Ambassador has resulted in destigmatizing OCD for people in her faculty, according to her nominator. She prioritizes interactions with individual students who need accommodations or who are struggling with their mental health and encourages students and staff to create a healthy work-life balance. She has walked with students experiencing harassment, sexual assault, and suicidal thoughts, guiding them toward proper resources but also going above and beyond by listening and following up. Most recently, she was instrumental in helping a student successfully seek help for their debilitating substance abuse and mental health issues. She is well-known in Arts for being accessible and caring. Outside of the U of A, Dr. Van Deusen has encouraged other academics to think carefully about their mental well-being and how they structure their lives as academics. In a culture that thrives on competition and burnout, Dr. Van Deusen is a standout example of an academic who has managed to rise to the top of her field as an author and international keynote speaker while prioritizing compassion, collaboration, and individual health.
Anthony Cornish
Dr. Anthony Cornish is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. He is part of the Facility Administration of the Molecular Biology Service Unit (MBSU). Dr. Cornish’s role in the MBSU is instrumental to the success of all students in the biological sciences department. He makes an effort to get to know every student who uses the facility and assists with their ongoing research projects. He also reads up on the subject areas students are working on and provides support and feedback to his students. He promotes research and faculty members in the department to students regularly to inform them of opportunities to get involved in research on campus. Students testify feeling more confident in their benchwork abilities following his mentorship and succeeding in securing research positions in fields they are interested in. Finally, Dr Cornish’s support for students is above and beyond, he ensures that every student he interacts with is aware of the university supports that are available to them. He provides regular check-ins that ensure the students feel cared for throughout and not just for one moment. Dr Cornish regularly checks in with his students to make sure they are feeling mentally and physically well. Wellness is not always prioritized in academic settings, and to have a professor like Dr. Cornish, who creates a safe and empowering space for students to grow, is invaluable.