Recognizing Champions of Student Well-Being
Four faculty members and five teaching assistants have been named Aggie Well-Being Champions in recognition of their efforts to integrate the health and wellness of their students into their teaching practices.
“Students’ well-being is significantly impacted by their academic experience,” said Shantille Connolly, an organizer of the award and associate director of Health Promotion in Student Health and Counseling Services. “By intentionally weaving compassion, flexibility and holistic support into their class, this year's Aggie Well-Being Champions have created inclusive spaces where every student feels empowered to learn, grow and belong. They are transforming our classrooms into spaces that allow students to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.”
The award recognizes work in four areas:
- Use policies and practices that promote health and well-being (e.g., set flexible assignment deadlines and make provisions for appropriate attendance flexibility)
- Improve access to and awareness of health and well-being resources on campus (e.g., highlight health and well-being resources on campus syllabi; actively talk about utilizing campus resources during class)
- Incorporate accessibility and inclusivity practices to provide an equitable learning experience for all students (e.g., ensuring access to all course materials and learning spaces; using inclusive language; scheduling office hours conducive to students' schedules such as evenings for working students)
- Take care of their own health and well-being (e.g., encourage and model healthy boundary setting; set communication expectations; share their own challenges and stories)
This is the award’s second year. Initially, only members of the College of Biological Sciences were eligible; this year the award was expanded to include faculty in the College of Engineering and teaching assistants from any school or college.
“Great teaching is about more than delivering course content,” said Richard Corsi, dean of the College of Engineering. “It’s about creating a learning environment where students feel supported, included and able to succeed. I'm proud to see members of the College of Engineering recognized for the care and commitment they bring to supporting student health and well-being."
Winners of the award are encouraged to include the honor in their merit packages. Organizers also plan to collect best practices from winners in an online library that other instructors can reference.
This year’s College of Engineering winners — as nominated by students and selected by a panel of undergraduates, graduate students and staff members — are:
Susan Gentry, associate professor of teaching, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
A nominator said Gentry “creates a learning environment that balances high academic standards with compassion and flexibility,” noting that she shared health and wellness resources on the first day of class, reducing stigma.
Another student wrote that Gentry is supportive of well-being in one-on-one situations.
“On a personal level, I have emailed her during moments of panic or anxiety about exams, and she took the time to respond with compassionate messages encouraging me to breathe, step away and reconnect with the parts of my life outside of school.”
Glaucia Helena Carvalho do Prado, assistant professor of teaching, Department of Chemical Engineering
One nominator wrote that Prado “has mentioned the importance of mental health more times than any other teacher I’ve had;” the student added that Prado models the importance of well-being by mentioning when she is having a challenging day and talking about how she is coping.
Tiffany Chan, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
A student wrote that Chan, who leads the “Navigating Challenges as a Woman in Engineering” First Year Seminar, creates an inclusive environment and promotes health and wellness resources like Aggie Eats and the Women’s Resources and Research Center. “Tiffany is a walking ray of sunshine who brightens every space she enters,” the student wrote. “She is extremely genuine, kind, and caring.”
