MCLA Health Promotion

The Health Promotion Specialist and Peer Advocates for Wellness (PAWs) lead health promotion strategies and programming addressing topics such as mental health, alcohol and substance use, sexual and reproductive health, violence prevention, healthy relationships, sleep, stress management, and more.

We also collaborate with other departments and student groups (clubs, organizations, classes, athletic teams) to: 

• Develop and co-host events
• Facilitate workshops or trainings tailored to your group (e.g. Green Dot bystander intervention or Alcohol Safety)
• Invite outside organizations to provide programming on campus (e.g. Berkshire Harm Reduction’s Narcan trainings)

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Our regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but be on the lookout for student events that may take place outside of business hours!

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The Peer Advocates for Wellness (PAWs) are a group of up to 7 student employees who work with the Health Promotion Specialist to provide engaging wellness resources, education, and events. They develop and facilitate programming, attend weekly meetings, support the Wellness social media & newsletter, maintain the Tranquility Space, collaborate with other groups on campus, and advocate for initiatives that increase student wellbeing.

All students are eligible to apply to the program regardless of their class year, major/minor, previous experience, and having Work Study or not. Apply on Interview Exchange when we have openings (typically early in Fall and Spring semesters).

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The Health Promotion Specialist and the Peer Advocates for Wellness (PAWs) lead trainings and workshops. Staff in other departments are also able to facilitate Green Dot (bystander intervention) workshops. Occasionally, we will invite outside organizations to present, such as sex educators for sexual health workshops and Berkshire Harm Reduction for Narcan training.

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You can attend our events such as the Wellness Fair, Mental Health Fair, trivia night, PAWs events, and more throughout the year. Learn when they happen by reading our newsletter and following us on Instagram and Facebook. 

If you are part of a department, club, or organization that would like to partner with Wellness for an event or other offering, please email madeleine.adolph@mcla.edu or wellness@mcla.edu.

For even more involvement, consider joining the Peer Advocates for Wellness (PAWs), our peer health education group. Be on the lookout for PAWs applications on Interview Exchange when we have openings. 

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Some examples include the Tranquility Space in Hopkins 109, the Wellness Fair, Mental Health Fair, Green Dot (bystander intervention training), QPR (suicide prevention training), Narcan & Overdose Response Training, the Berkshire Harm Reduction mobile outreach unit, and a variety of other events throughout the year.

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Email Madeleine at madeleine.adolph@mcla.edu or wellness@mcla.edu, DM us on Instagram @mclawellness, or speak to one of the Peer Advocates for Wellness (PAWs). Email preferred for the quickest response.

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The Tranquility Space is a wellness common area in Mark Hopkins 109 that is open to all students during building open hours. It is a quiet room to help de-stress and engage in mindfulness activities. There are bean bags, large tables, cozy lighting, and materials for various activities:

• Art (coloring books, rainbow scratch, watercolors, markers, colored pencils)
• Crafts (diamond art, window stars)
• Sand garden, maze, singing bowl, water art boards
• Variety of fidgets
• Jigsaw puzzles and Legos
• Meditation and prayer
• Yoga, stretching, massage
• HappyLight therapy lamps
• Aromatherapy oils
• Tea and hot cocoa

Occasional club meetings and events are held there. Let us know if you have any suggestions for the Tranquility Space.

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