From the opening of the Student Life and Wellness Building in 2022 to last year’s $1.3 million grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to support wellness programming, Bryn Mawr has made a holistic approach to student health and wellness a central component of student support services.
That commitment continues this year with the hiring of Cristen Kennedy as the College’s first Wellness Program Director.
“We have health services, and we have counseling services, but what we needed was someone who is dedicated to understanding how students take in health and wellness information, what they need, where the gaps are, and then trying to fill those gaps,” says Beth Kotarski, Bryn Mawr’s Health Services Director.
“I have to say that this couldn’t have happened without the support of Dean Karlene,” adds Kotarski, referring to Karlene Burrell-McRae, dean of the undergraduate college. “I presented her with this idea, and she instantly got it and said, ‘go for it.’”
Located on the second floor of the Health and Wellness Building, and dubbed "OwlWell," the program just opened a “wellness space” where students can meet with Kennedy, Wellness Program Coordinator Erika D’Andrea, Peer Health and Wellness Educators (PHWE), or just hang out on the comfy couches and decompress.
“There's no ticket for entry,” says Kennedy. “People can just come here to relax, chat, and be in community. We really want to encourage students to make this space their own and to feel confident and comfortable doing that.”
Kennedy and D’Andrea also have offices and students can stop by or make appointments for more private conversations.
‘We definitely see ourselves as a connection office,” says Kennedy. “We want to get students connected to other resources they may either not know about, or they have not just been ready to explore yet.”
PHWE Ava Smith ’25 was among those at the grand opening ceremony for the new space.
“I think that this program is a really great opportunity for students to have more resources surrounding wellness and more support,” she says.
The wellness space is open daily from 1 to 4 p.m. for drop-in hours, offering confidential support and resources. PHWEs will be available at the space from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays (note that PHWEs are not Confidential Resources). Upcoming events include workshops on contraceptive options, harm reduction, and Narcan training. The team plans to recruit more PHWEs and collaborate with other departments for comprehensive wellness initiatives throughout the year.
The Wellness Program, Health Services, and Counseling Services are all part of the Undergraduate College Division. Additional related services administered by the division include The Impact Center, Student Support Services, and the Restorative Practice Program. For a more complete overview of resources for students, visit the Student Experience section of the website.