College of Education and Human Development

CEHD Wellness Club

The College of Education and Human Development wellness program is meant to encourage the use of employee health benefits and beyond. You are an essential part of the WMU community with and we want to invest in you and your health and well-being. On this page, find numerous health resources, wellness events, monthly tips, walking maps and more!

CEHD Wellness Club

Exclusive for faculty and staff within the college, the CEHD Wellness Club is a Microsoft Team dedicated to wellness in the CEHD Community. Wellness events are scheduled through this Team, with all members receiving direct calendar invites to CEHD Wellness events. For those interested in discussing wellness related topics, there is a chat available. For updates on club activities and to receive calendar invites to events, join the Microsoft Teams group.

CEHD Wellness Events

The CEHD Wellness Committee schedules and facilitates a variety of events throughout the year. Upcoming workshops for Fall 2026 are below:

  • Helping Hand at Western and the YWCA: CEHD is joining in the Western Wellness Drive as a Community Partner to support the YWCA Women’s Shelter. Please bring donations of essential hygiene and personal care products to 2421 Sangren, the Student Services Suite, during the month of October. Examples of items needed include: Hygiene products, Lotion, Soap/body wash, Menstrual products, Deodorant, Toothbrushes and toothpaste and other essential personal-care items
  • Therapy Dogs: monthly visits to CEHD in October, November, and December. Dates coming soon!
  • Weekly Yoga with Weideman: Join our very own Carol Weideman for yoga weekly on Tuesdays in October, from Noon-12:45. Mats and blocks will be provided for your use during these low-impact, stress relieving sessions. Located in Sangren Hall, room number TBD. 
  • Return of the Repotting Workshop: Thursday, October 8th, in 2510 Sangren. Back by high demand, join us to repot your plants before winter, share cuttings, or problem solve why your plants aren’t thriving. The main event will be 12:30pm-1pm, where we gather to repot our plants, share cuttings, and share our plant wisdom! Any supplies remaining after the event will be available for drop in self-serve access until 5pm.
  • Wellness Benefits Panel Discussion: October, date TBD. Do you know all of the benefits you can use to support your well-being? Join us to discuss some of the hidden gems within our healthcare plans, just in time for Open Enrollment!
  • Winter Wellness Workshop: Tuesday, November 3rd, Room 2510, from 12:30pm-1:30pm. We will go over the basics of supporting your immune system during cold and flu season, with tips on ways to support your resistance and recovery from the common illnesses that spread during these months. This will be a make-and-take event with a remedy you can take home. 
  • Group Soup!: Wednesday, November 18th, Room 2510, 11:30am-1:00pm. Join us to craft a soup together on site, while talking about the health benefits of many common kitchen ingredients. 
  • Into the Home Stretch – Finals Week Yoga: Details coming soon.
Contact Christy for more information

Monthly wellness tips

Events this month

The Healthy Way (Facilitated by Gretchen Kauth)
Meeting Virtually on Wednesdays, September 30 to November 4 from 12:05 to 12:55 p.m.
The Healthy Way program is designed for faculty and staff who want to achieve their health and wellness goals through evidence-based nutrition, mindful eating, and behavior change strategies. Sessions are facilitated by a Registered Dietitian and are designed to provide individual and peer support. Register on ExperienceWMU. 
 
Emotional Eating – What Are You Hungry For (Facilitated by Gretchen Kauth)
Thursday, October 1 from 12:05 to 12:55 p.m. in Sindecuse Health Center, Room 3118
Emotional eating is when you eat in response to your feelings, not in response to physiological hunger.  Because emotional eating has nothing to do with true hunger, food choices are usually not the healthiest.  This workshop will help participants identify emotional vs physiological hunger, learn why food ‘works’ as a temporary fix, and discuss strategies to help overcome emotional eating. Register on ExperienceWMU. 
 
Mental Health Summit
Friday, October 2nd, 8:00am to 12:00pm in Dunbar Hall 
We are thrilled to announce the Western Michigan University Mental Health Summit, to be held on Friday, October 2, 2026, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The goal of this half-day event is to bring WMU community members together to promote mental health and well-being, while offering practical tools and resources for supporting both personal wellness and student success. 
Please RSVP to register. The schedule can be found here.
 
Protecting Cognitive Function (Facilitated by Darby Fetzer)
Thursday, October 8 from 11:15 a.m. to Noon in Student Recreation Center, Rm 3017
Safeguarding cognitive wellbeing may be a priority for many of us as we age. Dr. Stuart Zola, PhD. is a leading neuroscientist and expert in the study of Alzheimer’s Disease. This EQ workshop is based on his 6-hour Institute for Brain Potential Webinar entitled, “The Habits of People Least Likely to Develop Alzheimer’s Disease”. Email Katie Alkema to register at @email. 
 
2026 Benefits and Wellness Expo: Find Your Way to Better Health
Tuesday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom
This annual event will allow employees to gather and explore benefit options, meet with benefit vendors, attend breakout sessions, pick up swag, and more.
 

Student Recreation Center

Mental Health Week
Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 2
In celebration of Mental Health Week, we are excited to offer FREE fitness classes for all undergraduate students, graduate students, and WMU employees in partnership with WSA, GSA, University Recreation and Western Wellness.
Take a break, move your body, and support your mental well-being by joining us for a class at the Student Recreation Center!
 
Before You Go:
  • Bring your Bronco ID
  • SRC access is required for students
  • Check in with SRC staff outside the studios on the lower level (Aerobics, CycleFit, or F45)
  • Review the fitness schedule in advance and plan which classes you'd like to attend 
How It Works for WMU Employees
Join us over the lunch hour and try a fitness class for FREE! No SRC access is required. Stop by the SRC 2nd-floor desk to receive a complimentary guest pass. Entrance to the facility and your fitness class are covered by Western Wellness.
 

West Hills Athletic Club

2nd Annual Zoo City Smash Pickleball Tournament
Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8 at West Hills Athletic Club
This tournament will use a round robin format with scores uploaded to DUPR following the tournament. The $60 registration fee includes up to two events at no additional charge. Register by Friday, October 25 to guarantee a t-shirt. 
 
See West Hills Athletic Club for additional information.
 

Upcoming Events

Fall Harvest Cooking Demonstration
Friday, November 20 from 12:05 to 12:55 p.m. in Kohrman Hall, Room 3302
Join Registered Dietitian, Gretchen Kauth and her awesome dietetic students, for a cooking demonstration and taste-testing workshop highlighting autumn inspired recipes. Register on ExperienceWMU.
 
Annual WMU Turkey Trot 5K
Saturday, November 21 at 8:30 a.m. in the SRC Indoor Tennis Courts
Experience the tradition of the oldest race in Kalamazoo. Sign up today for the Turkey Trot 
 
2026 Wellness Assessments
Schedule your annual wellness assessment today to avoid the end of the year rush and wait list. You can also schedule by calling Mary Werme at 269-377-0198. The assessment is available at no cost with a Holtyn coach. If you prefer, you may also complete it with your personal healthcare provider by submitting a Medical Provider Assessment Form. 
 
Download the form from your Holtyn account or request a copy by emailing Katie Alkema at @email.
 
Holtyn is currently experiencing a high number of no-shows and late cancellations for wellness appointments. We kindly ask that you provide at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
 

Newsletters

Walk your way to wellness

Walking is one of the easiest ways to get your daily fitness in! Just a short walk can help to improve your mood, boost endorphins and help you to feel your best for the rest of the day. Grab a co-worker and take a walk around WMU's beautiful campus or visit one of CEHD's three buildings: Kohrman Hall, Sangren Hall or the Student Recreation Center.

 

Want to walk more?

Join WMU's Let's Get Moving walking group! This group goes on a walk on Monday's and Wednesday's and is open to all WMU students, faculty and staff. There is no pressure to walk with the group the entire time as participants can join and leave as they see fit. Each walk is approximately 30 minutes long. Register for an upcoming walk. 

FY27 CEHD Wellness Committee

Meet your current Wellness Committee Members! Please feel free to reach out to us with questions, suggestions, or feedback.

  • SPLS: Robyn Edwards
  • TLES: Amy Bentz
  • ELRT: LaSonja Roberts
  • CECP: Olivia Ngadjui
  • FCS: Antoinette London-Johnson Wright
  • HPHE: Carol Weideman
  • Marketing: Nicole Leffler
  • Office of Teacher and Administrator Certification: Nicole Lockwood-Womack
  • Dean’s Office: Sarah Rasnake
  • Dean’s Office: Christy Chambers
 
Risk Statement: Participation in exercise activities, fitness activities, wellness rooms and special events is purely voluntary, and individuals participate at their own risk. Participants should be aware of the possibilities of bodily injury and should understand that they are responsible for any and all costs arising out of injury or property damage sustained through participation. Should someone become injured, please notify a program or facility supervisor for assistance.