Introduction
The Well-being Collective is a multi-disciplinary team of students, faculty, and staff charged to lead transformational change with the WMU community to be a Health Promoting University.
The mission of the WMU Well-being Collective is to:
- Activate university-wide implementation of the Okanagan Charter framework (https://www.healthpromotingcampuses.org/charters) ensuring WMU honors our commitment to being a health promoting university for the well-being of people, places, and planet.
- Lead systemic collective action to achieve the student and employee well-being goal, objectives, and metrics written in the WMU Strategic Plan 2022-2032. (https://wmich.edu/strategic/future)
- Develop a university-wide dashboard and process to measure and improve equitable well-being for WMU students and employees.
- Report progress and recommendations to the President.
Data Points
51%
of students agree or strongly agree that students' health and well-being are a priority at WMU.
63%
of faculty and staff agree or strongly agree that WMU cares about their health and well-being.
67%
of students report actively contributing to the happiness and well-being of others.
75%
of faculty and staff report actively contributing to the happiness and well-being of others.
The data provided above comes from multiple wellness surveys conducted at WMU. The ACHA-National College Health Assessment focuses on student wellness and the ACHA-National Faculty and Staff Health Assessment focuses on employee wellness. More data and information about these surveys can be found below.
National College Health Assessment - Health Promotion and Education
National Faculty and Staff Health Assessment - Western Wellness
WMU is an active member of the US Health Promoting Campuses Network (http://ushpcn.org/), attending monthly national meetings since 2022-23. The WMU Well-being Collective Co-chairs launched a Steering Committee in February 2025 who co-created a three-year priority action plan to operationalize the well-being section of the WMU strategic plan. The full Well-being Collective mobilized in April 2025, inviting campus-wide representatives to join the collective action.
For more information or to get involved with the Well-being Collective, please contact the Office of Health Promotion and Education at @email.
Well-being Collective Infrastructure
Well-being Collective Co-Chairs and WMU Liaisons to the US Health Promoting Campuses Network:
Cari Robertson, Director, Health Promotion and Education, Student Affairs
Dr. Lillian Smith, Dean, College of Health and Human Services, Academic Affairs
Backbone Organization:
Office of Health Promotion and Education
Steering Committee:
Ann Banghart, Administrative Assistant II, Health Promotion and Education
Brian Bauer, Associate Athletic Director, Medical Services
Felicia Crawford, Director, Title IX Compliance
Dr. Brian Fuller, Director, Counseling Services, Sindecuse Health Center
Sabbi Hoin, Assistant Director, Health Promotion and Education
Eva Hughes, Assistant Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Office of Student Engagement
Alex Kasprzyk, Graduate Assistant of Leadership Programs, Office of Student Engagement
Luke Kritzman, Student Body President, Western Student Association
Brianna McCann, Associate Director, Office for Sustainability
Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland, International Student Advocate, Associate Director, External Scholarships & Faculty Development, Haenicke Institute for Global Education
Dr. Nathan Nguyen, Director, Office of LBGT Student Services
Beth Northuis, Senior Associate Director- Well-being, University Recreation
Dr. Reetha Raveendran, Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Dean of Students
Dr. Gayle Ruggiero, Medical Director, Psychiatrist, Sindecuse Health Center
Asha Shippell, Assistant Director, Mental Well-being, Health Promotion and Education
Jeff Spoelstra, Director, Office for Sustainability
Chris Voss, Director, University Recreation
Lenore Yeager, Director, Assessment, Marketing and Communications, Student Affairs
Active Members 2026:
Mark Broeckel, Business Intelligence Analyst/Senior Systems Specialist, Sindecuse Health Center
Dr. Jessica Cataldo, Program Director, Health Administration and Healthcare Services & Sciences, Faculty Specialist I, School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs
Dr. Aisha Coulson-Walters, Director, Field Education, MSW Field Director, Faculty Specialist II, School of Social Work
Donielle Easlick, Program Manager, Montgomery Essential Needs
Josh Kohnert, Program Manager, Peer2Peer eMentor Program, Student Transitions
Jane Poll, Assistant Director, Academic Advising, Haworth College of Business
Dr. LaSonja Roberts, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership, Research, & Technology
Joe VanDerBos, Patient Experience Manager, Sindecuse Health Center
Sara VanderVeen, Senior Director, Planning, Design & Construction, Facilities Management
Cadence Warr, Program Manager, Assessment, College of Aviation
Ben Zblewski, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, Student Affairs