Professor hired as new wellness coordinator

By Amanda Phipps

phippsa@mytjnow.com

Brianne Gemeinhardt is the new wellness coordinator. Photo by Amanda Phipps • phippsa@mytjnow.comBrianne Gemeinhardt will work toward healthy students, campus

Policy changes, wellness events and a healthy campus are some goals the new wellness coordinator has for Winthrop.

Brianne Gemeinhardt was appointed as the coordinator for wellness services on Nov. 16 after the position was posted in October.

She applied in the beginning of November and, after doing a group interview, an interview with Frank Ardaiolo, vice president for student life, and with Michelle Mann, director for health and counseling services, she was hired.

“(The process) was crazy, but good,” Gemeinhardt said.

Gemeinhardt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Lenoir-Ryhne College and graduated from Winthrop in May of this year with a master’s in health-related physical education.

As a graduate student, Gemeinhardt worked with the physical education department at Winthrop and worked in the testing center in Crawford.

She was also the graduate assistant for Nichole Scaglione last year and helped her plan wellness events. Working with Scaglione helped her get to know students, and she knew students from her

classes, as well.

“I enjoyed working with Nichole the most,” she said. “I was always interested in health and the more I (work in that field) the more I love it.”

Gemeinhardt is in the transition phase of planning events on campus and acts as a resource for students, faculty and staff, she said. She will begin pushing more health awareness events next fall.

Health and Counseling services are working out the details of the wellness coordinator position, Mann said.

“Brianne will be meeting and working with other groups on campus and in the community to see what events we can partner on and get the most for our students from the wellness programming we provide,” she said.

As part of her job as wellness coordinator, Gemeinhardt is the adviser for SWAT, the Student Wellness Advocacy Team that the former wellness coordinator Nichole Scaglione started on campus last year, and helps them plan wellness events and spread awareness.  She is hoping to gain more recruits for this group and help them be a resource for students.

“I want them to be role models and help other students,” she said. “We may make the Winthrop campus healthier.”  

SWAT focuses on stress management and nutrition-related issues based on the NCHA, or National College Health Assessment data that Nichole Scaglione gathered from students last year, Gemeinhardt said. 

The American College Health Association (ACHA) organized this survey to assist health educators, health service providers and counselors to collect data about students’ habits and perceptions on major health issues such as tobacco, according to the University at Buffalo website. 

The group offers pre-developed programs such as activities centered around stress management, practical strategies for eating healthy on a college campus and using interactive fast food software to count calories. 

SWAT also offers well-woman and body image programs centered around the spread of STI’s, eating disorders and the history of body image. SWAT teaches the well-woman class, which students have to take before getting their first well-woman exam at Crawford as well. 

Students can request events to be held on campus with forms on Gemeinhardt’s door in Crawford 203. Students can fill out these forms for SWAT events as well.

Gemeinhardt currently teaches two physical education classes on campus but, beginning next semester, she will focus on the wellness coordinator position and the SWAT Lead 120D class she will be teaching. This class will train students on health issues and teach them leadership and programming skills, she said. The class will be worth one credit hour.

“Hopefully, most of the students in this class will become SWAT members,” she said.  

Health services received a grant this year from the Office of Violence Against Women to hire a victim service coordinator, who will hand issues centered on sexual assault, Mann said. Winthrop will implement education on sexual assault, dating violence and stalking issues and will work with the community. 

“The coordinated community response will be established through the creation of an Office for Victims Assistance,” she said. “Winthrop will staff this office with a Victim Services Coordinator who will serve as a liaison between the university and community partners.”

The coordinator will also work with student victims to provide services and counseling, Mann said. 

“All proposed activities will be implemented, evaluated, revised and maintained to create a solid infrastructure upon which Winthrop can build a comprehensive victim services program,” she said. 

The positions are posted on the health services HR website. 

“We hope to fill them by Jan. 1,” Mann said.  

While she will host some awareness events, Gemeinhardt’s goal is to focus on policy changes that will make it easier for students to be informed about their eating choices and make healthier options more available. 

“I want to make the healthy choice the easy choice,” she said.

Gemeinhardt said she wants students to have practical ways to eat and do physical activities such as hiking.

“I want to teach students to be better adults, make good decisions and be healthy,” she said. “I enjoy one-to-one relationships.” 

Gemeinhardt said she wants to make a mark on campus.

“I hope that I can make the campus healthy overall,” she said. “I want students to learn and have fun at the same time.”