The work of wellbeing is complex, and the landscape of wellbeing work within higher education is nuanced and ever evolving. NIRSA’s Health & Wellbeing Advisory Group consists of strategic thought leaders who embrace those challenges and nuances as they strive to find opportunities within them.

See related: Celebrating the work of NIRSA’s Health & Wellbeing Task Force

Building on the incredible foundation laid by NIRSA’s previous two Health & Wellbeing Task Forces, and guided by NIRSA’s 2024–2027 Strategic Framework, this group will meet regularly to help prioritize strategic communal goals, identify markers of success, and recommend action plans where needed.

See related: Recreation for Wellbeing webpage and resources

Health & Wellbeing Advisory Group

  • Josh Downing, Associate Director – Programs, Indiana University Bloomington, co-chair
  • Alana Harris, Associate Director, Assessment and Student Wellness, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, co-chair
  • DaSheek Akwenye, Director – Center for Health & Counseling, Salt Lake Community College
  • Erin Bransford, Associate Director of Programs & Initiatives, Portland State University
  • Jacob Eubank, Assistant Professor, Lehman College, CUNY
  • Franklin Harrison, Executive Director, UC Denver
  • Stephanie Kloos Smith, Director of Recreation, MIT
  • Christopher Suriano, Director Wellness & Health Promotion, University of North Dakota
  • Brian Wallace, Director of Campus Recreation, State University of New York at Oswego
  • Erin O’Sullivan, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships, NIRSA Staff

The work ahead

The charges of the Health & Wellbeing Advisory Group are to guide NIRSA in actualizing the strategies delineated in the strategic framework:

  • Incorporate systems change, equitable wellbeing, and impactful storytelling into current wellbeing literacy and education materials
  • Promote NIRSA and member activities that support wellbeing
  • Provide resources and pathways that help leverage member expertise and support the advancement of wellbeing on campus
  • Commit to being proactive innovators and relentless collaborators who are constantly seeking to foster relationships and partnerships to advance wellbeing
  • This group can expect to serve through the 2027 calendar year in order to intentionally transition NIRSA’s wellbeing work to align with the next strategic framework

Further opportunities to get involved

As the advisory group’s work progresses, we anticipate that there will be additional opportunities for members to come together and support the Association’s wellbeing work in an “activator” role. Stay tuned to NIRSA Connect and NIRSA’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X) to find out more about these opportunities as they develop.

Every winter, the Association opens annual committee applications; among the many opportunities to get involved and grow your network is the chance to serve on NIRSA’s Wellbeing Briefing Work Group. Join this esteemed group who creates NIRSA’s quarterly email briefings which are aimed at educating, communicating, sharing, and connecting members to new and existing resources regarding wellbeing.

See related: NIRSA Wellbeing Briefing
Headshot of Erin O'Sullivan
Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at  | NIRSA Profile

Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.