Rachel Evans works at the Shaw Wellness Institute as Colgate University’s Director of Wellness Promotion. Evans oversees many of the components of the Shaw Wellness Institute, including Shaw’s initiatives for wellness outreach in the Colgate community.
“[The Shaw Wellness Institute] offers everything from primary prevention education to intervention initiatives for students,” Evans said.
The Shaw Wellness Institute is Colgate’s center for all wellness matters, offering several programs such as pet therapy, alcohol and drug education and intervention, bystander workshops, nutrition education and appointments, the Wellness Supply Program and the Peer Support Program.
“We have a number of programs, initiatives and resources under our umbrella including bystander workshops, pet therapy, wellness supply program, GATE Market (formerly the food pantry), AOD education/intervention, nutrition education and appointments, Peer Support Program and our Shaw Lounge space,” Evans said.
The Shaw Lounge space allows students to utilize resources such as board games, art supplies and puzzles to take a break and unwind.
Evans has a lot of experience working in the wellness industry. Evans has been in the community health field for over fifteen years, working a variety of jobs including holding positions in local government and at nonprofits. She has been working at higher education institutions for six years. Evans knew from a young age that she wanted to be involved in the healthcare industry.
“My parents were both in the medical field so while I didn’t go the route of being a nurse,” Evans said, “I was always really interested in public and community health.”
When asked to give one piece of back-to-school wellness advice to Colgate students, Evans spoke about the importance of prioritizing your mental health.
“Find opportunities for incorporating self-care in your routine,” Evans said. “You can quickly get burned out if you forget about that. If you incorporate that balance in your life, you will likely do better academically, too.”
There are select roles for students at the Shaw Wellness Institute as ambassadors who work on Shaw’s student outreach efforts, including increasing the wellness awareness on campus. Ambassadors are trained to be effective listeners and can offer support for loneliness, stress management, sleep and time management.
In addition, students can get involved in the Peer Support Program, where Colgate students can speak to peers about issues they may be experiencing. The Peer Support Program is run through the collaboration of the Shaw Wellness Institute, Chapel House and Colgate’s Counseling Center.
Evans’ favorite part of her job as the director of wellness promotion is working on a university campus and being able to work closely with creative and energetic students at Colgate.
Outside of work, Evans enjoys spending time with her partner and five kids. She also enjoys spending time outdoors in nature, especially with her family.
The Shaw Wellness Institute is located at 113 Broad Street and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact [email protected] via email to make an appointment with an Ambassador or for more information.
