Wellness Ambassadors

Position Description

The Wellness Ambassadors (WA) are a committed group of students who understand the importance of wellness and the value of connecting to resources on campus in order to be successful while at the University of Portland. Through the collaboration and support of the Office of Residence Life and Wellness Center, the Wellness Ambassadors are supported to help foster a healthy environment within the residence hall by connecting their peers with resources that allow each member of our community to thrive and sustain the challenges, rigors, and stress of pursuing an academic degree while living in intentional community in a university residence hall. This position may be incompatible with other leadership opportunities on campus.

Responsibilities

• Presence and support in the planning of hall programs related to the dimensions of wellness (emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial).
  Key programs topics will include alcohol education, Green Dot, health basics, academic needs, etc.
• Participation in a training relating to on-campus Health & Wellness resources, and program planning.
• Successful completion of Green Dot Training (opportunity will be facilitated by program staff).
• Identify and create opportunities for educating peers about wellness in the context of on-campus living.
• Seek out opportunities to work with other student leaders, connect peers to campus resources, and events that promote the concept of a healthy, balanced life while a student and beyond.
• Collaborate with cohort members to grow in awareness of wellness in all forms and dimensions.
• Respond to the particular needs of the community.

Learning Objectives

1. Leadership:Student leaders will learn, understand, and apply the seven (7) Leader Character Habits to their practice of leadership.
2. Dimensions of Wellness:Student leaders will develop an understanding of the eight (8) dimensions of wellness.
3. Collaboration:Student leaders will be able to collaborate with their fellow peers, student organizations, and faculty/staff to create opportunities for co-curricular connections around health and wellness – both for themselves and for their hall community.
4. Development:Student leaders will develop transferable leadership skills, particularly related to community development and communication.
5. Resource Awareness:Student leaders will be able gain greater awareness of resources on campus.
6. Reflection: Student leaders will reflect on experiences (their own experiences, as well as the experiences of their cohort members) in order to grow in their peer mentoring/ministry/leadership skills.
7. Application: Student leaders will practice aligning their espoused values with their lived values.

Applicant Qualities

• Passion, interest, and desire to engage and grow in one's understanding of wellness.
• Previous hall involvement and commitment preferred.
• Participation in community health, wellness, prevention efforts at UP, or the equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to engage peers and build community.
• Creativity to respond to the needs of the hall.
• WIllingness to collaborate.

Time Commitment & Required Availability

• Approximately 2-5 hours per week.
• Regular team meetings with Wellness Ambassadors and staff
• Presence and planning of all events or attendance at campus events with residents.

Benefits for Participation

• University swag and experience as a student leader within the residence hall community.
• Ongoing leadership development and formation.
• Transferable skills to be leveraged for future leadership positions and employment.

How to Apply

The 2024-2025 selection process will be available through the Lead @ UP webpage starting Friday, January 19, 2024.

Contact

For questions regarding this position or program, please contact the Associate Director for Support and Development Brittani Klindworth at klindwor@up.edu, or the Wellness Program Coordinator Mylea Braun at braun@up.edu.