Columbia College and Columbia Engineering create Student Wellness Position

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering have created a new director of student wellness position to support the undergraduate community’s student wellness priorities and help create a campus culture committed to wellness.

This new role, housed in the College and Engineering deans’ offices, will partner closely with staff in Columbia College and Columbia Engineering units, including The James H. and Christine Turk Berick Center for Student Advising and Undergraduate Student Life, as well as Columbia Health and Counseling and Psychological Services; will advise the Nightline student organization; and will create and facilitate programming to support student wellness.

“This position grew out of conversations with the Student Wellness Project and student leaders when I first became Dean, and continued during conversations with CCSC about their top priorities last year, so I am glad that we were able to create this role to help reduce stress and increase wellness in our community,” said James J. Valentini, dean of Columbia College and vice president for undergraduate education. “Student wellness has long been a priority of mine, and we want to do all that we can to support the wellbeing of Columbia College students and make sure they have the best possible undergraduate experience.”

As of September 14, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering welcomed Stephanie King as the schools’ first Director of Student Wellness.

King, who previously served as an advising dean and program coordinator for the McNair Fellows Program in the Berick Center for Student Advising, comes to Columbia from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design, where she served as the associate director of student affairs. 

“Student wellness is a priority for Columbia College and Columbia Engineering. We are committed to better serving our students, families, faculty members, and campus community by collaborating to align policies and procedures in support of wellness initiatives,” said Matthew Patashnick, assistant dean for student and family support. “Stephanie will be instrumental in ensuring that our academic, residential, co-curricular, and social spaces continue to meet the changing needs of our students. Moreover, Stephanie is a compassionate student advocate who cares deeply about Columbia and we are grateful she is back in Morningside Heights.”

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