Well-being, which is embedded in Northern's “Our Compass” strategic plan and core values, has become an increasing focus in higher education. NMU 2018 alumna McKenzie Mathewson can attest to its importance. She serves as associate director of community wellness at Western Colorado University, and said her Northern experience helped to launch her career.
Mathewson oversees all functions related to student wellness. Her role includes crisis support, connecting students to on- and off-campus resources, offering training sessions, managing the campus food pantry and working with the health/counseling center.
“If a student needs help, I'm often one of the first people they come to and provide support as long as they need it,” she said. “All students are humans first. Higher education is the training ground for the future workforce, so emphasizing wellness now is crucial. We need to help people realize their wellness is important. How can you produce good work if you're not helping yourself?”
While attending NMU, Mathewson discovered she wanted to help people during her time as an RA for Arctic House in 2017. She thanks Housing and Residence Life for the in-depth training she went through as an RA, such as suicide prevention, how to build a community, and recognizing that students away from home might benefit from resources to help bridge the gap.
“I loved my NMU experience,” said the public relations and economics graduate. “I was involved in various clubs and took every opportunity to participate in events. I learned just as much, if not more outside of the classroom. I had the opportunity to go to New Zealand with other NMU students and met some of my lifelong friends. NMU is where I learned to be bold, brave and adventurous. I really found myself and now challenge students I work with to do the same thing. I also learned how important and powerful it is to tell people's stories. I use my public relations degree to help curve stigma around getting help and accessing resources.”
As a first-generation college student, Mathewson understands that some students' support systems might not understand what college is like. It is rewarding for her to be a resource for students, celebrate wins with them big or small, and help students realize they can achieve more than they think.