Interview with Stevens’ new Wellness Educator: Gabrielle Guider

“With the new Wellness Educator position and the opening of the new Student Wellness Center, we are building a stronger culture of wellness here at Stevens,” says Gabrielle Guider, Stevens’ new Wellness Educator.

A graduate from the University of Delaware, Ms. Guider received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a Master of Science in Health Promotion. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), qualifying her for the brand-new position. Prior to working at Stevens, Ms. Guider worked as a Health Educator in the Community Health department of a large New Jersey healthcare system. In this role, she “worked collaboratively with the healthcare system’s local communities to identify the heath needs of the population and improve patient access to care.” This has qualified her to handle the tasks that her position entails. “[CHES] qualifies me to address the needs for health education programs, plan effective programs, analyze community data, and encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments,” she explained.

Guider also explained the brand-new role she is taking on at Stevens, which consists of two main parts. First, the Wellness Educator acts as a case manager for the CARE team, which helps students in crisis, and also evaluates their needs to encourage personal growth and help their academic progress. The second component of her job is focused on the planning and implementation of health promotion programs and services, including presentations and workshops related to topics like physical health, sleeping habits, and sexual health.

With her new position, Ms. Guider emphasizes that one of her most important goals is “getting to know the campus that [she is] serving,” because “the students are the experts on what is really going on in their community.” For that reason, Ms. Guider has thus attended several student events and introduced herself to various student groups. Additionally, she hopes that as she becomes more well-known, she will be able to “collaborate with student leaders and groups to offer presentations and workshops.”

Finally, she also shared some changes students can expect in the wellness program, referring to the Pond House as Stevens’ new Wellness Center. “We are building a stronger culture of wellness here at Stevens. Having Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Services, and Wellness Education together gives us the opportunity to approach health and wellness in a more holistic manner and focus on the integration of physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and environmental wellness.”