Having work experience at both large public institutions as well as smaller private colleges, the new Student Wellness Director Amanda Cheetam realized right away that Elizabethtown College was a magnificent fit for her to pursue her interests and change people’s lives along the way.
As holder of this position, she brings with her many original and exciting components of student wellness. Cheetam joined Etown as the new director of student wellness at the beginning of this academic year.
One of the most significant additions is a two-credit wellness course, Wellness and the College Student, in which she hopes to introduce various strategies that will help students live healthier and happier lives.
Cheetam said, “In the wellness class, we focus on the eight dimensions of wellness, or the ‘wellness wheel.’”
This class focuses on being “well” which includes emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, financial, environmental and physical health. Cheetam is also responsible for educating RAs and peer mentors on policies regarding drugs and alcohol to ensure the campus remains safe for everyone.
Cheetam is also heavily involved with The Well, located in Thompson 100, which is a place for students to find a multitude of information about their health. At The Well, students can do anything from schedule a doctor’s appointment to pick up over-the-counter medications free of charge.
Cheetam can also be credited with the development of Wellness on Wheels, which is a mobile version of The Well. It is located on a truck that appears in various locations around campus throughout the school year.
In addition, Cheetam developed a new and exciting way for students to keep track of how much physical activity they partake in over the course of the semester called the Iron Jay Challenge. The Iron Jay Challenge is a chance for students to become involved in various activities such as running, biking, swimming and any other sports-related activities to track the miles they have charted per semester. Once they reach 70 miles, they are rewarded with a sticker for their car or dorm room.
Another new activity this year is the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in which male students can volunteer to walk a mile in high heels to raise awareness for domestic violence and to show that men as well as women can be victimized by it.
Cheetam also expressed that she is most excited about seeing what student wellness volunteers can bring to the table this year as far as creating new wellness programs, and how they will be newer and more different than ever before. She explained that the most significant impact she will have at Etown will be carried out at the hands of her students, rather than herself personally. Cheetam expressed that her favorite part of her job this year will be watching the student wellness volunteers grow and transform from students to leaders.
