UNC’s Wellness Champions program joins with the Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Culture of Health to foster a greater culture of well-being throughout Gillings and Carolina. The Gillings Culture of Health, formally established in 2015 by Dean Rimer and Penny Slade-Sawyer, former senior consultant at our North Carolina Institute for Public Health, encourages all Gillings students, faculty, and staff to engage in activities and take advantage of resources that support the overall well-being of the entire Gillings community.
Our staff Wellness Co-Champions are supported by a team, open to students, faculty, and staff from across Gillings to conduct a variety of wellness programs and activities that meet the needs of faculty, staff and students.
Read OHR’s Shout Out to Rhoda and former co-champion Deshana.
Want to join our committee? Contact cultureofhealth@unc.edu
Wellness Champions Committee Members
Rhoda Cerny
Rhoda Cerny
Co-Champion Wellness Champions
Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Culture of Health
Wellness Tip
Creating a refuge at home by de-cluttering, and combining plants, other elements of nature, and things that inspire us, can mean all the difference to our mental health and well-being.
Favorite Wellness Quotes
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“A joyful life is an individual creation that cannot be copied from a recipe.”
― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
“Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What I’m Reading or Listening To:
“SoulSpace, Transform your Home, Transform your Life – Creating a Home that is Free of clutter, Full of Beauty and Designed by You” (by Xorin Balbes)
“Art &Fear:Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking” (Bayles and Orlond)
Best kept secrets of the Greek Islands (Diana Farr Louis)
“Chocolat” (Joanne Harris)
Kira Jones
Kira Jones
Environmental Sciences & Engineering
Wellness Tip
Setting what sometimes seem like “pathetic goals,” like walking 15 minutes just one day a week, can be a tool to help you get over the first hurdle of where to start with getting into exercise.
Favorite Wellness Quote
““Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone”
What I’m Reading or Listening To:
Bright-sided, by Barbara Ehrenreich
The Book of Joy, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams
The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown
Maija Leff
Maija Leff
Health Behavior
Julie McManus
Julie McManus
Facilities
Wellness Tip
Getting locally grown produce delivered every week has motivated me (most of the time) to eat more vegetables and cook more often.
Favorite Wellness Quote
“Self-love is the best medicine.”
― Unknown
What I’m Reading or Listening To:
Maria Melendez
Maria Melendez
Executive Assistant
Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center
Biostatistics
Wellness Tip
Start your day with something positive and be grateful.
Favorite Wellness Quote
“Today is your day to start fresh, to eat right, to train hard, to live healthy, to be proud”
― Bonnie Pfiester
Angie Ross
Angie Ross
Finance
Wellness Tip
Take the time to get outside every day – fresh air and sunshine do wonders for the soul.
Favorite Wellness Quote
“Wellness encompasses a health body, a sound mind, and a tranquil spirit. Enjoy the journey as you strive for wellness.” -Laurette Gagnon Beaulieu
“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” -Eleanor Brown
What I’m Reading or Listening to:
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (John Mark Comer)
We’re Going There (Bianca Olthoff)
Atlas of the Heart (Brene Brown)
One Word that will change your life (Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, Jimmy Page)
