Hi, I’m AJ! I graduated from St. Olaf in 2025 with a degree in psychology and philosophy, and currently work as a Recovery Project Coordinator at the Wellness Center. I enjoy drumming, singing in choir, playing video games, and working out. To me, wellness means being happy, content, and fulfilled despite the circumstances. I love the field and I love St. Olaf!

I’m Emily, and I’m one of the Mental Health Team leads this year! I’m very passionate about mental health, love listening to people share their stories, and am always happy to chat about anything, so please feel free to come ask for help, talk, rant, get resources, or just hang out in the office! Outside of classes and work, I am co-chair of Social Work and the Greater Good, so maybe it goes without saying that I am a social work major, but I’m a big fan of learning and engaging with the values of social work with other students from any major. I am also the director of the Bandana Project, so feel free to chat with me about that, and am a SARN Advocate.

To me, wellness is a way of caring for and respecting yourself amid the chaos of daily life. It means coming home and being a safe space to yourself. Wellness is also a critical part of making change in our world, allowing us to recharge and sustain ourselves so that we can keep working towards positive change in our society. Part of this process for me includes doing things that I love and engaging in creativity! So, in my free time, I like to hang out with friends, spend time outdoors (I love anything outside – hiking, camping, canoeing, biking etc.), singing, and trying to teach myself guitar or ukulele.

My name is Megan Haas (she/her/hers), and I am the Substance Team Lead x Exec from the class of 2027, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. In my spare time, I love to read, play guitar, go for long walks, listen to music, and spend time with my two dogs. To me, wellness is all about balance, knowing oneself, and setting boundaries. Wellness is not always what is easy or even “natural,” and is therefore a practice that evolves with us throughout our entire lives. It is also about community, connection, and support — we are better when we practice wellness together! I decided to become a Peer Educator because public health has always been a significant interest of mine, particularly in the areas of mental health and substance well-being. I see wellness as a tremendously important factor in our campus community and in college life in general, and I was eager to get involved in my campus’s wellness programs.

My name is Orion Spader (they/them), and I am a Student Coordinator from the class of 2026, originally from Moorhead, Minnesota. I enjoy playing video games and watching stupid movies. To me, wellness means working toward a position to thrive, where all the different types of wellness are balanced and meet all your needs. I really care about wellness education and access, especially sexual health. I knew that the Wellness Center would be the best place to strengthen our community in the way I am passionate about, which is why I joined as soon as I could.

My name is Leonor Arrobas (she/her), and I am a Student Coordinator from the class of 2026, originally from Sintra, Portugal. I enjoy listening to music, reading, and spending time with friends. Sometimes, I like to walk aimlessly through town, visit little boutiques, and grab a coffee. To me, wellness means achieving balance and finding a path to a fulfilling life. I became a peer educator because of my deep desire to help, learn, and serve others. I believe that mental health is a crucial aspect of overall wellness, influencing and being influenced by every other area of life. Being a peer educator allows me to support others in their journeys toward well-being while continuing to grow and learn myself. I decided to become a Peer Educator because I am passionate about promoting mental health awareness and creating a supportive campus community. I have seen how important it is for students to have access to reliable information and feel comfortable discussing their well-being.

My name is Jewels Kiritta (she/her), and I am part of the MarComm team from the class of 2028, originally from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I like to spend time with my friends, play sports, watch shows and movies, go to the gym, and try new things. To me, wellness means taking care of yourself both in mind and body, making sure you prioritize yourself while also caring for others. I decided to become a peer educator because I care about the well-being of students on campus and want to be a listening ear for those who need it. I truly believe that mental health is important and that our job as peer educators helps make campus a safer and better place.

My name is Maria Camilli (she/her), and I am part of the MarComm team from the class of 2026, originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota. I enjoy running and cooking and baking with friends and family. I love continuing to educate myself on all areas of wellness while supporting students on campus and creating a safe and welcoming space.

My name is Zoe Zaruba (she/they), and I am part of the Sexual Wellbeing team from the class of 2026, originally from Colorado Springs. I enjoy books, movies, and games—board, card, and video. Education is a large part of wellness to me. As someone who did not receive much wellness education, especially regarding sexual health, I believe that health and wellness cannot be achieved without understanding it first. I care deeply about ensuring that everyone, regardless of who they are, has access to resources and education to better take care of themselves.

My name is Declan Coleman (he/him), and I am part of the Sexual Wellbeing team from the class of 2026, originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota. I love to play music, as well as card games, board games, video games, and sports. To me, wellness is a feeling of calm and contentedness. I wanted to help others achieve this calm, recognizing it in others helps me to embrace it myself.

My name is Arjîn (she/her), and I am part of the Sexual Wellbeing team from the class of 2028, originally from Istanbul, Türkiye. I really enjoy reading books, playing volleyball, watching sports, and spending time with my friends. It is always fun to have a deep conversation with a friend while on a walk in nature. To me, wellness has a strong connection with comfort in bravery—being comfortable enough to speak about how you are feeling or how someone else is feeling. In high school, I was positively impacted by a peer educator, which inspired me to step into this role to offer similar support to others.

My name is Lily Booth (she/her), and I am part of the Sexual Wellbeing team from the class of 2026, originally from Mount Vernon, Iowa. I enjoy walking, knitting, and talking. To me, wellness is balancing the highs and lows of daily life in ways that make you feel good and whole. I love connecting with peers about anything and everything!

My name is Usman Mallick (he/they), and I am part of the Sexual Wellbeing team from the class of 2028, originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. I enjoy reading. To me, wellness is the ability to live a full life by your own standards. In high school, I was part of the University of Florida’s high school peer education initiative and held a similar role as a peer educator. As a premed, wellness is a really important guiding question for what it means to “get better” and supporting others in that goal.

My name is Megan Haas (she/her/hers), and I am the Substance Team Lead x Exec from the class of 2027, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. In my spare time, I love to read, play guitar, go for long walks, listen to music, and spend time with my two dogs. To me, wellness is all about balance, knowing oneself, and setting boundaries. Wellness is not always what is easy or even “natural,” and is therefore a practice that evolves with us throughout our entire lives. It is also about community, connection, and support — we are better when we practice wellness together! I decided to become a Peer Educator because public health has always been a significant interest of mine, particularly in the areas of mental health and substance well-being. I see wellness as a tremendously important factor in our campus community and in college life in general, and I was eager to get involved in my campus’s wellness programs.

My name is Declan Mears (he/him), and I am part of the Substance team from the class of 2027, originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia. Outside of school, I love playing sports, DnD, working out, listening to music, and gaming. I’m also a philosophy major, so talking and reading are some of my specialties even outside the classroom. I like to play DnD, read philosophy, think about the universe, and make guac. To me, wellness means being content with who you are while continuing to grow in your wellness journey, striving toward your goals 1% at a time. I decided to become a peer educator because I know the pain substances can cause in someone’s life, and I wanted to help others through those situations. I love helping people feel heard and making sure they have a shoulder to cry on.

My name is Emma Haines (she/her), and I am part of the Substance Wellbeing Team from the class of 2027, originally from Boerne, Texas. I enjoy reading, going to the gym and taking walks, watching movies, and bowling. To me, wellness means feeling centered and balanced enough to provide not only for yourself but also for others. Wellness isn’t linear—it’s a state of comfort and safety. I decided to become a Peer Educator because I wanted to be a nonjudgmental, listening ear for students on campus, especially regarding their substance use. Substance use can be complex and difficult to navigate, particularly for college students, and I want my peers to know that they can share their experiences and improve their well-being with someone who cares.

My name is AJ (he/him), and I am part of the Substance team from the class of 2025, originally from Eden Prairie. I enjoy drumming, singing in choir, playing video games, and working out. To me, wellness means being happy, content, and fulfilled despite the circumstances. I love the field and I love St. Olaf!

My name is Jennifer Garcia (she/her), and I am part of the Substance team from the class of 2026, originally from Waukegan, Illinois. In my free time, I like to spend time with my friends or catch up on sleep. To me, wellness means taking care of yourself in a holistic manner; it doesn’t just mean working on one specific area to better yourself. I really like what the Wellness Center stands for and enjoy the different work they do around campus. Just knowing that I can do my part to support the overall community is really nice, and I enjoy being there to support whoever might need it.