From the BGSU OFFICE OF MARKETING AND BRAND STRATEGY
Bowling Green State University recently hired a community health educator as part of its ongoing investment in the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff and its commitment to community health. BGSU Care Community action plan.
A recent BGSU graduate, Lauren Albert ’21 began her role as the University’s third health educator this summer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health.
Albert initially focuses on hazing prevention and education and plans to use a hands-on approach to engaging with student leaders.
“When we’re talking about late-night events or educational workshops, I think there’s always a certain demographic of students that you’re going to miss,” she said. “I want to meet students where they are and find out what type of education they are receptive to. I want to have honest conversations so we can work to understand why hazing happens and develop ways to stop it from happening.
Albert’s work with students to stamp out hazing aligns with larger University initiatives, including the first-ever Ohio Anti-Hazing Summit will be held at BGSU in August.
As a Community Health Educator, Albert is primarily responsible for identifying the health issues that most affect students, faculty, and staff through surveys, focus groups, and cultivating key relationships on the campus. She will develop real-time strategies to meet these needs based on the information gathered.
“It’s really about recognizing what kind of education or resources we need to have the most impact,” said Ben Batey, health and wellness manager at BGSU. “Public health is about responding where the need is. If we start to see a trend in health that we need to address and provide more education on, the health educator will have the flexibility to do so.
In addition to hazing prevention and education, Albert plans to develop resources to support alcohol and substance misuse and misuse, diversity and inclusion, and sexual misconduct, and Title IX. The two existing health educators focus on physical and mental health, so the addition of Albert expands the support network across campus to include all facets of an individual’s health.
“The goal of our health educators is to build a bridge between the needs of our BGSU community and the resources we provide to support health and wellness,” Batey said. “The addition of Lauren as a Community Health Educator elevates the support we can offer to fully meet the range of needs within our campus community.”
The three health educators will be closely aligned with the design of life as an additional way to connect with students and help them understand the importance of prioritizing well-being throughout their academic careers and beyond.
“Wellness is a spectrum,” Batey said. “Our goal is to help individuals move along this spectrum towards wellness, which we know will be different for everyone. We want to make sure that whatever the need, we have the resources needed to support the trip.”
Comments are closed.