Grinnell's Wellness Program got a big boost this year with the addition of the College's first full-time wellness coordinator, Jen Jacobsen '95. Jacobsen says her role is to create and promote wellness opportunities for faculty, staff, and students and to think of wellness as a holistic endeavor beyond simply working out and eating right. "The timing could not have been better," she says. "Now, perhaps more than ever, people need to consider ways to create balance in their lives."

Jacobsen adds, "Grinnell has a culture of 'busyness' that we are trying to balance out with wellness - we have a lot of high achievers (faculty/staff/students alike!) who sometimes need to be encouraged to take time for themselves and their overall well being. They have been very receptive to this idea so far!"

Wellness can be integrated into many areas of student life, from study breaks to guided readings. In addition to adding ongoing programs, the Wellness Program sponsored major events as well. For students, the main event was the Student Wellness Fair, held in the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center. More than 30 booths representing College, community, and student resources illustrated the theme "It's ALL about wellness!" Attendance was high, and many students beat the February blahs by getting free chair massages, sampling tea, wearing "beer goggles," and walking a labyrinth. The Wellness Program also took an active role in sponsoring substance-free programming.

Faculty and staff also benefited from the increased commitment to wellness. The bi-annual blood screening, held in conjunction with the Benefits and Wellness Fair, was the main event for faculty/staff. More than 400 employees and their spouses came to the Harris Center to get their blood drawn. Additionally, the program sponsored a holiday lunch-and-learn ("Stuff the Turkey: Not You!"), flu shots, a weight management seminar, and several departmental presentations. May's Bike to Work Week proved quite successful, with Grinnell College ranking ninth among all Iowa employers in the number of employees registered as commuting by bike.

Wellness events and activities also provided an opportunity for faculty/staff and students to interact outside of their traditional roles. The major crossover event of the year was an All-Campus Hoedown in April, with music by alumnus Nate Kemperman '96 and the Porch Stompers. Wellness also sponsored several physical activities this year that saw a mix of attendees, such as lunchtime yoga and evening spinning.

Jacobsen says that collaborations played a key role in the success of the Wellness Program, as the campus and community proved eager to spread the wellness message. On campus, offices as diverse as Dining Services, the Career Development Office, and Residence Life all partnered with wellness to provide targeted programming to the students. The Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Imagine Grinnell, and Poweshiek County Mental Health Center, among others in the community, enhanced the offerings the College provided.

Look for more Wellness Program sponsored events in the 2009-10 academic year, as well as an overhaul of the wellness website and calendar.