Dinah Dalder, clinical associate professor, Department of Nutrition Science
Professor Dalder partnered with the ACE Campus Food Pantry to support the pillars of student well-being and leadership and help address the problem of food insecurity on campus. Mel Gruver, senior associate director of LEAD, met with students in NUTR 53100: Ethical Practice and Professionalism in Dietetics early in the semester to share the food pantry’s goals, mission and how the pantry works to break down barriers and stigma. All students in the class were expected to register as clients of the ACE Campus Food Pantry to experience the campus resource first-hand rather than making assumptions. As a follow-up to their “client” experiences, student teams planned and implemented four cooking demonstrations of quick, tasty recipes to promote the ACE Campus Food Pantry to other Purdue students and help reduce the stigma of using a food pantry. Themes of well-being and food insecurity were woven throughout the semester as students read Priya Fielding-Singh’s “How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America .” Gruver returned to the class at the end of the semester for a guided reflection on students’ experiences with the pantry. Here are some excerpts from the students’ written reflections:
“This project challenged the way I view food pantries and who should use them. I no longer see myself as an ‘invalid’ candidate to use the pantry. I honestly thought if I had food at home, I shouldn’t be using the food pantry. However, after attending Mel’s presentation about ACE and their mission, I did see myself in situations where I would genuinely benefit from using the food pantry.”
“I didn’t need the food from the pantry, but it helped me improve my nutrition when I couldn’t get to the store and this is part of the pantry’s goals.”
“One thing I would tell other students about the food pantry is that you don’t have to qualify and that there is no shame in needing extra support, especially as a college student.”
Patti Darbishire, executive associate dean and clinical professor of pharmacy practice, College of Pharmacy
Dr. Darbishire requested Leslie Charters, director of Purdue Student Legal Services, as the Perspective Project partner for her large elective course that assists prospective pharmacy students in establishing a pharmacy network of individuals for advice and guidance, builds foundational pharmacy knowledge and an understanding of the profession’s core values, and prepares students for the professional pharmacy program admissions process. Charters spoke with students a total of four times, twice in the in-person section of the course and twice in the online section.
Steps to Leaps pillars were woven throughout the course modules in the following ways:
It was impactful for the students to meet Charters as opposed to simply providing students with a resource link. It allowed students to put an approachable face and contact for the services offered to students. Students had many questions for Charters and we all look forward to having her return next year.
Jen Hall, senior lecturer and Cari Boersma, lecturer, Brian Lamb School of Communication
Drs. Jen Hall and Cari Boersma worked alongside Dr. Crystal Cordes from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to promote connection, overall well-being and awareness of mental health services. During the first week of class, the students completed a pre-test assessing their current well-being, knowledge of Steps to Leaps and willingness to access well-being resources on campus.
Within the first two weeks of class, students were put into teams to promote networking throughout the semester. Additionally, each student researched a specific strategy or technique to promote well-being and presented it to the class.
The students ended the semester with a group project researching the obstacles that prevent students from reaching out for mental health help and how to overcome those obstacles. They made videos addressing the obstacles and explaining the services CAPS has to offer.
At the end of the semester, the students completed a post-assessment to gauge what they have learned. They also wrote a final reflection paper to talk about their progress throughout the semester and the impact incorporating the Steps to Leaps program had on their well-being and success as a Purdue student.
Mary Beth Lencke, assistant director and course coordinator, Exploratory Studies
Lencke partnered with the Center for Career Opportunities (CCO) to help new undecided students learn about academic and career resources on campus and embrace their exploration. Morgan Delph, a career consultant in the CCO, engaged the students in an interactive presentation about networking, an often-underdeveloped skill for new freshmen. She also returned to class several times to talk about the importance of career research and to offer feedback for their final interview introduction assignment.
In addition to the presence of the CCO throughout the semester, Lencke invited guest speakers from Purdue Study Abroad (how to get started), Purdue Recreation & Wellness (digital wellness), and the National and International Scholarship Office (post-undergrad opportunities) to attend her class.
Because all students in the course are in their first semester in the Exploratory Studies program, Lencke wove the two pillars of networking and well-being into almost every class. Assignments focused on learning more about themselves (their interests, strengths, personalities and values), academic programs at Purdue and the world of work. Students also participated in a well-being activity of their choice and completed a reflection about the experience. This quote from one of her students illustrates the impact of the pillars quite well:
“I think for my decision-making process about majors, careers and life, I learned that it’s incredibly important to reach out and ask for help when you need it. The information about these resources is out there, but sometimes it's hard to find. Being able to locate these resources and then taking advantage of them is the best thing I could’ve learned while here at Purdue. This applies to any future jobs because you are not always going to know the answer. Therefore, it’s important that you have people you can contact and ask questions.” ~Student
Annette Bochenek, assistant professor, Libraries and School of Information
Zoeanna Mayhook, assistant professor, Libraries and School of Information
Professors Bochenek and Mayhook worked with Jesus Romero, associate director of the Roger C. Stewart Leadership and Professional Development Department, to integrate the Steps to Leaps pillars for leadership and well-being in MGMT 110: Introduction to Management and Information Strategies, a required course for Larsen Leaders Academy students. One area of the project was expanding a goal-setting assignment to include SMART strengths-based goals that could align with the well-being pillar, addressing either physical, financial or social wellness. This allowed students to choose goals that were more relevant and personal to them and resulted in more engagement with the assignment.
In addition, Professors Bochenek and Mayhook invited Romero to carry out an activity with the MGMT 110 students pertaining to teamwork and leadership, specifically addressing how obstacles and challenges may arise within collaborative activities and constructive ways to address them. They met with Romero to discuss targeted areas of focus for this activity to best meet the needs of MGMT 110 students. Romero offered thoughtful activities and feedback on this subject in collaboration with Professors Bochenek and Mayhook and welcomed student input throughout the process. This served MGMT 110 students well, particularly in preparation for their participation in the Eli Lilly Case Competition.
Parvaneh Rezaee, lecturer, Purdue Language and Cultural Exchange
Dr. Rezaee teaches SCLA 110, a foundational course designed to support international students who have acquired English as a second language. Believing strongly in the course’s potential to make a significant impact, Rezaee integrates the Steps to Leaps pillars to enhance student well-being and foster leadership development. By incorporating these pillars, the course equips students with strategies to improve their physical, mental and spiritual health while empowering them to become the next generation of influential leaders.
The well-being pillar was introduced through a presentation by Will Evans, senior assistant director – wellness programs, Purdue Recreation & Wellness, who explained various campus resources available to students, offering additional support for their well-being. Following this, students integrate well-being concepts into the course through activities such as reflective journal writing and video blogs, which allow them to explore and enhance various aspects of their wellness.
The leadership pillar was woven into the course via a presentation by Jesus Romero, associate director, Roger C. Stewart Leadership and Professional Development Department, on the CliftonStrengths for Students® talent assessment. This presentation was based on the concept of intentionally developing strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses, encouraging students to be intentional about their leadership and professional development during their time at Purdue. In addition, students engaged in collaborative projects and guided discussions that helped them identify and develop their unique leadership styles.
Together, the integration of the well-being and leadership pillars in SCLA 110 provided students with a comprehensive framework for personal and professional growth.
A list of instructors and their Perspective Project courses are below.
Dr. Jennifer Hall, senior lecturer
Cari Boersma, lecturer, Brian Lamb School of Communication
COM 114 – Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Mary Beth Lencke, assistant director and course coordinator, Exploratory Studies
EDPS 105 - Academic & Career Planning
Dr. Natasha Watkins, senior lecturer
HDFS 451 – Internship & Career Planning
Dr. Parvaneh Rezaee, lecturer, Purdue Language and Cultural Exchange
SCLA 110 - American Language and Culture for International Students
Dr. Victoria Lowell
EDCI 676 - Unpacking Literature and Writing Literature Reviews
Annette Bochenek, assistant professor, Libraries and School of Information
Zoeanna Mayhook, assistant professor, Libraries and School of Information
MGMT 110 - Introduction to Management and Information Strategies
Dr. Patti Darbishire, executive associate dean and clinical professor of pharmacy practice, College of Pharmacy
PHSC 20000 – Intro to Pharmacy and the Admissions Process
Dinah Dalder, clinical associate professor, Department of Nutrition Science
NUTR 53100 - Ethical Practice and Professionalism in Dietetics