Becoming a qualified teacher was enthusiastically supported by his then supervisor, especially because Matt had long been interested in the subject and had already taught a few workshops. They both understood how the training, and its outcomes, reflected the Libraries’ commitment to wellness and student wellbeing. He also knew it was a way to build relationships with science, technology, engineering, and math students who might not otherwise connect with a librarian. That training took place in 2022, and he has been part of the MIEA Teacher Community ever since.
The SWC team is thrilled that the MIEA Teacher Community program extends beyond students, thanks to Matt and his fellow 14 instructors (listed at the end of this piece). Their participation broadens capacity to offer the Dartmouth community more opportunities to incorporate mindfulness in their lives. Laura Beth “LB” White, Assistant Director for Wellbeing at SWC, says that being practitioners of mindfulness and teaching others directly connects to supporting student wellbeing.
We must take a community-wide approach due to the interconnected relationships we share with one another. When our staff and faculty have a deeper sense of wellbeing in their lives, this will have an impact on students. - Laura Beth "LB" White
The result of involving and training Dartmouth faculty and staff has, so far, resulted in a 600% capacity increase to offer additional courses and experiences to staff and faculty through MIEA.
Jennifer Taxman, Associate Dean of Libraries Research & Learning, shared, “Matt’s partnership with the Student Wellness Center positively impacts and creates a supportive mental health environment and work culture across Dartmouth.” Organization-wide, Dartmouth Libraries deeply commit to collaborative partnerships and initiatives that support student mental health and provide welcoming spaces. It’s these types of collaborations that Siddhant says enables greater reach and impact. Collaboration encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to connect with each other while fostering experiences and nurturing environments where we can learn from one another.
Our trained mindfulness teachers hail from different parts of Dartmouth (and the world) having unique lived experiences. Their expertise and insight is instrumental in reaching and connecting with a wider audience. - Siddhant Babla
SWC colleagues Laura Beth “LB” and Caitlin Barthelmes, Director of SWC, share how meaningful, large-scale programs that focus on student, faculty, and staff wellbeing require more than a single department or office to sustainably support and maintain them. “It must be a Dartmouth-wide effort to ensure that all members of our community thrive.”
***
If you missed the recent sessions, but want to begin your mindfulness journey, explore the following resources.
Via the Student Wellness Center you can