Collective Well-being as an Approach to Academic Advising

What does it mean to flourish, and how do we help the students we serve do the same? Drawing on research from positive psychology and public health, this session explores flourishing as a multidimensional concept encompassing happiness, meaning, physical and mental health, character, and close relationships. We will reflect on the personal behaviors that sustain our own sense of thriving and examine practical strategies for nurturing flourishing in students. The session then expands this conversation beyond the individual, introducing Dr. K. Viswanath's framework of collective well-being, which is a perspective that challenges us to ask not just "Am I well?" but "How can I thrive if those around me are not?" Participants will leave with a renewed sense of purpose rooted in connection, community, and the transformative power of everyday interactions. Facilitator(s): Jen Cooper