MASP students studying for a class together

In collaboration with the new Renée Crown Wellness Institute on campus, this past spring MASP offered a hybrid fieldwork practicum and seminar where students learned about and engage in a Youth Led Participatory Research (YPAR) project around the construct of wellness. We feel strongly that the mission of the new institute and the emphasis placed on interdisciplinary research-practice partnerships to promote wellness aligns well with MASP’s goals of supporting the wellness and belonging of underserved communities of students on campus. The course was co-taught by the institute’s Associate Director, Dr. Julia Zigarelli, and the Director of Participatory Research, Dr. Leah Peña Teeters. Based on principles of student leadership, MASP students explored and engaged in interdisciplinary methods of participatory research to learn more about the campus’ and community’s perspectives on wellness.  We received excellent feedback from students regarding their experience in the course and hope to collaborate with the Crown Institute again in the future.