Get to know our three new staff members who joined the team this Spring!

Karly Ackley | Health Educator

B.S in Kinesiology, M.S in Health & Kinesiology

Pronouns: She/Her

One thing that brings me joy... is crocheting! I learned how to crochet during the pandemic and I have done some really fun projects! Right now, I’m working on a baby blanket for my nephew who’s on the way.

One dimension of wellness I am focusing on this year is... my emotional wellness. Something that allows me to maintain wellbeing in this area is making sure I take intentional time away from distractions (phone, computer, etc.). I have found that to be very beneficial.

Certifications: Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) & National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBCHWC)

Carine Essomba | Health Educator

M.S. Public Health

Pronouns: She/Her

One thing that brings me joy: One thing that brings me joy is assisting or supporting people in finding happiness in this challenging world. 

One dimension of wellness I am focusing on this year is... my financial wellness, and a habit that helps me maintain my well-being in this area is refraining from spending on things I do not need, developing healthy money habits like; establishing a budget, building emergency savings, setting up a budget, tracking my expenses, and paying myself first.

Sydney Holcomb | Content Specialist

B.S. in Communication, Social Media Marketing minor

Pronouns: She/Her

Share something you've learned during your time with the CCW

I've learned that our voices have power! We can advocate, educate, and uplift others with our voices. It's been a really great learning experience to work in this role and learn how to best communicate with others to help improve their wellness 🫶🏻

One dimension of wellness I am focusing on this year is... my physical wellness. I've noticed that when I focus on my physical wellness, it also helps improve my mental wellness, so I've been working on incorporating more movement into my day. I dance, go on walks, * try * to lift weights -- whatever I want! I don't restrict what kind of physical activity I can do. I just do what feels good and gets my heart rate up! 

Katie Atkinson | Wellbeing Navigation Coordinator

M.S. Health and Kinesiology, CHES, NBC-HWC

Pronouns: She/Her

Fun fact I love sharing: Spending time outside everyday (for just 15 minutes!) can boost your mood, improve your cognitive function (memory and learning), reduce your stress, and boost your mental health.

Things that bring me joy: Seeing other's succeed in the changes they are making. Watching someone go from being unsure or hesitant about something they want to do to seeing it become part of who they are is amazing! Also, baking (bread, cookies, and cake) brings me lots of joy as well!