Wellness Initiative History

The Wellness Initiative at USC Hillel began in 2015 under the leadership of former campus director Bailey London, who had recently supported a student through severe depression. The students who led the initiative the inaugural year focused on ending the stigma of discussing mental health publicly and creating physical wellness. Early programs included “ShalOM Yoga,” “Hiking with Hillel,” and a campus-wide Wellness Fair. Four years later, Wellness has been formalized as a core program pillar at USC Hillel, and the work has grown to include staff trainings and ongoing wellness programs that include mindfulness meditation, art therapy, and physical activity. The Bradley Sonnenberg Wellness Initiative professionalized and grew the incredibly valuable work that was started informally by a small group of committed students. The initiative works in collaboration with Office of Wellness and Crisis Intervention, under the leadership of Vice Provost Varun Soni.