What is FAU Thrive?

FAU Thrive aims to build a network of people and resources to support FAU students, faculty, and staff in living full, rich, healthy lives, and overcoming psychological struggles. As an FAU family in partnership with our local community, we are BETTER TOGETHER!

FAU Thrive Wellness and Support Network is a mental health and wellness initiative started by Dr. Laura Vernon. Our team is creating and promoting wellness resources and opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members, including mental health training and learning opportunities, faculty and staff certification programs, FAU and community support services for students, and a hub for our FAU family to find all things mental health and wellness at FAU.

  

Leadership Team

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Dr. Vernon is Professor of Psychology at the Wilkes Honors College, the Provost Fellow for Student Mental Health, and Faculty Fellow of Student Affairs at Florida Atlantic University. As an undergraduate at Northwestern University, Dr. Vernon completed two undergraduate honors theses in Psychology and Sociology. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed an internship at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at Central Michigan University’s Trauma and Anxiety Disorders Clinic. Dr. Vernon enjoys exploring the fascinating nuances of Psychopathology, Psychotherapy, Positive Psychology, and Social Psychology with her students. Dr. Vernon’s lab broadly examines anxiety disorders, emotion, cognition, and mindfulness. Some of her recent research has examined the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based equine assisted therapy for clinical patients, the usefulness of brief mindfulness interventions for college students, the contributions of fear and disgust to spider phobia, and the cognitive processes of emotion and phobias. She is also interested in the potential for games and online gaming to revolutionize teaching and learning. Dr. Vernon leads FAU Thrive, a series of initiatives aimed at improving college student mental health through collaborative efforts by faculty, students, administrators, staff, and community partners.

 

 

Mya Arscott is a third-year student studying Psychology at FAU’s Wilkes Honors College. Outside of classes, she enjoys cooking, dancing, and spending time with her cats. After graduation, she plans on continuing her education in Psychology and aspires to have a career providing mental health resources to youth in underrepresented communities. While at FAU Thrive, she hopes to spread awareness and further destigmatize mental health issues while also promoting resources and events that can improve the wellbeing of students and faculty.

 

 

Katherine Mali Hanner is a second-year student at the Wilkes Honors College of FAU. Although undecided in her career pursuits, she has a passion for working with children and youth through various mentorship programs at local schools and her church. Regardless of what field she ends up pursuing, she plans to continue investing in the lives and mental wellness of those around her. Mali is proud to be part of the FAU Thrive team and contribute to encouraging mental well-being throughout college and beyond.

 

 

Thrive Members

 

 

Rachel Hall is a junior transfer student at the Wilkes Honors College of FAU. She received her Associate of Arts degree from Palm Beach State College on the President’s List and Summa Cum Laude. Rachel is a writing major hoping to delve further into different fields and genres from fiction, nonfiction, professional, as well as other parts of the writing process and industry like publishing and editing. She is also passionate about mental health, disability rights and advocacy, and psychology as a whole. In her free time, Rachel also enjoys collecting, arts and crafts, reading, and helping others in their own creative endeavors and passions. She has always wanted to write for a health and wellness magazine, so she is very thankful for FAU and Thrive for the opportunity and hopes that through her writing she can create a more accessible community at FAU and in the world.

 

 

Roni Kissil is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Early Childhood education at FAU on the Boca Raton campus. In the future, Roni aspires to be a first grade teacher, and earn a Reading Endorsement so she can help students with their reading. Roni’s love for teaching and helping others often carries into her Thrive work by educating the community about mental health awareness. When Roni is not in classes or meetings, she is either working at Blaze Pizza, at a sorority event, or chilling at home with her pets. Roni enjoys doing puzzles, watching Netflix, Zumba, and socializing with friends.

 

 

Emily Peraza is a freshman at the Wilkes Honors College of FAU and is concentrating in Cellular Neuroscience. She hopes to attend medical school after graduation and go on to work in hospitals or one day open her own practice. Her interests include dancing, reading, playing video games, listening to music, and volunteering. Her involvement in FAU Thrive means helping students, getting rid of negative stereotypes around mental health, and creating a safe community for students.

 

 

Nahian Uddin is a first generation Bangladeshi-American college student, currently majoring in Cellular Neuroscience. Nahian's initial goal is to become a Physician Assistant and is currently working as a part time pharmacy technician as well as volunteering at local medical centers. During her free time she loves to spend quality time with her friends and family, travel and explore new places, and take time for herself by going to the gym. Joining FAU Thrive has helped her realize the importance of mental health awareness and she is very excited to be a part of this uplifting team.

 

 

Fiona Vásquez is a freshman attending the Wilkes Honors College of FAU concentrating in Biochemistry on the Pre-Med Track. Her aspiration is to become a pediatrician, specializing in Emergency Medicine as she loves both kids and being a first responder as a recently listed National Registry Emergency Medical Technician. With her faith, Fiona believes that with hard work, and persistence, any trial can be endured through God which gives her the strength to do so. Since Fiona was little, she always loved the idea of helping others and being able to grow her understanding of medicine and have the knowledge to help serve others. In Fiona's free time, she enjoys working out at the gym or going on runs as she goes by the saying "strong mind, strong body" where one's mental health is vital and shouldn't be undermined. Through FAU Thrive, Fiona hopes to spread the importance of mental health and helping others "Thrive" at Thrive!

 

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click here to see THRIVE ALUMNI