CFA Students

CFA Wellbeing Series Supports Student-Artists

From sleep wellness tips and healthy snack pop-ups to study breaks and career workshops, the CFA Student Services team emphasizes a culture of balance and intentionality for student-artists

For several years prior, the BU College of Fine Arts Dean’s Office Student Services team hosted semi-annual Stress Reliever events for CFA-ers, organized by Director of Undergraduate Student Services Brendan Hoey. “Our students are enrolled in rigorous programs, which involve a deep level of commitment both in and out of the classroom, and sometimes this contributes to feelings of stress,” says Hoey. “Our stress relievers were created in 2018 in response to a clear need for opportunities to relax and reset.”

With the pandemic both disrupting the flow and highlighting the need for programming around wellbeing, the return to campus saw a shift to even more accessible and engaging programming for graduate and undergraduate students alike. In the fall of 2023, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Enrollment Ruthie Jean (CAS’95, Wheelock’98) and her team launched a more robust series of student-focused events and pop-ups, with a goal of supporting the holistic wellbeing of students.

“Artists use their bodies and minds in ways that intertwine in the creative process,” says Jean. “This interaction requires healthy functioning and engagement for the artistic creation. If our students are suffering from trauma, or not caring for themselves holistically, it will impede their process. We want students to become the best artists they can be – to do that, we have to care for their social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, financial, physical, and environmental well-being.”

One of the pillars that Dean Harvey Young outlined in the College of Fine Arts Strategic Plan is community: big yet small. “We keep that in mind when planning and executing our events and offering support systems,” reflects Hoey. “Not only in how we can promote mental health and well-being for our students, but in how we can encourage a sense of community and belonging in ways that are uniquely targeted to our intellectually curious and artistically talented students.”

As Administrative Coordinator for Enrollment Services and School of Theatre alum, Taire Chevalier (CFA’19) has a distinctive perspective on the CFA student experience. “The philosophy here is that in order to be productive and successful, you must first take care of yourself.”

BU Student Wellbeing defines wellbeing as encompassing the physical, social, emotional, spiritual, financial, intellectual, and environmental. CFA’s programming reflects these categories. Programming this year has spanned healthy sleep and eating habits to workshops on career and life management. Other events, like the Halloween carnival, CFAmily Jams, and Holiday Cards, Crafts & Cocoa, support students’ social wellbeing.

A lot of intention is infused into each offering, with the team sourcing creative and fun ways to share resources with students in an engaging way. For a sleep-focused event, Chevalier created packs of fact cards based on Pokémon cards that included basic information on the importance of healthy sleep, and some tips to help build those habits. And for the healthy eating program, Student Services set up a large spread of food and handed out recipe book tins with the BU Sargent Choice Healthy Eating Toolkits included.

Event offerings come in all different models, some more structured, some more community-focused, and some pop-up giveaways. In the future, they hope to host events on more topics that matter to BU’s student artists, like environmental wellness. “As we move forward, we’re continuously investigating how to best program around all of the aspects of wellbeing. Our programming is designed with the intention of supporting our students as full people. This means a good deal of research and intentionality,” says Chevalier.

Associate Dean Jean is excited about the future of CFA’s wellness programming. “We would like to continue focusing programming efforts on all areas of wellness – intellectual, social, emotional, financial, spiritual, environmental, physical – to provide support for the entire artist’s being. We hope to fine-tune efforts for unique areas of support that students need who come to Boston and BU from different geographical, social, financial, demographic cultures. We still have a lot of work to do in building those bridges and connections.”

The event series serves as a touchstone for holistic CFA wellbeing initiatives, including programming that comes out of the Schools at CFA, such as the School of Theatre’s Affinity Group meetings for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent/disabled students, and the School of Visual Arts’ workshops on Perfectionism and Self-Compassion, which support emotional and intellectual wellbeing. Programs like that can provide a more localized form of support for students.

Last year also saw the expansion of support systems in the field of wellness to the faculty, as they seek resources to in turn support their students. Through work with Student Health Services clinicians and specialists, they learned that “of students in the undergraduate age population, statistically, 1 in 4 is likely to have experienced trauma.” Says Jean, “for many, care and compassion is an essential part of the pathway of healing from trauma.”

With a mission of actively supporting the CFA community in these ways, “we embraced the framework of CFA programming to cover the various areas of wellness” she says, and “we are seeing that it is a way to support students holistically, to provide models of healthy functioning and care, while supporting their healing process – in whatever form that takes.”

Inspired by students, for students

This spring, the Student Services team is emphasizing feedback. “We want to hear students’ honest opinions as well as their ideas for new programming,” says Chevalier. The offerings are “for them ­– we want it to be something they actually find helpful!”

Students can expect a fresh lineup of programs, starting off with a Financial Literacy & Freelancing workshop with Emily Worden (January 31st, 5-6pm in room 259). February brings the CFA 2024 Kick-Off Reception (Thursday, February 8th from 3-5pm in the Booth Theatre lobby) and the annual Valentine’s Day Soiree (2-4pm in the Student Lounge on Valentine’s Day). A student-favorite terrarium stress reliever event will take place on Wednesday, March 6th, and in April, Emily Worden will be back with a workshop on Informational Interviews. Plans for another CFAmily Jam and a First Generation Recognition event are in the works as well.

As for what resources are available for students? There’s no shortage. Just to name a few:

• BU Behavioral Health – 617-353-3569
• BU Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders (CARD)
• Gender Affirming Healthcare – 617-353-3575
• Headspace (all BU students have free access to Headspace!)
• Sargent Choice Nutrition Center – offers individual services, workshops, toolkits, recipes, and healthy options in our dining halls
• Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center (SARP) – 617-353-7277 (SARP) – 24/7 line
• Student Health Services – 617-353-3575
• Student Wellbeing
• CFA Mental Health & Wellbeing

If students are not sure where to start, the staff in the CFA Dean’s Office are always here to help. Feel free to drop by CFA room 230 any time during business hours, or reach out to Brendan Hoey or Taire Chevalier.

Get to know CFA’s Student Services team

Ruthie Jean

Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Enrollment

Ruthie began her career as a counselor. Throughout her career, she has focused on working with college students on issues of adjusting to college, identity, academic success, career exploration and navigating crisis. Prior to joining the College of Fine Arts, she worked at Emory University, Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences and Boston University’s College of Engineering. In Engineering, Ruthie oversaw all undergraduate student services, event planning and counseling. Ruthie was awarded the John S. Perkins Award for Distinguished Service for her dedication and commitment to undergraduate education.

Brendan Hoey

Director of Undergraduate Student Services

Brendan is the Director of Undergraduate Student Services, having previously worked with students on the Medical Campus at the School of Public Health. Brendan holds an undergraduate degree from UMass Amherst, and a Master of Science in College Student Development and Counseling from Northeastern University. In his spare time, Brendan likes to relax with family and friends, go on walks in the city, hike on trails around New England, and participate in tennis and darts leagues.

Taire Chevalier

Administrative Coordinator for Enrollment Services

Taire is a recent graduate from Boston University, with a BFA in Theatre Arts (Design and Production) focusing in Scenic Painting and Dramaturgy, and a minor in Archaeology, and he is ecstatic to continue his BU journey at CFA. His interest in working at the university began with Boston University Orientation, where he was a Program Advisor (2017), and the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, where he was a Program Manager (2018). His artistic pursuits include painting, dramaturgy, amateur graphic design, and photography, among other things (check out his website for more), and he has a specific passion for queer and intersectional projects, synthesizing his artistic talents with his passion for social justice. In his spare time, he loves to listen to Stray Kids, play games, and work on learning Japanese. Taire is happy to be a resource for students to talk to when they don’t know where else to go. Always feel free to reach out to him at mccobb31@bu.edu. Learn more about Taire at mccobb31.wixsite.com.

Shannon Streets

Director of Graduate Student Services

Originally from the Thousand Islands region of Northern NY, Shannon joined the College of Fine Arts in 2011 to work with CFA online programs and is currently the Director of Graduate Student Services. Shannon holds an EdM in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from Boston University and a BA in Anthropology & Art History from the University of Massachusetts. She is an advocate for student well-being and serves as the Disability and Access Liaison for CFA. In her free time, Shannon enjoys travel, yoga, and reading.

Molly Kacerosky

Undergraduate Academic Advisor, School of Theatre

Molly is an Academic Advisor and Higher Education Professional who focuses on a holistic approach when working with students. Molly has a passion for theatre, dance, and the arts, and is excited to be working with the School of Theatre students at Boston University.

Barb Raney

Manager of Student Services, School of Music

A native New Yorker, Barb received her BA with a major in music and minor in French at Boston University’s College of Liberal Arts (now College of Arts and Sciences). Having returned to her alma mater in June 2015 to take the position of Manager of Student Services, Barbara is proud to support and serve the talented students and faculty in the School of Music. Since the Fall of 2019, Barbara has served as Academic Advisor for our undergraduate students and also serves as ex officio on a number of faculty committees. Previous to this appointment, Barbara managed the daily operations of the President’s Office at New England Conservatory where her duties also included management of NEC’s First Monday chamber music series as well as a mentoring program combining students, Board members and alumni. Well acquainted with classical music in Boston, Barbara directed concert production and promotion, special events and fundraising campaigns for the Cantata Singers & Ensemble. She began her career as an artist manager, servicing concert engagements for a diverse roster of domestic and international musicians.

Beth Zerega

Assistant Director, School of Visual Arts

Beth has a background in studio arts, metalsmithing, and glassblowing and worked as a studio jeweler and teaching artist prior to transitioning to arts administration. As an arts administrator, she has worked with several Boston-area cultural institutions and creative youth development organizations. Beth has been at the College of Fine Arts since 2011 and enjoys supporting students and faculty in the School of Visual Arts.

Mental Health & Wellness Resources

Looking for support? We’ve compiled a guide with some of the most commonly utilized resources by our community at BU, in Boston, and online. Remember that getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do – for yourself, for those you care about, and for those who care about you.

Learn More