What’s Happening in Wellbeing
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Meet the winners of BU’s 2025 Hospitality Innovation and Student Wellbeing Competition
It all starts with an idea.
Do you have an innovative idea about how to support students' social wellbeing at BU?
These students did!
In the spirit of Experience Innovation, Boston University School of Hospitality Administration and Student Wellbeing celebrate these winners of the 2025 $12.5k Student Wellbeing Competition.
The Student Wellbeing Competition focuses on innovative ideas or initiatives that promote the social wellbeing of students at BU. The success of these ventures were assessed on creativity, novelty, reach, and feasibility to implement.
Student Wellbeing Winners
1st Place – Missed Connections ($6,000)
Frank Yang – College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), Class of 2027
Andrea Rojas Doupovec – College of Fine Arts (CFA), Class of 2025
Mohammed Hit – College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), Class of 2027
Joseph Marotta – College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), Class of 2027
Jodi Yu – College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), Class of 2026
MissedConnections is an iOS social app that fosters meaningful friendships among BU students. Using location tracking and interest-based matching, the app connects students who crossed paths during the day but didn’t interact, helping reduce loneliness and spark real-life friendships.
2nd Place – You and Me Both for International Graduate Students ($4,000)
Manasa Sivakumar – School of Public Health (SPH), Class of 2026
You and Me Both is a two-part program designed to combat isolation among international graduate students. The initiative pairs first-year international students with upper-year peers for mentorship and hosts monthly cultural events to build community and promote cross-cultural connection.
3rd Place – Kindness Chain ($2,500)
Qilin Liu – College of Communication (COM), Class of 2026
Chen Yang – College of Communication (COM), Class of 2026
Kindness Chain is a digital platform that cultivates a culture of giving at BU. Students can request or offer help, but to receive assistance, they must pledge to help someone else—creating a visible, growing chain of kindness across campus.
View the winning teams and their final pitches:
In addition to SHA and Student Wellbeing, partners include BU Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences and Innovate@BU.
Learn more about the BU School of Hospitality's Innovation Competitions.
Take Care of Yourself During Graduation Season 2025
Congratulations! You’re graduating! You’ve made it! Take a moment to breathe deeply and feel proud of yourself for all you have accomplished. Feeling overwhelmed?
We've got you! Check out our wellbeing guide: Taking Care of Yourself During Graduation Season to navigate the next chapter, with tips to support all dimensions of your wellbeing.
Taking Care of Your Wellbeing During Graduation Season (Downloadable)
International Day of Dance
Join BU Global Programs, Student Wellbeing and four fabulous student dance groups to celebrate the International Day of Dance on April 29.
Join us at 4 pm on April 29 in the Metcalf Ballroom in the GSU for a fun-filled event celebrating the art of dance from around the world. Get ready to move to different styles of dance, watch amazing performances, and even join in on a dance workshop or two. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just looking to have a good time, this event is perfect for everyone. Don't miss out on this exciting celebration of international dance and culture!
The event will feature the following BU student dance groups:
Support the BU Food Pantry on Giving Day April 9
Wednesday, April 9 is #BUGivingDay, BU’s annual 24-hour giving campaign!
Celebrate the cause that makes you #proudtoBU by making your gift to the BU Food Pantry.
Visit our Giving Page to learn more or give early! Mark your calendars for April 9!
Ramadan Iftar Celebration at Med Campus
Join Us: Charles River Esplanade Clean Up April 26
In observance of #EarthDay365 and Global Days of Service, join us for the 26th Annual Charles River Cleanup on Saturday, April 26, from 10 am to 12 pm!
Boston University students, faculty, staff and alumni will gather along the Charles River Esplanade near Warren Towers and the Questrom School of Business to remove trash and debris, preserving this iconic historical landmark. This event isn't just about making a positive impact on our local community; it's also an opportunity to connect with fellow Terriers who share a passion for volunteerism, sustainability, and service. It sounds simple, but you’ll have a great time chatting with others, enjoying nature and taking in some amazing views.
The Esplanade Association will provide gloves and all the tools we need to remove trash and debris from the section of the Esplanade adjacent to our campus. So bring yourself, a water bottle and all the Earth Day vibes!
You will be notified via email of the 10 am meeting spot!
Learn about the rich history of the Charles River, once known as Quinobequin, and the contributions of its indigenous stewards, including the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Pawtucket peoples who lived in what would become known as Boston and Cambridge by their colonizers. Click here for more information on the history of the Charles River and the contributions of the Charles River Conservancy (CRC).
Hosted by:
- Boston University Development & Alumni Relations
- BU Warren Towers Residence Life
- BU Student Wellbeing
- BU Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)
- BU Questrom Graduate Students of the African Diaspora (GSAD)
- BU Questrom Social Impact and Nonprofit Club
- Idori
- BU Questrom Energy and Sustainability Club
BU Student Mental Health Services Honored in Princeton Review Project
Boston University is one of 16 colleges named to the Princeton Review’s 2025 Mental Health Services Honor Roll, an inaugural list of schools recognized for the ways they help students facing mental health challenges. “Mental health and wellness are ingrained in the BU experience,” the University’s citation says, while peer resources were praised for helping Terriers “identify signs of distress, develop effective skills for communicating with and supporting students.”
The Princeton Review commended BU for its breadth of services, which include 180-plus wellbeing programs, events, and learning opportunities available to students.
The distinction recognizes the efforts of BU’s Student Health Services (SHS), which provides mental health and wellbeing support through its affiliated departments Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), Health Promotion & Prevention (HPP), and Survivor Advocacy, Response & Prevention (SARP), in addition to the Student Wellbeing office.
Read the full article in BU Today.
View the full 2025 Mental Health Services Honor Roll in The Princeton Review.
Breath, Rhythm, and Music: New Workshop Combines Them to Improve Wellbeing (Video)
Breathe in, breathe out—in this video, Igor Iwanek, a CFA lecturer in music and music theory, leads members of the BU community through unique breathing exercises, guided by the rhythms of North Indian classical music, during the weekly Breath, Rhythm & Music for Your Wellbeing workshop at the Howard Thurman Center.
[BU Experts] Wellness in Hospitality: The Increasing Need for Education
Leora Lanz, Executive Director of the Online Program and Associate Professor of Marketing at BU’s School of Hospitality Administration, explores how wellness is becoming a core component of hospitality marketing. Drawing from her experience teaching advanced experiential marketing, Lanz illustrates the importance of incorporating wellness into brand positioning, guest experiences, and marketing strategies. Her students’ hands-on projects demonstrate how hospitality businesses can develop authentic wellness offerings that resonate with today’s travelers.
With insights from Kris Covarrubias, BU Student Wellbeing.
Your Path to Financial Wellbeing & Independence
Student Wellbeing and Her Financial Future invite all BU students to an interactive workshop titled “Your Path to Financial Wellbeing & Independence” on Wednesday, February 26 at 5 pm in CAS 313!
Attendees will learn about financial milestones and walk away with actionable “to-dos” that can lessen common stressors and feelings of imposter syndrome associated with personal finance.
Featuring Dr. Carrie Landa, PhD, Executive Director of Student Wellbeing, and Stephen Martiros, MBA, a professional wealth manager, and founder of Kindros, you will learn about the benefits of understanding your finances and active steps you can take towards your own financial wellbeing.
We hope you’ll join us and bring your questions!