MEET OUR TEAM!
Name: Akhila Manthena
Position: Co-Director
Major: Biomathematics
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: Previously in RHA, RUPA, Hindu Student Council, blogger for SAS Honors Program, Research in Center for Alcohol Studies
Why Mental Health is Important to You: I believe that our senses and our perspective of the world are processed in our mind. So our mental health affects the lens in which we see the world and ultimately that becomes our reality. But if we take care of ourselves, we can live with happiness and clarity.
Name: Monika Baskaran
Position: Co-Director
Major: Public Health Major, Health and Society Minor
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: ESG, NJPHA, Barbara Vorhees Mentor, and Assistant Dance Teacher. I love to read, journal, meditate, dance, and listen to podcasts!
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Mental Health impacts every aspect of my daily life. It affects my thoughts, emotions, and how I face the issue of stress. Through this organization, I want to be able to guide others to a positive mental health path.
Name: Samantha Ayudant
Position: Events Coordinator
Major: Psychology, Minor in Health and Society
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: Reading stories
Why Mental Health is Important to You: As a psychology major, I plan on becoming a psychologist, so mental health is very important to me. I wish to use my knowledge to give back to those in need.
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Name: Safian Alli
Position: Events Coordinator
Major: Kinesiology/Pre-Med
Class Year: 2021
Hobbies/Involvement: STEAM Ambassador
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Despite being a vital part of our overall health, mental health is often overlooked. Essentially, mental health is important because it impacts our ability to carry out daily activities, such as our physical, emotional and even sexual health.
Name: Tyra Foster
Position: Public Relations Coordinator
Major: Information Technology and Informatics Major, Chinese Minor
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: I love cooking so I’m always trying new recipes and testing them out on my friends. Traveling to new places is something I am very passionate about. I do yoga and dance in my free time as it's my escape whenever I am stressed or feeling down.
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Mental health is important because there's a stigma that talking about mental health is bad or that it’s not serious, but talking about it is what will help everyone in the long run. Not every day is a good day, and some people have more bad days than others. We have to bring awareness to not only the bad days but the good as well.
Name: Sneha Manikandan
Position: Public Relations Coordinator
Major: Cell Biology and Neuroscience Major, Computer Science Minor
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: I like to read books.
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Mental health is a ubiquitous issue that is very often overlooked. I think it's important to bring awareness to it so people can be healthy both physically and mentally.
Name: Jayce Palamattam
Position: Blogger
Major: Nursing
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: Nursery School Teacher at local church, work at optometric technician at America's Best
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Mental health is an issue that affects every single person at some point in their lives. Not only have I gone through anxiety, but I also watched loved ones go through the worst seasons of their lives because of depression. I remember feeling so helpless at the time. When we see someone struggling, we need lift them up, which is what I feel like we could do together.
Name: Ingrid Zimmermann
Position: Blogger
Major: Physics Minor in Mathematics
Class Year: 2020
Hobbies/Involvement: Dancing, RHA, Haru
Why Mental Health is Important to You: The way in which we perceive the world and the decisions we make in our lives depend not only on the state of our physical health, but also on our mental health. It can be hard to reach out for help, support, or advice on how to handle a mental illness due to the stigma attached to it. When we are going through a rough time in our lives, it is all the harder when we are alone. I want to learn about ways to promote a mentally health life and be a part of a community that offers such support.
Name: Samantha Mei Dong
Position: Team Engagement Coordinator
Major: Psychology Minor English
Class Year: 2022
Hobbies/Involvement: reading, writing, and art. I am involved in Rutgers RHA, Salsa/ Bachata Club, runway model for FACE
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Maintaining good mental health has always been important to the welfare of the individual, but in the 21st century where texting, emails, and facebook can reach us in the matter of seconds, maintaining mental health has become much harder. It is important for people to have healthy minds in order to live health lives. We can only accomplish this when we work together in destigmatize the conversation around mental health
Name: Shivani Mehra
Position: Senior Executive Advisor
Major: Genetics and Psychology
Class Year: 2018
Hobbies/Involvement: Research (Rutgers University and previously at Columbia University), Alpha Gamma Delta, TRIMS Magazine, Douglass Governing Council, Circle K, Rutgers Academic Support Services, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Research Assistant in the Psychology Department
Why Mental Health is Important to You: Mental health is important because it affects everyone at some point in their lives. It is important to keep a good mental health otherwise we would not be able to enjoy/achieve happiness in our lives in this competitive world.
