Sandbox
JOIN US
Do you want to get involved with the Center for Student Wellness? There are a number of ways to engage, including internships, volunteering, and becoming an ACES peer health education scholar.
InteRNSHIPS
Please contact the Center for Student Wellness to learn about our internship program and any openings.
The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)
A student volunteer group at the University of Utah, who aims to promote physical, social, emotional, intellectual, financial, environmental, and spiritual health on campus.
SHAC members:
- Assist with health education events, like STI testing clinics, tabling events, Wellness Fairs, and more!
- Educate students on basic health + wellness information.
- Conduct outreach by tabling and through social media.
To become a SHAC member, you must:
- Meet with our Center for Student Wellness Team.
- Become a Wellness Advocate (ongoing trainings through the year).
- Attend monthly SHAC meetings.
- Volunteer for a minimum of 3 events each semester or 5 hours a month.
SHAC meets the 3rd week of each month. For spring semester meeting dates, contact us:
contact us
ACES Peer Health Education
Mission Statement
Empowering students to commit to their health and wellness through peer education
What We Do
ACES peer health educators are essential in disseminating health & wellness information to the U of U campus community. We specialize in an area of wellness (i.e., sexual wellness, harm reduction, or violence prevention) and develop, implement, and evaluate programming for peers. We collaborate in small and larger teams to create meaningful ways for our peers to think about their health and wellness. Some of these ways include:
- Facilitating wellness workshops & trainings
- Tabling to increase outreach
- Staffing mobile health clinics
- Providing peer-to-peer wellness counseling
MEET OUR ACES

Marissa Castillo
Violence Prevention
Marissa Castillo
Violence PreventionWhere are you from? Salt Lake City, UT
Favorite Study Spot? Biology Bridge
Favorite Hobby? Traveling
How would you define wellness? Wellness is meeting your personal needs that allow you to live a happy and active lifestyle.

Linda Derhak
Sexual Wellness
Linda Derhak
Sexual WellnessFavorite Study Spot? Marriott Library Second floor
Favorite Hobby? Baking
How would you define wellness? Wellness is taking care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Lexy Nestel
Sexual Wellness
Lexy Nestel
Sexual WellnessFavorite Study Spot? Marriott Honors Community
Favorite Hobby? Exercising (running, biking, swimming, hiking, skiing...playing Just Dance)
How would you define wellness? When you are doing things you love that make you feel energized, happy, confident, and healthy.

Cathleen Zhang
Harm Reduction
Cathleen Zhang
Harm ReductionWhere are you from? Naperville, IL
Favorite Study Spot? MHC Library
Favorite Hobby? Napping, Reading
How would you define wellness? I think wellness begins with a positive mental state, which influences every single aspect of health.
What Does IT TAKE TO BECOME AN ACES SCHOLAR?
Are you passionate about the health and wellness of your peers? Join the ACES Scholars Program!
We accept applications each spring for the following academic year. Qualifications include:
- Enrolled as a full-time student;
- Graduating at least 1 academic year after starting as an ACES Scholar;
- Able and willing to attend weekly class meetings along with other course requirements; and
- You must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5.
- Model healthy behaviors for campus community;
- Complete all required trainings;
- Proactively develop, implement, and evaluate wellness programs as they pertain to specialized area;
- Check-in weekly with CSW staff and other PHE team members;
- Commit 60 hours over spring semester (an average of 4 hours a week);
- Assist CSW at events and outreach efforts (e.g., mobile health clinics, tabling, social media);
- Actively refer students to the CSW and other wellness-related resources on campus; and
- Support students in leading more balanced lives by sharing wellness knowledge, intervening in potentially harmful situations, and referring to resources.
- Your intended graduation date must be at least 1 academic year after starting as a PHE (i.e., if you are accepted and begin in Fall 2019, you must not intend to graduate before Spring 2020);
- You must be able and willing to commit to 60 hours of meetings, office hours, events, workshops, or programs during your year of service;
- You must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5; and
- You must be enrolled as a full-time student.
- Passionate about the wellness of their peers and the larger campus community;
- Dedicated to social justice and equitable wellness opportunities;
- Experienced in service and/or leadership roles (at the U or elsewhere);
- Interested in developing leadership, facilitation, and educational skills in a peer-to-peer setting;
- Strong written and verbal communicators;
- Interested in program development and evaluation; and
- Dependable, responsible, and accountable.