West Virginia University - News and Information Services
Garrison unveils new WVU employee wellness program, introduces program manager
Promoting health, changing lives
West Virginia University employees will benefit from a campuswide wellness initiative launched today (Nov. 27) by University President Mike Garrison.
“The new Employee Wellness Program will have a huge impact on the health and well-being and life balance of our employees and their families,” Garrison said.
To lead this effort, WVU has appointed Kimberly Zaph as its new wellness program manager.
“Our goal is to provide more opportunities for faculty and staff to achieve better physical fitness, improved mental health and additional resources that will lead to longer, fuller lives,” Garrison added. “Kimberly is the right person to lead us in that direction.”
“The overall goal for employee wellness is to be proactive and to meet the needs of our University family,” Zaph said. “I want to create a culture that incorporates fun as well as fitness.”
Zaph said she understands the startling health statistics of the state – the high rates of heart disease and cancer – adding, “This program will bring wellness into the University’s core mission and values.”
The announcement took place against a backdrop of wellness screenings at WVU’s Human Resources office.
One of Zaph’s first goals is to get wellness coordinators designated in all areas of the University so that every employee has access to wellness programming.
She also plans to kick off a weight management awareness campaign in the new year for those interested in losing weight in a healthy way. The program will run through March, which is National Nutrition Month.
Bringing health and wellness speakers to campus, offering training and development workshops, encouraging walking groups and promoting existing programs like the “Walk 100 Miles in 100 Days” campaign that the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center established are among her goals.
On hand for the announcement were representatives from Faculty Senate, Staff Council, the WVU Wellness Task Force and several newly recruited worksite wellness coordinators.
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Wellness Program Manager
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