Designed to promote holistic health and well-being among the “sound-bite and technology saturated” Master of Communication and Media student population, the MCM Graduate Student Association E-Board is planning a new event series for the spring 2025 semester titled “Un-mess Your Stress.”

Recently funded with a grant from ScarletWell Wellness Connection, the goal of the initiative is for MCM GSA to host events for SC&I graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff to help foster interpersonal connections and offer students opportunities for emotional and intellectual rejuvenation through creative and interactive activities.

The events will align with ScarletWell’s eight dimensions of wellness and will prioritize environmental sustainability.  Events currently scheduled include Succulent Planting; Zen Gardening; Coaster Painting; Bubbles and Beats; and Journal Decorating. Additional events are in the planning stages.

Tsu-Yi (Joy) Chien MCM'25, RBS'21, who created the series and took the lead in submitting the proposal for funding, said she was inspired to launch the initiative because, “As the treasurer of MCM GSA, I connected with many MCM students and learned that they were eager to participate in more networking and de-stress activities to become more active on campus. Therefore, I thought the ScarletWell Grant would be a great opportunity for MCM GSA and SC&I to implement more activities for students. I was also inspired by ScarletWell’s initiative to promote holistic well-being among Rutgers–New Brunswick students, faculty, and staff. I am excited to be part of this initiative and believe it will be highly beneficial to promote more wellness-related activities within SC&I.”

Chien said to help foster inclusivity among MCM students, three MCM GSA members will be present at each event, to help attendees feel welcome and to foster interpersonal connections.

“We hope the events create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all SC&I students,” Chien said. “We also believe the events will be a great opportunity for SC&I students from different cohorts — undergraduate and graduate students — to make connections with each other and engage in hands-on crafting and take their handmade crafts home.”

The faculty sponsor of the Un-Mess Your Stress is Teaching Professor and Director of the MCM Program Richard Dool, who is the advisor for MCM GSA.

“Dr. Dool genuinely cares about students and he consistently provides support and encouragement,” Chien said. “When I shared my thoughts about applying for the ScarletWell Grant, he immediately agreed to be the faculty sponsor and supported me throughout the application process. I am truly grateful and look forward to working with him and the ScarletWell team on implementing the events.”

The MCM GSA E-Board will advertise the events on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook @rutgerscomminfo and @rutgersmcmgsa; GroupMe; and emails. They will also post flyers around the SC&I buildings.

Learn more about the MCM GSA, a Rutgers Student organization serving Master of Communication and Media students and the larger undergraduate SC&I population through the building of #COMMunity, on the Rutgers School of Communication and Information website.