Arcadia’s Wellness, Health Promotion, and Alcohol and Other Drug Education team works to help students, faculty, and staff thrive in all six dimensions of wellness: physical, mental, belonging, financial, spiritual, and intellectual. At the center of this mission is a team of peer educators, graduate assistants, and interns, led by Manager of Wellness, Health Promotion, and AOD Education Catherine Christian. 

The team plans and hosts events like Wellness Wednesdays and the Wellness Fair, creates engaging social media campaigns on topics such as mental health, nutrition, and healthy relationships, and develops educational programming. Acting as a bridge between students and the University’s wellness resources, they make health education approachable, accessible, and relevant for the entire campus community.

Get to know the peer educators and graduate assistants who are promoting wellness at Arcadia University.

Ian Kanter ’28MPH, MMS

Graduate Assistant

Hometown: Dayton, Nev.

Program: Dual Master of Public Health and Physician Assistant

What are some of your hobbies?

I very much enjoy mountain biking and snowboarding, any of those mountain-type sports. I’ve been enjoying Wissahickon Park, but honestly, anywhere that has a trail and I can enjoy with two wheels is a good time for me.

Why did you get involved with the Wellness team?

What made me reach out to Catherine as a graduate assistant was connecting the baseline of getting a master’s in Public Health and feeling like this was a wonderful opportunity to make that connection between what I’m learning academically in the classroom and the real world. No better way to do that than in a department that really emphasizes college student health, education, alcohol and other drugs, and those different attributes. Catherine kind of sealed the deal in terms of creating a very welcoming environment, not only to provide any personal or individual aspect I wanted to bring to the program, but also to make that happen.

What’s your favorite part about this position?

Probably making the connection of actually incorporating something that I’ve learned and being able to utilize it in a working environment. This is one of those positions that really leverages and leans on what I’m learning, at least from a public health side of things.

Hansani Kasthuriarachchi ’28MPH, MMS

Graduate Assistant

Hometown: Portland, Ore.

Program: Dual Master of Public Health and Physician Assistant

What are some of your hobbies?

I like playing the piano, and I enjoy a lot of art-related things. I taught myself to crochet, paint, and sculpt. I also like reading, lifting, and running. I’m training for a half-marathon right now. And I love hiking.

Why did you get involved with the Wellness team?

Since I want to be a physician assistant, it’s important to understand all the different factors of wellness, mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. I think this role helps me learn about those and take what I learn to implement in my future career.

What’s your favorite part about this position?

I like the events we host. I’ve never been to Wellness Wednesdays because I have class that day, but I’ve worked on projects for it, and I think it’s really cool.

Teddy Perez ’26

Intern

Hometown: Elkins Park, Pa.

Major: Public Health

What are some of your hobbies outside of class?

I volunteer at my local park and have volunteered at Cradles to Crayons. I like walking, and I play trading card games, mainly Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon.

Why did you get involved in the Wellness team?

I want to help people stay healthy, and as a Public Health major, this feels like a fitting internship.

What’s your favorite part of working in this office?

Helping make the social media posts. A lot of research goes into them, and I like doing research.

Roseanna Cross ’27

Peer Educator

Hometown: Born in London, but grew up in Philadelphia

Major: Psychology

Minor: Education

What are some of your hobbies?

My main hobby is traveling. I love traveling abroad, and even if it’s not abroad, I like checking out new cities, different areas, and trying new restaurants. I also like cooking, baking, and swimming in my free time.

Why did you want to become a peer educator?

One of my plans after graduation is to go to grad school to become a children’s behavioral health therapist. Mental health, behavioral health, and wellness are some of my main interests. So when I saw this position on Handshake, it aligned with a lot of my general interests, everything I’m passionate about. I thought it would be a perfect fit.

What’s your favorite part about working as a peer educator?

Honestly, the people. Everyone I work with is such a pleasure. I enjoy coming to the office, chatting with my coworkers, and interacting with everybody. The environment here is such a great environment and vibe.

Surbhi Patel ’28

Peer Educator

Hometown: Born in India, grew up in Delaware

Major: Health Sciences, Pre-PA track

What are some of your hobbies outside of class?

I love to paint, that’s a really big hobby of mine, and I also really like cooking.

Why did you want to become a peer educator?

When I was a freshman last year, I saw how valuable it was for students to access counseling services and student health. I wanted to be part of the team that helps spread the word that Arcadia offers these resources, and that they’re free.

What’s your favorite part about working in this role?

The teamwork. I love seeing how we build something from the ground up, planning it all out, and then watching students enjoy the events and projects we’ve created together.

Shelby Jones ’26

Peer Educator

Hometown: San Diego, Calif.

Major: Public Health

What are some of your hobbies outside of class?

I play soccer here, I like to read, and I like to cook.

What made you want to become a peer educator?

I’m really passionate about public health, and something I’ve learned while getting my degree is that education is the best way to make change in the world. When I saw this position open up, I wanted to make a change on this campus through education.

What’s your favorite part of working in this position?

The community. I get to talk to so many different students during Wellness Wednesdays, people I might never have met otherwise, and I love hearing their perspectives and building those connections.

Ryan Hundley ’26

Peer Educator

Hometown: Lansdale, Pa.

Major: Public Health

Minor: Education

What are some of your hobbies outside of class?

I love hanging out with my friends, thrifting, and learning new songs to play on my guitar. I’m definitely very musical and social.

What made you want to become a peer educator?

I actually kind of fell into it by mistake! I used to be an Early Education major before switching to Public Health, and I was looking for new connections and opportunities on campus. I originally applied for a different position, but they thought I’d be a great fit for this one. I started last year, loved the community and team, and decided to come back.

What’s your favorite part about working in this role?

Definitely the team. Everyone is so friendly and supportive, it’s a great community. I’ve met so many people from different majors and backgrounds through this job, especially during Wellness Wednesdays. It’s been such a rewarding way to connect with people I wouldn’t normally get to meet.