The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability peer wellness liaisons are a team of  graduate students who serve as trained peer health educators. They leverage peer connections to: Reduce misconceptions around mental health and make campus resources more accessible. They also coordinate workshops focused on topics such as resiliency, stress management, and recognition of depression. Finally, with input from students, they will assess the progress of this initiative and additional needs. Student liaisons are not mental health counselors. Their role is to direct fellow students to existing resources and facilitate meaningful dialogue, skill-building, and habit formation related to mental health in our community.

Erica Bower

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Department: E-IPER
Research interest: Human Migration & Climate Adaptation
Email: ebower@stanford.edu

Erica's Affirmations:

Something that brings you joy: trail runs at golden hour, audio books, my neighbors prolific fig tree
Something you love to give: food is my favorite love language :)
Something that makes you feel most like yourself: whole hearted belly laughter with dear friends, spending time in community
Favorite self-care practices: time disconnected from technology, yoga, meditation 

Sierra Castaneda

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Department/program: Earth Systems Science
Research area: Human-Envrionment Interactions/Food Systems
Email: sierc12@stanford.edu

Sierra's Affirmations:

Something that brings you joy: Running and/or cooking with friends and loved ones! Coffee shops! Farmers Markets! Lots of little things :)
Something that makes you feel special: When people that I care about come to me for advice about something that I am really passionate about, or feeling heard by those around me.
Favorite self-care practices:yoga, meditating, writing poetry, FaceTiming my family.

Thom Chaffee

Pronouns: he/him
Department: Geophysics PhD
Research Interests: Studying lunar paleomagnetism
Email: thomc@stanford.edu

Thom's Affirmations:

Something that brings you joy: Dogs!
Something that makes you feel competent: Cooking! I love inventing new vegan recipes
Something that you're proud of: I recently did super well in an online tournament for the game Dungeon Crawl, finished in 66th place out of ~2,700
Favorite self-care practices: Baths, scented candles, listening to new music

Dylan M. Crain

Pronouns: He/Him
Department/program: Energy Resources Engineering (ERE)
Research area: Subsurface Optimization
Email: cooper96@stanford.edu

Dylan's Affirmations:

Something that brings you joy: Coffee
Something you love to give: See above
Something that make you feel competent: Trying to answer sent me into an existential spiral (thanks)
Something that makes you feel most like yourself: Nippy weather, jacket, and pumpkin spice lattes
​​​​​​​Something that makes you feel special: My parents’ frequent affirmation that I am
Something you're proud of: Once ran up a mountain to get signal to talk to a girl I liked
Favorite self-care practices: Meditation, reading novels, playing guitar
Fun fact: Desperately want to go whale watching at the Farallon Islands

Sabrina Daley

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Department: Biology - Hopkins Track
Research Interests: Marine biology & ecology & movement ecology
Email: scdaley@stanford.edu

Sabrina's Affirmations:

Hi! I'm Sabrina and I love sharks. Some things that bring me joy include scuba diving, baking, and hiking. I'm incredibly proud of my house plant collection and collecting and caring for plants is one of my favorite self-care practices along with cooking and getting outside.

Kelsey Foster

Pronouns:  she/her
Program: Earth System Science
Research interest: Carbon cycle science
Email: ktfoster@stanford.edu 

Kelsey’s affirmations:

Something that brings you joy: My most simple pleasure is a hot cup of tea in the morning
Something that makes you feel most like yourself: I grew up near the beach and I feel most like myself when I’m by the ocean.   
Something that you're proud of: Keeping my succulent, Albedo, alive since I first got it when I was an undergrad! 
Favorite self-care practices: My self care practices are fluid and change depending on what I need most in my life at the moment, but some of my favorites are taking time to clear my mind with meditation, moving my body through dance or yoga, and chatting with friends. 

Nicholas Gross Almonte

Pronouns: He/him/his
Department: Geological Sciences/MS
Research Interests: Using U/Pb geochronology to study sedimentary basins in Southern Patagonia, South America
Email: grossn@stanford.edu

Nicholas's Affirmations:

My favorite self-care practices include going for a long run after a busy day. I also enjoy playing volleyball with other GS graduate students several times throughout the week where we can hang out in a non-academic setting.

I have two pets, a cat named Charles and a mini Australian Shepherd puppy called Blue. They are the sweetest animals; they especially bring me joy when I return home from the office and they each are both prancing around in excitement to have someone home!

Timmy Lui

Pronouns: he/they
Department: Geological Sciences PhD
Research Interests: Data Science in Geosciences
Email: timmylui@stanford.edu

Timmy's Affirmations:

I love to journal as a way to process my emotions and reflect on tough times. I love playing beach volleyball because it gets my heart rate going and allows me to express my competitive side. I love to be creative in many ways, whether it be singing while I bike, doing small art projects, or doodling!

Alexander Nelson

Pronouns: he/him
Department: Earth Systems
Research Interests: Hydrogen Production / Catalysis
Email: jisaburo@stanford.edu

Alexander's Affirmations:

I am a 34 year old student who, after a career in music, found a new lease on life as a scientist. I am a simple man with diverse interests and I love to laugh and enjoy taking it all in for the sake of savoring each moment.

Alison Ong

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Department/program: E-IPER 2nd Year PhD
Research area: Energy Economics and Policy
Email: alisonjo@stanford.edu

Alison's Affirmations:

Something that brings you joy: Dance
Something that you love to give: Homemade food/baked goods
Favorite self-care practices: Face masks (here referring to the skincare rather than covid-prevention variety)