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Webinar: Nature Rx: Using Collaborations to Highlight and Harness the Healing Power of Nature

February 2, 2022 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

Free

Nature, even just a view of green space, is healing and restorative in many ways. Public and campus greenspaces represent preventative resources, available to all, that can help combat historic inequities in access to health care resources. Green spaces also represent environmentally positive infrastructure with a myriad of ecosystem services for our campuses and communities. There is a growing body of research that demonstrates and quantifies these benefits across the triple bottom line of sustainability. As we rebound from the challenges of this past year and refocus on goals for our shared future, considering nature/greenspace through these powerful intersections can be a transformative opportunity for our campuses and our students.

This session will open with an overview of the state of the edge science and practice of Nature Rx, or Nature as Medicine. We will then shift into a fast-paced look at examples of how the healing power of nature is being harnessed and highlighted by partnerships and programs at the University of Kentucky. These will include efforts by UK HealthCare’s Center for Integrative Medicine, landscaping improvements conducted in partnership with Facilities Management to provide intentional spaces for wellness, a new and immersive undergraduate course at a National Park, and more. From there, we will discuss our efforts to braid these initiatives into a cohesive and strategic program that seeks a sum that is greater than its parts. This part is a work in progress for us and we will be looking to the audience for advice and ideas. The session will conclude with an interactive discussion between audience and panelists.

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Presenters

Details

	Ashley Hinton-Moncer, Director of Student Wellness, University of Kentucky Ashley Hinton-Moncer, M.S., MPH currently serves as the Student Wellness Director at the University of Kentucky overseeing the student well-being programming initiatives, the Well Kentucky Campus Coalition, the Collegiate Recovery Community, and Koru Mindfulness and Meditation. Previously Ashley served as the Director of Student Health and Wellness at a small liberal arts college, Transylvania University overseeing counseling services, health services, disability resources, health education, while also serving as the Title IX Coordinator. Ashley completed both her undergraduate degree in Exercise and a Master’s of Science in Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky, while also obtaining a second Master’s in Public Health. She is active in the NASPA, in which she serves as the Co-Chair for the Wellness and Health Promotion Knowledge Community and serves on several well-being initiatives nationally.
	Maureen Dreckman, Technical Project Specialist, University of Kentucky – Information Technology Services Maureen Dreckman is a landscape architect and works as a Technical Project Specialist in the University of Kentucky ITS Information Services Geospatial team. She began working here when she was a student attending the University of Kentucky while earning her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and Spanish major. She obtained her landscape architecture license and continues to do design work at the university. Projects vary in scale and include planting design, site design, campus plazas and parks, as well as being involved during the implementation and maintenance of projects on campus. She serves as a paraprofessional adjunct in the University of Kentucky Department of Landscape Architecture for the Design Studio II which focuses on site analysis, program development and master planning, and next semester will be involved with the Design Implementation course for 2nd year students.
	Shane Tedder, Campus Sustainability Officer, University of Kentucky Shane Tedder has been leading sustainability efforts at the University of Kentucky since 2003 and has served as the campus point person for sustainability since 2009. In this position he supports a wide range of programs and initiatives including serving on the President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Faculty Sustainability Council and as the staff advisor to the Student Sustainability Council. His office is active in policy development and planning processes for the University and led the development of the University’s first Sustainability Strategic Plan. This includes an Implementation Plan for UK’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Commitment. He frequently guest lectures in a variety of courses and works to make sure the campus of the University is available as a living laboratory for students and faculty.