Wellness program strengthens bonds among advisors

Academic advising is one of the most demanding roles within a university setting. Advisors balance the emotional weight of guiding students through life-changing decisions, handling academic challenges and even providing mentorship in personal growth. These responsibilities can be both rewarding and draining. For many advisors, the emotional toll can be as heavy as the intellectual one, and the pressure to always be “on” takes a physical and mental toll over time.

Yet, despite the critical role advisors play in shaping the academic success and overall well-being of students, the topic of their own wellness often gets overlooked. Institutional focus tends to be on student success, but there is growing recognition that the wellness of advisors is equally vital. After all, an advisor who is stressed, overworked or emotionally exhausted is not in the best position to guide others.

Thanks to generous support from the Stupski Foundation, Comfort Sumida and Melanie Brokaw have spearheaded a powerful initiative to unite academic advisors across the UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College campuses, creating a stronger, more cohesive advising community.

“During COVID, we realized how isolated we were in our offices,” said Brokaw, an academic advisor with the Athletics Department. “Students had so many questions during those days, but they were resilient, just as we were as advisors.”

Sumida added, “Thanks to Stupski, we were able to expand the  Ho‘olehua Advisor Wellness program, getting together outside of the campus environment, holding an advisor institute, touring other campuses, and developing and practicing personal wellness skills.

“The Ho‘olehua Advisor Wellness program focused more on academic advisors and the support we can provide each other,” Sumida said. “And we do that across the two campuses with Hawai‘i CC and Hilo.”

“Looking ahead, we hope the Ho‘olehua Advisor Wellness program will serve as a model for other advisors and staff,” she added. “We want to be the best support for our students, but to achieve that, we must first take care of ourselves. You can’t be there for them if you’re not able to support and care for yourself in the first place.”