In this episode of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, co-hosts Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel are joined by Julie Edwards, assistant vice president of student and campus life for student health and wellbeing, for a conversation on how Cornell is prioritizing the creation of a health-promoting campus. 

Edwards, who assumed her role as AVP for student health and wellbeing in July 2024, oversees more than 250 Cornell Health staff members and leads campus-wide initiatives that support student and community wellness. Committed to expanding these efforts across all aspects of the university, Edwards emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility in fostering this environment.

"Wellbeing is a shared responsibility,” Edwards said. “It’s such a critical part of a thriving workplace and campus culture. Every individual and department can contribute to creating environments that support wellbeing. By working together, we can build an inclusive culture where health and wellbeing are prioritized for everyone.” 

After formally adopting the Okanagan Charter in October 2022, Cornell has pledged to integrate health and wellbeing into all facets of university life. According to Edwards, this initiative is an opportunity for Cornell to take the next step in its ongoing commitment to embedding wellness in academics, policies and daily life. 

For Edwards, her connection to this work is deeply personal. While enrolled in college, Edwards gave birth to her eldest child. Two years later, as a single mother, she faced the demanding challenge of balancing academics, work and childcare. During this time, she realized that prioritizing her own wellbeing was essential to caring for others effectively. 

“I found myself relying on a strong network of friends, staying connected with my family and trying to be as present as possible while managing work and raising two toddlers,” Edwards shared. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. To care for others effectively, we must also prioritize our own wellbeing. That’s why I’m passionate about championing our Health Promoting Campus initiative – wellbeing is foundational to academic and life success."

Cornell has already begun implementing systemic changes to promote holistic wellbeing. From placing caps on course enrollment to offering floating holidays for benefits-eligible staff and faculty, the university is actively creating more opportunities for its community to thrive.  

To hear more about Edwards’s journey to Cornell and her hopes for the future, tune in to Episode 93: From Policy to Practice: Rethinking Campus Wellbeing.