Wellness Committee

American Heart Month

Did you know that heart disease is a leading cause of death in the US?

February is American Heart Month and focusing on your heart health has never been more important. People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Make heart health a part of your self-care routine with these tips from Dr. Richard Pacca, from Granville Heart and Vascular.

  1. Stop smoking. It is a very difficult thing to quit, but you will reap the benefits for years to come.  Your primary care physicians are happy to assist you with this, including medications, patches, or talking through it.
  2. Focus on eating healthy.  Eat foods low in saturated fats and sodium and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
  3. Move more.  Not getting enough physical activity puts you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke.  Try to increase your daily activity.  Pressed for time?  Try doing 10 minutes of activity, three times a day.
  4. Visit your primary care provider regularly to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly and help prevent heart disease.

Happy Heart Month From You to You!

February is known as American Heart Month. It is a time to focus on promoting and maintaining heart health. From all of us at the CT State Norwalk Wellness Committee to all of you, in these two following links we share some heart healthy love. Give them a try!

American Heart Month Mindful Meditation Exercise

Everyday Heart Healthy Day What is well and Gratitude

The Wellness Info Booth! Fall 2023

Wellness Committee’s info booth in the East Campus Atrium took place Monday October 2nd.

MaryJo and Paul had a fun time answering questions and interacting with students, faculty and staff about the committee!

Surveys about what wellness program people want to see in the future were available and collected.

Wellness Center staff at an event in CT State Norwalk's atrium

Alley-Oop Wellness Program by Evelyn Ochman

Interested in improving your health and wellbeing?

We have a new program for you: a 4-session, self-paced nutrition and wellness program that will help improve your diet, water intake and lower stress.

The program is designed to be fun and goal-oriented for all individuals who participate.

Get started today by clicking the link on the left!

March is National Nutrition Month.

Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 50 years ago, it celebrates the importance of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle habits. This year’s theme, Fuel for the Future, highlights choosing foods that are helpful to the body and planet.

Read more here: CT State Norwalk Phytonutrients

Hey all. Check out this Exercise Snack with resistance bands by our own CT State Norwalk students.

Pick up your band in the wellness center today! Room H003

Don’t Just Pump Iron – Eat it!

It’s estimated that more than 1.2 billion people worldwide experience iron deficiency, read more in the link!

The Link Between Food and Mood!

CT State Norwalk Walking Club Returns Fall 23

Let’s get active! CT State Norwalk Wellness Committee will be bringing back Walking Club starting Fall 2023. Walk briskly around campus with us once a week around noon. Check back for exact days!

Body Breaks a Huge Success!

This spring we ran our “Body Breaks Beyond” video series. It was a 4 week program to get our faculty and staff moving more and sitting less. It is an exercise plan that can be done at your desk or in the comfort of your home. Check out the video here to get started on this 4 part series.

Body Breaks Beyond Testimonials

“I found that participating in the Body Breaks Beyond! program that my muscle tone increased overall, especially in my legs and arms. It also gave me additional energy. In addition, it gave motivation to exercise at least those three times a week.”
– Gregory L. Riley, Sr., Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice.  

See the video series link on the left for more reviews!

Health Risk Assessment (HRA) 2022

The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is a voluntary survey open to all faculty and staff here at NCC.  This survey is completed electronically with guaranteed anonymity.  The data collected from the HRA assessment provides the Wellness Committee with information to identify and address the specific health and wellness needs of the campus.  For those individuals willing to share their information, the HRA can also act as a method of determining progress made with lifestyle changes and/or exercise prescriptions.

Read the HRA Summary Report 2022

Interest Surveys 2022

Statewide Programs On-Line

Did you know that your health plan offers monthly well-being seminars presented by Wellspark. The topics include the seven chronic condition basics along with related health and well-being topics.

  • Tuning in to your body, Turning up Your Mind*
  • Stress Warning Signals and Intro to the Relaxation Response
  • Developing Stress Hardiness
  • Coronary Artery Disease Basics
  • Asthma Basics
  • Heart Disease (HF/CHF) Basics

Seminars are open to all employees, their spouses, and dependents. Participants can attend as many seminars as they want, please check our Quick links for updates!

Wellness at CT State Norwalk Podcasts

Our Latest Episode

Mission Statement

The Wellness Committee will provide appropriate health and wellness guidelines and recommendations to assist with positive and well informed lifestyle modifications for the CT State Norwalk campus and associated individuals, while acting as role models.

Vision Statement

The CT State Norwalk Wellness Committee is committed to improving the health and wellness of the Campus Community by fostering a conducive environment to maximize institutional and individual wellness goals.

Wellness Initiative @ CT State Norwalk

The purpose of the Wellness Initiative is to provide information for healthy living options needed for lifestyle modification.  This initiative is exclusively offered to our campus community, including faculty/ staff and students.  All of the services offered through the Wellness Initiative are voluntary and intended to provide evidence-based information regarding one’s personal health and wellness status.  The Wellness Initiative will allow for healthy choices in each of  the seven domains of wellness, including physical, social, environmental, intellectual, emotional, occupational and spiritual (non-religious).

Committee Members

First name Last name Position
MaryJo McGonagle Wellness Committee Chair, Instructor, AA&D
Paul Gallo Wellness Committee Executive Director,
Director of Exercise Science and Wellness
Nicole Mendola Instructor of Exercise Science and Wellness
Maohlicia Carolus Program Director, Med. Office Management
Kimberly Bryant-Smith Wellness Committee Past Chair, Library Associate
Catherine H. Project Assistant, Allied Health
John L. IT
Raegan Hinton
Daniel Dichiara
Ilene B. Assistant Registrar
Hillary Johnson Guided Pathway Advisor
Sharon Pereira Allied Health EA/MA
Cecilia

Jim

Tumbaco

Fox

Guided Pathway Advisor

 

Stand More, Sit Less

Wellness Walks

Outdoor Walking Trail!

These walks are intended to last from 15-30 minutes. For more information about the Indoor Wellness Walking Course, please do not hesitate to contact Nicole Mendola at NMendola@norwalk.edu

Please take a look at Wellness Walks Map

All participants will can access the Wellness Walks Calculator below and determine total calories expended by entering body weight and time taken to walk the outdoor course.
Wellness Walks Calculator

Nutritious eating and dining at NCC

The Wellness Committee and BESBE Cafe Services have partnered to offer nutritional information for all prepared foods in the East and West Campus Cafes.  This information will encourage consumers to consider Healthy Food Choices when dining in our facilities.  Consumers will be be informed of serving sizes, total calories per serving, total fat, saturated fat and sodium content for all food items sold.  All nutritional content will be reviewed by dietitians working with the Wellness Committee.

This information is also available in the East and West Campus Cafeterias

Tobacco Free Campus

Norwalk Community College is the second state facility in Connecticut to implement a Tobacco Free Campus, which will officially begin on October 1, 2014.  The Wellness Committee and Norwalk City Health Department are supporters of this policy.
Smoke Cessation Programs

Tobacco-free brochure

 

Wellness Series

Every fall and spring semester, the Pitney Bowes Foundation Wellness Center, in collaboration with the Wellness Committee, Exercise Science Student Club and Wellness Club, will offer a monthly wellness series. The Wellness Series will include health screenings, lectures and interactive workshops on a variety of health and wellness topics,  presented by regional professionals, clinicians and practitioners.

Pitney Bowes Foundation Wellness Center

The Pitney Bowes Foundation Wellness Center at CT State Norwalk is a state-of-the-art fitness facility that is committed to improving the general well being of all patrons.  We encourage safe and effective exercise in an effort to improve one’s quality of life.  The Pitney Bowes Foundation Center also offers a variety of Physical Activity Courses that meet for 10 weeks every fall and spring semester.  For more information on the Pitney Bowes Foundation Wellness Center or the Physical Activity Courses, please click on the links below: