Mr. Chris Dawe is an exemplary leader in the field of health and wellness at the University of Houston. As the Assistant Vice President, he oversees six pivotal departments that are instrumental in enhancing the health and well-being of the campus community: Campus Recreation, Wellness, the Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the DART Center for Student Accessibility, and the Cougars in Recovery program.
Mr. Dawe’s influence extends far beyond these departments, as he collaborates with colleagues across campus to cultivate a holistic approach to health and well-being. His dedication ensures that the entire university community benefits from a comprehensive and inclusive health strategy. We are privileged to share insights from his extensive experience with Health Fitness Revolution, showcasing his invaluable contributions to the University of Houston.
HFR: How does UH approach supporting student health and wellness, especially in such a diverse city like Houston?
Dawe: The diversity at UH makes the work really interesting because we engage with students, faculty, staff, and external communities from all diverse populations. This diversity is part of what attracted me to the University of Houston. It certainly adds challenges to the role, and to all of our roles, but it also makes the work incredibly rewarding. One way we approach health and wellness is through a framework we’ve recently developed called Be Well, Do Well. For instance, during new student orientation, we talk about the foundation of health and well-being. We emphasize that if students can be well, they’ll do well—not just as students but as individuals for the rest of their lives. This is about setting a foundation that supports personal and academic success. You may have noticed the Cougs Care initiative on campus. It focuses on three levels of care: self-care, each person has their own responsibility to look after themselves; university care, UH has a responsibility to create systems and provide resources to support student wellness; Cougs caring for Cougs, this is possibly the most important component because, as a community, we will never have enough programs to meet everyone’s needs. However, by creating a culture where Cougs care for fellow Cougs, we can collectively address well-being in a more holistic way. A connected, caring community is vital to everyone’s health and well-being, and that’s something we’re actively building. It’s also a key element of the JED Campus strategy we’ve implemented, which focuses on social connection as a cornerstone of mental health.
HFR: What are some of UH’s main priorities regarding student health and well-being?
Dawe: As I mentioned, Be Well, Do Well is a significant priority for UH, and it’s built around the concepts of being, doing, connecting, caring, and learning. This framework guides our programs and services and ties them together to ensure students understand how health and wellness directly impact their success. Our goal is to increase awareness and create connections between existing programs. For example, while UH has had excellent wellness services in place for years, our focus now is on evolving them to better meet the current needs of students. This includes emphasizing why wellness matters—not only to students’ academic performance but also to their long-term goals, like finding meaningful careers and leading fulfilling lives.
HFR: College can be stressful—how is UH helping students manage challenges like mental health, stress, and staying active?
Dawe: Supporting mental health and stress management is a huge part of the Be Well, Do Well framework. When students feel overwhelmed or are in crisis, we provide immediate access to support services. However, our larger goal is to help students avoid reaching that point by addressing issues further upstream. For instance, we encourage students to build social networks through the 500+ student organizations available at UH. These connections serve as support systems that help students navigate ups and downs. Additionally, we offer training programs like QPR (suicide prevention) and Help a Coug, which equip students with skills to support their peers. Beyond social connections, we stress the importance of foundational wellness habits—such as sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and stress management. Research shows these habits are directly linked to brain function and academic performance. For example, we educate students about the difference between staying up all night to study with energy drinks versus getting a full night’s sleep and performing better on exams. Our job is to help students understand the why behind wellness. By connecting health habits to their academic goals, we empower them to make choices that benefit their overall well-being.
HFR: What kinds of programs or services does UH have to support underrepresented or at-risk students?
Dawe: UH has six departments focused on health and well-being: Campus Recreation, Wellness, the Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the DART Center for Student Accessibility, and Cougars in Recovery. Each department offers specialized programs and services tailored to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Additionally, I work closely with colleagues across campus to ensure that wellness extends beyond specific departments. Supporting underrepresented and at-risk students requires a campus-wide commitment to health and well-being, and that’s something we emphasize in all our initiatives.
HFR: After the student suicides in 2017 and 2023, what changes did UH make to better support mental health on campus? Have you seen any positive changes in students’ well-being since those updates?
Dawe: After these tragedies, UH made significant investments in mental health resources. For example, we became a JED Campus in 2020, joining a nationwide framework focused on mental health and suicide prevention. This initiative brought together over 200 faculty, staff, and students to implement changes based on JED recommendations. In 2023, the campus mobilized even further, forming eight work teams and creating a mental health task force led by the university president. External reviewers also assessed our services, leading to approximately 80 recommendations for improving campus wellness. These changes included hiring more counselors, embedding mental health resources into syllabi, and expanding case management in residential life. While it can be difficult to measure the absence of crises, the increased engagement from students, faculty, and staff has been encouraging. Programs like Cougs Care are helping to establish a culture of well-being, and this cultural shift will continue to grow over time.
HFR: Does UH work with local Houston organizations to expand health and wellness resources for students?
Dawe: Absolutely. UH partners with several local organizations, such as the Harris Center for Mental Health, WellTrack Boost, and Togetherall. These partnerships enable us to provide specialized resources while addressing barriers like transportation and funding.
Additionally, our partnerships allow us to connect students with external expertise, ensuring they have access to the support they need. Being in a large city like Houston offers many opportunities to collaborate and expand our reach.
HFR: Are there any exciting new health or wellness initiatives being planned to tackle emerging challenges?
Dawe: One of the most exciting developments is UH’s work toward becoming a Health Promoting Campus under the Okanagan Charter. This international movement emphasizes creating environments and policies that support well-being, going beyond traditional programs and services For example, we’re incorporating mindfulness spaces into new campus buildings and retrofitting existing ones to foster mental well-being. We’re also exploring AI-powered tools to streamline access to resources, such as integrating chatbots into our Cougs Care website. These initiatives reflect our commitment to innovative and holistic approaches to wellness.
HFR: How does UH ensure its wellness programs reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds of its students?
Dawe: We operate on the principle, “Nothing about us without us.” Students are the best source of insight into their own needs, which is why we actively seek their input through surveys and focus groups. For instance, our well-being survey provides valuable data to help us adapt our programs to meet the needs of diverse populations. At the same time, we stay informed about national trends and creative solutions in higher education. This combination of student input and external research helps us remain responsive to cultural differences and evolving needs.
HFR: Looking ahead, how do you see UH’s wellness programs evolving to meet students’ future needs?
Dawe: UH’s wellness programs will continue to evolve based on student feedback and emerging trends. The Be Well, Do Well framework, along with initiatives like the Health Promoting Campus movement, will remain central to our approach.
By staying connected to national and international networks, we aim to lead in innovative strategies for student wellness. Our goal is to create a campus environment where every student can thrive, now and in the future.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Chris Dawe for sharing his invaluable experiences and insights during this interview with Health Fitness Revolution. His dedication to implementing thoughtful strategies and programs clearly demonstrates his unwavering commitment to supporting the students at the University of Houston. We are immensely grateful for his time and contributions. We are confident that under his guidance, the University of Houston will continue to thrive and evolve, with his clear focus on prioritizing student success.
