The Health and Wellness Center (HWC) at The University of Olivet was founded with a clear mission: to strengthen and support students in all areas of wellness, empowering them to thrive. Robin Luckadoo-Chadderdon, director of the HWC, has taken that mission to heart and continually gone above and beyond to provide innovative, impactful care to the campus community.
Her latest accomplishment? Earning her Doctorate in Health Science (DHS). Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon decided a DHS would ensure she would be able to improve UOlivet students’ lives. “The DHS has an emphasis on leadership and organizational management that included courses in grant writing, strategic planning and budgets while also including ethics, leadership and nonprofit management,” she said. “My desire to be the best I could be for the students and University was really the inspiration. I also wanted to set a high academic bar for my two grandsons and my nieces and nephews.”
Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon’s research focused on using a supervised AI chatbot, in her case, UOlivet’s Clyde. Clyde periodically sends text messages to undergraduate students to see how they’re doing. UOlivet’s student development team uses the data to determine if any student is at risk academically, physically, mentally or socially.
“My research reiterated the effectiveness of responding to the student’s voice,” said Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon. The data has shown that students who engage with Clyde are more likely to persist. “With the insights gained from the research, we increased our guided engagement. Improving engagement also includes the HWC looking at weekly reports for opportunities for HWC outreach,” she explained.
In addition to her chatbot research, Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon has implemented key strategies to support student health and wellness. Through her doctoral program, Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon completed a SWOT analysis, a strategic planning tool to access weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and created a strategic plan for the Health and Wellness Center. These efforts led to transformative changes, including an alcohol and drug Collegiate Recovery Program funded by a grant, expanded counseling services with three contracted therapists and new student-focused initiatives like substance-free events and peer coaching. Looking ahead, Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon will conduct a comprehensive Wellness Assessment to guide future programming.
Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon’s doctorate has also played a pivotal role in advancing the inclusivity and breadth of wellness programming at UOlivet. Guided by insights from her research, the HWC launched targeted initiatives to support underrepresented student populations, including mentoring programs for Black students who identify as female and an outreach campaign for Latinx students and commuters.
“Belongingness is directly tied to wellness,” she said. “We work to build networks for students to feel that sense of belonging by referring to other programs.”
In the past six months, the HWC has helped establish two student organizations focused on wellness. Wellness Ambassadors aim to promote campus-wide health initiatives, while Comet Voice encourages civic engagement by connecting wellness with student participation in voting.
“I really enjoy working with the students and seeing them flourish when obstacles can be recognized and removed. We are helping students be retained and persist. I enjoy watching them graduate as they were able to address their personal struggles successfully. This feels both purposeful and fulfilling,” Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon expressed.
Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon’s influence is also evident in the tangible successes of the Health and Wellness Center under her leadership. Last year alone, the center provided 1,000 hours of counseling — a milestone in which she takes great pride. Additionally, securing $75,000 in grant funding has allowed the center to expand its resources and implement meaningful programs, such as supporting students in their sobriety journeys, helping married students navigate their priorities and fostering conflict resolution and community-building.
Dr. Luckadoo-Chadderdon’s dedication to fostering student wellness and resilience speaks to the broader mission of The University of Olivet. Through her leadership, the Health and Wellness Center has impacted students’ lives, preparing them to thrive both during their time at Olivet and beyond.
“The University of Olivet has stood the test of time since 1844. We have seen the end of several wars, experienced a wide range of social concerns, and continued to fight for equality in education. We will continue to stand,” she reflected. “Knowing that I am a part of our resiliency adds value to what I do to help students find their resiliency. To know that we are impacting future leaders who are working hard to succeed mentally, physically, spiritually, and academically is to be a part of something so much larger than ourselves. The impact I make here actually spreads to wherever our students go, which is amazing.”
Learn more about The University of Olivet by contacting the Office of Admission at Admissions@UOlivet.edu or 269-749-7635