Peer Advocates in Wellness (PAW)
Peer Advocates in Wellness (PAW) are graduate and undergraduate students who are dedicated to promoting all aspects of well-being, including physical, psychological, spiritual, environmental, and financial wellness. They work with the Wellness Division of the College to provide informative, interactive, and fun programming that advances the well-being of SMC students.
Some of our programs include the Wellness Fair, Send Suicide Packing, Safe Spring Break, Paint Your Mood, and the Stress Management Fair with Pet Therapy.
If you are interested in joining or learning more about PAW, please contact Megan Gallagher (mag7@stmarys-ca.edu).
Want to join our mailing list to get meeting notifications and event calendar updates? Join here.
2025-2026 PAW Members
Kayla Redman (she/her), Team Lead
Hi, I'm Kayla and I am a third-year Communications major here at Saint Mary's. I am from Fremont, CA, and grew up being very aware of how important mental health is to one's overall wellbeing. That is what drew me to PAW. I know how important mental health resources are, not only with professionals like the CAPS staff but among peers in a more relaxed and informal environment. After graduation, I plan on exploring what I can do with my communications degree at Grad School. I am interested in film, the music industry, and public relations/social media marketing. I am so excited to be a part of the PAW team again this year so I can help others build a safe community on campus.
Aidan Ellis (he/him), Assistant Team Lead
Hi, I’m Aidan, a second-year undergraduate student here at Saint Mary’s, majoring in Biology and Psychology. I grew up in Pleasanton, California, where I found my passion for empathy and connection, which inspired me to support others facing mental health challenges and to become an advocate for those whose voices are often unheard in our community. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my friends and family. After graduation, I hope to continue on the path toward becoming a physician, emphasizing my commitment to serving underrepresented communities and advocating for mental health awareness on the way. I am so thrilled to contribute to Peer Advocates in Wellness this year and to do my part in reducing stigma and fostering a more supportive and inclusive campus!
Zoe Baker-Cohn (she/her), Mentee
Hi! My name is Zoë Baker-Cohn. I am a fourth year majoring in Psychology with a minor in Kinesiology. After college, I hope to start an Internship working at the Oakland Children’s hospital to become a Child Life specialist and possibly also have a part time job working in Journalism. I am excited to be a part of the PAW team and to learn new ways to promote health and wellness.
Julia Coats (she/her), Mentee
Hi! My name is Julia Coats (she/her) and I'm a senior at SMC this year. I am majoring in Health Science and minoring in Psychology. I'm currently in the process of applying to nursing programs and want to work towards becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. As a member of APASA (Asian Pacific American Student Association), I plan to connect to other cultural clubs and programs through being a PAW mentee. I am so excited to work with PAW to promote physical activity as a way of taking care of one's mental wellbeing. I can't wait to play a role as a health advocate on campus and to connect with the student body through upcoming PAW events.
Amanda Milera (she/they), Mentee
Hi, my name is Amanda! I am a senior here at Saint Mary’s. I am a Communication major and a Data Science Minor. I am looking forward to connecting with people through PAW and creating a welcoming environment on campus. This is a picture of me with the title of one of my favorite songs, “Linger” by The Cranberries! College is challenging for everyone academically, physically, and mentally. It can get difficult to balance all of them at once; mental health tends to get neglected more than we realize. I want PAW to be a gentle reminder to take care of yourself so we can all thrive together!