Young Adult Advisory Council
Our Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) helps to guide and support our efforts in addressing the challenges of campus life through the power of creativity.
Halle Butler
Social Media Manager at essie
New York, New York
“I love the FAH’s mission to use arts and creativity to bring people together and make us feel less lonely. Personally, painting my nails has been my favorite way to express myself and it brought me into an amazing community. I hope to help the foundation bring that same joy to more people!”
Yifan Chen
Research Coordinator at National University of Singapore’s Centre for Music and Health
Yifan (he/they) is a public health specialist with a dedicated focus on the nexus between arts and health. His research integrates diverse fields to explore the arts’ transformative potential for global health and wellbeing. Outside of research and advocacy, he finds his voice through singing and songwriting.
Christel Elkins
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
“I am excited about combining my passions for healthcare and being crafty alongside my experiences as a member of the track team at Purdue. Collegiate athletes go through more loneliness than many realize, and I want to bring FAH activities into that community.”
Sadie Estey
Student at Colby College, Double Major: Psychology and English
Waterville, Maine
“I am passionate about The Foundation for Art and Healing because it promotes creative exploration as an avenue toward improving health and wellness among individuals. Oftentimes, I feel that the ability of artistic ventures to effect positive change is overlooked, making the foundation’s mission all the more important.”
Jackson Gieger
Student at Pepperdine University
Los Angeles, California
Jackson is a senior at Pepperdine University studying political science and psychology. He is originally from Edmond, OK. His most recent research at Pepperdine involves tracking the 12-month prevalence rate of self-injury in college students. He is interested in mental health policy and using research to inform public policy.
Samantha Kuo
MPH/MBA Dual Degree student at Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Samantha is hoping to further mental health equity in a nonprofit and for-profit hybrid capacity. She previously worked in the advertising and brand consulting industry as a strategist. She got her BA in Economics and Media Studies with a concentration in policy/ethics as well as a minor in Architecture. In her free time, she enjoys taking film photography and playing the drums.
Jessica Liu
Campus & Young Adult Engagement & Evaluation Advisor
Jessica is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the REACH Lab at Stanford University in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine. She is a recent graduate of the Population Health Sciences PhD program in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Jessica’s research focuses on adolescent health and school-based prevention interventions, specifically the adolescent vaping epidemic. She is also very passionate about teaching and mentoring, and hopes to pursue a career as a professor. Fun fact – Jessica is a certified cycle and group fitness instructor!
Charlotte MacNeal
Pace University
New York, New York
“I am so moved by the Foundation of Art and Healing’s mission to combat loneliness among college students. As a psychology major, I am fascinated by the way human beings relate to each other, and as a leader on my campus, I have noticed the increasing prevalence of loneliness at my university, especially in the wake of the pandemic. I have personally felt the healing effects of art, and it has brought me closer to both friends and family throughout my life. I am so excited to contribute to this wonderful endeavor!”
Bailey Merlin
MS in Media, Medicine, and Health Candidate at Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
“As a writer, I am deeply passionate about the FAH mission to improve mental health through art and creativity. I believe that storytelling has the power to heal, to bring people together, and to shed light on the complexities of the human experience. By harnessing the transformative power of art, we can create a world that is more understanding, more compassionate, and more supportive of those struggling with mental health issues.”
Diana Shaari
Student at Harvard College
Boston, Massachusetts
“I am passionate about merging my love for medicine/health with my passion for visual art! The FAH mission could not better encapsulate my desire to use art and creativity to improve general wellbeing, especially on college campuses.”
Julia Son
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
“I am passionate about fusing my love of visual art and health! The FAH objective perfectly captures my ambition to employ art and creativity to enhance the mind. I love how I can create such a beautiful environment across my campus.”
Irving Suarez
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
“Humans are social animals, but in a world that seems to prioritize individualism and independence, it is harder to satisfy this need. The Foundation of Art & Healing’s mission addresses this need by utilizing the arts and creativity. I hope to help FAH satisfy that need on my campus and in other communities where I may find myself.”
Ariyanna Wesley
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Ariyanna is an undergraduate student at Stanford University studying psychology and theater, and is currently planning on attending medical school. She is originally from the Philadelphia area and has been a dancer since she was two years old! She absolutely loves the arts and wants to incorporate it into her passion for medicine. She hopes to not only help those in her community feel comfortable in medical spaces, but help improve health outcomes for them in general.
Lijia Zheng
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Lijia (Margaret) is a recent graduate of Columbia University’s biostatistics department, and she is currently engaged in research at Stanford University. Beyond her research about population health and health policy, Lijia is also passionate about photography, as it allows her to immerse herself in capturing moments that transport both her and others into a state of mindful flow, where creativity and wellbeing intersect.
Explore More
Our Supporters
Review the supporting organizations that join us in advocating for the evidence-based improvements the arts impart upon personal and public health.
Our Board
Read about our Board members who inform our strategic vision and increase our capacity to improve health and wellbeing.