Campus Warriors: A Faculty Advisor’s Perspective
As a faculty member at Rogers State University, I always look forward to the fall semester. It’s fun to meet new students and see returning students who are refreshed and ready to continue their educational journey. During the first week of classes, our university hosts Big Tent Day where students learn about academic and support services and receive information about campus organizations. Last year was the first year RSU NEDA Campus Warriors had a table at the event. As advisor of Campus Warriors, it was great to see so many students visiting our table and signing up to be part of our organization. Research indicates that college students are at an elevated risk of developing an eating disorder. At Big Tent Day we provided numerous educational materials and resources geared toward students. We also dispelled various myths about eating disorders, such as “only females have eating disorders” and “you can tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them”.
If you are passionate about educating the public about eating disorders and want to make a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of your fellow college students, consider joining Campus Warriors! If there is not a Campus Warriors organization at your school, start one. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about getting started!
Since its inception in October 2021, RSU NEDA Campus Warriors has become one of the largest and most successful student organizations on campus. This spring we received the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association’s Community Excellence Award and the Student Government Association’s Outstanding Student Activism Award. Although accolades are nice to receive, we are most proud of the fact that we are making a positive impact on our campus! Here’s to another great academic year!
Dr. Sonya E. Munsell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Sociology at Rogers State University. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Oklahoma State University. Sonya was the recipient of RSU’s 2021-2022 Pixley Faculty Excellence in Education Award and the 2021-2022 School of Arts and Sciences Service Award.
Sonya is the founder and advisor of RSU NEDA Campus Warriors, a student organization dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders on college campuses across the country. She was the 2022 Tulsa NEDA Walk Coordinator and received special recognition for her team and individual fundraising efforts. She is also the Vice President of the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association and chair of their Governance Committee. As someone with a lived experience of an eating disorder, Sonya is very grateful to have opportunities to educate individuals about eating disorders and eating disorder prevention.
In her free time, Sonya enjoys yoga, reading, and playing with the Tulsa Flute Band.
