Rindi Guldner, student well-being coordinator, with MC students.

A new position in Student Affairs dedicated to the well-being of McPherson College students was added this fall. Rindi Guldner, the new student well-being coordinator, says her first priority is caring for the people who care for students. It’s among the many initiatives she hopes to develop as the new position takes shape.

“I’m excited that the college wants to surround the RAs and others who directly interact with students with support,” Guldner said. “Eventually, I hope we will all be using a common language and increase our conversations about wellness.”

Guldner works closely with Student Affairs staff and is responsible for coordinating mental health and well-being programs for students, while also supporting and collaborating with faculty and staff. She will serve as a campus liaison for local and regional mental health and wellness resources as well.

According to Aaron Meis, executive vice president of McPherson College, the position is designed less as a traditional “campus counselor” and more as a campus trainer.

“Rindi’s primary responsibility is to scale programmatic training around student mental health for RAs, staff, faculty, and students,” Meis said. “On a day-to-day basis, students do come to her for support and guidance, and she works closely with our residence life team to train them as our first line of defense.”

Guldner’s unique background as both a clinician and an organizational leader makes her well-suited for this role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and organizational leadership, and a master’s degree in community-based clinical mental health counseling. Her experience includes a year of service in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic and seven years in private practice.

The resources available to students through a variety of partners demonstrate the value McPherson College places on wellness, says Guldner. For example, students have 10 free counseling sessions with Prairie View, a community mental health center in McPherson, that can be coordinated through her office. A new partnership with SafeHope offers advocacy, support, and a 24-hour crisis line for victims of sexual violence.

“My office will serve as a liaison with these resources and fill any gaps to improve and increase communication,” she said. “Students will benefit from that continuity of care.”

Guldner is also excited about the new partnership with the McPherson YMCA, which provides membership for all full-time students and will offer additional programming. She is working on compiling a comprehensive list of health and wellness resources in McPherson and the region as another resource for students.

To nurture a deeper sense of belonging and well-being, her office will host monthly wellness activities for students. Additionally, she will gather input from faculty and staff regarding their needs to develop programs designed for them.

“As a clinician, the best way to care for people is based on what they need,” she said. “This new position gives Student Affairs an opportunity to be proactive and creative in how we develop programming. I hope the office can be a safe place for students to land if they need resources and know they have a person to go to for ongoing support.”

Guldner can be found in her office in Student Affairs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, or contacted by email, [email protected].

McPherson College student Traven Lewis-Johnson works with the afterschool-age program Y-Kids. Traven also works at the front desk.

New partnership provides opportunities for students and local organization.

A new community partnership with the McPherson YMCA will provide memberships to all full-time McPherson College students beginning in August 2025. The college and YMCA leadership teams recently announced the partnership.

“McPherson is fortunate to have a thriving and active local YMCA, and we are fortunate to be able to provide McPherson College students access to all it has to offer,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to engage in a great community resource.”

In addition to memberships, the YMCA will begin coordinating the college’s intramural activities during the spring semester, providing on-campus programming, hosting college events at its facility, and offering increased student internship opportunities.

“We’re thrilled to partner with McPherson College to provide access to McPherson Family YMCA for all full-time students,” said Quinlan Rageth, YMCA Interim CEO. “The partnership will create many educational and employment opportunities for the students and staff of McPherson College.”

In addition to providing annual financial support and covering the cost of student intramural activities, the college will conduct a yearly facilities and maintenance audit, consult on maintenance projects, and coordinate mowing and snow removal. As gym space permits, the college will also host the annual McPherson Gymnastics Club meet.

“By working together, our members, McPherson College, and the community of McPherson will all benefit,” said Dawn Loving, YMCA Community Outreach Coordinator.

Lorenzo Orlandi, a soccer player from Italy, getting settled into his room at McPherson College.

Each fall, McPherson College welcomes students from around the world to campus, and this year is no exception. The college is welcoming one of the largest groups of international students from as far away as Hungary, Columbia, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy, Brazil, Japan, Nigeria, and the Netherlands, among other countries.

Feeling at home is very important for students thousands of miles away from family. The McPherson College community contributes to making them feel welcome from their first days on campus. This year, several faculty and staff donated items to help furnish the students’ rooms, and the Student Affairs staff ensured each student had the items they needed to feel comfortable.

“Most international students arrive on campus very late after long flights,” said Sarah Wood, director of student life. “When we pick them up from the airport, we do everything we can to help them feel welcome, and when they get to their rooms, they are furnished with necessities like bedding, basic school supplies, personal hygiene items, and non-perishable food items.”

Daniela Jimenez, a volleyball player from Colombia was one of the students arriving on campus this fall.

“When I got here and saw the basket with all those things, it made me feel so welcome,” she said. “It is hard when you are an international student, getting to a new place where you don’t know anyone, and you have to figure out how to get your own stuff. The basket of food, shower stuff, bed sheets, and everything else was amazing and very helpful. It made me feel that people care about each other here.”

Most of the international students are members of Bulldog athletic teams and learn about the college through conversations with their coaches. While they look forward to participating in their sport, they are also eager to start classes.

“I connected right away with my coach,” said Stephanie Schmidt, a track & field athlete from Germany. “I plan on majoring in biology and hope to go back to Germany for medical school. McPherson College seemed the perfect choice for me to do sports and study.”

In the first week on campus, before classes start, international students participate in activities that help them get to know other students, get acclimated to campus life, and learn about important academic and student services available to them.

“After I arrived, I felt so good about making this choice,” said Lorenzo Orlandi, a soccer player from Italy. “All of the activities we have been doing make you feel more at home, and when you are 8,000 kilometers away from home, that is important. When you’re this far away, it feels good to be comfortable and safe.”

Student-athletes and international students began arriving on campus August 6 and continue through August 12. First-time freshmen check-in on August 15. Classes begin on August 21.