Three University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students are leading the charge to promote brain health on campus, combining their communication expertise with public health advocacy. Kiersten Donahue, McKenzie Kurosu and Jamie Olsen, all senior communication majors in the School of Communication and Information, partnered with the Center on Aging (COA) to develop a strategic campaign encouraging students to prioritize their brain health.
The students, who named their team the “Mastermind Collective,” approached the project as part of their public relations strategy course taught by Associate Professor Ji-Young Kim. Throughout the semester, they conducted research, collaborated with COA staff, and crafted creative materials designed to connect with their peers. Their campaign features social media messaging, bookmarks with evidence-based brain health tips—such as exercising for 30 minutes daily and getting 8–10 hours of sleep—and stickers with motivational slogans like, “Brain health matters! Fuel it, move it, rest it, you can do it!”
“College students often overlook their brain health because they’re so focused on academics and other stressors,” said Donahue. “We wanted to create a campaign that not only raises awareness but also gives students simple, practical tips they can incorporate into their daily lives.”
It was rewarding to see how communication can inspire healthier habits.
—McKenzie Kurosu
For Kurosu, the project offered a chance to explore the intersection of communication and public health. “Working with the Center on Aging taught me how to identify challenges, pitch solutions and develop long-term campaigns,” she said. “It was rewarding to see how communication can inspire healthier habits.”
Christy Nishita, COA interim director, commended the students for their creativity and professionalism, as well as COA staff Whitney Katsutani and Kevin Kawamoto for also working on the campaign.
“Because brain diseases like Alzheimer’s may develop decades before symptoms appear, raising awareness early is essential,” she said. “This campaign will help us reach students and promote lifelong brain health.”
COA plans to incorporate these materials into an ongoing effort to engage UH students in brain health and healthy aging. The center is housed within the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health.
