Academic advising is a demanding profession that blends emotional, intellectual and personal mentorship. Advisors help students navigate complex academic decisions while also supporting their personal growth—an effort that can take a toll over time. Despite their pivotal role, advisor wellness is often overlooked.
Recognizing this gap, Comfort Sumida and Melanie Brokaw, academic advisors at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo, have taken bold steps to change that.
With a $25,000 grant from the Stupski Foundation, Sumida and Brokaw launched the Hoʻolehua Advisor Wellness program in 2023 to strengthen the advising community across UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College. Their initiative promotes connection, professional growth and personal well-being among advisors, ensuring that those guiding students also receive the support they need.
Nurturing relationships
Sumida and Brokaw have gone beyond traditional policy discussions and best practices by organizing activities that nurture meaningful relationships among advisors. They have coordinated visits to the Honoliʻi Orchards Cacao Farm and Kona Salt Farm, hosted an advisor institute, toured other campuses and provided opportunities for advisors to cultivate personal wellness skills.
“We expanded the Hoʻolehua Advisor Wellness program to focus more on academic advisors and the support we can provide each other,” Sumida said. “And we do that across the two campuses with Hawaiʻi CC and UH Hilo.”
Looking ahead, Brokaw hopes this innovative wellness program will inspire other campuses and institutions to prioritize the well-being of their advisors.
“We want to be the best support for our students, but to achieve that, we must first take care of ourselves,” Brokaw said. “You can’t be there for them if you’re not able to support and care for yourself in the first place.”
