For public health master’s student Nealofar Madani, uplifting the health and wellbeing of others has always been a central theme to her time at the University of Maryland. Madani, who is specializing in Behavioral and Community Health, was recently awarded the Kehoe-Kesler Award for her efforts to encourage students, faculty, and staff to prioritize their mental and physical health, fostering a positive and supportive environment on campus.
The scholarship is the most prestigious award given by University Recreation & Wellness and is given yearly to students who demonstrate leadership in inspiring university members to be active and live well.
How do you demonstrate leadership and commitment to inspiring university community members to be active and live well?
It starts with me. Strong leaders lead by example. If I want to inspire others to be active and live well, I have to practice it within my own life daily. Five years ago, I discovered the SKY club which is focused on uplifting the mental health of students, staff, and faculty. The breathwork and meditation techniques that I learned through the SKY club helped me regain a sense of playfulness and lightness that I had not felt since childhood and I could not help but feel inspired to serve my community.
I became committed to developing a culture of peace and connection on campus to respond to the mental health crisis college students are experiencing. This year, I have organized weekly meditation sessions, monthly wellness retreats, and collaborated with student organizations and University partners like Active Minds and the Memorial Chapel with the support of my amazing team at the SKY at UMD club.
Why did you apply for this award? What did you hope to gain from it?
The Kehoe-Kesler Award really aligned with my mental health volunteer work for the university community. I am so grateful for the opportunity to receive recognition for my dedication to promoting wellbeing initiatives on campus. I hope to continue bringing smiles to more students this following year!
This award encourages me to continue empowering fellow UMD leaders to be mental health advocates and to inspire them to share these invaluable breathwork and meditation tools with their peers.
How has your experience in the School of Public Health helped you prepare for a career helping people’s wellbeing?
One of the reasons why I chose the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health for my Masters in Public Health program was because they are committed to the well-being of students, staff, and faculty for the entire UMD community. I am grateful to SPH Dean Lushniak, Erin McClure, and Dr. Chetan Joshi for providing me with incredible support throughout my journey at UMD – especially when organizing the Stress to Serenity event at UMD that featured world-renowned humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Also, my coursework has expanded my ideas on how to support the wellbeing of students through public health theory.
What is your message to the university community about wellness?
One of the most prevalent misconceptions people have about wellness is “I don’t have time for it.” University of Maryland is home to brightest students and world-changers and let’s face it, we are busy! But the truth is, even the busiest person on the planet has a few minutes to practice wellness.
Incorporating wellness activities, like breathwork and meditation, in our daily lives offers a more calm, clear, and focused state of mind. This can actually enhance our productivity and empower us to accomplish tasks in significantly less time. This leaves more room in our schedules to do more of what we love.
As Terps, it's essential that we cultivate the skill of finding a sense of home within ourselves.
Sumaya Abdel-Motagaly ‘26