Bridge to Belonging for Students

• Community-builders who want to improve the well-being of the George Mason community
• Committed to participating in deeper, more interesting conversations
• New to George Mason or want to expand their social circle
• Interested in getting to know others in a small group setting (4 to 6 participants)
• Willing to commit to all session dates

This program is sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Any questions can be directed to Zareena Khan at [email protected].

Register for a  Student Bridge to Belonging Group

Facilitator Bios – Student Groups 

Katie Clare: Katie is the Director of Well-Being Programs for the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being (CWB) where she is responsible for leading and collaborating on well-being programs offered to our campus community such as the Resilience Badge, Mental Health First Aid, mindfulness training courses, and Bridge to Belonging. Knowing the significant relationship between social connection, mental health, and well-being, she is proud to help foster connections as a Bridge to Belonging facilitator. When not working, Katie loves spending time with her teenage son, reading, going to museums, and cooking/baking new and favorite recipes. 

Kye Hopkins: Kye currently works as one of the Assistant Directors for Student Success Coaching at George Mason University. He joined the Student Success Coaching team in January 2020 as a Student Success Coach. Additionally, Kye served as a Well-Being Professional Intern for The Center for the Advancement of Well-Being during the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 semesters. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 2015 and his Master of Science in Education Administration Leadership in 2017 from Shenandoah University. Kye is passionate about helping students and looks forward to assisting them in reaching their goals. He is excited about being a part of Bridge to Belonging!

Zareena Khan, MPH, CHES®: Zareena is the Assistant Director of Student Well-Being Programs in the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and the Program Lead for Bridge to Belonging. In her role, she also collaborates with Housing and Residence Life to support residential student populations. Zareena earned her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion from George Washington University in 2019 and has been a Certified Health Education Specialist® since 2016. She is passionate about the connection between social connectedness and well-being and enjoys facilitating Bridge to Belonging groups for George Mason students. Outside work, Zareena loves traveling, creative journaling, watching movies/TV, and trying new coffee shops with friends.

Ashley Korman, M.Ed., NCC: Ashley is the Assistant Director of Well-Being Programs at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being (CWB). With over nine years of experience in both K-12 and higher education, she has served as a middle school counselor and academic advisor. Ashley also currently teaches in the Bachelor of Applied Science program and has previously taught UNIV 100. She earned her Master of Education in Counseling from Penn State University in 2016 and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2014. In her free time, she enjoys exploring DC’s food scene, spending time with her nephews, and traveling to visit family and friends.

Savannah Mitchell: Savannah is the Bridge to Belonging Graduate Assistant for the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. She is currently pursuing her master’s in educational psychology but spent her undergraduate at George Mason programming and event planning for the Center. In her work, Savannah is passionate about student support and success. Outside of academics and professional experiences, Savannah enjoys catching up on the newest shows and exploring the Northern Virginia area.