Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well-Being

The mission of the Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well-Being at the University of Wisconsin-Superior is to promote and enhance the science and practice of mindfulness and well-being for students, faculty, staff, and surrounding communities.

Covid-19 Resources for Well-Being

We believe that regardless of discipline or position, we all have the opportunity to be teachers and learners of well-being. UW-Superior’s commitment to wellbeing encourages all members of our campus and local community to learn what it means to be mindful, to improve relationships, to manage stress and adversity, to develop a range of interests and strengths, and to establish a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives and careers.
 
We believe education has a dual purpose: building intellectual growth and fostering the development of well-being. This provides individuals with the knowledge and skills for career preparation along with the abilities to live authentically with greater meaning and purpose. UW-Superior has made a deliberate commitment to advancing mindfulness and well-being as a priority for all students, faculty, and staff to improve campus climate, reduce mental health concerns, and improve achievement and retention efforts.

The PERMANENT Model of Well-Being has been created as part of the vision of UW-Superior’s commitment to developing a mindfulness and well-being university. This well-being model aims to develop a common language and framework that can be implemented campus-wide. The acronym PERANENT was utilized due to the fit of the nine different domains and meaning of permanent “intended to last, lifelong.” This model has adopted three domains of Martin Seligman’s PERMA Model, yet has expanded to include six new domains that encompass a more “mind, body, spirit” approach to well-being. Each domain of this model has established scientific evidence and teachable skills that have been shown to increase an individual’s well-being.

Present Moment Awareness: "Mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally." -Jon Kabat-Zinn

Emotional Intelligence: "The capacity to recognize our own feelings and those of others, to manage our emotions, and to interact effectively with others." -Daniel Goleman

Relationships: "The only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people." -George Vaillant 

Meaning: "Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life." -Viktor Frankl

Achievement: “There is no magic to achievement. It is really about hard work, choices, and persistence.” – Michelle Obama 

Needed Sleep: "Everything you do, you'll do better with a good night's sleep." -Arianna Huffington

Exercise: "When it comes to health and well-being, regular exercise is about as close to a magic potion as you can get." -Thich Nhat Hanh 

Nutrition: "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food." -Hippocrates

Thinking: "Habits of thinking need not be forever. One of the most significant findings in psychology in the last twenty years is that individuals can choose the way they think." -Martin Seligman

Randy Barker MSE, LPC : Director of Health, Counseling, and Well-Being

Lori Tuominen: Program Manager, Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well-Being

Mindfulness and Well-Being Advisory Board:

Gloria Eslinger: Director, Undergraduate Art Therapy Program and Professor, Visual Arts

Dr. Mary Lee-Nichols: Associate Professor, Teacher Education

Kristine Patterson: Director, Campus Recreation

Maureen Rappley-Larson: Assistant Professor, Social Work

Dr. Shevaun Stocker: Department Chair, Human Behavior, Justice and Diversity Department and Associate Professor, Psychology

• UW-Superior students, faculty, staff, and alumni
• Regional community
• Research scholars, practitioners and lifelong learners