Location:
NWACUHO Conference
Seattle, WA
Speaker:
Date & Time:
02.10.2026 | 3:30pm – 4:30pm
As student wellbeing concerns intensify, universities are reimagining operations and environments to foster connection and resilience.
Join Mithun partner Elizabeth MacPherson Hearn for “Understanding Students: Designing Inclusive Spaces Through Research Insights” to examine current health trends, engagement challenges and the role of inclusive spaces in supporting diverse students. Drawing on a decade of Mithun’s Design for Health research, this session will share insights on how comfort and human behavior inform the design of gathering spaces that strengthen inclusion and social engagement across campuses. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of what challenges and opportunities are present in the lives of students attending large public universities today, related to connection, engagement and resilience. Presenters will demonstrate how human-centered analytic methods and data can help reimagine existing environments and plan/program healthy new environments.
Elizabeth will co-present this session with Josh Gana, University of Washington Assistant vice president for student life and executive director of housing & food.
Date Posted: 02.10.2026
