Tea Haven

About

The Tea Haven project aims to promote stress management and support mental health while building community connections among students at Cal State Northridge, highlighting the art of healing and wellness through consumption of herbal teas and the practice of creative and engaging art workshops. This project supports interdisciplinary faculty and student employees, highlighting the innovative skills of students from various educational backgrounds including interior design, music therapy, research, food science, and nutrition. Workshops incorporate elements of music therapy, immersive art, tea education, sustainability, and tools for better mental health practices in the future, offered in the Wellness Garden. As college students, attending workshops allows for participation in mindful activities to promote a shift in mental health and reduce stress, replenish, recharge and increase productivity and hopefulness during times of distress. The Tea Haven project is made possible through the collaboration of the Marilyn Magaram Center and the Department of Child and Adolescent Development. Tea Haven workshops are currently only available for CSUN students.

Our Team

Faculty

Annette Besnilian, EdD, MPH, RDN, CLE, FAND

Executive Director
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Nancy Miodrag, PhD

Professor
Department of Child & Adolescent Development

Hilary Yip, MM

MT-BC
Department of Music Therapy

Adrienne Kinsella

Assistant Professor
Department of Art

Kristin King

Associate Professor
Department of Family Consumer Sciences

Student Assistants

Alex Karamians

Student Leader

School status: Grad student in Human Nutrition combined with Dietetic Internship
Major: Nutrition and Dietetics
Minor: Human Lactation
Other current experience: Dietary Assistant at Providence Saint Joseph
What they’re looking forward to with Tea Haven: To gain experience in coordinating and planning
Future Career Goals: Renal dietitian, lecturer at a community college, diabetes educator
Fun Facts: I'm not too fond of cooking

Robin Shapiro

Student Leader

School status:  Undergrad
Major: Interior Design
Other current experience: Party Planning, Events (WONDERTENT PARTIES)
What they’re looking forward to with Tea Haven Collaboration with others in different areas. To get to enjoy and help out in the garden space
Future Career Goals: Get to help out for future city working planning projects to prioritize and emphasize sense of community while incorporating gardening and self sustaining practices and jobs to do so
Fun Facts: I grew up in New Jersey and New York, I am the only girl in my family, I have 5 brothers, I dabble in gardening at home

Past Mentors

Kristin King

Associate Professor
Department of Family Consumer Sciences

Adrienne Kinsella

Associate Professor
Department of Art

Hassem Ghamari

Associate Professor
Department of Family Consumer Sciences