UVA New Exec Members
Photography by Jessica Pentel
*Not pictured: our new photography, Cat White!
We are so excited to introduce nine new executive members to the IfYou’reReadingThis team. Learn more about them and their roles below:
Hi! My name is Sophie Holland, I am a first year, and I am so excited to be the new treasurer of IYRT! I was interested in joining this team because I’m working to be better about managing and speaking about my own mental health, and I hope to help others do the same. I love how the easy access to so many letters gives everyone the ability to feel a little less alone, no matter how much they are struggling. I can’t wait to get more involved and see more of the amazing things that this club can do! If you're reading this, I hope you have a great day :)
My name is Annie Wolsborn and I am so excited to join the IYRT team! I learned about IfYou’reReadingThis during my first year at UVA and found the letters extremely helpful and inspiring while making the adjustment to college. I was interested in joining this team because I want to support other students and help them find the resources and encouragement they need. Taking the steps to find the help you need can be really hard at first, but my hope is to help make it a little easier by being an advocate for mental health and working with others with the same passion. If you’re reading this, know you are not alone.
Hi everyone! My name is Annabel Brawn and I will be the new social media chair after Marly graduates. I heard about IfYou’reReadingThis through my RA. I wanted to join the exec team because I lost a friend to suicide two years ago. Since then, I have been a firm believer in sharing stories surrounding mental health to remind everyone that you are not alone. I’m really looking forward to getting to post Mental Health Mondays and giving you all some encouragement to start the week. I hope you all enjoy my future posts and share with your friends to spread the word about the club. If you’re reading this, I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished.
My name is Camden Young and I’m new to the outreach team for IfYou’reReadingThis. When I got to UVA, I knew I wanted to find a mental health outlet for myself and others. IYRT is something I joined because I want to be a part of an organization that genuinely cares and connects people through our mental health struggles. We all go through different challenges with differing impacts, yet our experiences are nonetheless valid and deserve to be heard. The stigma around men’s mental health is prevalent, and I hope I can reduce that stigma by being a voice and an active member in sharing resources, stories, encouragement, and validation. If you’re reading this, remember your worth and let your confidence shine through.
Hello friends! My name is Maggie Nguyen, the new secretary for the IYRT executive board! I heard of this organization through someone who wrote a letter herself. After reading and listening to her story, I felt inspired to express my passion for mental health. There is so much we can learn about how we feel and IYRT does this beautifully through letters that encapsulates both resilience and strength in struggles. As a first year, I have had so many experiences with mental health, both positive and negative, but I also have so much to gain from the experiences of others. If you’re reading this, you are special and that is something to be proud of.
Hey lovely people! My name is Natasjha Stone and I am new to the outreach committee for IfYou’reReadingThis! In my first year, I noticed this wonderful organization and the important work they were doing. The letters they post have helped me so much with getting through college life and feeling empowered to keep going. I joined this team because I want to help people feel happy and mentally healthy. I’m looking forward to getting to know my teammates and seeing the beautiful things that the UVA community wants to share with others. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that you are loved and your life matters so much more than you know!
Hi! My name is Adair Reid and I am the new editor for IfYou’reReadingThis! After learning about IYRT my first year, I knew I had to join and as the year progressed, I realized I wanted to be much more involved. I’ve written about my own mental health and personal struggles privately for years, but IYRT offers the unique opportunity to help others do the same, spreading positivity and support all over UVA. Mental health is often overlooked in college with so many other priorities competing for our attention, but this club has allowed me to slow down and center myself amid the chaos. If you’re reading this, remember your mental health takes as much precedence as everything else you have to offer to the world.
Hello! My name is Katie Chervenic and I am the new ambassador program chair and peer contact for IfYou’reReadingThis. One of my priorities coming to UVA was to find and join an organization dedicated to creating a positive narrative surrounding mental health. When I found IYRT my first year, I knew their mission was one I wanted to be a part of. As someone who’s struggled with their mental health largely in private, I was inspired by the courage it takes to write a letter. I’d like to help make UVA a place where this bravery is recognized with an open dialogue about mental health so someday everyone can feel comfortable sharing their own stories. If you’re reading this, know that you are strong enough.
If you’re reading this, you have our support!
New Executive Team Members, University of Virginia
Connect With Us
To follow IfYoureReadingThis at UVA on Instagram, get in touch with our chapter, and learn about more resources available to University of Virginia students, visit our chapter’s homepage.