Meet the Staff

Preferred Name: Bernadette Heitschmidt, MSEd, MS, NCC, LPC-IT (she/her) 

Position: Director of the Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion 

Marquette Email: bernadette.heitschmidt@marquette.edu 

Marquette Phone Number: 414-288-2104 

Hometown: Chicago, IL 

Favorite Wellness Activity: Crafting and cooking

About Me: Bernadette is a proud, two-time, Marquette University alumna, originally from the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. Bernadette graduated from Marquette as an Advertising major from the Diederich College of Communication. Her love of working within student affairs began when she was a resident assistant in Cobeen Hall. She went on to work at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design as a Residence Hall Director and then completed a master degree in Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, where she held an assistantship as a Graduate Residence Hall Director and completed an internship as a Graduate Residence Hall Director at Wingate University. Bernadette started her professional career back at Marquette working as a Residence Hall Director in Carpenter Tower. She also completed a master degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling on the Vocational Rehabilitation track at Marquette, while working as a Hall Minister and Vocational Rehabilitation intern at On Your Marq. Bernadette is very excited to be the Director of the Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion, where she can focus on assisting college students succeed with their wellness plan. 

Preferred Name: Jenny Fierro (she/they) 

Position: Coordinator for Student Wellness Programs 

Marquette Email: jennifer.fierro-padilla@marquette.edu 

Marquette Phone Number: 414-288-1934

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI 

Favorite Wellness Activity: My favorite wellness activity is getting through my TBR list! Nothing makes me happier than reading books and I love lounging in a cozy sweater reading in my sunroom.  

About Me: While new to Marquette University, I grew up in Milwaukee's south side and have spent a majority of my life here. The first one of my sisters to leave home, I moved to Madison to pursue a graduate degree and graduated May 2022. I enjoy being a student and am continuously looking for opportunities to grow. I am of the belief that there is always room to learn something new. I have 2 dogs, one who is a 90lb Pitbull named Rex and his much smaller, gremlin brother, a Frenchie named Paco.

Preferred Name: Estelle Wellhouse (she/her) 

Position: Victim Advocate 

Marquette Email: estelle.welhouse@marquette.edu 

Marquette Phone Number: 414-288-2463 

Hometown: Born in Paris, France, grew up in Madison, WI 

Favorite Wellness Activity: Swimming in the ocean, Walking with my dog 

About Me: Estelle holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and has worked serving victims of crime for over 10 years. Her various positions include: working as a victim advocate at Eau Claire County District Attorney's Office and as an in-crisis response at Eau Claire Police Department, Legal Advocate at End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, Victim Advocate at Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Police Officer at West Milwaukee Police Department. Estelle enjoys being outdoors, traveling and eating tasty food.

Preferred Name: Sarah Anderson (she/her)

Position: Graduate Assistant for Wellness Programs

Marquette Email: sarah.2.anderson@marquette.edu 

Hometown: Aburi, Ghana - West Africa 

Favorite Wellness Activity: Listening to music/audio books; cooking

About Me: Sarah has a BSc. in Nursing from Valley View University, Ghana. Sarah worked with Ghana Health Service for 10 years as a registered Nurse and most currently worked as a school nurse in a Senior High School. Sarah had the privilege to work with NGO's in Ghana on various projects such as sexual reproductive and mental health awareness, End Period Poverty, Educate 1 child among others. Sarah is passionate about working with students from all angles and have volunteered to be a support system and to teach students of various grades who have different Reading /Learning Challenges.

Preferred Name: Warda Sahib (she/her)

Position: Graduate Assistant for Advocacy and Alochol & Other Drug Health Promotion Services

Marquette Email: warda.sahib@marquette.edu 

Hometown: Born in Baghdad, Iraq and grew up in Southern California

Favorite Wellness Activity: Hot yoga and going on walks

About Me: Warda is a first-year counseling psychology doctoral student at Marquette University and will be completing her master’s practicum/internship at the Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she participated in clubs and organizations that provided mentorship and support to college students, and she is very excited to continue this work during her time here. As a graduate student, she hopes to shed light on the impact of complex trauma on individuals and communities through her clinical work and research. Warda enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her cat Zaytoon (meaning olive in Arabic) in her free time.

Preferred Name: Charlie (he/him)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator

Hometown: Silicon Valley, CA, most recently Coeur d' Alene, ID

Favorite Wellness Activity: journaling; long walks

Major: Psychology

Minor:  Creative Writing

Career Aspiration: Therapist

Preferred Name: Eunbie Lee

Position: Wellness Peer Educator

Hometown: Maryland

Favorite Wellness Activity: Playing field-hockey

Major: Biological Sciences

Minor: English

Career Aspiriation:

Preferred Name: Jenan (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Suburb of Chicago, IL

Favorite Wellness Activity: Listening to music (Taylor Swift and Noah Khan)

Major: Psychology and Business

Career Aspiration: Lawyer

Preferred Name: Elizabeth (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Madison, WI

Favorite Wellness Activity: Spending time outdoors

Major: Nursing

Career Aspiration: Nurse

Preferred Name: Iris (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

Favorite Wellness Activity: Walking outside; cooking

Major: Communication Studies

Minor: Health Communication and Health Studies

Career Aspiration: Healthcare Administrator

Preferred Name: Tess (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Favorite Wellness Activity: Running

Major: Criminology and Law Studies

Career Aspiration: Lawyer

Preferred Name: Juls (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Hagatna, Guam

Favorite Wellness Activity: Journaling; Meditation

Major: Biomedical Sciences

Minor: Health Communication

Career Aspiration: Pediatrician

Preferred Name: Megan (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Peoria, IL

Favorite Wellness Activity: Spending time with family and friends; snowboarding

Major: Biomedical Sciences and Health Studies

Career Aspiration: Physician Assistant specializing in cosmetic dermatology

Preferred Name: Sydney (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Rolling Meadows, IL

Favorite Wellness Activity: Biking (especially outside during the Fall)

Major: Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics)

Career Aspiration: I'd like to work in a field that will help people gain movement, live a healthier lifestyle, and use my degree to design prosthetics or medical devices. 

Preferred Name: Jasmine (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Oak Forest, IL

Favorite Wellness Activity: Yoga and Reading

Major: Psychology

Career Aspiration: Clinical Psychologist

Preferred Name: Emily (she/her)

Position: Wellness Peer Educator 

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Favorite Wellness Activity: Relaxing with Family

Major: Biomedical Sciences

Career Aspiration: Healthcare