The Health Promotion department works to create a campus culture in which health and well-being are intentionally embedded throughout campus. They cultivate collaborative relationships throughout campus to increase awareness of resources, provide health education, promote suicide prevention training, and work toward larger systemic change. Student employees are integral to Health Promotion’s operations. They operate Zenker Wellness Suite inside of Sumers Rec, a location where students can go to learn about campus wellness services, stock up on safer sex supplies, or receive other health-promoting resources. Graduate Assistants also oversee a lot of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and micro-engagements held by the Peer Health Educators.
Name: Hieran Andeberhan
Year: Class of 2026
Major: Masters of Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics concentration
On-campus job title: Communications Graduate Assistant
On-campus job department: Health Promotion
Hieran Andeberhan, is a Graduate Assistant leading Health Promotion’s strategic communication efforts that advance campus-wide health promotion initiatives. She focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating integrated communication strategies across digital, print, and in-person platforms to promote student well-being and resource awareness.
“Hieran has taken a transdisciplinary approach to translating health information into attention-grabbing, understandable content that is both engaging and educational,” explains Hieran’s supervisor and Health Promotion Assistant Director, Taylor Butler. “During her time with our department, she has played a critical role in improving our strategies and systems for social media content development and engagement. Hieran takes proactive initiative to identify gaps and propose solutions to our communication challenges”
As Hieran notes, on-campus student jobs are a great way to practice and apply skills you have already developed and build new experiences to support your career trajectory. “I decided to apply for the Communications Graduate Assistant position because I wanted to combine my training in public health with my experience creating social media content from my previous on-campus jobs as a Resident Advisor and Social Media Chair for the John B. Ervin Scholars Program. This on-campus job has been the perfect blend of my interest in public health and social media, and it has enabled me to learn a lot about online engagement and express my creativity. I see my on-campus job as supporting my future career growth by enabling me to create a portfolio of work that I can show to future employers to demonstrate the skills I’ve developed and the products I’ve successfully completed. More than anything, it has taught me how to communicate with my supervisors and work collaboratively with my peers and campus partners, which are skills I believe will support me in my career moving forward.”
But, on-campus employment isn’t just about skill building; it is a supportive environment where you can explore and reflect on the type of workplace culture is right for you. The WashU staff and faculty who supervise student employees are acutely invested in their current and future success. As Hieran explains, “I have participated in on-campus student employment opportunities since my freshman year, and each role has taught me what I appreciate in a job and helped me learn how I work best. They have also provided me with incredible examples of what great bosses and supportive work cultures look like, which I can use to guide my post-grad employment choices.”
Inspired by Hieran’s story? Health Promotion employs about 5 Graduate Assistants every year in various roles. Student employment positions, when available, are posted on Handshake.
Written by Sarah Sims, February 23, 2026.
