Marilyn Magaram Center

  • Tea Haven
  • tea haven event

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.
 

Upcoming

 


 Our Team

Faculty

 

Annette Besnilian, EdD, MPH, RDN, CLE, FAND, Executive Director 
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences 

 

 

headshot of Nancy Midorag

 

Nancy Miodrag, PhD, Professor
Department of Child & Adolescent Development

Hilary Yip Photo

 

Hilary Yip, MM, MT-BC
Department of Music Therapy

Adrienne Kinsella

 

Adrienne Kinsella, Assistant Professor
Department of Art

 

 

 

Kristin King, Associate Professor
Department of Family Consumer Sciences

Student Assistants

Mary Comerford
Student Leader

  • School status: Grad student
  • Major: Human Nutrition - Dietetic Internship 
  • Other current experience: Dietetic Intern at Providence Saint Joseph's Burbank 
  • What they’re looking forward to with Tea Haven: Practicing more mindfulness!
  • Future Career Goals: Registered Dietitian 
  • Fun Facts: I love to cook and relax by the beach

 

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

Sam Willenbring
Student Leader

  • School status: Undergrad Senior
  • Major: Music Therapy
  • Other current experience:  Music Therapy Practicum Fall 2023 - Alcoholism Center for Women
  • Other Campus work: Vice President for MTAN (Music Therapy Association of Northridge)
  • What they’re looking forward to with Tea Haven: Helping other students de-stress during the stress of school and life and gaining more music leading experience
  • Future Career Goals: Music Therapist (MT-BC) 
  • Fun Facts:  I have 2 bearded dragons and a gecko  

 

Keilah Ritts
Student Leader

  • School Status: Undergraduate
  • Major: Animation/Drawing
  • Associate's Degrees in Art History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Arts & Humanities.
  • Other Experience: Retail Assistant General, Secretary for the AVID Club at Chatsworth Charter High School, Teacher’s Assistant.
  • Clubs on Campus: Women in Film, ASLN, Women United, CSUN Professional Development Club
  • Future Career Goals: Own a successful studio to make works that will help people or become an Art professor.
  • Looking forward to Tea Haven: Learning about the pipeline process of student events and meeting a variety of people!
  • Fun Facts: My favorite art mediums are copics and watercolor!

 

Sarah Grant
Student Leader

  • School status: Undergrad
  • Major: Art 
  • Other current experience: Retail and server experience 
  • What they’re looking forward to with Tea Haven: Looking  forward to getting more art experience at Tea Haven and making social connections with people
  • Future career goals: Work in film/animation as an art director
  • Fun Facts: I have some woodworking skills and experience, and I can do some hand lettering typography