The Institute, which highlights eight different components of wellness, is focused on the holistic development of students and the Colgate community. The Institute took a major step forward in 2006 after a generous endowed gift by Jay '76 and Debi Shaw and hired a Program Assistant, marking the first staff member to be dedicated entirely to the Wellness Initiative. Another generous gift in 2008, b
y alumnus and trustee Janet Sherlund '77, enabled the initiative to hire students to broaden the scope of its reach. Another gift from Jay '76 and Debi Shaw in 2011 transformed the Wellness Initiative into the Shaw Wellness Institute and led to the addition of a full-time director.