Meet Our Campus Club’s Inspiring Student Leaders
Meet the five inspiring students that make up the board of The Purple Thread Club at Marist College, located in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Photo by Unsplash, artwork by The Purple Thread
“We don’t heal in isolation, but in community.”
Founded in 2010, The Purple Thread began as a way to raise awareness following an experience with dating violence. Through this story, The Club has evolved to encourage empathy, resiliency, and healthy coping mechanisms that contribute to overall well-being.
The student-led club is a welcoming and inclusive space that collaborates with on-campus and community clubs for the greater good, and works to fill the gap between students and campus resources providing professional support.
The Purple Thread Club is always accepting new members! If you are interested in joining or would like to collaborate in any way, please email us. To learn more about The Club and check out some helpful resources and support, visit The Club page.
Enjoy getting to know our current inspiring and compassionate leaders below! We appreciate them and all the past board members collectively guiding this message for the last 10+ years.
Claire Simonsen — Co-President
Junior, Studying Psychology/Philosophy
What currently inspires and empowers you?
Exercise and moving my body makes me feel the most empowered, strong and confident. I have noticed that the mental effects outweigh the physical ones. It has taught me to push myself and inspires me to always strive for more. It has significantly shifted my lifestyle and mentality in a positive light as I have learned to focus on myself and my goals before anything else.
What’s a book you think others could benefit from reading and why?
Happiness by Matthieu Ricard is one of the most influential books I have ever read. It puts into perspective so many aspects of life via empirical based studies and practices. One of my major take aways from it is and embracing the pain and the lows of life because without them there would be no beauty to our happiness.
Liane Sturrock — Co-President
Junior, Studying Psychology/Special Education
What seems to be a current lesson that the universe is trying to teach you?
Probably to just trust that everybody is on their own journey and not compare my own path to others.
What is a piece of advice would give your younger self?
You are exactly where you are supposed to be in your life. You are not "too far behind" and you're not "too far ahead, so don't compare your journey to somebody else's. Embrace yours where you're at.
Niki Rokjer — Secretary
Junior, Studying Biomedical Sciences
Who is someone you admire and how do you strive to act in a way that they would?
I admire my mom for her compassion and work ethic. I strive to care for others the way in which she does, as well as put forth my best effort in completing tasks.
What or who will always make you laugh?
My friends and family!
Ashlyn Smith — Social Media
Junior, Studying Marketing
When do you feel most alive?
When I am working out and pushing myself to reach new personal records.
What’s your ideal way to start and end your day?
By doing a short (15-20 minute) yoga meditation. This puts me in a positive mindset to start my day. My ideal way to end my day is by watching a show. This allows me to relax and unwind before bed.
Megan Polzer — Treasurer
Junior, Studying Finance
What do you consider to be healing?
Reading, yoga, the beach
Leave us with a ray of light. A simple reminder that helps you through.
"Let everything happen to you. Beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." -Rilke