RECognition: Helen Wu, Marketing
Recreation's monthly series to highlight and celebrate our staff
By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director
Helen Wu is well known for three things in the Recreation Marketing department: her willingness to volunteer for any odd job or task that arises, her colorful hair styling, and her insatiable love of snacks.
“I like trying new drinks and activities,” Helen says. “Personally, I find it hard to stick to one interest or niche because I always want to explore and try different things.”
That includes being an HA (Housing Advisor, similar to a Resident Advisor) for the first time this year with Muir College. Or journaling at M.O.M.’s in the early morning while listening to Japanese rock — “Despite the loud instrumentals and guitar riffs, it’s soothing for me and a go-to listen,” she says — blaring in her headphones. Or playing pickleball with her boyfriend on the courts next to her dorm, despite having a still-tenuous relationship with the rules.
“It’s become a habit for me to play pickleball on Thursday and Saturday nights,” says Helen, a third-year in Marshall College. “I book a court and play with my boyfriend and our mutual friend, but recently, I realized I’m actually not that good at pickleball. So I’ve been learning! It’s quite fun, and it gets pretty competitive quickly.
“I think it’s a nice way to engage with others and stay active on days where I just don’t want to formally hit the gym.”
Outside the courts, Helen is an essential member of the REC Marketing team. She’s a jack of all trades, able to create graphics and displays for various REC programs, source and design promotional materials, and expertly answer students' questions at various outreach tabling events.
“I love being able to openly provide input for my department and make a lasting impact within the office space,” Helen says. “My most fond memories are going to CAVA with some co-workers, hanging out in the office, and one time I did outreach at an event that HDH was catering. I went back for seconds and thirds of food and ended up helping at another organization’s table as well.”
The person running the other table had gone to the bathroom and then got caught up in a side conversation. Helen, of course, was more than happy to entertain the inquiring students, despite not being affiliated with the organization, in between plates of hummus, pita, and assorted vegetables.
She’s also involved with Tokens Magazine as a socials team member and with the online magazine Jellizine as a stylist.
Academically, Helen is a cognitive and behavioral neuroscience major and is working as a research assistant in the PSLIME Lab under the guidance of professors Emma Geller, Ph.D., and Celeste Pilegard, Ph.D., and direct grad mentor Alejandro Carranza.
“I have the opportunity to run participants, analyze data, and write literature on my findings,” Helen says. “It’s really rewarding.”
Her eventual plans include going to grad school in California for her master's in psychology, applying for licensure, and working in therapy and counseling.
For now, she’s continuing to try new things while enjoying the REC programming she loves most.
“I go to Main Gym — now that I live at Muir and I’m too lazy to go to RIMAC — three times a week, and the other days I attend one of the Fitness & Yoga classes REC offers,” Helen says. “I’ve done Bootcamp, Cycle Fit, and Sculpt & Flow. The classes are stimulating and really fun. I always leave engaged with my core and with a heavy sweat going.”
Gotta work up an appetite for the next snack — and the next new experience.
