RCCD’s “Paint & Patience” Supports Online Student Wellness Through Creativity and Connection
05/20/2026
The virtual event combined art, mindfulness, and community by providing students with wellness activity boxes filled with painting supplies, tea, mugs, and wellness items before joining guided Zoom painting sessions led by art professor and Ujima co-advisor Nicole Green. The program was developed through collaboration between RCCD’s Distance Education and mental health support teams to create meaningful opportunities for online students to engage beyond the virtual classroom.
“Paint & Patience reflects the kind of intentional, student-centered support we strive to create within distance education,” said Shawna BuShell, Ed.D., Dean of Distance Education. “Our online students deserve opportunities to build connection, practice self-care, and engage with their campus community in meaningful ways. This program created space for students to feel seen, supported, and connected beyond the virtual classroom.”
“For online students, activities such as this are especially important because they help reduce feelings of isolation and disconnection that can often occur in virtual learning environments,” said Mary Rankin, PsyD, LMFT. “Many students balancing academics, work, family responsibilities, and personal stressors may not always have opportunities to engage socially or practice intentional self-care.”
More than 31 students registered for the program, with participants joining remotely from across the district. Many students also involved their families in the experience, turning the activity into an opportunity for shared creativity and relaxation at home.
“Art has the ability to create calm, spark creativity, and bring people together,” said Nicole Green, MFA, Art Professor/ Ujima Co-advisor and Instructor for this project. “Watching students relax, express themselves, and connect with one another throughout the session was incredibly rewarding. It reminded students that creativity can be a powerful tool for wellness, reflection, and healing.”
“One of the best parts was having students actively show up, participate, and engage with one another while learning that mental health support and self-care can look different for everyone,” Rankin said. “Students were able to experience creativity, mindfulness, relaxation, and community in a nonjudgmental and welcoming setting.”
According to Rosa Munoz, who helped coordinate the project, the goal was to create a welcoming environment where students could step away from daily stressors and reconnect with themselves and others.
“The objective was to have students somewhere they could come together and unwind,” Munoz said. “A lot of online students feel they do not have that campus connection, so this gave them an opportunity to build relationships with other students while focusing on their well-being.”
The event also highlighted RCCD’s ongoing commitment to accessible wellness programming for all students, particularly those navigating the challenges of online education. During the sessions, students spent time painting, talking with one another, and sharing personal experiences while learning techniques centered around mindfulness and creativity.
“Mental health support does not always begin with words,” Rankin said. “Sometimes it begins with connection, creativity, comfort, and the reminder that students are not alone.”
Organizers hope to continue expanding the program in the fall due to strong student interest and positive feedback received following the sessions.
“Wellness grows when we provide students with accessible spaces, resources, and opportunities to care for both themselves and one another,” Rankin added.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications