Our Staff
Megan Brown, Director
Megan received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Andrews University in Michigan. Prior to working at McWell, she worked as a staff psychologist at the University Counseling Center at Notre Dame and Student Health and Counseling at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Megan is also a life coach and an active member of the Action Network for Equitable Well-Being (ANEW) which is a national network of diverse people and organizations who work together to accelerate transformational change in higher education settings so that all college students have the opportunity to thrive and flourish.
Megan is passionate about helping students thrive. She is an avid student of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of flourishing lives, communities, and organizations, and she thoughtfully applies these principles throughout her work. She believes that everyone is a world changer and that when we are living our best lives, we make the world a better place and inspire others to do the same.
When not working, Megan loves to travel, read, spend time outdoors, make music, play board games, and do all the above with friends and family.
Contact Information: mbrown15@nd.edu
Mara Trionfero Lucas, Assistant Director for Assessment and Education
Mara received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY. Additionally she received certification as a Wellcoaches Certified Health & Wellness Coach in 2021.
Focused on mitigating the effects of high-risk alcohol abuse, she enjoys working with the emerging adult population in a Catholic higher education setting. Mara also serves as a Title IX resource coordinator at the University, a Moreau instructor, a part of the greeNDot team, and served for several years as a small-group facilitator for the Summer Service Learning Program with the Center for Social Concerns.
When not working at Notre Dame, she loves opportunities for civic engagement in the South Bend community with her family, volunteering for multiple non-profits in the area and participating in diverse community-building initiatives such as SB150 and Best Week Ever. She is a dog person with a feisty furbaby.
Contact information: mtrionfe@nd.edu
Katherine Machado, Coordinator for Student Well-Being Leadership and Engagement
Kat received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and American Studies with a minor in Education, Schooling, and Society from the University of Notre Dame in May 2022.
Having been a student at Notre Dame, Kat understands the unique demands that can sometimes make well-being challenging to prioritize during the school year. She is especially interested in helping students to develop the skills for incorporating wellness practices into their daily lives, as well as working with other groups on campus to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Kat is also interested in how the dimensions of well-being overlap, especially emotional, physical, environmental, and spiritual well-being.
In her free time, Kat loves to cook, sing, and spend time with her family. She also loves to explore small towns and try out local coffee shops.
Contact Information: kmachado@nd.edu
Hayley Tessier, Program and Office Manager
Hayley received her Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in art from Edgewood College in Madison, WI.
Hayley cares greatly about helping students navigate through the exciting experience of higher education and the unique challenges they face along the way. She believes students are able to be their best selves during the college years and beyond when they are supported academically, as well as empowered with skills, resources and tools to care for their overall well-being.
In her free time, Hayley enjoys creating arts and crafts, reading, and spending time with her family.
Contact information: htessier@nd.edu