REGISTER HERE. A commitment to all three parts of this event in their entirety is required for participation. Free, registration required.The retreat is open to all UVA students, and will be capped at 30 participants. THIS EVENT IS FULL. 
 
Join fellow students for a Happiness Retreat focused on cultivating a deeper sense of satisfaction despite being surrounded by relentless pressure, pace, and uncertainty. We'll explore evidence-informed strategies for optimizing fulfillment, resilience, and effectiveness in the things that matter most to us.

The three-part retreat, facilitated by Student Health & Wellness and the Contemplative Sciences Center, will be devoted to engaging in the deeper discussion and work of cultivating a lasting sense of happiness, even while affected by the world around us. We will openly challenge common misconceptions about the path to happiness.

In this collaboration we'll explore these questions and more: 

• How do we cultivate happiness when we’re surrounded by relentless pressure, pace, and uncertainty?
• How do we move deeper into fulfillment and joy rather than the fleeting emotion of happiness?
• How do we stay attuned to the world around us and not be overwhelmed by it?
• How do we maintain flourishing amidst intensity?

The retreat will consist of an introductory dinner on 1/22, a full-day retreat on 2/7, and a follow-up dinner on 2/26.
 

Welcome Dinner
Thu, Jan 22, 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm

Retreat (breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided)
Sat, Feb 7, 2026
9:00am - 3:00pm

Follow-up Dinner
Thu, Feb 26 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm

The retreat is free of charge and will include a certificate of completion. 

A commitment to all three meetings in their entirety is required for participation. 

Facilitators: 

Kelly Crace
Kelly Crace is Executive Director of the Contemplative Sciences Center. Previously, he served as associate vice president for health and wellness and as director of the Center for Mindfulness and Authentic Excellence (CMAX) at William & Mary. Kelly also directed college mental health centers at both William & Mary and Duke University.

A licensed psychologist, Kelly is the co-author of Authentic Excellence: Flourishing & Resilience in a Relentless World and the Life Values Inventory, a tool designed to help individuals and organizations clarify their values and serve as a blueprint for effective decision-making and optimal functioning. He has published and presented in the areas of values, flourishing, resilience, life role development and transition, and organizational development, and has conducted more than 3,000 seminars for organizations. Learn more about Kelly Crace.


Katie Smith
Katie Smith, MA Ed, CWHC has over ten years of experience working in youth and young adult well-being and mental health. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of higher education and community based roles, including recreation and fitness programming, student health and mental health services, and well-being coaching. Currently, Katie works in the UVA Pediatrics Department serving as a Care Navigator for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program. Katie holds a Bachelors of Arts from James Madison University, a Masters in Education from Virginia Tech, and is a Certified Wellness and Health Coach.