Our Mission
Empowering young people on their weight management journey through themselves, their community, and society.
Our Vision
We envision young people who are empowered, active and confident in their healthy lifestyles and habits. We envision a community that is aware and supportive of these healthy endeavors. We envision a society that is empathetic and understanding towards the complexities of obesity and a world where the healthy choice isn’t necessarily the least accessible, most expensive, and most difficult decision.
Executive Team
Faith Newsome
Founder & President
My name is Faith Newsome and I am the President and Founder of OCEANS Support and Advocacy Group. I am currently a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Psychology and Journalism. My favorite way to stay active is by going to group fitness classes with friends and family and my favorite healthy food is any type of sauteed vegetables! I am passionate about OCEANS mission and excited to see where the organization goes.
Emily Robinson
Vice President
My name is Emily Robinson, and I am a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Economics, Management and Society, and Education. My favorite ways to stay active are running and weightlifting. I enjoy watching Netflix and cooking. I love finding new recipes and my favorite healthy food is zucchini noodles. As someone who has struggled with weight, weight loss, eating disorders, and body confidence, OCEANS has a mission statement that I am very passionate about. I can't wait to see what OCEANS accomplishes this year within the community and beyond.
Aicha Kaouss
Treasurer
I attend UNC Chapel Hill and I am majoring in Exercise and Sports Science. My favorite ways to stay active are playing lacrosse and going to the gym or on a run with friends. My favorite healthy meal is Açaí Bowls! I believe that everyone has a unique story that makes them who they are. I love that OCEANS creates an accepting environment for young people to share their experiences. I am excited to be a part of an organization that empowers teens with obesity to live a healthy lifestyle by supporting their mental and physical well being.
Abby Davis
Social Media Coordinator
I am a senior at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in Biology and Psychology. In my free time, I love to dance, read books, and go on adventures outdoors. My favorite healthy food is a homemade salad or an açaí bowl. My favorite way to stay active is by going to group fitness classes like Zumba and Barre. I joined O.C.E.A.N.S because I am passionate about supporting and empowering teens and I hope to help make a change in the community by educating against stigma.
Melissa Monroe, MPH
Policy Advocacy Chair
I have my BS in biology from UNC Wilmington with minors in neuroscience and psychology and my Master of Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology from New York University. In my free time I love to hang out with friends and family or play with my cats. My favorite way to stay active is playing sports and my favorite healthy food is banana chips and peanut butter. I am passionate about OCEANS because I think it is important to not only support healthy habits but to encourage a positive body image among youth and build a community to facilitate healthy habits physically and mentally.
Michael D Marsack
Fundraising Coordinator - Fundraising
I am a student at Duke University studying Evolutionary Anthropology. In my free time, I like to play board games and basketball. My favorite way to stay active is to play games with friends and my favorite healthy food is kale salad with salmon. I am passionate about OCEANS because health is important to me in both a physical and mental sense. OCEANS is helping to tackle both of these aspects of health at once through a faucet that is often forgotten about. OCEANS is one step in the right direction to making a happier, healthier society.
Preethi Irukulapati
Fundraising Coordinator - Outreach
Kayla Delpino
Product Development Chair
My name is Preethi and I'm a statistics major at UNC. I decided to join OCEANS because I feel like there are a lot of misconceptions about adolescent obesity and I wanted to be part of an organization that openly discusses this issue and works with teens to lead healthy lives. My favorite healthy food is carrots and hummus and my favorite way to stay active is playing volleyball. I also love to bike and binge watch television shows. I'm so excited for the year to come and all the things OCEANS hopes to accomplish.
My name is Kayla Delpino and I am currently a first-year student at UNC Chapel Hill studying biology. In my free time I like to spend time with my friends and explore Chapel Hill. My favorite way to stay active is playing sports and my favorite healthy snack is rice cakes with peanut powder and bananas. I am so happy to be a part of a group that helps teens to live a healthy and happy lifestyle.