In January 2010, a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti, devastating lives and communities and affecting more than 3 million people.
That spring, Kira Mauseth ’00 traveled to Haiti as part of a multidisciplinary medical crisis team. The Whitman grad hoped she could make even a small difference in the lives of those recovering from the disaster.
What she didn’t know at the time was the big impact the trip would have on her own life.
The team, including Mauseth, a practicing psychologist, set up a clinic on a soccer field. Over 10 days, they taught adults and children skills to manage the emotional and psychological distress often experienced after such traumatic events, focusing on tools for well-being, recovery and resilience.
“That was it,” she says. “I was hooked.” During her time in Haiti, Mauseth discovered not only a passion but also a way to create lasting support in affected communities.
The team partnered with local students who served both as translators and guides on cultural customs, norms and coping options. By the end of the second day, the students were suggesting which interventions, such as deep breathing or mindfulness, were most appropriate for which individuals.
It was an “Aha!” moment for the U.S. team. “My colleague and I looked at each other and realized we needed to train the students on how to teach the techniques themselves,” Mauseth says.
Read the full story in the Winter 2026 issue of Whitman Magazine.
