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Staff Advisory Board Update: Summer 2016

Events aim to help participants enjoy Lake Michigan and increase everyday happiness

The Weinberg College Staff Advisory Board has been busy this summer! We have hosted a number of events that gave staff a chance to enjoy Lake Michigan; we’ve reached out to the Northwestern staff community; we have added new board members; and we’ve said farewell to other members.

In July, members of the board and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee participated in the Staff Activities Fair hosted by NUSAC. At the fair, we introduced ourselves and raised awareness within the University community and connected with fellow staff organizations across campus.

In August, College staff went kayaking and paddle boarding on Lake Michigan at the Sailing Center. With all the heat this summer, time on the lake was a welcome treat.

Also, in August, staff enjoyed an interesting discussion over ice cream on positive affectivity in the workshop “Positive Psychology: Enhancing Happiness.” In the workshop, facilitator Natalie E. DuBois gave attendees strategies toward developing a more positive outlook. Specifically, the lecture emphasized how simple actions such as smiling and random acts of kindness can affect the neurochemicals in the brain that increase happiness. You can find more resources here:

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Sept. 1st for our first Staff Picnic, which will be hosted by the Weinberg College Staff Advisory Board in conjunction with the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Close out the summer by spending time with fellow staff across the College. The gathering will take place in Deering Meadow from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. You should be receiving an invitation from Dean Randolph soon. See you there!

As the board continues into its third year, we are delighted to add two new members. The Weinberg Staff Advisory Board welcomes Annerys Cano, business administrator, Department of History and Crystal Foster, department assistant, Department of Philosophy. We look forward to their fresh perspectives and energy.

We also say goodbye to members Tom Burke, Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities; Lisa Collins, Earth and Planetary Sciences; Natasha Denison, American Studies; Danny Fisher, Chemistry and Nancy Gelman, Jewish Studies. Thank you for all of your efforts in the growth and success of the Weinberg Staff Advisory Board.

And congratulations to Kathleen Arbuckle, program coordinator for the Brady Scholars Program in Ethics and Civic Life, for being recognized by the University during the Service Excellence Luncheon.

It has been a fantastic year of programming, and the board is already hard at work planning an exciting year of events and activities for 2016-17, so stay tuned!

Be sure to read this quarter’s Staff Spotlight, where we are pleased to highlight Nancy Hickey, business administrator for the Department of Anthropology.

To learn more about the SAB and our mission, visit our website: http://wcas.nu/staff-advisory-board . If you are interested in joining the SAB or would like to help at any of our events, please let us know! We now take applications on a rolling basis. Email WCAS_StaffAdvisoryBoard@northwestern.edu to submit an application, ask questions and share ideas or concerns.

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