Staff Advisory Council

Malika Roman Isler, PhD, MPH

February 11, 2015

LOCATION HERE | MAY 12, 2009

• A little about me

• Some context for Thrive

• Introducing the team

• Current Priorities (staff specific)

A little about me…

• WFU graduate (‘99) – Health & Exercise Science• University of South Carolina – MPH• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – PhD

• Public Health practitioner

• Researcher, Administrator, Programmer – Collaborative health promotion and wellbeing

• Universities, health departments, churches, grassroots organizations, private research firms…

• HIV/AIDS, Reproductive health, Cancer, Diabetes, Genomics, organizational development, quality assurance…

Assumptions about Wellbeing

• People can intentionally learn, build and cultivate well-being.

• A well-lived life is a life full of meaning and purpose; grounded in self-awareness and infused with inquiry and curiosity. 

• Well-being involves subjectivity and can be measured with rigorous science. 

• Facilitating the well-being in others and providing opportunities for learning and growth is a responsibility of everyone involved in the leadership process.

George Mason University Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Eight Dimensions of Wellbeing

The Team

The team

Infrastructure Development

• Director of Wellbeing – Malika Roman Isler, PhD, MPH– Develop a strategic and comprehensive approach to campus

wellbeing (students, faculty and staff)– Leverage local, regional, and national collaborative partnerships– Strategic Prevention Framework

• Getting at Root Causes at Multiple Levels

• Director of Health Promotion – Kevin Harrell, MPH, CHES– Cultivate healthy attitudes and behaviors– Student engagement in health promotion– Peer education– Prevention programming

Infrastructure Development

• Safe Office Coordinator – Beth Montplaisir, MA, LPCA, NCC– Sexual & relationship violence response– Short-term counseling– Prevention programming

• Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator – Vacant – Alcohol and substance abuse – Prevention programming – Brief assessment and referral

Infrastructure Development

• Project Coordinator – Nikki Villanueva–Project management –Program planning–Student engagement

• Campus Life Fellow – Paige Horton–Communications–Social media–Program planning

University Counseling

CenterProfessional Development

Center

Office of Professional &

Career Development

Student Health Service

Office of the Chaplain

Residence Life & Housing

Campus Recreation

Learning Assistance Center

Human Resources

Pro Humanitate Institute

University Police Dean of the College

Office of Multicultural

Affairs

We are ALL team Thrive!Students

Faculty

Staff

Communications & External Relations

Wellbeing: An Ecological Approach

What’s happening within individuals (Personal histories, attitudes, beliefs,

behaviors)?

What’s happening between individuals (Peer circles, faculty/staff to student

relationships)?

How is organizational culture, leadership values, and institutional policy playing a

role?

What are the community level norms and practices? How is the built environment?

What is the distribution of resources, opportunities, and policies?

Prevention Approach

Organizing Framework

Pillars of Thrive

Programs

•One-offs•Ongoing•Evidence-based

Infrastructure

•Staffing•Collaborative Networks•Systems

Research

•Independent•Collaborative Pilots

Services

•CHOICES•Safe

Mission (working)

Thrive is Wake Forest’s comprehensive wellbeing initiative. As a venture owned by the entire campus community, Thrive

engages students, faculty, and staff to better cope with adversity, build rewarding relationships and live lives with a sense of purpose. Through collaborative programs, infrastructure building, research, and services, Thrive offers the skills,

knowledge and perspective necessary to maintain a healthy, harmonious, and balanced life.

Wellbeing Strategic Directions

Lead a comprehensive approach to student and community wellbeing

1.Integrate the Thrive campaign into all areas of campus and academic life.

2.Create or enhance peer education programs to address our most salient wellbeing challenges (e.g. stress, alcohol, sexual assault, sleep, nutrition).

3.Create Wellbeing Ambassadors throughout student organizations and campus departments to help share Thrive strategies.

4.Provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn about and demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with the eight dimensions of Thrive.

5.Position WFU to serve as an innovator, leader, and national resource for wellbeing in higher education by publicizing and sharing the story of Thrive.

Priority Area

Indicates efforts already underway

Priority: Define the state of wellbeing of the Wake Forest community

• Mapping current wellbeing offerings

• Programs and services• Faculty and staff benefits

• Evaluating current campus assessments

• Expanding existing assessments (e.g. National College Health Assessment)

• Identify faculty and staff wellbeing assessment tool

Priority Area

Priority: Increase visibility and understanding of the Thrive initiative

Dimensions by the Month CampaignHighlights 2 dimensions each month

Interactive Workshops•Mindfulness Training•Financial Wellbeing•Myers-Briggs•Family Safety Planning

Contests•Faculty & Staff Wellbeing Recognition

Blogs, Tips & Tools•Time management•Strategies for stress reduction•Building healthy relationships•Drinking Responsibly

Partnerships•Professional Development Center•Office of the Chaplain•University Counseling Center

Thought Exercises•Where do you see your career in 5-10 years?

Programs•Zumbathon•Safe Spring Break

Social and Spiritual Wellbeing

• Faculty/Staff Wellbeing Contest! Nominations due February 23rd

• February 9 - February 12th: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Week

– Wed: Sing Out at Shorty’s (7pm); Thurs: Speak Out at Wait Chapel (6-8pm)

• February 10, 17, 24: Puppy Love Tuesdays

• February 12, 26: Wellbeing Dimension Discovery Tables

– In Benson from 12:30-2pm,Thank you notes, personal prayers and meditations (greater life satisfaction, optimism, connectedness with others)

• February 18: Thrive at 5

– In Shorty’s, free food and wellbeing conversation with the team

• February 19: Wellbeing Workshops

– MBTI & Power of Positive Affirmations

• February 20: Tea Party

– Reynolda Green room from 3-5pm for food, fun and games!

• February 21: TedX - Hearts & Minds

• February 23: Faculty/Staff salsa hour and Intro to Zen Meditation:  

Priority Area

• Dimensions by the month campaign

– Experiential wellbeing opportunities

– Highlight faculty and staff thriving in each dimension

• Collaborative partnerships

• Social media presence • Use of Thrive logo across

campus

• Website restructuring – interactive, toolkit

• Wellbeing mapping and awareness

• Thrive @ 5 • National blogspot • Office designation

campaign• New employee

orientation

Indicates efforts already underway

Priority: Increase visibility and understanding of the Thrive initiative

Priority Area

• Annual community events • Monthly “snack-sized” offerings across 8 dimensions • Use of technological platforms • Identify individualized wellbeing assessment for students,

faculty, and staff, offer wellbeing coaching• Offer 1-2 core programs under each dimension • Policies to support faculty and staff engaging in wellbeing

(e.g. PTO) • Wellbeing ambassadors program• Program fund for wellbeing ideas

Indicates efforts already underway

Provide opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn about and demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with the eight

dimensions of Thrive.

Questions for the SAC

•What do you see as wellbeing priority areas for staff?

•What are the best strategies for incorporating staff voices into Thrive?

•What are the best strategies for helping staff feel ownership of Thrive?

Questions or Comments?

Feel free to contact us at:

thrive@wfu.edu

(336) 758-4065