WorkLife Connections Newsletter
April 2021
MSU COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Michigan State University is a large campus with many different opportunities. Sometimes, connecting with colleagues who share research interests or values can help make an enormous campus feel more like a community. Below are just a few suggestions about where you might get started. See what groups are available in the MSU community.
Welcome to MSU:
Newcomers share their stories
Looking to start a new role at this giant university? People from across the state, country, and globe choose to make MSU their place to embark on new experiences. Change isn’t easy and it often comes with lots of questions. Newcomer or not, the WorkLife Office is here to help you navigate family, career, workplace, the MSU community, and beyond. 
Stay in Contact – Join the International Listserv email
We’d like to keep in touch with you and allow you the opportunity to get information pertinent to the international community. It is simple to join our International Listserv at MSU! To join, send an email to [email protected] and include the following command line in the body of the message (not the Subject): SUBSCRIBE INTERNATIONAL. It really is that easy!
FAMILY
Care.com/MI presents:
The Myth of the Modern Dad
April 13th, at noon ET. We will be joined by Josh Levs, Diversity & Inclusion consultant, former CNN and NPR journalist and author of All In: How Our Work-First Culture Fails Dads, Families, and Businesses – and How We Can Fix It Together and an expert on modern dads in the workplace, who will discuss how men can engage on issues of gender equality and diversity, how they can become co-champions for change, and strategies to offer work-life balance for both women and men.
RESEARCH
woman with grey hair looking upset and stressed in front of her computer
Employee’s Guide
Respectful Workplace Resources
This section of the workplace.msu.edu website is designed to help employees (and their families and friends) familiarize themselves with the various forms that workplace bullying commonly takes, and to assess their own situation. It also suggests concrete steps that a target can take to address their situation.
WORK
Outstanding Supervisor Series:
Dr. Julie Libarkin
Libarkin’s real distinction as an advisor and a supervisor is her intentional investment in mentorship skills. She is a compassionate soul who gives her all with the understanding that she does not require a reward. Each one of her students has had time to know, understand, and love the person Libarkin is, which is truly a unique powerhouse for the natural science building.
Nominate Your Outstanding Supervisor
Members of the MSU community are invited to nominate a supervisor/administrator who consistently supports the work-life (professional/personal) needs of their employees/staff through positive leadership and managerial practices.
CAREER
Career Planning with HERC
Michigan State University is a member of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) and the host institution for the Michigan Regional HERC (MI-HERC). Since its founding in 2000, HERC has provided tools for jobseekers and for its member institutions to assist in carrying out its vision of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive higher education workplace where people from all backgrounds and perspectives can thrive.
EVENTS
Work and Wellness Connect series Mondays at noon
A space sponsored by MSU WorkLife Office to connect with other faculty, staff, and post-doc Spartans with a focus on combating isolation, creating a community and sharing resources.
Photovoice Project Kickoff: Sharing International Voices at MSU 
April 13 at noon
MSU faculty and staff members share their experiences of transitioning to the United States from their international home. Through a written story and a meaningful photograph, they describe their experience navigating new systems, embracing new traditions, the feeling of living in two different worlds, and finding a sense of belonging in their new home at Michigan State. 
Positive Parenting Series
Guiding Principles for High Successful Parenting is a five-part parenting series for parents and other caregivers. This series will explore ways that families can be highly effective in raising their kids to be successful in school and in life.

WACSS Anti-Racism Insight Series 
"Health Equity: The Impact of Social Determinants of Health and Access to Care"
Presented by Wanda Lipscomb, PhD
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 (1-2 p.m.) via Zoom
Register for the Health Equity Webinar
Series Co-Sponsors: College of Agricultural & Natural Resources and the Office for Inclusion & Intercultural Initiatives
Women's Networking Association (WNA)
The WNA connects professional women across campus through meaningful and empowering relationships. Providing an opportunity for women to network and support one another is an essential step for building women's leadership at Michigan State University and in the Greater Lansing community.

Adult Caregiver Affinity Group
Every fourth Thursday at 12 noon
This group is intended to virtually connect MSU faculty and staff who have caregiving responsibilities for adults in their lives and those navigating assisting a senior in their life with changing care needs. This group is open to anyone interested in connecting with other adult caregivers or learning about issues such as how to care for yourself as a caregiver, how to start conversations about living situation changes, or how to navigate end-of-life choices conversations.

Family Affinity Group
Every second Thursday at 12 noon
A place for Spartans to connect on family-related topics with the goal of connecting, building community, and sharing best practices regarding raising or caregiving for children and caregivers.
NEW SERIES: Mental Health
Starting in May
What are we up against? How does COVID-19 impact our mental health? How to we care for ourselves and others? What resources are available and how to we access them? Let's talk about these and other important questions as we address the intersection of physical health and mental health in the COVID19 pandemic.
REPLAY: Learn Basic Home Improvement with IPF
This year, many MSU employees moved offices from East Lansing to our homes. Our first few weeks may have involved getting a new office chair, stocking pens and paper, and ensuring we had adequate internet to link us to the thousands of Zoom meetings.