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| Staff Newsletter | February 2022 |
Dear colleagues,
It might be an understatement to say that much has taken place since the full Office of the Provost staff last assembled in November. We have launched new initiatives, made a number of new hires and, together, we have navigated the continuing unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can see some of these developments reflected in this month’s newsletter. I am immensely proud of our units’ steady leadership and collaborative support of the University’s mission through this academic year.
As we approach the midpoint of this quarter, I invite you to the Winter Quarter All-Staff meeting, scheduled for 9-10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9. The event will take place in person in the Norris University Center’s McCormick Auditorium, with a hybrid option via Zoom.
You will receive a calendar invitation to the all-staff meeting soon, but I ask that you also complete the registration form to indicate your plan to attend in person or remotely—and, importantly, to submit questions or suggestions for topics you’d like to hear more about. We also will reserve time for live questions.
I look forward to seeing you March 9!
Thank you,
Kathleen Hagerty |
Awards and recognition |
Elected to the national academy
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Miriam Gamoran Sherin, who also is a Professor of Learning Sciences in the School of Education and Social Policy, is one of 17 outstanding scholars who were elected to the National Academy of Education in January. In the Office of the Provost, Miriam’s priorities are to enrich the educational experiences of Northwestern’s 8,000 undergraduate students through collaborative cross-school and cross-unit undergraduate initiatives. She places a high priority on exploring strategies to promote success on the part of students who are underrepresented minorities, first-generation, and/or low income. |
All about the staff |
Meet Brian Keiller
This month’s featured colleague is Brian Keiller, associate director of Health Professions Advising (HPA). Brian has worked at Northwestern for five years, all in his current role.
What do you like about working at Northwestern? It is a joy to meet people at Northwestern who are engaged in making changes in their departments and on the institutional level to better meet our students’ needs. I also deeply appreciate the institutional support and the connections I made as a participant of the Change Makers program, which aimed to promote dialogue around diversity, equity and inclusion for staff and faculty. Those connections have helped me better understand the complexities of identities, the institution, and how that might play out for different students—particularly first-generation, low-income students, students of color and other underserved groups, as well as staff and faculty. I also value the Northwesterners dedicated to promoting that ongoing learning. On a departmental level, I love having the opportunities to be engaged creatively in my work to continually refocus on how to better support our students.
What is your proudest accomplishment here? Having the opportunity to develop a clinical shadowing program from scratch for Northwestern students, at no cost to the students, has been one of my favorite accomplishments. These types of vocational discernment opportunities can be a powerful tool for students on their journey toward their chosen career. It has been a wonderful experience to read student reflections on patient care and their time with Northwestern Medical Group physicians. Being part of a program that helps each student experience their potential future as an MD, or not, takes a lot of work, and I have immense gratitude for the Northwestern MDs, the HIMS staff, HR, GC, our transportation office and my HPA colleagues.
Can you share a personal fun fact about yourself? While I completed my undergraduate degree at Aberdeen University in Scotland, my sophomore year study abroad experience was at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Brag about your teammates! We feature one staff member in each newsletter. Nominate someone by emailing the Office of the Provost and telling us, in a sentence or two, how your colleague contributes to Northwestern’s mission and why everyone in the Office of the Provost should get to know them.
New staff arrivals
Academic Support and Learning Advancement
Block Museum of Art
Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Financial Aid
The Garage
Graduate Financial Aid – Evanston
Office of International Student and Scholar Services
Office of the Provost
Office of the Registrar - Student Immunization and Health Records
Office of the University Ombudsperson
Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Undergraduate Admissions
Winter Wellness Grants
The Human Resources WELL team is now accepting applications for Winter Wellness Grants. Staff and faculty members may apply for a grant on behalf of their team, office, department or school. Grants are intended to help support the well-being of faculty and staff by providing funding for wellness activities, events and/or space. The deadline for applications is March 4. |
News and notes |
Performance Excellence - REAL Conversations
As managers and staff check in on goals and performance, we share some helpful tips to keep those conversations “real.” REAL (Reflect, Empathize, Ask questions, Look ahead) conversations help to build trust, increase learning, and focus forward for motivation and engagement. Not sure you're having REAL conversations?
Here is a reminder on the Office of the Provost 2021-2022 Performance Excellence timeline and deadlines:
In case you missed it
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Mark your calendar |
Featured University events
Key dates
More resources
Help us build future newsletters! If your unit is working on a project that is relevant to the entire Office of the Provost, or if you have awards, honors or accomplishments to share, send an email to officeoftheprovost@northwestern.edu. |
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Learn more about the Office of the Provost |
