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| Staff Newsletter | August 2023 |
Dear colleagues,
I hope you have enjoyed your summer thus far! It has been a busy one, and I want you to know how much we appreciate the work you do every day.
As we head into the 2023-2024 academic year, I am pleased to share that we are reviving the Office of the Provost staff newsletter. This regular communication will share important developments, such as leadership changes and new initiatives, as well as help us get to know one another better and stay connected.
One of the key initiatives on our docket is professional development and, as such, I would like to commend the Professional Development Working Group for its progress in advancing our goals.
As many of you may know, this past fall, Office of the Provost leadership asked for working group volunteers to get a sense of the types of programming that would most benefit staff. Emma Broz (Program Assistant, Office of the Registrar), Laura Cardimen (Program Coordinator for Undergraduate Education), Catrina DeBord (Senior Associate Director, Global Learning), Brian Drabik (Director of Financial Aid Operations), Robert Ellis (Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions), Sara Fassino (Program Assistant, Center for Leadership), Stephen Hill (Senior Associate Director for Operations, Office of Fellowships) and Joan Johnson (Director for Faculty) took on the challenge. They met regularly and presented their ideas at the May 10 Office of the Provost all-staff meeting.
After that meeting, we gathered and synthesized feedback from units to inform an action plan incorporating many of the working group's recommendations. That plan will come to life this fall and be carried out over the course of the academic year. Stay tuned for a well-curated lineup, including additional budget-creation training sessions, brown bag lunches for discussing topics such as engaging faculty and onboarding new hires, and more. We are so grateful to the working group volunteers for their efforts.
Another recent development is the restructuring of two previously standalone units. Staff from the Office of Organizational Strategy and Change and from the Office of Administration and Planning, specifically Institutional Research and Academic Program Review, have joined the central Office of the Provost. These new staff members are included in the “new staff arrivals” section of this newsletter.
Finally, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the use of race in university admissions decisions came out earlier this summer, and the results, though not entirely surprising, were disappointing. While the ruling will lead to changes in the University’s admissions processes, our commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and belonging is steadfast. Provost Hagerty has formed a working group that is meeting regularly to develop an institutional response and course of action. This is a work in progress, but the following is certain: Northwestern will adhere to the law while continuing to do everything possible to maintain our significant progress in diversifying our student body.
As we prepare for Wildcat Welcome events next month, I hope you find time to unwind and relax with family and friends. In the meantime, please keep in touch. Let us know how we can make this newsletter work best for you!
Sincerely,
Jake Julia |
All about the staff |
Meet Rob Donahue
Rob Donahue, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), has been with Northwestern for nearly 25 years. He helped start CCE in 2009 and was named director in 2021.
Tell us about the evolution of your career and of CCE.
Shortly after graduating from Northwestern in 1997, I started a nonprofit that helped academically talented middle and high school students learn about leadership and civic engagement through pre-college courses and programs. That initiative was ultimately adopted by Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development and brought me back to Northwestern around 1999. A few years later, leadership was reviewing the state of public service and civic engagement at the University. After a lot of research and a conference that brought together peer institutions like Stanford, Penn, Duke and Brown, we designed a new center on civic engagement, and also raised the seed grant money to launch it. The center grew quickly, and has received national recognition, particularly around topics like student voter engagement. The center is now entering its 15th year of operation.
How can staff members get involved with CCE's initiatives?
Our website and weekly email digest are great ways to keep apprised of the various academic and co-curricular programs we offer, as well as a variety of services and resources. We’re a small shop, but we do have offerings designed for many different segments of the Northwestern community – including undergrad and graduate students, faculty, alumni and community partners.
What is a memorable experience you’ve had at Northwestern?
In 1996, during my first year here as a student, I nearly bumped into Princess Diana while rushing out of a make-up exam on campus, and we got to have a brief chat. Northwestern can be a pretty remarkable place that way!
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 (between December 2022 and July 2023)
The Block Museum
Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Center for Civic Engagement
Chicago Biomedical Consortium
Financial Aid
Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Office of the Provost
Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Technology
Undergraduate Admission
Undergraduate Research Office
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News, notes and need to know |
Fall Offerings at The Block Museum
The Block Museum has been granted full reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, putting it in good standing until 2032 and ensuring valuable offerings – including the following fall exhibits – will be available to our community for years to come.
Central Utility Plant Shutdown
Northwestern’s annual Central Utility Plant shutdown on the Evanston campus will take place from 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25 through 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28. The shutdown will disrupt heating, hot water and air conditioning in buildings across the Evanston campus. The Chicago campus will not be affected. Campus will remain open, and you are encouraged to work with your supervisor to determine if your on-campus work schedule will change during these days.
In case you missed it
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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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