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| Staff Newsletter | May 2024 |
Dear colleagues,
I was delighted to see many of you at the All-Staff Meeting last week. I want to thank Stacey Kostell, Phil Asbury and Liz Kinsley for giving us a terrific overview of the work of the Enrollment, Admissions and Financial Aid teams. One of the reasons we have such amazing students is because of the incredible work of these professionals.
It was also my pleasure to present the inaugural Office of the Provost Staff Awards to much-deserving staff members. Nominated by Peter Civetta, Megan Wood won the Innovation Award for spearheading the optimization of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Student Opportunity Application Portal along with other initiatives. And, nominated by Mary Stonis, Brian Drabik won the Community Award for his commitment to community-building in the Office of Financial Aid, across Office of the Provost units and around the University. Congratulations to both of our winners on jobs well done!
As we approach the end of the academic year, I want to again thank all of you for your hard work and dedication. It has been an exciting and challenging year. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished. I hope you can enjoy the final events of this academic year — including stopping by one of the Office of the Provost Food Truck locations on May 29 for a treat.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Hagerty |
All about the staff |
Meet Lorraine Cassis
Lorraine Cassis has been at Northwestern since 2010. She is the Program Administrator for the Strategy and Policy team in the Office of the Provost, where her responsibilities include coordination of senior leadership searches and support for dean reviews, state authorization processes and other strategic projects. Since joining the Provost's Office in 2018, Lorraine also has provided administrative support to various senior leaders, including the Vice Provost for Academics, Associate Provost for Faculty and Associate Provost for Administration, Finance and Facilities. Prior to joining the Office of the Provost, she worked at the Kellogg School of Management and at The Graduate School. She has often been called a "logistics ninja."
What did you study as an undergraduate and how did it influence your career path?
During my undergraduate studies, I initially gravitated toward my passion for travel and teaching, considering them as potential career paths. However, as I immersed myself in coursework, I found the study of sociology fascinating. It provided profound insights into human behavior that aligned well with my interpersonal skills as well as invaluable tools applicable across various professional settings. From customer relations to event planning to executive support, sociology has provided me with a versatile foundation for thriving across industries and transitioning seamlessly between roles.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I thrive on the dynamic nature of my responsibilities. In fact, that is what has kept me in the Provost’s Office for the past six years. Contributing to projects across our diverse portfolio allows me to engage with a wide range of strategic initiatives and provides the unique opportunity to be exposed to various senior leaders and collaborate with administrative professionals across the University. The ability to move across different units within the Provost’s Office and the University offers a wealth of advantages, from skill development and networking to career exploration and growth. What I find deeply fulfilling is using my 13 years of institutional experience to offer support and guidance, especially to new team members as they navigate their onboarding journey.
What is a fun fact about you?
People often ask me where I am from. My ambiguous look only adds to the intrigue, making it a fun guessing game for those curious about my background. Well, I'm Samoan, born and raised in the tropical paradise of Pago Pago, American Samoa. I come from an extensive family spread across the West Coast of the U.S., stretching all the way to Australia and everywhere in between. Given that there aren't many Samoans, let alone Polynesians, in the Chicagoland area (it's just too cold!), it's no wonder people often find themselves puzzled when trying to guess my ethnicity based on my appearance. And if there are any Samoans around, chances are, I'm probably related to them!
Staff who started roles in April
Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Financial Aid
Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Congratulations are in order Sarah Klaper was elected president of the Board of Directors of the International Ombuds Association, the premier professional organization of organizational ombuds around the globe, which supports ombuds working in educational institutions, corporations, non-profits, government entities and non-governmental organizations. |
News, notes and need to know |
New professional development opportunities This year’s Office of the Provost Professional Development programs are nearing an end. Thank you to our coordinators and participants. Session 3 of the Brainstorm Roundtable Lunch, “File Storage and Access Best Practices,” is coming up June 26, noon-1 p.m. Space is limited. Register online for the session by June 21.
Performance Excellence reminders Northwestern’s Performance Excellence is a year-round experience driven by staff members and supervisors to support individual development and help teams, departments and the University become stronger and more effective. Here is the timeline for this process.
As you look ahead to completing your self-review and receiving your manager’s review and rating, consider using the REAL (Reflect, Empathize, Ask Questions, and Look Ahead) Performance Conversations framework to make the process more meaningful and effective, and using the REAL Conversations Planner to help you along the way.
Updated Northwestern Staff Handbook The Office of Human Resources has published an updated version of the Northwestern Staff Handbook. In addition to the handbook, the website includes a summary highlighting the key revisions. Contact Jen Gurley-Zilligen, Assistant Director for Administration and Finance, with any questions.
Be an ambassador at Graduation Weekend Graduation Weekend is quickly approaching June 7-10, and the Office for Graduation and Senior Year Experiences is requesting assistance from University partners to serve as ambassadors at its events There is a wide range of available positions. Training sessions for Graduation Weekend staff will be held virtually May 30 at 3 p.m. and May 31 at 10 a.m. Ambassadors are being asked to attend one of the two sessions, if possible. Questions? Email Randy.Smith@northwestern.edu.
Deering Library renovations After years of planning, the Deering Library renovation will begin following commencement. The work will include the renovation of select prominent public spaces and upgrades to attendant infrastructure. While there will be no public access to Deering Library for the duration of the work (which is expected to conclude in September 2025), library staff will be able to retrieve requested books and research materials. Frequently asked questions can be found on the library website.
Updates to the University Directory The University Person Directory, which lists Northwestern students, faculty, and staff, has transitioned to authenticated use only, providing the campus community more privacy and better protection from phishing attacks and unwanted email. This change means only members of the Northwestern community with an active NetID and multi-factor authentication can access the directory information on and off campus. Questions? Contact security@northwestern.edu.
New Workplace Mental Health Training in myHR Learn Workplace Mental Health Training for Managers is an evidence-based program that teaches leaders supportive strategies that protect and promote positive mental health. In this one-hour online training, managers and faculty supervising staff learn tangible, work-appropriate skills to improve staff mental health and well-being.
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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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