‘Be Well, Work Well’ Fair Brings SBU Employees Together for Health and Wellness

Over 600 Stony Brook University employees filled the Student Activities Center ballrooms for the annual "Be Well, Work Well" Employee Wellness and Benefits Fair, an event dedicated to supporting the health, happiness, and well-being of the campus community.

Co-led by Cathrine Duffy, director of Healthier U, and Kristen Blandi, manager of employee benefits in Human Resources, the October 7 fair featured more than 85 vendors representing Stony Brook departments, local health organizations, and financial wellness programs. Employees had the opportunity to enjoy spa water and fruit, make aromatherapy scrubs, join a knitting circle, color mandalas, pet therapy dogs, and take home swag and raffle prizes.

"The fair is a great chance for Healthier U and Benefits to partner to support employees together," said Duffy. "It's my hope that by combining our amazing wellness benefits with the many available campus and community resources in one fair makes it an engaging and informative experience for employees. And we have fun doing it!"

Blandi echoed that sentiment. "The 'Be Well, Work Well' Fair is a celebration of our employees and a reminder that wellness is a shared journey," she said. "We want everyone to take a moment to focus on themselves, to explore programs that support their mental, physical, and financial well-being, and to feel truly appreciated for all they do."

Across the ballroom, employees stopped to speak with representatives from campus programs, healthcare providers, and local fitness studios. "My favorite part of the health fair was running into colleagues from across the campus and having a quick catch up," said Libby Tolson, department administrator for the Department of Languages and Cultural Studies. "It's such a nice way to reconnect outside of our offices while also meeting the various folks from HR in person and the vendors with their promotional items."

Many took part in wellness screenings, sampled healthy snacks, and learned about Stony Brook's LinkedIn Learning platform, launched October 8, which provides free access to more than 20,000 courses on topics ranging from leadership and communication to AI, Excel, and creative design.

"The best thing I learned was that we now have free access to LinkedIn Learning, but my favorite discovery was that as NYSHIP members, we get 20 free massages a year. I'll definitely be taking full advantage of both benefits," said Ashley Huang, who joined the Stony Brook community in July as an analyst for Prospect Management and Research in Advancement.

In addition to the vendor exhibits, the fair offered breakout sessions on retirement planning hosted by TIAAand a tick prevention talk. The flu vaccination clinic was one of the day's most popular offerings, in which 127 employees received vaccines.

For many attendees, the fair proved to be both helpful and inspiring. "I appreciate the convenience of pre-registering for a flu shot, and I was able to get a short massage," said Margot Bennett, manager of graphic design in the Office of Marketing and Communications. "Everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable, and I heard about a health study that I might take part in due to recent health concerns. It was a reminder to put my health first."

Blandi added that creating a space for employees to feel supported in their wellness journeys is central to the event. "Wellness looks different for everyone, and this event brings together our campus and community partners to help employees find what speaks to them," she said. "When our employees feel supported and connected, our entire Stony Brook community thrives."

- Beth Squire