A Workplace retrospective of employee engagement in 2023
University of Oregon employees helped create a feeling of belonging at work in 2023 by getting to know each other, sharing their knowledge and helping their communities. Around the O Workplace asked employees to share photos and stories of some of their favorite memories from last year, and they delivered. Check out how your co-workers connected with each other in 2023.
New ways of looking at old strategies and important groundbreakings happened across the university.
UO Libraries held an all-personnel retreat in August to dive into their new strategic plan, meet new colleagues and build camaraderie.
Submitted by Kate Conley and Mandi Garcia, communications specialists.
In summer, the South Reading Room in the Knight Library got a makeover. New furniture was brought in that includes outlets and jacks built into most chairs so students and visitors can recharge while studying. UO Libraries employees celebrated the remodel.
“For College Block in summer, the humanities team wanted to revamp our messaging to students around the value of a liberal arts and humanities-involved education. We created a lot of materials, including a handmade zine titled, “Why Humanities Matter,” which features a comic-style narrative that follows the adventures of a curious alien and a human determined to understand what the humanities are and why they are important to the beings who inhabit our Earth. We also offered tarot card readings at our table. There was a line out the door and we found that students really appreciated the self-reflection exercise in coming into their new school year. These are the types of shake-ups we are executing in the humanities team. We hope our efforts break the status quo and help reach student where they’re at in their journey.”
Submitted by Callie Treadway, Bethany Runsten and Falyn Edwards, Academic and Career Advisors, Tykeson College and Career Advising.
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact leadership team threw their O at the bottom of the pit once the Building 2 construction excavation was finished.
Submitted by Emmily Bristol, Assistant Director of Communications.
The Center for the Study of Women and Society kicked off the academic year and 50th anniversary celebration with the annual New Faculty Welcome. The event is designed to celebrate and welcome women, women-identified and feminist faculty members to the university. One of the highlights of the evening was faculty bingo. Over sixty attendees were provided with bingo cards featuring various hobbies and interests. The catch? To mark off their cards, participants had to chat with each other and find colleagues who shared those specific hobbies. In a bustling and diverse academic environment like the UO, the CSWS and events like the faculty welcome play a vital role in building connections, fostering a supportive community and ensuring that the legacy of feminist research at UO continues to flourish for the next 50 years and beyond.
Submitted by Bryant Taylor, GE for CSWS.
Holidays and food brought out the creativity and competitiveness of many departments.
The Museum of Natural and Cultural History held a quarterly all-staff meeting on Halloween so they decided to make it a bit more fun with an optional costume contest. During the meeting, staff voted on three categories: 1) Most original, 2) Most committed, and 3) Most museum-related. Above is the staff group photo and to the left are the “most committed” winners of Lauren Willis and Andrew Boehm as Marty McFly and Doc from “Back to the Future.”
Submitted by Robyn Anderson, Operations Manager.
Employees from Safety and Risk Services, UO Police Department, Finance Administration and Shared Services, and Vice President of Finance Administration Executive Leadership created some terrifyingly delicious treats for the annual Spooky Treats competition in October. Awards are given for Spookiest Treat, Best Sweet, Best Savory, Most Creative, and Best in Show (aka the Paul Hollywood Handshake). Pictured from left are Jason Wade, Ashley Dougherty, Vicki Strand, Lindsey Salfran and Brook Eastman.
Submitted by Amy Shadell, Innovation Program Coordinator, Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments, Location Innovation Lab.
The Information Services Chili Cook-Off winners were Travis Shea, Samuel Villalobos, DJ Wyrick and Shandon Bates.
Submitted by Christy Long, Associate CIO for Technology Infrastructure and Chief of Staff.
University Communications shared a dozen types of festive cookies — many were family recipes — at the Holiday Cookie Exchange in December. Pictured are (front) Laura Bottem and Spencer Smith; (back) Nic Walcott, Mel Chambon and Kea Powell.
University employees traveled the world, sharing their knowledge, meeting colleagues and showing students other cultures.
The Information Services Research Advanced Computing Services Team (Lucas Crownover and Mark Allen, pictured on right) shared their work and insights at the internationally recognized Supercomputing Conference in Denver.
Submitted by Christy Long, Associate CIO for Technology Infrastructure and Chief of Staff.
Knight Campus Bioengineering Chair Danielle Benoit presents at the Science Knight Out community talk at The Shedd.
Submitted by Emmily Bristol, Assistant Director of Communications.
Pictured are Kim Eitner (far right), Spencer Smith, communications, and three family members of wine marketing faculty member John Davis.
“In my role as Global Engagement Programs Coordinator for Global Education Oregon, I was lucky enough to spend six weeks in Italy last summer, facilitating international experiences for many of our UO students and faculty. Our GEO Siena Center acts as a home-away-from-home for students studying wine marketing, combined painting and drawing, creative writing and pre-freshman studies in the summer. Watching the students gain problem-solving skills and independence as they learn to adapt to another country and culture is by far one of the most rewarding parts of my job!”
Submitted by Kim Eitner, Global Engagement Programs Coordinator.
University employees teamed up again to donate time and money to worthy local causes.
Human Resources Operations planted flowers during University Day. Pictured are Hailey Eckerdt, Erin Sandvold and Spencer Johnson.
Submitted by Catherine Bonomini-Smith, Senior Associate Director.
“As part of the Oregon Governor’s State Employees Food Drive (coming up again in February 2024 to benefit Food for Lane County), University Advancement, University Communications and the UO Foundation brought back the Great Fordish Bake-Off at the Ford Alumni Center. The event lets the foodies among us enjoy some sweet treats and our colleagues who moonlight as bakers shine and fosters some friendly competition with proceeds going to a great cause. An engaging win-win-win.”
Pictured in back from left are Leeondra Nealon, Celeste Christie and Megan Miller; front is George Evano.
Submitted by Cami Thompson, Assistant Director, Neighbor Relations, Office of Community Relations.
And a final shout-out to the sustainer of all life this year, the sun, even if you can't see it for days on end.
“This photograph of the sun was taken with a newly installed solar telescope at our own Pine Mountain Observatory. Undergraduate physics majors obtained the raw data in July 2023 then analyzed and created the image as part of a summer research project. Features on the “surface” of the sun like sunspots and filaments can be seen. The team also detected a large solar prominence which can be seen near the left edge of the sun in this high-resolution image.”
Submitted by Scott Fisher, Department of Physics, Director of Pine Mountain Observatory. Credit: J. Wilson, A. Luken, Fishergroup.