Events

Promoting connectivity and engagement, WACSS holds many annual events in person and via zoom. The Annual Spring Forum provides panel discussions with campus leaders addressing connections between our work and administration, DEI, unions, WorkLife, and WACSS. The event attracts attendees from all across the campus. Building on this theme, WACSS hosts the Annual Summer Social in the Gardens. We also launched a book club named Beyond the Book, which grew 120% from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023, to increase networking opportunities, encourage discussion amongst staff and promote professional relationships. 


2026 Annual Spring Forum

• Leadership Speakers
  • President Kevin M. Guskiewicz 
  • Provost Laura Lee McIntyre 
  • Associate Vice President of HR Donna Donovan
  • Vice President and Chief Inclusion Office Jabbar R. Bennett 
• Expert Speakers
  • AI Session - Speakers: Sarah Freye and Lisa Batchelder
    Description: This session demystifies how generative AI tools work, experiments with real workplace examples, and introduces simple ways to personalize AI for everyday tasks. We will also discuss common concerns about AI in the workplace so participants can make informed and confident choices about their technology use.
    
    
  • Burnout Session – Speaker: Sheila Marquardt
    Description: Burnout, Balance, and Being Human at Work: This session encourages participants look at burnout in a new way—moving away from self-blame and quick fixes to understanding burnout as a normal response to ongoing stress, unclear expectations, and systems that continually ask us to “do more with less”. Participants will explore how burnout shows up in thoughts, emotions, and day-to-day behavior, and why common “self-care” advice often isn’t enough. The session reframes burnout as a signal that something needs to change, not a personal failure, and offers practical, compassionate strategies for breaking the stress cycle.

You can watch last years event HERE.

An Update on One Team, One Health at MSU!

WACSS partnered with Dr. Kim Dodd, co-chair of the One Health Council, to share the latest progress on MSU’s efforts to advance collaborative, cross-disciplinary approaches to human, animal, and environmental health. The session will include a brief overview and time for Q&A.

This was a chance for support staff to learn how the initiative is shaping the future of health at MSU and how to stay engaged. Check out the One Health Council webpage for further details regarding the ideas being explored: https://www.healthsciences.msu.edu/one-health-council

 This event was recorded and you can watch it HERE.

Upcoming Events

Summer Social 

More Information Coming Soon! 

BEYOND THE BOOK - BOOK CLUB

      Check back for more information on our bookclub!