Stony Brook University hosted a "Bring Your Child to Work Day" on April 17, welcoming 30 children aged 9 to 12. This initiative, marking the first such event on the main campus in over a decade, aimed to introduce children to the university's academic and professional environment while providing insight into the work-life of their parents and guardians. The event revolved around the theme “Dare to Be the Future,” reflecting the university's focus on innovation, aspiration, and career pathways.
Catherine Duffy, Director of Healthier U, initiated the event by inviting the children to think about their parents' roles within the university. “How many of you have been to work with your parent or guardian before?” she asked. “It’s great to see so many of you here for the first time. Today is a chance to learn what your parent or guardian does and explore all the exciting things happening at Stony Brook.”
The morning included discussions about injury prevention led by healthcare experts, insights into college admissions and electromagnetics, and a tour of the Staller Center for the Arts. A noted highlight was a session led by students from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where children were introduced to how 3D printers are used to create medical models, surgical tools, and prosthetics. Participants also engaged in hands-on activities related to 3D design.
A participant, 12-year-old Anthony Ruggiero, particularly enjoyed the electromagnetism workshop. Describing his experience, he remarked, “Basically, you take the screwdriver. You take the wire, you wrap it around 10 to 15 times, and then you put tape on it on the edge of the wire, and stick it onto the negative side of the battery. And then you connect the other side to the battery. And then someone else holds the screwdriver and tries to pick up as many paper clips as possible, and I was able to pick up six paper clips!” He also expressed surprise at discovering certain campus features, adding, “I didn’t know that the campus had a statue of Wolfie and a secret gaming room. I definitely want to go to Stony Brook one day.”
The afternoon featured a virtual reality demonstration, alongside face painting and a visit from the university mascot, Wolfie. The day ended with a group photo and a time capsule activity, allowing children to leave notes and mementos symbolizing their future aspirations.
The program drew inspiration from a similar initiative at Stony Brook Medicine. Duffy explained, “Our assistant vice president of people, culture and engagement, Kenya Lewis Brewer, was excited to bring this to the main campus as a broader engagement opportunity. The day was all about giving kids the opportunity to envision their futures and see firsthand the innovative work taking place here.”
The event's organizer, Joessie Mathews, the culture and engagement coordinator in Human Resources, noted the rapid increase in interest among departments, stating, “Once people started hearing about it, the interest surged. We had to turn some departments away because we ran out of space.” She highlighted the broad enthusiasm, saying, “What stood out to me most was how many departments jumped at the chance to get involved. It really highlighted how invested our faculty and staff are in inspiring the next generation.”
As the event concluded, plans for future expansion were considered. "This was a test run,” Duffy mentioned. “But based on the response, we’d love to expand next year and make it even bigger.”