More than 600 employees attended Stony Brook University's annual “Be Well, Work Well” Employee Wellness and Benefits Fair on October 7 at the Student Activities Center ballrooms. The event was organized to promote health and well-being among university staff.
The fair was co-led by Cathrine Duffy, director of Healthier U, and Kristen Blandi, manager of employee benefits in Human Resources. Over 85 vendors participated, including Stony Brook departments, local health organizations, and financial wellness programs. Attendees engaged in activities such as making aromatherapy scrubs, joining a knitting circle, coloring mandalas, petting therapy dogs, and participating in raffles.
“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 also highlighted the purpose of the event: “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.”
Employees interacted with representatives from various campus programs as well as healthcare providers and fitness studios. Libby Tolson from the Department of Languages and Cultural Studies commented on the social aspect: “My favorite part of the health fair was running into colleagues from across the campus and having a quick catch up,” she said. “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.”
Wellness screenings were available along with healthy snacks. Information about Stony Brook’s LinkedIn Learning platform was provided; this new resource launched on October 8 offers free access to over 20,000 courses covering topics such as leadership skills, communication strategies, artificial intelligence applications, Excel training, and creative design.
Ashley Huang from Prospect Management and Research noted both new educational opportunities and healthcare benefits: “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.”
Breakout sessions included retirement planning hosted by TIAA as well as information on tick prevention. A flu vaccination clinic served 127 employees during the event.
Margot Bennett from Marketing and Communications shared her experience: “I appreciate the convenience of pre-registering for a flu shot, and I was able to get a short massage,” she said. “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 emphasized ongoing support for employee wellness: “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.”