More than 600 employees at Stony Brook University attended the annual “Be Well, Work Well” Employee Wellness and Benefits Fair on October 7. The event took place in the Student Activities Center ballrooms and aimed to promote health and well-being among staff.
The fair was organized by Cathrine Duffy, director of Healthier U, and Kristen Blandi, manager of employee benefits in Human Resources. Over 85 vendors participated, including representatives from Stony Brook departments, local health organizations, and financial wellness programs. Attendees could participate in activities such as making aromatherapy scrubs, joining a knitting circle, coloring mandalas, petting therapy dogs, and sampling healthy snacks.
“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 commented on 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 had opportunities to meet with campus program representatives as well as healthcare providers and fitness studios. Libby Tolson from the Department of Languages and Cultural Studies said: “My favorite part of the health fair was running into colleagues from across the campus and having a quick catch up. 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.”
Participants could also access wellness screenings. The university launched its LinkedIn Learning platform on October 8; this new benefit gives staff free access to over 20,000 courses covering topics like leadership, communication skills, artificial intelligence (AI), Excel usage, and creative design.
Ashley Huang from Prospect Management and Research in Advancement remarked: “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 about tick prevention. A flu vaccination clinic provided vaccines for 127 employees during the event.
Margot Bennett from Marketing and Communications appreciated several aspects: “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 that supporting employee wellness remains central: “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.”
