Heard Around Campus — April

The first month of spring term is almost over! Make sure you’re caught up on all of the news from April and keep track of what’s going to happen later on in the term.

Here’s what was heard around campus:

Spring 2018 Drexel Quarterly Is Out!

Drexel Quarterly, Drexel’s publication exclusively for faculty and professional staff, was sent out on April 16. Didn’t see the email? Click here to catch up on all the Drexel news and updates you might have missed.

Drexel’s 2018 Commencement Speaker Announced

Hollywood Legend M. Night Shyamalan will address Drexel’s class of 2018 in the June 15 University-wide commencement ceremony. The speakers and honorary degree recipients at college-level ceremonies will be announced soon. 

More Mindfulness Opportunities for Faculty and Professional Staff

Last week, nearly 300 faculty, professional staff and students came together for Drexel’s Day of Mindfulness on April 18. Following up on the success of the event, Human Resources’ A Healthier U would like to announce the following upcoming (and ongoing) opportunities to practice mindfulness:

• “An Introduction to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction” with Alexander deVaron on May 23 (in-person or via live webcast): This session exploring the core principles and practices of mindfulness-based stress reduction will focus on what happens when we bring mindfulness to habitual thoughts, feelings in the body and emotions. Get a taste of the power of these techniques, and a sense of how to apply them in your life. Register via Career Pathway.
• “Mindfulness of Emotions” with Michael Gotlib on June 12 (in-person or via live webcast): This workshop offers an introduction to the various roles emotions can play in our lives. Exploring a variety of mindfulness-based skills, participants will discover ways of tolerating difficult emotions and increasing flexibility in a manner consistent with their personal values. Register via Career Pathway.
• Drexel Meditation Group on Thursdays from 12:30–1 p.m.: These weekly sessions offer a short, guided meditation followed by discussion. It’s a great opportunity to sit quietly with Drexel colleagues and friends and learn how to better manage your stress and more deeply engage your work and life. The group meets in the Interfaith Sanctuary of the James E. Marks Intercultural Center at 3225 Arch St. Contact Ahaji Schreffler at ahaji@drexel.edu or Monica Fauble at mfauble@drexel.edu for more information.

DARE Seed Funding Competition Update

The Drexel Areas of Research Excellence (DARE) initiative provides resources for two or three groups of faculty and students to each spend a year deeply engaged in an interdisciplinary research effort that spans at least three Drexel schools and colleges. This year’s applications are due in June, but there are plenty of pitch and networking sessions until then to help you strengthen your proposal. On May 3, all Drexel faculty, fellows and professional staff doing research can learn more about the DARE competition. Can’t make that one? There’s another event on May 14. Sign up here.

If you have questions about the application procedure, please contact Gwynne Grasberger at  fundingportal@drexel.edu.

WorkReady Philadelphia Summer Internships at Drexel

In an April 18 email, President John Fry asked faculty and staff to consider hosting a WorkReady intern in their department through the citywide initiative that prepares young Philadelphians for careers.

Fry wrote that the University will fully fund intern positions for Drexel faculty and professional staff to then mentor and support interns — and at no extra cost, thanks to the Office of University and Community Partnerships and the Office of the Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer. The University’s goal this year is to hire at least 40 WorkReady high school students.

Drexel’s WorkReady program will run from July 9 to August 17. Interested in hosting an intern? Contact Courtney Claiborne, HR Partner, at cnp45@drexel.edu or 215.895.1666. Have more questions about the program? Check out the Human Resources WorkReady webpage. You have until May 31 to register.

Save the Date for the May 23 Faculty Recognition Dinner

The Provost’s Faculty Recognition Dinner will be held on May 23 at 6 p.m. in Behrakis Grand Hall. Keep an eye out for the official invitation.

Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard

Recognizing that nothing brings people together quite like a good meal, the faculty and professional staff of the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems nurture their inclusive, welcoming community by organizing quarterly “around the world potlucks.” The global theme brings colleagues together in a show of culinary skill and cultural appreciation. The potlucks have become so popular that last year, one staff member hosted the event at her home and invited all BIOMED faculty, staff and their families to break bread with one another.

This Diversity & Inclusion Spotlight was excerpted from the FY2017 Diversity Achievement Plan Accomplishments Supplement, an annual report celebrating the diversity and inclusion-related achievements of each of Drexel’s academic and administrative units. For general questions about diversity and inclusion initiatives at Drexel, please contact the Office of Equality & Diversity at oed@drexel.edu.