March 20, 2023

Conversation on ‘elevating employee appreciation’ across SIU campuses is March 28

A Conversation of Understanding on Tuesday, March 28, will examine how recognizing excellent employee performance strengthens relationships, boosts workplace morale and improves organizational productivity. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to join the live virtual discussion at noon. 

The conversation will address findings from the 2022 Viewfinder Campus Climate survey that revealed employees do not feel recognized and appreciated for their active and sustained engagement. SIU strives to create a culture of flourishing for all team members. The discussion will also focus on critical issues regarding equity and justice in the country and what can be done to address those issues within the SIU System and beyond.

Participants will include: 

  • Dan Mahony, SIU System president.
  • Sheila Caldwell, SIU System vice president for antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer, who will facilitate the conversation.
  • Carl Chambers, director, Human Resources, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Renee Colombo, business/administrative associate, Human Resources, SIU Carbondale.
  • Dawn DeFraties, executive director, Office of Correctional Medicine, School of Medicine, Springfield.
  • Dr. Susan Hingle, professor of medicine, associate dean for human and organizational potential, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield.
  • Musonda Kapatamoyo, professor and chair, Department of Mass Communications, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Patricia Merritt, marketing specialist, SIU Edwardsville East St. Louis campus.
  • Joddy Murray, dean, College of Liberal Arts, SIU Carbondale. 

A Q&A session will follow, where participants can use the YouTube comment section. Questions may be submitted before or during the event to doris.williams@siu.edu.  

The meeting will be available on the SIU System’s YouTube channel. To add the event to your Outlook calendar, view it on the campus calendar, click the plus sign at the bottom, then click download iCal.  

This is the fifth session of a six-part series for the 2022-23 academic year. The Conversation of Understanding series began in June 2020 and features virtual exchanges where students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members can share their experiences and thoughts on a variety of themes related to diversity, inclusion and equity.   

The SIU System President’s Office and the SIU System Diversity Advisory Council are discussion sponsors.