January 22, 2026
Conversation of Understanding will focus on nurturing minds, bodies
A Conversation of Understanding on Wednesday, Jan. 28, will focus on measures to nurture healthy minds, bodies and spirits across the SIU System that support long-term well-being.
“Part II Protecting Our Peace: Resetting the Rhythm of Our Lives for the New Year” is from noon to 1 p.m. and will be available on the SIU System’s YouTube channel. Faculty, staff and students are invited to join the discussion. This session follows the Nov. 11 session, “Protecting Our Peace: Mental Wellness, Resilience and Community Care.”
Panelists will share personal and professional insights, strategies and resources to help students, faculty and staff navigate challenges.
The featured panelists are:
- Melody McClellan, president and wellness expert, Unwrap You LLC.
- Tara Albritton, owner and empowerment coach, She Got the Nerve Coaching and Consulting.
Sheila Caldwell, SIU System vice president for antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer, will serve as moderator.
The panelists will show how “wellness shows up in our daily lives, our work, our leadership and our relationships, especially during times of ongoing stress and change.”
The session is designed to help participants:
- Start the year grounded and whole, with clarity around what wellness truly means for them.
- Reconnect mind, body and spirit, recognizing that wellness is multidimensional.
- Move beyond survival mode and into practices that promote restoration, joy and balance.
- Challenge harmful narratives around productivity and burnout, particularly in academic and caregiving spaces.
- Strengthen self-image, confidence and inner peace as foundations for resilience and leadership.
- Reinforce community care, reminding us that sustainable wellness is supported.
A Q&A session will allow the online audience to participate by using the YouTube comment section. Questions may be submitted before or during the event to doris.williams@siu.edu.
The SIU System President’s Office and the SIU System Diversity Advisory Council sponsor the Conversation of Understanding series, which began in June 2020.