In 2020 Dean Larry Marnett (now dean emeritus) created a task force, the Dean’s Advisory Council on Mental Health and Wellness in response to the particularly high levels of stress that everyone in our scientific community was experiencing, This committee, led by Ege Kavalali and Linda Sealy, worked tirelessly and generated a report for the Dean that was circulated to the community in the summer of 2021. This report includes recommendations for students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff.
The dean, associate deans, assistant deans and department chairs have all been working to address many of these recommendations. In addition, other community leaders such as the UCC director and Graduate School have also sought to address the recommendation. And, there will always be more to do. Thus, Dean Marnett has established a standing council that meets monthly to discuss ongoing issues surrounding the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community. This council consists of faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students, as well as representatives from the BRET office, Graduate School, and UCC.
Learn more about the Council and their activities here.