Thank You WorkLife Student Team 2022

Our student team is made up of incredible contributors to the WorkLife Office and the MSU community. We are so grateful to have worked with each of them.

Megan

Megan Lee is a student employee for the WorkLife Office. She will complete her first year in Michigan State University’s Human Resources & Labor Relations Master’s program this spring. Megan is very excited to intern with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) this summer as the Storage unit’s Employee Engagement & Culture intern within their Culture & Transformation team and learn more about the practical application of psychological principles in the workplace. She will be returning to complete her degree and have another great year with the WorkLife Office in the fall after her internship.

This year, Megan continued to develop the WorkLife Office’s “Well-being at Work” Guide through updating each section’s references, adding to multiple sections’ content with webinars and resources from the office’s annual conference, and speaking at the annual conference about the Guide. She has also supervised the office’s interns—training, leading, collaborating, and delegating tasks to them to complete projects, develop them professionally, and create a collaborative work environment. Megan’s work in these two areas, along with her other contributions to the office, have allowed her to learn more about both project and people management, providing her with practical experience to support her education.

From Jaimie: Megan is one of the most responsive students I have ever worked with. She is thorough, has a great attention to detail, has excellent research skills, and learns very quickly. I have watched Megan grow from a learner into a leader as she trains our staff and interns on a variety of topics. Megan has been my right hand and the success of the office would not have been possible without her. She is truly going to be a leader in workplace culture during her career. Megan earned my trust and the trust of the MSU community through her work. Plus, she can BAKE!
From Ebony: “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes.” –Eleanor Roosevelt. This quote embodies Megan in the physical form. I have found her intelligence and strengths to be expressed in her actions rather than her words. I have come to understand that Megan has been extremely instrumental in the success of this office. She is an efficient researcher whose efforts helped to develop the WorkLife Office’s Well-being at Work Guide, which is a guide to providing evidenced-based best practices to create healthier workplaces. It stresses the importance of taking care of our well-being and the well-being of each other. She has used her research skills to develop standards and operating procedures to help the WorkLife Office operate efficiently. Her great attention to detail has helped this office to improve and refine our website and other resources. Megan possesses excellent leadership skills and can disseminate information for others to learn. She assisted with the recruitment, onboarding, and training of all our staff members. She is already a leader who will be an asset to any company or organization. Her many skills are impeccable and noteworthy. I have also observed and experienced Megan to be a kind person who is willing to meet others where they are. This is an important skill for working in any sector. It has been an honor to work with Megan and it is with great esteem that I write this recommendation.
From Dani: Megan is an asset both academically and professionally for many reasons. She is a smart researcher and self-starter, and her ability to analyze and create a story through data is compelling. Megan possesses a keen intellect that allows her to work quickly, efficiently, and with deep attention to detail. I am grateful to work alongside Megan, and I have learned so much from her about the history of our office and operational processes.

Jessie

Jessie Byelich has been the WorkLife Office’s MSW intern since September 2021. Pursuing a Master’s of Social Work, she hopes to become a Licensed MSW therapist. During the past few months, Jessie has been organizing and facilitating the Family and Adult Caregiver Employee Resource Groups. She has engaged in consultations and provided targeted resources to both MSU newcomers and existing MSU Faculty and Staff members. Jessie has created many new WorkLife Office resource lists, informational one-pagers, and she embraced the opportunity to contribute to the office’s Whole Person Workplace column. Her time at the WorkLife Office and in the MSW program has marked a career change for Jessie who is a mom to two amazing children, ages 10 and 7, and also a caregiver for her spouse who is disabled.

From Jaimie: Jessie came to our office with a grounded, empathetic spirit, willing to learn. I have watched Jessie’s confidence grow as she supported Spartans with caregiving needs, welcoming newcomers, and taking the lead on our Family and Adult Caregiver Employee Resource Groups in their inaugural year. Jessie’s professionalism, care, and empathy helped to support Spartans using a whole-person workplace philosophy. Jessie is a wonderful colleague and has been a great mentor to our new WorkLife Consultant as she transfers the skills she learned at the WLO to our new team member. Plus, Jessie’s smile and laughter is contagious!
From Ebony: According to Gail Sheehy, “There are 44 million Americans caring for an ill or elderly loved one. Along with doctors and nurses, home caregivers have become the backbone of the (admittedly broken) U.S. health-care system. As such, caregivers are in desperate need of knowledge and support.” However, caregivers give support and are often unsupported. In my experiences with Jessie, she has served as my mentor to all things work-life. She has been honest and available while ‘holding my hand’ throughout several procedures. She has taught me the ins and outs of conducting consultations, organizing presentations, and planning for future events. She has supported me in a kind and considerate way. Jessie is remarkable, because she accomplished this while being among the 44 million Americans who are caring for a loved one. She maintained her caregiving responsibilities without lowering her expectations. She sustained a consistent level of professionalism and was always there when I needed her support. I am in awe of Jessie and what she has accomplished. She stands as a strong example of what is possible. She is committed to service and to reaching others. I know Jessie is going to make an excellent Master Social Worker. She has shown endurance, flexibility, intelligence, and compassion. All the makings of a great Social Worker.
From Dani: Jessie has been instrumental in creating a sense of belonging for our caregiving community at MSU. Her advocacy work, in combination with her empathy and passion, has allowed her to connect authentically with those most in need of support. Jessie planned and executed employee resource group meetings each month, successfully coordinating speakers, topics, and logistics. She takes the time to create high-quality materials and combs through details to ensure accuracy and consistency. Jessie has set a great example of showing up as a whole person in the workplace for the staff and interns around her.

Emily

Emily Littleton has been a Social Work/Family Services intern with the WorkLife Office since September of 2021. She will be graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, and a minor in Youth and Society. Following graduation, Emily plans to gain experience working in the field, with the potential to return to graduate school in the future.  

During her time with the WorkLife Office, Emily’s biggest project was serving as a student liaison for Michigan State University’s Women’s Networking Association (WNA). Emily worked with the planning committee from start to finish in organizing monthly events that ranged from 20 to 100 attendees. Through these events, Emily was able to improve her public speaking skills and connect with numerous individuals. She was also able to apply and expand her knowledge on topics regarding empowering women, careers, mental health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. This project aligned with Emily’s studies and her passion for supporting individuals and their families. She is very thankful for her experience with the WorkLife Office and the opportunity to be involved with WNA.

From Jaimie: Emily is a quiet, confident, giving leader. She took on leadership roles within our office and was a true professional. Emily gained confidence and wisdom throughout her time with our office. Emily was organized, dependable, and willing to take on any challenge. Without Emily, our WNA events would not have been as successful. Emily is going to excel at whatever she decides to do in the future because of her openness to learning and collaboration. Every interaction I had with Emily from the interview on was a pure joy! Plus, Emily is a true team player.
From Ebony: “You don’t choose the times you live in, but you do choose who you want to be. And you do choose how you think.” –Grace Lee Boggs. In my experience, Emily has always taken the time to connect with others. She has chosen to find ways of connectedness to the entire human experience. In fact, I have observed her to be an equitable thinker who sees the world through inclusiveness lenses. She has been joy to work with; I found her pleasant outlook on life to be refreshing. She was instrumental in ensuring our WNA events were a success. She assisted with the planning and implementation of our lactation and new caregiver series. She was always willing to introduce our speakers and interact with the audience. Emily approached these tasks with an open mind and enthusiasm. She is professional with a strong work ethic. Most of all, I found Emily to be an intelligent and caring individual. I have enjoyed working with Emily and I wish her enormous success!
From Dani: During my time working with Emily, I was quickly impressed with her professionalism and efficiency. Emily has provided a wide range of skills to the WorkLife Office, including event planning, data tracking, communication with stakeholders, and resource compilation. Her ability to work on multiple projects at one time is a testament to her dedication and work ethic, as well as her eagerness to create a lasting impact on families at MSU. Through events like the Fatherhood Forum, monthly Women’s Networking Association meetings, and even the Lactation Series, Emily always took the initiative to connect with presenters to ensure they were comfortable, and never failed to check in with staff to make sure she was providing adequate assistance and support every step of the way. Beyond her professional decorum, Emily is a bright, energetic individual who will undoubtedly find herself with many opportunities ahead.

Hailey

Hailey Peguero was one of the WorkLife Office’s 2021-2022 Social Work/Family Services interns. She is graduating in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Social Science with a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services. After graduation, she is pursuing further education in the field of nursing. 

Throughout her time at the WorkLife Office, she has worked on tracking the backup dependent care usage, worked closely with interns and employees leading the office’s employee resource groups, and has led many projects surrounding organizing and researching resource lists for those looking for specific information and needs within the Greater Lansing area. She is excited to take her communication, leadership, and task-oriented skills with her throughout her continued education journey and into her next steps of life.

From Jaimie: Hailey is one of the most proactive communicators I have worked with. She is very dependable and has excellent attention to detail, openness to feedback, and her transparent communication is top notch. No matter what Hailey had going on in her work, school, or personal life, she stayed in contact and ensured her deadlines were met. It was wonderful watching Hailey engage in our DEI conversations. Hailey’s openness sharing her story was a benefit to our entire team. I know Hailey is going to make a huge impact in the world as a nurse. She has all of the skills to really help folks heal. Plus, Hailey has a very strong work ethic!
From Ebony: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” This quote from Maya Angelou describes my experiences with Hailey. During my time at the WorkLife Office, Hailey experienced some hardships. However, she did not let these hardships define her and she refused to be reduced by them. To ensure that this was the case, Hailey surrounded herself with supportive friends and family. She also enlisted the help of support services to get her through a challenging time. During this time, she never wavered in her responsibilities to the WorkLife Office. She maintained deadlines and a cheerful disposition. Hailey has a strong work ethic. I am sure she will make a good nurse because she is empathetic, smart, and caring.
From Dani: Hailey has a unique skill to bring personability to every conversation – she is honest and authentic, and never fails to show up as her true self. Hailey was able to compile complex and detailed information for the office on a consistent basis, and she worked with staff to significantly improve processes related to dependent backup care tracking and data. Hailey not only effectively communicated with childcare providers, but also showed great care for those who were utilizing the childcare services. She shows genuine concern for those around her and is an excellent team player. Hailey has a heart for service and it shines through her every word, both personally and professionally. I look forward to seeing her become a nurse and continue to make a widespread impact.

Mara

Mara Johnson has been the WorkLife Office’s Research & Project intern since September of 2021. She plans to graduate at the end of August 2022, with a degree in Political Science and minors in both Spanish and Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. From this point, she intends to pursue work in the non-profit sector with a focus on education inequity. 

Her biggest project with the WorkLife Office was assisting with the WorkLife Conference in the fall of 2021. With the assistance of the rest of the wonderful and talented interns at the time, she was able to re-cite and add additional resources to the entirety of the Well-Being at Work Guide over the span of a few months in time for its presentation at the conference.  She plans to use this experience and her exposure to research throughout this internship to continue to support and serve communities and their health and wellbeing.

From Jaimie: Mara is a wonderful researcher and writer. Mara’s skills gave our office a strong foundation of research in the areas of workplace well-being. Mara is patient. She always set an example to really listen to others on the team. Her presence was calming and kind. I know that Mara will make an impact in her community. She is passionate about educational access and her own journey is one of inspiration. Plus, Mara has the courage to push past her comfort zone to grow.
From Ebony: “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou. In my experiences with Mara, I have found her to be truly encouraging. As a new consultant here at Michigan State University, I found her encouragement inspiring. She is emboldened to make a difference in her community. She is committed to DEI efforts and is willing to put in the work to see true change. She is a team player who listens to everyone on the team. She not only listens, but offers support and services. I am sure she be successful in the field of her choice.
From Dani: Mara is a gifted intellect and talented writer, two skills she utilizes in various ways – research pieces, article summaries, general communications, and more. She willingly takes on complex projects and tougher tasks, like in-depth research about flexwork and childcare support, and always produces high-quality results. Mara has an ability to condense heavy materials and makes it easier to understand, which is innately rooted in her passion for education and equity. To know Mara is to know there is greatness within the next generation of leaders – astute, kind, and hard-working.

We wish these amazing people the best of luck on their next adventure.