The June 2021 NUSAC Member Spotlight is Kevin Connolly, Administrative Director of the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM).
Name: Kevin Connolly
Title: Administrative Director, Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM)
Unit and School/College: Feinberg School of Medicine
Years at Northwestern University: 11
Years on NUSAC Council: 5
Why did you join NUSAC? To work with colleagues to help improve the work experience of all staff.
What is the most important thing your NU staff colleagues should know about NUSAC? The positive relationship NUSAC has with University leadership is influential in shaping policies that improve our workplace. I was pleasantly surprised by how closely NUSAC works with the President’s Office and how they listen to the concerns of NUSAC and take appropriate action.
What issue are you most passionate about related to improving the NU experience for staff? The staff engagement survey and NU Cares are two initiatives that have helped shape my experience on NUSAC. Through work influenced and informed by the staff engagement survey, I have been involved in programs like Manager Foundations which helps develop skilled, confident, and connected leaders to support Northwestern’s mission and culture. NU Cares is a fund that allows faculty and staff an opportunity to help a colleague experiencing financial hardship due to a medical or catastrophic event. We have been able to increase contributions to the fund allowing us to help more individuals in the Northwestern community.
What do you most enjoy about your work at Northwestern? It is an outstanding institution that is having a positive impact in the world in a variety of ways. For example, our work at the Institute for Public Health and Medicine focuses on advancing collaborative research and education that improves health and well-being for all individuals and their communities. We do a lot of work around the Chicagoland area focused on eliminating health disparities. As a lifelong Chicagoan, it is tremendously rewarding to be involved with work that strives to improve the health and well-being of our community.
What is a little-known fun fact about you? I love to cook for family and friends and one of my favorite dishes to make is Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon.