Dear CLAS community, I am delighted to share with you the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Annual Report. As you will see in the report, outstanding work is under way, and on the horizon, throughout our departments, units, classrooms, studios, and labs, where we endeavor to: Recruit, support, and retain faculty, staff, and students of color, Create, implement, and sustain policies and practices that advance equity for all, Empower every individual in our college to feel included in collegiate decision-making and community-building

Developing the Leader Within You If cultivating leadership abilities is on your list of resolutions for 2022, Professor Jennifer Nahrgang from UI’s Tippie College of Business suggests a resource that may surprise you. Rather than building those skills in a classroom or from a management text, she proposes that the best teacher may be your own experiences. “Think about a key event that occurred in your working career,” she encourages. “One that was a really strong learning and development opportunity for you.” Do you want to polish your leadership skills? CLAS Staff Council is a great way to do just that. Nominations open February 4, and elections are in March.

The Staff Council for College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at The University of Iowa is here for you! We are launching our Facebook page in 2022 as a new way for UI CLAS Staff to connect with us and each other. Please like, follow, and share our page with fellow staff--and ENTER TO WIN top-notch CLAS gear to help show your staff spirit. Enter to win by Feb. 9, 2022: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8tOyIgQmjjuhBnU

In the liveWELL Winter 2022 Newsletter, we explore setting expectations and boundaries for work-life configurations with UI Assistant Professor, Dr. Beth Livingston and provide science based tips for creating healthy habits in the new year. We also feature more information about upcoming well-being programs including our next offerings of the Diabetes Prevention Program, 10-Week Weight Management Program, and the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program.

The University of Iowa will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2022, with special events and activities planned throughout the academic year, including special exhibits at UI Libraries and Pentacrest Museums.