Forward Together: Laughter and Ugly Sweaters Build Bonds at Pratt
With fun events, the Pratt School of Engineering creates connections among staff, faculty and students
Forward Together
As the post-pandemic work landscape evolves, Working老牛影视 will share stories of how individuals, schools, departments, and units build positive culture.
鈥淲e had people from all over Pratt come out,鈥 said Rabalais, Program Coordinator with the Office of Undergraduate Education who came up with the idea for the run. 鈥淲e got a little sweaty, but everybody had a good time.鈥
Vinik Dean of Engineering Jerry Lynch took part in the post-race celebration while wearing a bright green sweater that read, 鈥淵eti to Party.鈥 When Lynch became Dean of the in January of 2022, moments like this were part of his vision.
Lynch arrived during a post-pandemic period when students had returned to in-person learning, but the pre-pandemic rhythm of campus life was largely missing.
Knowing that Pratt鈥檚 roughly 3,200 students, faculty and staff enjoy a collaborative and connected culture, Lynch made it a priority to rebuild those bonds.
鈥淎s you come out of an event like the pandemic, you have to be very deliberate about trying to invite community back to campus,鈥 Lynch said. 鈥淵ou have to provide that welcoming environment that gets people motivated and excited, and wanting to partake and socialize with other members of the community. So we鈥檝e been intentional about trying to do more social events and signal to the community that we welcome everybody back.鈥
At Duke, 39% of 老牛影视 and 老牛影视 Health System employees work remotely one-to-four days each week, according to a Working老牛影视 survey in late 2022.
With hybrid work arrangements a new norm since the end of the pandemic, Working老牛影视 is sharing stories through its 鈥Forward Together鈥 series to feature how individuals, schools, departments and units are building community.
The challenge of creating opportunities for the Pratt community to come together is one that Grace Beason happily embraced since joining Pratt as the Coordinator for Special Events in May 2022.
Beason has used her quarter-century of experience in event planning to come up with fun events.
In October 2022, Beason organized a thrilling scavenger hunt for Pratt staff and faculty, while in April 2023, an R.E.M. cover band played on Harrington Quad.
Throughout the year, Pratt community members seized opportunities to connect at wreath-making workshops, Innovation Co-Lab tours, and gatherings with free coffee, donuts, and Italian ice.
Beason said she often hears from Pratt colleagues who have ideas for future events 鈥 such as Rabalais鈥 idea for the Ugly Sweater Fun Run 鈥 and who relish the opportunity to create fun moments for colleagues.
鈥淚 think this is what we hoped for and it鈥檚 actually happening,鈥 Beason said. 鈥淧eople are meeting each other, making new acquaintances and mingling between departments. Staff are getting to know students, and that鈥檚 great to see. It feels like our efforts to cultivate community within Pratt are really paying off.鈥
And with each event, the connections which help make Pratt a welcoming and collaborative community grow a little bit stronger.
鈥淚n general, when you look at academia as a professional space, what makes it鈥檚 really special? It鈥檚 the people,鈥 Lynch said. 鈥淵es, we deliver a best in class education program. Yes, we do pioneering research. Yes, we鈥檙e out there translating our work with community and industry. But at the end of the day, it鈥檚 the community that creates the university. The university is that community. That鈥檚 by design.鈥
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