Cultivate and Connect
Cultivate and Connect is a series of sessions designed to nurture personal well-being, strengthen community, and inspire growth. Through a mix of engaging activities such as yoga, group walks, plant swaps, and more, participants are invited to slow down, learn new skills, and build meaningful connections with colleagues.
| Date/Time | Session Title | Description | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 15, 2026 11:00 - 12:00 In-Person: Main Campus Student Center, Room 125 | Financial Wellness Workshop: “Money Habitudes | This in-person session will provide valuable insights and practical strategies on people’s habits and attitudes when it comes to money management and how it impacts their interpersonal relationships with others. Facilitated by Kevin Sutton, Director of Financial Wellness | |
| January 21, 2026 10:00 - 11:00 | Leadership in High Pressure Situations | This virtual session will help leaders assess their default reactions when facing high-pressure situations, examine whether those defaults are serving them best, and consider methods that help them shift their reactions when the situation calls for doing so. Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team and Facilitated by ComPsych | |
| January 29, 2026 2:00 - 3:00 | How Physical Pain Can Impact Your Mental Health | In this virtual session we will discuss the psychological/emotional impacts of physical pain, ways of managing the impact and overcoming obstacles to seeking help. Learn more about the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team and Facilitated by ComPsych | |
| February 13, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am 1008 Joyner Library | Find Your Flow | Bring your yoga mat and join colleagues in a relaxing flow with deep stretches, meditative breathing and stillness. Facilitated by Cara Gohn Entry into the Library at 7:00am requires a 1Card. | |
| February 18, 2026 2:00 - 3:00 2301 Joyner Library | Adapting to Management and Leadership Change | This in-person session will provide participants with tools to assess their resilience during change, recognize and manage transition-related emotions, and develop effective communication strategies that empower them to express concerns constructively and thrive during periods of new leadership. Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team | |
| March 3, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 Lake Laupus | Lap the Lake | Join OFE staff and faculty colleagues for a walk around Lake Laupus on your lunch hour for time to connect and enjoy the Spring weather. | |
| March 12, 2026 2:00 - 3:00 | The Impacts of Job Insecurity on Employee Engagement and Well-Being | This virtual session explores the effects of job insecurity on employees and equips leaders with practical strategies to counter them. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how fear and uncertainty affect workplace culture, and concrete steps they can take to foster psychological safety, trust and resilience within their teams. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or emerging supervisor, this session will give you the tools to lead with confidence and compassion in an ever-changing landscape. Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team and Facilitated by ComPsych | |
| March 18, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 1008 Joyner Library | Branch Out! | Calling all plant lovers, enthusiasts and green thumbs! Join other faculty across campus to swap plant clippings with your fellow flora fanatics. Plan ahead by propagating a favorite plant from home, plant some seeds for new spring growth, or gather cuttings to share with others. Facilitated by Tori Jackson and Madeleine Griffith | |
| March 27, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am 1008 Joyner Library | Find Your Flow | Bring your yoga mat and join colleagues in a relaxing flow with deep stretches, meditative breathing and stillness. Facilitated by Cara Gohn Entry into the Library at 7:00am requires a 1Card. | |
| April 9, 2026 9:30 - 11:00 In-Person: Building 293, Room 105 (Training Room) | What You Need to Succeed in a Professional Interview | Participants will learn practical strategies for interview preparation, including how to research employers, craft compelling responses using the STAR model, and navigate both in-person and virtual interviews with confidence. This session is perfect for staff supporting student career development or preparing for their own career advancement. Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team | |
| April 9, 2026 12:00 - 1:00 Lake Laupus | Lap the Lake | Join OFE staff and faculty colleagues for a walk around Lake Laupus on your lunch hour for time to connect and enjoy the Spring weather. | |
| April 15, 2026 9:30 - 11:00 In-Person: Building 293, Room 105 (Training Room) | The Whole U | The Whole U workshop is designed for anyone who wants to better understand how they can market themselves effectively as part of their personal career strategy. In this session, we'll cover how to identify and brand our own transferable skills, leverage our social media presence effectively, and how to prepare ourselves to take advantage of career opportunities by understanding our whole professional selves. We'll spend time reflecting on our strengths and develop personal strategies to prepare ourselves for taking charge of our careers. Come join us for an interactive workshop and explore The Whole U! Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team | |
| April 23, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Pretzel Baking Workshop | If you’re into baking, consider celebrating National Pretzel Day a little early this year with Dr. Tim Madden. Born and raised in the town where Auntie Anne’s was founded, Tim will teach you how to make, shape, and bake soft pretzels during an online event. In just about an hour, you’ll learn some fun pretzel facts, bakeware recommendations, livestreaming tips, and a bonus recipe for delightful little almond macarons that just happen to be gluten-free. You can play along at home with the included recipe and you’ll be all set to make your own soft pretzels to celebrate the official National Pretzel Day on Sunday, April 26th. | Register for the Pretzel Baking Workshop Join the Pretzel Baking Workshop |
| April 28, 2026 10:00 - 11:00 In-Person: Joyner Library 2301 | Storytelling for Leaders: Turning Vision into Buy-In | Facts inform, but stories inspire. This training teaches leaders how to craft and deliver compelling stories to make presentations, team updates and strategic conversations more engaging, memorable and persuasive. Offered by the People Operations, Success and Opportunity (POSO) Team and Facilitated by ComPsych | Register for Storytelling for Leaders: Turning Vision into Buy-In |
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact ECU’s ADA coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu.