Rutgers School of Public Health Staff Initiative Blends Art, Wellness, and Community
Rutgers School of Public Health recently celebrated the success of Expressions of Community: A Workplace Program of Mind and Body Wellness. This unique initiative, led by Michelle Ruidíaz-Santiago, executive assistant in the Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy, and John Ciampi, administrative assistant in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, was funded by a Rutgers Health Joy at Work grant. The program aims to cultivate a supportive and inclusive workplace culture by fostering community, collegiality, and mutual respect among colleagues.
“It was inspiring to see how the staff and faculty came together to explore their creativity, support one another, and build connections through art,” said Ruidíaz-Santiago.
This semester, the program featured three engaging art sessions that were open to all faculty and staff. Each session focused on exploring the concept of community through artistic expression.
The first session involved quilt stamping, where participants created designs symbolizing community that were later stitched into two collaborative quilts. The second session centered on watercolor painting, giving participants the opportunity to illustrate their personal approach to self-care. In the final session, attendees participated in an acrylic painting pass-along activity. Each person worked on a canvas for a set time before passing it along to another participant to add their creative touch. This dynamic and collaborative activity resulted in vibrant, shared artworks.
All sessions were facilitated by AJ Aoun, a senior art student at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts.
“It was really cool to see staff and faculty enjoying each other's company outside of official roles and hierarchies,” said Ciampi.
The program will continue in Spring 2025 with guided yoga sessions to further support mental and physical wellness. By championing initiatives like this, the Rutgers School of Public Health sets a standard for fostering workplaces where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered.
