In the Patrick Leahy Honors College, Genevieve Anthony’s role as Assistant Dean for Business Operations keeps her busy. “I get so much energy from our students,” the winner of the 2024 ̽̽ Employee Wellness Champion Award said, when asked how she handles juggling all the many tasks and processes necessary to help people navigate their ̽̽ experience. “Seeing something click for them, making something easier for them, it feels good. Wait—can I say two answers? My colleagues! They inspire and help me.” The feeling is mutual: in her nomination letter, Anthony’s coworker wrote:
“I feel like Genevieve is constantly thinking about community. Whether it’s getting the staff together for a lunch, popping into our offices to see if we want to take a walk, arranging for meetups after work, or making sure she shows up to colleagues’ special events, she is consistently there when anyone needs her.”
Anthony accepted her award and its accompanying $300 gift card at the Benefits and Wellness Fair, with a strong pep assist from Rally Cat, who then dashed off to ask about the differences between the 2025 deductible plans and what, in fact, a deductible is. Colleagues in Human Resources were at the ready to help.
̽̽'s Employee Wellness Manager Cara Hancy started the ̽̽ Employee Wellness Champion Award two years ago, as a way to tactically support the grassroots implementation of a culture of wellness across the institution. Other supportive tactics include strengtheing the ̽̽ Employee Wellness Ambassadors program with expanded resources and developing a course to help managers support their teams. “I want every person to thrive at work and know they are supported," she said, "that we are a community of people caring for ourselves, each other, and the world.”
Worksite Wellness Outstanding Contributor.
She designed the nomination process to engender community gratitude, which research shows can be a catalytic force for good growth. She also finds ways to connect programs and resources whenever possible to ̽̽’s Planetary Health Initiative, which affirms the reciprocity of individual, public, community, and environmental health and highlights the mutually beneficial potential of mindfully connecting them.
In October, Hancy was named the 2024 Vermont Worksite Wellness Outstanding Contributor by the VT Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for how she has revitalized ̽̽ Employee Wellness, which joined the Osher Center for Integrative Health at ̽̽ in 2022.
Upcoming projects include a new Employee Wellness website by the end of the year and analyzing employee survey data to enhance and develop resources. Nominations for next year's Employee Wellness Champion will open in fall semester 2025, and a winner will be announced at the 2025 ̽̽ Employee Benefits and Wellness Fair on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.