Supporting Personal and Professional Well-Being for Tulane Staff: Understanding Your Story and Expanding Community Care with Dr. Portia Jackson Preston

Did you know that your culture, identity, and lived experiences can shape how you experience and cope with stress, as well your personal and professional well-being? In this talk, we will explore why understanding your own story is foundational to your wellness, and the ability to empathize with the experiences of others. We will engage in an anonymous, interactive discussion to acknowledge stressors faced by our community, as well as the strategies we are currently employing to practice wellness and cope with ongoing challenges. Finally, we will discuss best practices for creating a customized and sustainable wellness practice at the individual level, as well as strategies for individuals in positions of leadership to make informed policy changes to create an inclusive culture that promotes sustainable performance and well-being of all personnel.

Portia Jackson Preston, DrPH, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at California State University, Fullerton. Her research focuses on multilevel approaches to self-care, and stress as a driver of health inequity. She speaks widely on individual and organization level strategies to promote well-being and sustainable performance, and was a featured speaker at TEDxCrenshaw and TEDxUCIrvine. Dr. Jackson Preston's passion for personal and professional well-being is informed by navigating her own health journey while working in multiple sectors. Prior to academia, her prior roles included working with Susan G. Komen, Deloitte Consulting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, her Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her Doctorate of Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles. 

This session is designed to support, celebrate, and honor our incredible Tulane staff and is sponsored by the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Staff Advisory Council, and Office of Human Resources and Institutional Equity.