Cathrine Duffy, who has served as Director of Student Support in the Office of the Dean of Students at Stony Brook University, has been appointed Director of Healthier U — the University’s health and wellness program that focuses on improving the total well-being of employees. As director, she will be responsible for continuing the development of the Healthier U initiative and implementing a full suite of programs designed to support a healthy work environment and provide opportunities for staff and faculty to enhance their physical, fiscal and mental health. Duffy will also eventually assume leadership responsibility for the Employee Assistance Program.
“We are committed to promoting a culture at Stony Brook that values employee wellness and supports a healthy work space,” said Judith B. Greiman, Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations and Chief Deputy to the President. “The goal of Healthier U is to educate, encourage and empower our employees to make healthy decisions and lifestyle choices, while enhancing our sense of community and the culture of health and wellness. Cathrine has the skill set and background needed to guide Healthier U to the next level.”
“Wellness is about the whole person,” said Duffy. “From behavioral and physical health to financial health and all the domains of wellness, for me all of these come together and impact how we show up at work. If we can help employees, through Healthier U, to enhance wellness at work and at home, then I’ll feel like we’re making a difference.”
In her role in the Office of the Dean of Students, Duffy oversaw programs that focused on the mental, physical and academic well-being of 25,000 students and provided immediate crisis support for families and students. She served on the CARE committee and represented the Dean of Students Office on the Postvention Suicide Prevention Task Force and the International Student Success Task Force.
Duffy joined Stony Brook as a founding faculty member and academic advisor for the School of Journalism, where she taught undergraduate courses and co-coordinated the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. She previously worked at Newsday in various capacities, including news editor, copy editor and deputy Long Island editor.
Duffy earned a BA in English and MA in Public Policy from Stony Brook University, and is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at Stony Brook. She was recognized as Woman of the Year in Education Administration in 2016 and has received several awards from Stony Brook University that recognize her commitment to the University and the profound impact she has made on the lives of students.
“I’d like each employee to feel like Healthier U has something for them. I’m hoping to do that by expanding the diversity of program offerings and opportunities to connect as a community,” said Duffy. “Ultimately, I’d like Healthier U to be considered a key benefit of employment at Stony Brook University.
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