Patricia LaRose joins Human Resources staff as coordinator in Employee Wellness and Benefits
Patricia LaRose joined the staff in Human Resources at Georgia Southern to lead the Employee Wellness and Benefits initiatives. LaRose is a Double Eagle and is excited to return to her alma mater as a full-time employee and serve as a resource for faculty and staff to help improve their general wellness. Read on to learn more about LaRose and her hopes for her role.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself: Where are you from, and what brought you to Georgia Southern?
A: I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but I was raised in the metro-Atlanta area. Kennesaw, Georgia, is where I call “home.” In high school, I had big dreams of going to a D1 school like the University of Alabama. My mom had other plans and wanted me to go to Georgia Southern. She was clearly thinking about affordability, but I had no desire to go to a school that I never heard of. Reluctantly, and with an attitude, we drove to Statesboro to tour Georgia Southern’s campus, and I immediately fell in love with the school. I knew after my tour that this is where I wanted to continue my education. That tour was in 2013 and here I am in 2022, a Double Eagle and working for my alma mater. I am extremely grateful!
Q: A Double Eagle — what were your majors?
A: I received my bachelor’s degree in kinesiology (exercise science) in May 2018. I graduated from the Master of Public Health program in July.
Q: What did you enjoy most about being a student?
A: I enjoyed the sense of belonging and community when I was a student. Especially during undergrad, I found many opportunities to be involved in organizations that piqued my interests and met a diverse group of students who had similar interests as me.
Q: How do you think your experience as a student will help you in your role?
A: As a graduate student, I was a graduate assistant for the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion. In this role, I learned so much about program planning, the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and identifying creative ways to reach and encourage students to improve their own personal wellbeing. I believe my graduate assistantship set me up for this role because I now have experience with creating inclusive and accessible programming for all individuals. I am so excited to use the knowledge and skills that I’ve gained both in my public health program and my assistantship to help me serve the faculty and staff at Georgia Southern.
Q: How does it feel to be working at your alma mater in your area of passion/expertise?
A: It feels great! It feels like home, and I am looking forward to building the employee wellness program here.
Q: Tell me about your role and what you are most excited about doing?
A: As an HR coordinator in Employee Wellness and Benefits, I will be responsible for creating programs and initiatives to educate employees about wellness and to encourage faculty and staff to participate in wellness activities. I am also a University System of Georgia liaison and I provide employees with information about how to earn $200 in well-being credits. I am most excited about meeting and listening to employees about their wellness needs and creating programs based on that feedback!
Q: What are your goals for the employee wellness program?
A: My goals are to get more employees engaged in well-being activities and to create a culture of wellness on campus for all employees to feel supported and ultimately thrive personally and professionally.
Q: How do you hope to serve faculty and staff in your role?
A: I hope to be a resource and a great listener to our faculty and staff. I want to know what programs and services employees want to see and find ways to meet those needs.
Q: Why would you encourage faculty and staff to participate in the wellness program?
A: I would encourage faculty and staff to participate in the wellness program because there are so many opportunities to learn how they can improve their own well-being. From financial coaching to stress management tools and resources, there are many ways the wellness program can help employees thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Q: How can faculty and staff learn more about the wellness program?
A: Faculty and staff can learn more about the wellness program by visiting our website, https://jobs.georgiasouthern.edu/benefits/wellness/. On our website, employees can subscribe to our Google calendar to see all upcoming events and programs. Another great way to receive updates and information is to join our Wellness Google Group!
Q: What is a wellness myth you’d like to bust?
A: One wellness myth that I would like to bust is that wellness only concerns our physical health. I walked up to someone and introduced myself as the new HR coordinator in Employee Wellness & Benefits, and they immediately sucked in their stomach and asked if I was going to get them in shape. I laughed so hard at this! However, it is true that most people believe when they hear the term “wellness” that it means to get fit or be in shape. I like to believe that wellness covers a multitude of areas of health and well-being including our mental and emotional health, occupational health (satisfaction in your job/career), social connections and health relationships with others, spiritual well-being, financial well-being, etc.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: I am extremely grateful and happy to be here at Southern! If you are an employee who wants to learn more about wellness and how you can incorporate it into your own personal and professional lifestyle, I am a resource and I am happy to help in any way I can!
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