Each month, we highlight a member of the Cornell Wellbeing team to share how they assist employees and a bit about them. Ruth Merle-Doyle, Work/Life Program Manager (pictured with her daughter, Evie)
"I support the Cornell community at the intersection of work and life, specifically with people navigating parenting, pregnancy, adult caregiving, and other life transitions. I love that my work includes both group and individual connection, often helping people meet and learn from others with similar experiences. Helping people identify next steps as they navigate work and life is truly a privilege.
Like many people, I feel like life is really noisy right now, and my favorite place to quiet things is my kitchen. I love cooking and baking (especially anything veggie-forward) and find it both creative and meditative. I’m also a big fan of winter and the slower, quieter pace it brings."
You may request a consultation or information about services by emailing Ruth at rem64@cornell.edu.
Physical Wellbeing
Get Grilling! Cornell Chicken Barbecue Recipe A professor of food and poultry science on the Hill for three decades, Robert Baker '43—who passed away in 2006 at the age of 84—created and popularized the sauce and cooking method, which involves regular turning and basting. Check out these tips from Cornell Cooperative Extension for safe grilling.
Follow Your Gut Series: IBD, Fertility, and Pregnancy - Navigating Your Reproductive Journey (Weill Cornell Medicine)
June 2, 5-6pm, virtual. Learn about colorectal health and the care options available to you through this informative series. Weill Cornell Medicine colorectal surgeons Dr. Lea Lowenfeld and Dr. James Connolly, joined by gastroenterologist Dr. Laura Sahyoun, will explore the connections between the reproductive journey and gut health.
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month (Weill Cornell Medicine) Learn to spot the signs and practice prevention with these essential sun safety tips.
Steadying Ourselves in Uncertain Times: An Ongoing Reflective Workshop for Cornell Faculty and Staff - additional dates added upon request!
This ongoing program is designed to help attendees settle their nervous systems, foster community, compassion, and resilience. Join us for one or more of the following sessions (please register for each individually):
Monday Group Meditation(Weill Cornell Medicine) Mondays through June 29, 5-5:50pm, virtual. Led by meditation instructors Emily Herzlin and Cheryl Fandozzi of WCM. Explore various ways to pause, reconnect, and rest.
Financial Wellbeing
Planning for Health Care Costs and Coverage in Retirement(Fidelity)
June 4, 2-3pm, virtual. Health care costs in retirement can affect your savings and lifestyle. Explore how to prepare for the reality of health care costs in retirement.
No Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic May 27, 6-8pm, Danby Fire Hall, Ithaca. One and three-year vaccinations for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Pre-registration preferred; walk-ins welcome. Outside Tompkins County? Check your specific county health department website for upcoming clinics.
Homeowner Education Video Series (Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services) These easy‑to-follow on demand videos go over real-life responsibilities of owning a home—from budgeting for maintenance to understanding repairs, protecting your investment, and planning for long‑term stability. Each training video is $5 to view.
Relationships
Healthy Aging Lab Seeks Study Participants The Cornell Healthy Aging Lab seeks participants aged 45+ who provide 10+ hours/week of unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s/dementia for an online questionnaire + interview study (~1.5 hours) with $30 compensation. Contact healthyaginglab@cornell.edu or (607) 255-2457 to sign up. Virtual or in-person.
Why Your Friends May Hold the Key to Longevity (Women's Health) A Cornell study suggests that strong friendships and support from family members “slow the aging process at a molecular level,” says Anthony Ong, PhD, lead study author and psychology professor at Cornell University.
Podcast:Can Better Listening Improve Your Relationships? (New York-Presbyterian)
Clinical psychologist, Dr. Steven Mazza of New York-Presbyterian and Columbia, shares tips on how to become a better listener and why that leads to more meaningful connections.
Environmental Wellbeing
Spring Native Plant Sale May 30, 10am-2pm, Cornell Botanic Gardens. Support Finger Lakes Native Plant Society and the Botanic Gardens' propagation efforts by purchasing regional & local native species from wild-collected seed or Ithaca gardeners' divisions/seedlings.
Tompkins Pollinator Pathway Virtual Story Map The Tompkins Pollinator Pathway Story Map, created by Cornell Master of Public Health student, Gauri Vanjari, is a place-based storytelling tool that brings together maps, images, and community stories to highlight how five public gardens and landscapes in Tompkins County are supporting pollinator health and biodiversity. Find Pollinator Pathways outside Tompkins County here.
Cultural Wellbeing
From Intra-Asian Diversity to Narrative Plentitude (Weill Cornell Medicine) May 19, 12-1pm, virtual. This Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month conversation features Van C. Tran, Professor of Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center, as he discusses his work, Vulnerable Asian Americans: From Intra-Asian Diversity to Narrative Plentitude.
Special Screening of Crip Camp
June 3, 5-7:30pm, 102 Mann Library. Join the Cornell University Disability Colleague Network Group for a special screening of Crip Camp. Pizza and discussion will follow. RSVP to Emma Cruz at ejc239@cornell.edu.
Exhibit: Fashioning Justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg '54 and the Power of Presence Through May 21, Human Ecology Building. This exhibit explores how dress functions as civic infrastructure that shapes belonging, authority, and public life. Grounded in the clothing and accessories of Justice Ginsburg and the worlds she moved through, the exhibition considers dress as signal, shield, and statement.
Occupational Wellbeing
Effective Communication: An Inclusive Process
Effective communication isn’t just about what or where we say something—it’s about how we engage both senders and receivers, recognizing how identities and experiences shape understanding. This interactive session explores inclusive strategies to strengthen communication, engagement, and workplace effectiveness—especially in times of change.
The Meaning of Extension: Cornell's Work in New York City
May 28, 12-1pm, hybrid. In this talk, Jenny Weil Malatras ‘02, executive director of CUCE-NYC and board certified clinical psychologist, will explore what the land-grant mission looks like on the ground in New York City today — through the stories of the educators and young people doing the work, and through an honest look at the challenges facing the organization.
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Just For Fun
Enter to Win a Cornell Library Coloring Book Celebrate the beauty of Cornell—one page at a time! Enter for a chance to win a coloring book, "A Journey in Line and Color," from Cornell University Library featuring iconic campus scenes (10 copies available).
Relax, unwind, and bring campus to life with your own creative touch. Winners will be notified on Monday, June 1, 2026, via email.
Information curated by Cornell Work/Life, Cornell Wellness, and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program with campus and community resources, programs, events, and informative articles. Explore past editions or email wellbeing@cornell.edu to ask questions or suggest a resource. Published twice per month. Information shared does not indicate Cornell endorsement.
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