Faculty, Staff, Students, and the Chain of Support in Higher Education with Erin Ruff

CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE!When a student is struggling, they may not go to a counselor first.They may go to a professor. A coach. A resident director. A staff member. Someone they already know and trust.In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Erin Ruff, an HR leader at the University of Puget Sound and president of the Washington State chapter of CUPA-HR, to talk about mental health, employee wellness, student support, and the unique role HR plays in higher education.Erin shares how she moved from a global corporation into higher education, what she loves about working in a collaborative university environment, and why supporting faculty and staff directly impacts the care students receive. She also talks about wellness days, menopause book clubs, coaching employees through difficult conversations, the importance of leadership buy-in, and why listening can be one of HR’s most powerful tools.In this episode, Jessi and Erin discuss:Why higher education HR is different from corporate HRHow faculty and staff often become natural support systems for studentsWhy student mental health support depends on employee supportThe emotional toll on resident directors, coaches, student affairs staff, and frontline student support rolesHow HR can support employees without trying to solve every personal problemWhy listening matters more than many leaders realizeHow wellness days and community-building events help reduce silosThe unexpected success of a menopause book club on campusWhat CUPA-HR does for higher education HR professionalsWhy leadership buy-in is essential for meaningful staff and student supportHow small morale boosters can build trust, retention, and engagementThis episode is for HR professionals, higher education leaders, faculty, staff, coaches, student affairs professionals, and anyone responsible for supporting people inside complex, mission-driven organizations.Because students need support.And so do the people they turn to first.CONNECT WITH [email protected] of Puget SoundCUPA-HRCUPA-HR Washington Chapter