Directory
A-Z Index
 

September 2025 | HR Monthly Bulletin

Welcome our new Bearcats!

Michael Aldrich

Head of Reference & Instruction
B.D. Owens Library

Trevor Carbaugh

Part-time Instructional Aide
Horace Mann Laboratory School

Dr. Ruma De

Post-Doctoral Research Associate
School of Natural Sciences

Mark Donaldson

Custodian - Third Shift
Facility Services

Mollie Easley

Office Manager
Horace Mann Laboratory School

Megan McAdams

Administrative Specialist
Office of Human Resources

Carrie Quinn

Office Manager
Office of Enrollment Management and Student Success

Abby Vajgrt

Coordinator of Student Accommodations

Office of Title IX and Equity

Patty Wilmes

Part-Time Project Assistant 
Regional Professional Development Center

Employee Anniversaries

Congratulations to these employees for their milestone years of service
in September 2025!

5 YEARS

Tony Christian Coordinator of Housing Assignments Auxiliary Services
David Fletchall Custodian - Third shift Facility Services
Kait Miller Online Transfer Academic Advisor Office of Academic Success and Retention
Bobby Welch Plant Operator - Third shift Facility Services

10 YEARS

Kristin Little Career Services Coordinator Career Services
Wes Rockwood Web Designer Office of University Marketing and Communication

15 YEARS

Evan Rand Assistant Director Wellness Services
Lawrence Shackelford HVAC Supervisor Facility Services

25 YEARS

Michelle Allen Lab Coordinator School of Natural Sciences

40 YEARS

Barbara Walk Payroll Manager Office of Payroll

Upcoming Events


Leading with Purpose in a Changing World

Thomas Sanchez
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m., Student Union Boardroom

Sanchez is the chief executive officer and co-founder of marketing and communication firm Social Driver in Washington, D.C. In addition, he’s the chair of the board of the Trevor Project, the world’s largest mental health and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. He is a recipient of the Northwest Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award and served on the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors from 2016 to 2021.


MO Deferred Comp Representative on Campus

Northwest’s MO Deferred Comp representative, David Gibson, will host a Colleges & Universities Retirement Plan (CURP) seminar for faculty on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 11:30 a.m. in Student Union Meeting Room D.

David will also host one-on-one meetings for faculty and staff on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Student Union Meeting Room D.

For more information, including how to register for the seminars, click the flyers linked below or send an email to hrwebpg@nwmissouri.edu.


Employee Well-being Resource Sessions

Join your Well-being Ambassadors at Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.  
Session times are 12:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. (30 minutes each)
Tour the facilities and learn about upcoming well-being challenges and health events.

Click here for more details.


Staff Council Scholarship Fundraiser

Staff Council is selling sweatshirts, and all proceeds benefit the Staff Council Scholarship. Orders are due by Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Click here for more details.


A Conversation with Tony Miles: Facing Adversity

Friday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., Charles Johnson Theater

Miles made history as a standout wide receiver and kick returner, helping the Bearcat football program win back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championships in 1998 and 1999. He went on to an eight-year career in the Canadian Football League, winning the 2004 Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts and is a member of Northwest’s M-Club Hall of Fame as well as the MIAA Hall of Fame. A co-author of “When The Walls Speak: Fathers Restoring Generational Confidence,” Miles teaches and coaches football and track at University High School in Waco, Texas, where he continues to inspire the next generation of student-athletes.


Wellness Services Flu Clinic

Wellness Services will host a flu clinic for Northwest students and employees from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, and from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Student Union Meeting Room A.

Employees must bring their insurance card at the time of the injection. The Centers for Disease Control Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine. 


Native North America

Dr. Tori Zeiger
Monday, Oct. 13, noon, Student Union Meeting Room D

Zeiger is an osteologist and Native American Graves and Repatriation Act coordinator for the St. Joseph Museums. Her presentation will focus on the material culture, heritage and lives of Indigenous tribes in North America, with special focus on the utilization of geography and natural resources. 


Native Bead Working Workshop

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 4-6 p.m., Student Union Boardroom

Join the Center for Engagement and Community Connection to learn about the various Native American tribes, their bead designs and color schemes, and see fine examples of traditional beadwork. Choose and create a design of beadwork for a pair of earrings or a bracelet. Work step-by-step with an instructor to complete a design and unique piece of jewelry. 


Physician Screening Forms due Oct. 15

The Northwest primary care provider wellness program consists of an annual preventive visit and routine labs ordered by a healthcare provider.

Click here for additional resources, including quick references and answers to frequently asked questions.


Employee Recognition Celebration

All Northwest employees are invited to a breakfast or luncheon to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of those employees who have reached milestone years of service.

Northwest’s 2025 Employee Recognition Event will occur Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the J.W. Jones Student Union. Employees may choose to attend a 5:30 a.m. breakfast in the Boardroom or noon luncheon in the Ballroom.

Opportunities to get involved

"I Am a Bearcat and..." - Join the Movement!

Northwest employees are invited to be part of the “I Am a Bearcat and…” campaign — an initiative that celebrates the diverse identities, stories and experiences that make up our Bearcat community.

We’re looking for faculty and staff to participate in two meaningful ways:

To participate in either opportunity contact Dr. Jessie Peter, senior coordinator of global engagement at jpeter@nwmissouri.edu.


Bearcat Book Club

Bearcat Book Club chooses one book each semester to stimulate discussions about varying subject matters related to cultural differences and inclusion. Through open dialogue, Northwest employees learn to have brave conversations, build community, embrace differences and become engaged, diverse leaders on campus. 

Sign up for the book club


Lattes & Learning

Join the Center for Engagement and Community Connection for casual working discussions over coffee. You don’t need to have read a specific article — just bring your thoughts, ideas and a willingness to learn about all the things happening in the world of higher education. The space is open to Northwest employees at all levels and is perfect for sparking new ideas in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. 


Employee Resource Groups

Affinity groups are designed to create safe spaces for members to share and process experiences. Affinity group also allows participants the opportunity to identify ways in which we can appropriately use privilege to bring about social change. For more information, visit Northwest affinity groups.

Association of Black Employees Logo

Contact Giselle Greenidge ggreenidge@nwmissouri.edu 

LGBTQIA Logo

Contact Elyssa Ford ebford@nwmissouri.edu 

ALLY Affinity Group Logo

Contact ALLY@nwmissouri.edu 

Community-Connections-logo

Contact Maryvillecommunityconnections@gmail.com

women in academia

Contact jpeter@nwmissouri.edu

 

 

young professionals

     Contact GKENNEDY@nwmissouri.edu

 

Mental health and wellness resources

The Office of Human Resources highlights the following resources that employees may use as necessary. Mindful by BlueKC, the EAP and TAO are completely confidential.

Mindful by BlueKC

Mindful by BlueKC is a behavioral health initiative dedicated to reducing stigma around behavioral health in our communities while making care accessible and affordable for members. Mindful by Blue KC is a commitment to covering the health needs of the whole person and comes to life as a set of tools and resources to address stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and more. This ensures that members can access and afford the behavioral health care they need. 

Mindful Advocates are available 24/7 and are licensed behavioral health clinicians who match members to providers and guide care plans. Mindful Advocates may be contacted at 833.302.6463. For more information, visit Mindful by BlueKC initiative.


Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

All Northwest employees are eligible to use Ability Assist Counseling Services sponsored by The Hartford. Click here to read about the benefits this program offers.


TAO-Therapy Assistance Online

This is a private online library of behavioral health resources. It is a free and confidential resource available to Northwest employees and students. For more information, visit TAO-Therapy Assistance Online. 

Wellness Services is offering a variety of online programing. Follow Wellness Services on Twitter and Instagram at @nw_wellness for updates.


New Directions resource program center

The center provides reliable information about a variety of mental and behavioral health topics. For more information, visit New Directions Health Resources.

For information about a specific substance use, visit New Directions Substance Use Disorders Center, or call the Substance Use Disorder Hotline at 877.326.2458.

If you have questions, email healthybearcat@nwmissouri.edu.

Benefits Spotlight

BlueKC SmartShopper Program: Earn cash reward for shopping and saving on medical procedures

Northwest has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) to offer employees a share of the savings – in cash – when you shop for a medical procedure and select a cost-effective, in-network provider using SmartShopper.

Medical procedures can have vastly different costs depending on where you receive care. SmartShopper makes it easy to shop and save on a procedure and earn a cash reward for doing so. Here’s how it works:

When a doctor recommends a medical procedure, follow these steps: 

  1. Log in at MyBlueKC.com and select Find Care
  2. Select Find Doctors, Specialists & Hospitals
  3. Click the Find Care button in the pop-up
  4. Select the SmartShopper Rewards tile for your search
  5. Receive care at a SmartShopper-eligible, in-network location of your choice.
  6. After the claim is paid, SmartShopper will mail you a reward check.

See below for additional information about the program.

Benefits & Wellness Information

Blue KC now offering Medicare advisor services

Blue Cross is now offering Medicare guidance for eligible employees that include one-on-one consultations, enrollment guidance and transition, and general Medicare education.

Click this link to learn more about services offered and reach out to a representative. (PDF)


BlueKC prescription drug list updates

The Blue KC Medical and Pharmacy Management Committee reviews and maintains the prescription drug list. The Committee, consisting of practicing physicians and pharmacists in the Kansas City area, holds quarterly meetings to evaluate new drug therapies and review drug utilization issues. Medications are evaluated based on drug safety and costs.

Click here for a complete list of premium formulary updates effective July 1, 2025. (PDF)

How BlueKC will communicate these changes

Blue KC is taking proactive steps to limit disruption, including:


Financial wellness resources

Northwest’s 403b plan administrator OMNI/TSAGC has several resources available to employees on topics such as retirement savings plans, managing personal finances, college funding options, and how to navigate Social Security and Medicare.

Calculators, videos and informative content on various topics can help guide employees in their planning process. To explore our Financial Wellness Center, visit https://usrbpfinancialwellness.com.


Hartford offering empathy life essentials services

The Hartford is now offering empathy life essentials services to our employees in addition to the employee assistance program. Some of these services include funeral planning, will preparation and bereavement support. To learn more about services offered, click here. (PDF)


Benefits Resource Center

USI's Benefits Resource Center is a free resource service for employees and encourages you to reach out for any information, questions or help with insurance or benefits.

Toll Free: 855.874.0829
BRCMidwest@usi.com 

Benefits Specialists can assist you Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.


MOSERS educational programs

MOSERS offers educational programs to help members learn information about their benefits as they progress through their careers and experience different life events along the way. 

Mid-Career Webinar: Learn how different career and life events may affect your pension benefit.

Ready to Retire Sessions: Learn about the retirement process and how different decisions may impact your pension benefit.

Stay up to date and visit www.mosers.org/education frequently for more information, including schedules and how to register. 


MO Deferred Comp retirement plan

The MO Deferred Comp plan is a supplemental retirement savings option available to employees. Visit www.modeferredcomp.org to learn more about the plan, register for upcoming education sessions or find financial planning options.


A Healthier You (AHY)

A Healthier You gives you convenient online and mobile access to wellness tools you can use to live your healthiest life. Plus, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for chances to win gift cards to some popular retailers.

For more information about the AHY program, click this link.

Miscellaneous

Bearcat Food Pantry

The mission of the Bearcat Food Pantry is to provide a source of food and necessities for Northwest students and employees experiencing food insecurity and hunger. The food pantry is located in the J.W. Jones Student Union and is accessible from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 2 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

Northwest accepts food donations for the pantry at the Student Engagement Center and the Office of Student Affairs located on the second floor of the Student Union. For a list of most needed items, visit Bearcat Food Pantry. Monetary donations to support the food pantry should be directed to the Northwest Foundation and are tax-deductible.

Click here to view a flyer with more information.


Tobacco Free policy

Northwest has implemented an updated Tobacco Free policy. The University is committed to providing an environment that is safe and healthy. Consistent with this policy, the use of tobacco is prohibited on all University-owned or leased property (“University Property”) and in all University vehicles. This policy applies to all students, employees, contractors, volunteers and visitors.

For more information about this policy, click this link.


Family and Medical Leave Act

The University provides family and medical leave in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. FMLA requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees. The University requires that employees substitute (run concurrently) accrued paid leave to which employees may be entitled to cover the employee’s FMLA leave, before using unpaid leave under the FMLA.

If an employee is away from work for three or more consecutive days due to medical reasons, contact the Office of Human Resources regarding FMLA and leave requirements.


Worker's compensation

If an employee is injured at work, injuries must be reported immediately to the employee’s supervisor and the Office of Human Resources. Employees must contact the Office of Human Resources and the state Central Accident Reporting Office before medical treatment is sought. For any questions regarding workplace injuries, contact Human Resources at 660.562.1127.


Purchase requisition training videos

Purchasing has created instructional videos explaining how to create a purchase requisition in Banner/INB. The videos are available in MyNorthwest, Employee Resources - Finance.