Engagement Day 2026 was held on Friday, May 22 at Livingston Student Center. About 90 Rutgers University Libraries faculty and staff gathered for a day of professional development and team building.
The theme was Building Bridges: Creating a Connected Workplace. Connie Cinko, a human resources professional with a focus on learning and development, led the morning session. Framing the discussion with The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, Cinko led attendees through a series of interactive exercises to examine the core behaviors for a work environment that supports connectedness. Topics explored include trust, unconscious bias, respect, and communication skills.
In the afternoon, employees chose from a variety of team-building activities. Tai Chi lessons on the patio were led by John Gaddy of John Gaddy’s Karate and Boxing Studio in High Bridge. Meditation sessions in the Gathering Place were led by Reka Somodi, senior director, promotion of well-being, from the Rutgers Health Office of Clinical and Health Affairs. Art librarian Megan Lotts led button making, events and program manager Elena Schneider led stone painting, and additional options included a self-guided sculpture and landmarks walk on campus, in addition to cards, board games, bocce, and giant Jenga.
“Engagement Day is an important event for us as an organization,” said Consuella Askew, vice president for university libraries and university librarian, in her opening remarks. “It gives us the opportunity to come together across campuses, roles, and units—to reconnect, to reflect, and to strengthen the relationships that make our work possible and our organization successful.”