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Eric Wu works in the Leadership and Talent Development space on the Talent Development and Well-being Team within Human Resources Department at ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ University, where he joined in 2020, and focuses on building scalable talent and performance management strategy and solutions to improve professional development and career outcomes for staff. Eric leverages human-centered design and design thinking to solve for organizational challenges and social impact initiatives. A career pivoter, Eric finished up his graduate studies at ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ in 2022 where he obtained his MS in Learning and Organizational Change. Prior to moving into the human capital space, he spent 12.5 years in beer working in corporate strategy, sales operations, and business transformation for MillerCoors. Outside of work, he is a passionate community advocate that is involved with co-chairing the Asian Giving Circle and is an active member of Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Why Affinity Groups matter?

I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in affinity groups at more than one organization. Even though both organizations are in vastly different industries, they share a common element, in that at their core affinity groups are addressing the basic need that we all have: to feel a sense of belonging. Affinity groups break organizational boundaries and silos, creating opportunities for people to connect with others they wouldn’t have cross passed with.

Tracey Gibson-Jackson is the founder and co-chair of the NU Black Professionals Network (BPN). She has been at ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ since 2007 and currently serves as the director of student organizations & activities. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and a Master’s degree in Political and Justice Studies. Tracey has been immersed in student affairs for over 25 years. She has a fierce passion for bring people together and creating opportunities for inclusiveness and representation. Her areas of experience include community building, conflict resolution, and mediation. Away from work she enjoys spending time with her Westie Pepper Princess Jackson (PPJ) and her two sons.

Why Affinity Groups matter?

Affinity groups matter because everyone should have a safe place, space, community they can feel comfortable in and connected to. BPN prides itself on making sure every member of our community are seen, valued and celebrated!

Toni Montgomery joined ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ – Financial Operations in May 2006. Toni has been a member of the BPN since its inauguration in 2016. As the BPN Co-Chair, Toni manages financial operations. In her role as Director of Dialogue, she develops and oversees open dialogue sessions for members on the Chicago/Evanston campus.

Toni believes that as we work together, this provides ‘people power’ and produces valuable outcomes for progressive change.

Why Affinity Groups matter?

It’s important to have a group of individuals who work together with like backgrounds, interests and cultures because it makes a stronger organization. Folks feel connected and safe. As Co-Chair, I am able to bring our members programs, dialogue sessions and a sense of community. I am able to collaborate with NU senior leaders so that our members feel like a part of ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ.

Liam Sexton is a Senior Business Analyst at Kellogg Advancement Analytics, and has been co-chair of MBOSS for ~2 years along with Tia Ng. He is also Secretary and Treasurer of ENLACE, Kellogg’s Latinx Staff Resource Group. Liam has been at ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ University for about 8 years now, specifically in Development and Alumni Relations. He is originally from Indiana, graduated from Indiana University, and lived in Chicago for 15 years before relocating to Michigan.

Why Affinity Groups matter?

I think affinity groups are important because they create communities within ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ where individuals can find other staff with similar backgrounds and experiences. I love connecting with people and sharing our unique experiences, as well as being a part of community building.

K. Parker Hess (aka ParkyTaco) is an Assistant Director in SOA that serves as the primary advisor for A&O, Mayfest, and CTSS and supports NU Nights. He obtained his B.S in Theatre Arts & Dance from Southern Utah University and his Ed.M from Boston University. Before joining ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ, Parker served in Student Activities at the University of Notre Dame for three years, working with student clubs, Class Councils, and student development.

He is a passionate connoisseur of Taco Bell (especially the BajaBlast), a self-proclaimed sadboi music listener, and a professional napper. Wanna talk about Brené Brown? He'll buy the coffee, and you pick the time!

Why Affinity Groups matter?

With my personal aim to find a healthy community and sustain the feeling of belongingness, I joined Out Network to actively play a role in fostering a community amongst my queer colleagues, which I felt I missed at previous jobs. With the world always coming at us in several different directions, Out Network allows folks to find emotional refuge and connection and some moments of laughter! It is critical to support staff in their journey while at ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ. Plus working with this group so far has been so heartwarming!

Win Reynolds is a queer, trans and neurodivergent person and one of Out Network’s co-chairs. As an employee at ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ, they are the research, science and engineering editor for the media relations team at the Office of Global Marketing and Communications, where they cover innovation and science and health research at the University for ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ Now and the alumni magazine, and pitch research to journalists. They graduated from Medill in 2019 with majors in journalism and psychology and a certificate in civic engagement.

In their ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ time beyond the nine-to-five, Win has found community in queer and trans spaces on and off campus. Win founded the queer employees resource group at their previous role, and quickly joined Out Network Evanston when they returned to the University as a staff member. Now in their second year as co-chair, Win hopes to create more intentional, specific spaces for faculty and staff members to feel like their full selves and be more playful surrounding intersecting identities; and just make more time to hang out with ONE informally.

Win loves to write about things besides science, too, and uses their spare time to write, read and create things (they are currently loving a bookmaking class they are taking at Lillstreet, go figure!). They also like to hike and camp with their dogs, play board games and explore free events around the city.

What do you love about being a co-chair?

I love being a co-chair because I get to watch how members of our leadership council bring skillsets from so many different fields together to form what becomes a beautiful and sustainable team. As the only affinity group open to both faculty and staff, we toe lots of campus lines which I find really fun and exciting. I’m the first/only out trans employee in my department (so far!!), and having spaces where belonging feels inherent like in an affinity group is so critical to a healthy work culture.

Sonia is the primary administrator for Corporate Engagement and, along with managing its digital publications, updating its website, and tech-hosting its webinars, liaises with its internal partners to ensure gift funds are allocated correctly to the appropriate units.

Sonia joined ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ in March 2020 after supporting a Chicago-based social service agency for 15 years. Sonia has a BA in Liberal Studies from Shimer College, has earned certificates in Mediation and Mental Health First Aid from ºÚË¿ÄÚÉäÊÓƵ, and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. She is a Mental Health First Aider, Bystander Intervention facilitator and trainer, circle facilitator, and MCR Mediator.

Away from work - and often at work - she’s an avid listener of music of all genres and plays numerous percussion instruments with an alarming lack of expertise. Her feline animal companion, Roshi, dominates her life and thankfully has little interest in the collection of yarns she has accumulated during her ongoing knitting adventures. She also enjoys dancing, reading, and puzzles, tho rarely simultaneously.

Work motto: too many hats, too few heads

Life motto: “Flops are a part of life's menu and I've never been a girl to miss out on any of the courses” (from the incomparable Rosalind Russell)

Why affinity groups matter:

In a world that is often hostile to those who are different, it’s important to create spaces  that support and celebrate a group’s shared cultures, values, or heritage not only for the  benefit of the individual but for greater group cohesion or community building.