- Email:
- kindersa@iu.edu
- Campus:
- IU
What was your path to get to where you are now?
I’m a licensed clinical social worker, and for years my work was entirely student-facing. Today, I serve as the Work + Life Coordinator for Healthy IU, supporting employees across all IU campuses. Because our audience is spread throughout the state, technology has become essential to my role. I rely on digital tools to connect with employees, deliver programming, build community, and support wellness in ways that aren’t limited by geography.
What professional development activity did you complete with the help of the IUWIT grant?
I’m currently completing a six-week asynchronous training based on Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering. The course includes readings, a workbook, and guided activities that help you design gatherings—whether in-person, hybrid, or virtual—that are meaningful, intentional, and community-building.
A major part of my role is fostering social connection among employees across the state. Because so much of my work happens virtually, Priya Parker’s framework has already helped me think more intentionally about how to create digital spaces where people feel welcomed, seen, and connected. Simple things—like starting Zoom sessions with cameras on, using “magical questions” to warm up the chat, or designing gatherings with a clear purpose—can make a huge difference.
I’m also applying this learning to our upcoming Wellness Ambassadors Retreat, which we host every two years. My goal is for the retreat to feel intentional, restorative, and meaningful for the 125–150 ambassadors who attend.
How can employees engage with Healthy IU?
Employees can engage with us in several ways:
- Through our semester-based Healthy IU emails
- Through Wellness Ambassadors embedded in units
- By requesting workshops, trainings, or retreat sessions
- By joining our Teams communities (parenting, menopause, grief, elder care, and more)
We offer both virtual and in-person programming, depending on the need, and we’re always looking for ways to make our resources more accessible across campuses.
What has been one of your favorite technologies or digital tools you’ve used in your work?
One of my favorite tools I’ve used in my career is an app called Goosechase. I worked with it in my previous role when we were developing suicide-prevention programming for high-school students. Goosechase lets you build interactive, mission-based activities—kind of like a digital scavenger hunt—and it was such an engaging way to help students learn about mental-health resources and practice help-seeking skills.
I loved how it blended technology with education and wellness in a way that felt creative, accessible, and fun. Even though my work now is focused on IU employees, that experience really shaped how I think about using tech to build connection and support wellbeing.
How do you imagine technology supporting your field in the future?
Technology already plays a huge role in how we build community across campuses, and I see that expanding. For example, someone at a CWIT lunch mentioned using VR to create calming or meditative experiences at retreats—something ambassadors could then take back to their departments.
We also rely heavily on Microsoft Teams to build ongoing communities around caregiving, parenting, grief, and more. As these tools evolve, I’m excited about the possibilities for creating even more meaningful, accessible, and connected experiences for IU employees.