Meet Lori Strom, our highlighted APA member from the WorkLife Office.
What is your job title?
For two years now I have been the Lifespan and Family Services Coordinator.
How long have you been at MSU?
I have been at MSU for 20 years; 18 of which I was director of the Family Resource Center.
Have you been a member of the APA the whole time?
When I worked with the Family Resource Center I was a supervisor. In my current role, I became a
member of the APA.
What department do you work in, and can you tell me a little about what you do?
The WorkLife Office is under the Office of the Provost. We serve staff, faculty, academic staff and post-
docs in their ability to navigate their responsibilities in the office and personal life. We welcome faculty
and staff to the university. I specifically deal with family circumstances from childhood to elder years; for
example in the areas of breastfeeding support and elder care. It is stressful to care for an elder family
member. We are there to support them and provide resource options. We also promote flexible work
scheduling. It has been proven that flexible work schedules result in higher morale and job satisfaction.
In my work in supporting people, I have realized how valuable the role of the supervisor is. People’s job
satisfaction is often related to how well their supervisor appreciates the balance of work and family life.
In 2001 I started the Outstanding Supervisor Award. I wanted to recognize the good bosses on campus,
the ones who understand that people will have greater job satisfaction if the supervisor generally
supports their people.
What brought you to your job at MSU?
Twenty years ago I was doing intergenerational daycare. I took care of kids and seniors together. The
Family Resource Center was brand new at the time. It was only a half-time position, and I had a two-
year-old son I wanted to spend more time with, so it was perfect. I ended up writing a grant to provide
childcare for MSU students, so I could not work part-time anymore after a year-and- a-half in the
position.
What do you love about working at MSU?
The people. I love the enthusiasm for what MSU stands for. I love the sense of community that we have
and that people are very genuine about working hard and making MSU the best it can be. I love the
campus itself; the green space is lovely. What I love about my job is trying to humanize the place. MSU is
so large that people sometimes feel like a number. I like to be there on a one-on- one basis. We are all
together as human beings to support one another. Work is stressful because everyone works really
hard. It is also great to maintain long term relationships with the students I have worked with over the
years. Some of those students now have children who go to MSU.
What do you like to do when you are not at work?
I am an avid bike rider. I love cross country skiing, gardening and hiking. Being outside is my thing. I am a
big camper and I love the water. I also love being with my friends and family.