Stony Brook University

04/21/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/21/2025 14:04

Next Generation Gets a Glimpse of Campus Life at Stony Brook’s Bring Your Child to Work Day

Wolfie was a special guest at Stony Brook's 'Take Your Child to Work Day' on April 17. Photos by John Griffin.

Stony Brook University welcomed 30 children between the ages of 9 and 12 on April 17 for "Bring Your Child to Work Day." The pilot program - the first of its kind offered on the main campus in over 10 years - was designed to introduce children to the academic and professional opportunities at Stony Brook while giving them a glimpse into the work lives of their parents and guardians.

The theme of the event was "Dare to Be the Future," aligning with the university's broader messaging around innovation, aspiration and career exploration.

Director of Healthier U Cathrine Duffy helped kick off the event by encouraging the children to think about their parents' roles at the university.

"How many of you have been to work with your parent or guardian before?" she asked the group. "It's great to see so many of you here for the first time. Today is a chance to learn what your parent or guardian does and explore all the exciting things happening at Stony Brook."

The morning sessions included a presentation on injury prevention by healthcare experts, followed by opportunities to learn about college admissions, electromagnetics, and a tour of the Staller Center for the Arts.

One highlight was a talk from students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, where children learned how 3D printers are used to create medical models, surgical tools, and prosthetics. Participants engaged in hands-on activities to learn the basics of 3D design.

Anthony Ruggiero, 12, said his favorite part of the day was learning about electromagnetism during one of the design-focused activities. "Basically, you take the screwdriver. You take the wire, you wrap it around 10 to 15 times, and then you put tape on it on the edge of the wire, and stick it onto the negative side of the battery. And then you connect the other side to the battery. And then someone else holds the screwdriver and tries to pick up as many paper clips as possible, and I was able to pick up six paper clips!" he said. "I didn't know that the campus had a statue of Wolfie and a secret gaming room. I definitely want to go to Stony Brook one day."

Following a lunch break with their parents or guardians, the children returned for a virtual reality demonstration, face painting, and a visit from Wolfie. The day concluded with a group photo and a time capsule activity in which the children contributed written notes and mementos reflecting their aspirations for the future.

Duffy noted that the program was inspired by the success of a similar initiative held in recent years at Stony Brook Medicine. "Our assistant vice president of people, culture and engagement, Kenya Lewis Brewer, was excited to bring this to the main campus as a broader engagement opportunity," she said. "The day was all about giving kids the opportunity to envision their futures and see firsthand the innovative work taking place here."

Joessie Mathews, culture and engagement coordinator in Human Resources,who organized the event, said interest in the event grew quickly through word of mouth. "Once people started hearing about it, the interest surged. We had to turn some departments away because we ran out of space," she said. "The response shows there's strong interest in more youth-focused campus engagement programs."

She added that planning the day offered a unique opportunity to showcase the range of expertise and passion found across the campus community. "What stood out to me most was how many departments jumped at the chance to get involved," Mathews said. "It really highlighted how invested our faculty and staff are in inspiring the next generation."

With a successful Bring Your Child to Work day completed, organizers are looking ahead to future years. "This was a test run," Duffy said. "But based on the response, we'd love to expand next year and make it even bigger."

- Beth Squire