A Culture of Care: How We Support Our Team

At ASUA, inclusion is not only something we strive to create for our students - it is something we actively build for our team.

We recognize that every individual who walks through our doors brings more than their professional skills. They bring lived experiences, identities, responsibilities, strengths, and needs that shape how they show up each day. Honoring that reality is at the core of how we support our employees.

This begins with a simple but powerful belief: people do their best work when they feel seen, respected, and supported as whole human beings.

One of the ways this belief comes to life is through our culture of micro-accommodation. These are small, thoughtful adjustments - often informal, but always intentional - that remove barriers and make it easier for individuals to succeed. Whether it’s flexibility in how a task is approached, adjustments to communication styles, or support during challenging moments, micro-accommodations allow us to respond to people as individuals rather than expecting everyone to fit into a single mold.

We also place a strong emphasis on personal and professional growth. At ASUA, development is not one-size-fits-all. Some team members are eager to pursue leadership pathways, while others are focused on deepening their expertise or finding balance within their current roles. Both are valued. We create space for employees to explore their goals, build new skills, and engage in meaningful learning experiences that align with their individual paths.

Equally important is our commitment to creating a workplace where people feel safe bringing their authentic selves to work. We know that authenticity fuels connection, creativity, and trust. By fostering an environment where individuals can show up as who they are, without pressure to mask or conform. In this way, we strengthen not only our teams but the impact of our work as a whole.

Supporting our employees also means recognizing that life does not exist separately from work. Our team members navigate personal responsibilities, challenges, and milestones outside of their roles at ASUA. Through a combination of formal support and everyday practices, we strive to meet people where they are, offering flexibility, understanding, and care when it is needed most.

These efforts are not driven by a single program or initiative. They are embedded in how we lead, how we communicate, and how we design our systems. They are reflected in the relationships we build with one another and the trust we cultivate across our community.

At ASUA, inclusive employment means more than creating opportunities - it means creating an environment where people can sustain, grow, and thrive. By supporting the whole person, we build stronger teams, deepen our impact, and continue moving our mission forward together.

ASUA’s practices reflect what inclusive employment can look like, even beyond ASUA. This is the kind of workplace we believe should exist everywhere, and for everyone. 

Kay Stauffer, SHRM-CP (they/them)

Chief Operations & Innovation Officer