Keynote Session
Rethinking Well-Being Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Solutions
Speaker: Dr. Emorie D. Beck, PhD, Associate Professor, UC Davis Department of Psychology
In this session, Dr. Beck will share insights from psychological science and her own research to explore a simple but often overlooked idea: there is no single “right” way to take care of your well-being. While advice about happiness and mental health is everywhere, and often well intentioned, it does not work equally well for everyone. Dr. Beck explains why this is the case and what science tells us about individual differences in well-being.
Rather than focusing only on what should work, the session emphasizes how people can figure out what works for them. Dr. Beck discusses how recognizing these differences can be empowering, especially for those who have felt frustrated, discouraged, or even ashamed when common recommendations have not helped. They also address how to endure periods when well-being feels hard to access and how letting go of comparison and self-blame can open the door to more supportive and sustainable approaches.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of why well-being can look different from person to person, along with practical ways to reflect on what supports them best. The session will emphasize curiosity over self-criticism, offering tools for trying new strategies without pressure or perfection. Above all, it aims to reassure participants that struggling with well-being is a common and understandable experience, and that meaningful, sustainable change is possible when people are supported in finding approaches that fit their own lives.
General Sessions
Avoiding Burnout Bingo: Reclaiming Identity Energy & Voice in Purpose-Driven Careers
Speaker: Leticia V. Garay, MBA, Associate Director of Admissions, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Whether you’re a rising professional or seasoned leader, burnout doesn’t discriminate. Leticia V. Garay shares her first-gen journey and practical tools to reframe exhaustion into clarity. Through reflection, storytelling, and audience engagement, participants learn how to protect energy (and sanity), realign with purpose, and build sustainable, authentic professional pathways.
Harnessing Your Well-Being
Speakers: Dr. Uma Anand, PhD, Director, UC Davis ASAP & Mallory Boeckman, MSL, Director, UC Davis Employee Well-Being
Self-care is more than rest and recovery—it also shows up in how we experience our work each day. This interactive session invites staff to explore self-care through the lens of well-being, focusing on career, social and emotional well-being as key sources of strength, purpose, and connection. Grounded in research, participants will reflect on how appreciation, feedback, meaningful work, emotional-cognitive account balances, and positive relationships function as everyday forms of self-care at work—supporting resilience, engagement, and long-term well-being in on-site, hybrid, and remote environments.