‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’: MSU DPPS hires first Health and Wellness Coordinator

January 25, 2024

EAST LANSING, Mich. — As part of the MSU Department Police and Public Safety’s (DPPS) committed effort to employee and officer wellness, the department is excited to introduce its first Health and Wellness Coordinator, Sara Glees. Glees’ role will be to coordinate resources and opportunities for all department employees to improve overall well-being. 

“This position shows employees that their well-being is important,” said Glees. “By dedicating personnel to lead these efforts, information becomes centralized and is easier to communicate and distribute. Employees have someone they can go to with their ideas and be met with an open mind.”

Glees obtained her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University with a specialization in Health Promotion. In 2016, she completed her Wellness Coaching Certification and began working full-time in corporate wellness. 

Glees joined MSU as a full-time employee in January 2023 working in student well-being, and began working for MSU DPPS in December 2023. She hopes to foster a culture of wellness within the department. 

“Our people spend so much time taking care of the community,” said Glees. “If we are not supporting their care for themselves, there will be no one left to do that hard work.”

Deputy Chief Andrea Munford, Glees’ supervisor, believes prioritizing employee health and wellness goes a long way.

“It’s critical that we make wellness for our employees a priority,” said Munford. “We are excited to welcome Sara to the team and believe she will be a strong asset to both our department and campus.”

While Glees’ role focuses mostly on employee wellness, she is also looking forward to engaging with the Spartan community.

“We’ve all heard it before, but you can’t pour from an empty cup,” said Glees. “As the community as a whole shifts its focus toward well-being, hopefully we will see all of our Spartans grow stronger and more empathetic together.”

If you would like to connect with Sara, you can email her at GleesS@dpps.msu.edu.

As always, MSU DPPS can be contacted any time at 517-355-2221. In an emergency, contact 911 – call if you can, text if you can’t.

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Media Contact:  

Dana Whyte, Communications Manager and Spokesperson, Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety  

517-282-3711 | WhyteD@dpps.msu.edu