In this first-person narrative, Madison Eifert, community relations specialist for the University Police Department Northern Command and a member of the administrative faculty committee, shares her experience building community and giving back through the “That’s a Wrap! 2025” peer connection event at the University of Nevada, Reno.

One of the most meaningful parts of my role at the University of Nevada, Reno is finding opportunities to connect with colleagues in ways that go beyond our day-to-day work. That spirit was fully realized during the Administrative Faculty Committee’s peer connection event “That’s a Wrap! 2025,” which brought administrative faculty together at the Joe Crowley Student Union for an afternoon of service, connection and holiday cheer.

As members of the Administrative Faculty Committee, we organized this year’s peer connect event in support of the Joe Crowley Student Union’s annual Giving Tree, a long-standing campus tradition that provides holiday gifts for children enrolled in the University’s Early Head Start program. Walking into the event space and seeing tables filled with more than 150 unwrapped gifts was a powerful reminder of the collective impact we can have when we come together.

Throughout the afternoon, administrative faculty from across campus wrapped gifts side by side, sharing conversations, laughter and stories as we worked. Knowing that each carefully wrapped present would soon bring joy to a child and their family made the experience even more meaningful.

Lauren Perez, coordinator for programming and marketing for the Joe Crowley Student Union, shared how valuable this support has been for the Giving Tree program. She explained that wrapping and organizing gifts used to take hours, and having our committee’s help streamlined the process and made it much more manageable. Hearing that reinforced how small acts of service can make a significant difference.

Creating intentional connections

The Administrative Faculty Committee is charged with planning peer connect sessions each semester to foster inclusion, connection and community among administrative faculty at all levels. Supported by the Faculty Senate Office, these events are intentionally designed to be sustainable and accessible, with opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction that support networking, mentoring and professional development.

For me, this event was about more than wrapping gifts. It was about creating intentional space for administrative faculty to connect in authentic ways while giving back to our campus community. By pairing service with peer engagement, we were able to support an important university tradition while strengthening relationships that help administrative faculty feel connected, supported and valued.

Our committee co-chairs echoed that sentiment. Loren Pietsch shared her gratitude for the strong turnout and enthusiasm, noting that the kindness and energy of participants made the event a success. Julie Guimond reflected on how special it was to see faculty members who had never met before exchanging stories and forming new connections – relationships that will continue well beyond the holiday season.

A meaningful and lasting impact

In addition to wrapping gifts, participants enjoyed informal conversation alongside a cookie and cocoa bar, creating a warm and welcoming environment that encouraged connection across departments and roles. Those simple moments of conversation reminded me how valuable it is to step away from our routines and build community together.

Events like “That’s a Wrap! 2025” highlight the heart of the University of Nevada, Reno: service, connection and care for one another. I’m proud to be part of a community that shows up for its students and colleagues in such tangible ways, and I look forward to continuing this tradition of giving and connection through future peer connect events.

For those interested in learning more about the Administrative Faculty Committee, you can reach out to our co-chairs, Loren Pietsch and Julie Guimond.