Leslie Winick (Image credit: Courtesy Leslie Winick)

First, there is some stuff I need to admit to:

• The one thing I have hoarded is coffee. There are five big bags hiding in my freezer. This will not surprise anyone who works with me.
• I am weirdly and totally exhausted at the end of the day. So much Zoom, Slack and email, oh my! But there’s nothing like an existential crisis to appreciate how nice cool sheets feel when it’s finally time to sleep.
• My internet is annoyingly unstable. C’mon San Francisco neighborhood, do me a solid, because this will be my undoing.
• The wall that appears behind me on Zoom calls has about 70 framed black-and-white photos of family and friends. When I notice it, all I can think is: Will I ever update them or will we all be frozen in time?
• I worry that I won’t do any of the hobbies I might/should dive into, such as calligraphy, yoga and becoming a cupcake expert. So much guilt ahead.

On a more serious note, I worry about people who are dealing with major challenges, such as financial fragility, complicated family situations or already compromised health. I am also really concerned about people whose sense of isolation or worry is making it hard for them to keep perspective.

What I hope for all of my colleagues and friends is that you’re paying attention to your mental health and reaching out when you’re not feeling yourself.

Lastly, I offer my gratitude list: I appreciate blueberries; the sound of neighbors’ conversations wafting through my windows; that little spark of optimism that seems to still be flickering and, of course, how many smart and brave people are in the world trying to help us all get through this.

Leslie Winick (Image credit: Courtesy Leslie Winick)

First, there is some stuff I need to admit to:

• The one thing I have hoarded is coffee. There are five big bags hiding in my freezer. This will not surprise anyone who works with me.
• I am weirdly and totally exhausted at the end of the day. So much Zoom, Slack and email, oh my! But there’s nothing like an existential crisis to appreciate how nice cool sheets feel when it’s finally time to sleep.
• My internet is annoyingly unstable. C’mon San Francisco neighborhood, do me a solid, because this will be my undoing.
• The wall that appears behind me on Zoom calls has about 70 framed black-and-white photos of family and friends. When I notice it, all I can think is: Will I ever update them or will we all be frozen in time?
• I worry that I won’t do any of the hobbies I might/should dive into, such as calligraphy, yoga and becoming a cupcake expert. So much guilt ahead.

On a more serious note, I worry about people who are dealing with major challenges, such as financial fragility, complicated family situations or already compromised health. I am also really concerned about people whose sense of isolation or worry is making it hard for them to keep perspective.

What I hope for all of my colleagues and friends is that you’re paying attention to your mental health and reaching out when you’re not feeling yourself.

Lastly, I offer my gratitude list: I appreciate blueberries; the sound of neighbors’ conversations wafting through my windows; that little spark of optimism that seems to still be flickering and, of course, how many smart and brave people are in the world trying to help us all get through this.

Ari Chasnoff and kids (Image credit: Courtesy Ari Chasnoff)

A few weeks ago, my home and professional lives were more distinct. Rarely did the two overlap, because I commute to Stanford from San Francisco, where I live with my wife and two children, Sadie, who is 2½, and Ezra, who is 6 months old.

To clear my head during a busy day on campus, I used to call my wife and talk to my daughter while taking a brisk afternoon walk – from Encina Hall to Maples Pavilion, around the Avery Aquatics Center and past the Taube Family Tennis Center, where I would watch a few minutes of tennis if possible, then return to my office.

My breaks look a lot different now. With one step outside my office area in the corner of our master bedroom, I immediately find myself in the throes of family life – helping with nap routines, preparing raisin bread and cream cheese snacks or performing a quick puppet show with teddy bears and rabbits. This has proven very effective at clearing my head too, as it turns out.

I am finding my work as engaging and worthwhile as ever – perhaps even more so –because I am working with more than 100 researchers to produce and curate timely analysis and commentary on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

It’s given me the opportunity to connect with researchers I haven’t interacted with before, albeit, through email, instant messaging and web conferencing. The institute is uniquely positioned to offer a cross-disciplinary perspective on the pandemic in all of its challenging dimensions. I feel fortunate to be able to play a productive role, and, thanks to my kids, I’ve picked up a few new puppeteering skills along the way.

Ari Chasnoff and kids (Image credit: Courtesy Ari Chasnoff)

A few weeks ago, my home and professional lives were more distinct. Rarely did the two overlap, because I commute to Stanford from San Francisco, where I live with my wife and two children, Sadie, who is 2½, and Ezra, who is 6 months old.

To clear my head during a busy day on campus, I used to call my wife and talk to my daughter while taking a brisk afternoon walk – from Encina Hall to Maples Pavilion, around the Avery Aquatics Center and past the Taube Family Tennis Center, where I would watch a few minutes of tennis if possible, then return to my office.

My breaks look a lot different now. With one step outside my office area in the corner of our master bedroom, I immediately find myself in the throes of family life – helping with nap routines, preparing raisin bread and cream cheese snacks or performing a quick puppet show with teddy bears and rabbits. This has proven very effective at clearing my head too, as it turns out.

I am finding my work as engaging and worthwhile as ever – perhaps even more so –because I am working with more than 100 researchers to produce and curate timely analysis and commentary on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

It’s given me the opportunity to connect with researchers I haven’t interacted with before, albeit, through email, instant messaging and web conferencing. The institute is uniquely positioned to offer a cross-disciplinary perspective on the pandemic in all of its challenging dimensions. I feel fortunate to be able to play a productive role, and, thanks to my kids, I’ve picked up a few new puppeteering skills along the way.

Allison Barnum (Image credit: Courtesy Allison Barnum)

So much has changed in terms of my day-to-day life and mentality since I started working from home!

I am home with my two young boys, so I need to juggle my work for Stanford plus caring for and at least attempting to ensure continuity in education for them. I start work at 6 a.m. and try to do three hours of work before taking a break to focus on “distance learning.”

I spend a lot of time on reading and writing support for my 7-year-old son, who is in first grade, while my 10-year-old son, who is in fourth grade, completes many of his assignments in Google Classroom. We try to get out for a little fresh air and exercise at least once a day – bicycling, running and/or playing basketball and Wiffle ball.

Then I get back to work – I primarily work at the kitchen table – and give them more-than-a-little screen time to play online games with friends and watch basketball videos. They are not complaining!

Though I am occasionally distracted by children sneaking into the kitchen for extra sweets during Zoom meetings, so far, I haven’t had any major webcasting mishaps.

Work continuity has been pretty smooth. I am able to connect with my team via Slack or Zoom whenever necessary. I really wish I had my large computer screen at home; when I am working off multiple documents at once, it is helpful to see them concurrently. That said, I really can’t complain. I can make it work!

One silver lining to working from home is learning and using more technology to conduct meetings virtually that we had planned to conduct in person. Last week, we used break-out rooms in Zoom for small group discussions. It actually worked quite well!

Allison Barnum (Image credit: Courtesy Allison Barnum)

So much has changed in terms of my day-to-day life and mentality since I started working from home!

I am home with my two young boys, so I need to juggle my work for Stanford plus caring for and at least attempting to ensure continuity in education for them. I start work at 6 a.m. and try to do three hours of work before taking a break to focus on “distance learning.”

I spend a lot of time on reading and writing support for my 7-year-old son, who is in first grade, while my 10-year-old son, who is in fourth grade, completes many of his assignments in Google Classroom. We try to get out for a little fresh air and exercise at least once a day – bicycling, running and/or playing basketball and Wiffle ball.

Then I get back to work – I primarily work at the kitchen table – and give them more-than-a-little screen time to play online games with friends and watch basketball videos. They are not complaining!

Though I am occasionally distracted by children sneaking into the kitchen for extra sweets during Zoom meetings, so far, I haven’t had any major webcasting mishaps.

Work continuity has been pretty smooth. I am able to connect with my team via Slack or Zoom whenever necessary. I really wish I had my large computer screen at home; when I am working off multiple documents at once, it is helpful to see them concurrently. That said, I really can’t complain. I can make it work!

One silver lining to working from home is learning and using more technology to conduct meetings virtually that we had planned to conduct in person. Last week, we used break-out rooms in Zoom for small group discussions. It actually worked quite well!

Gina Hernandez Clarke and Chris Gonzalez Clarke (Image credit: Courtesy Gina and Chris Clarke)

Gina: We are lucky to have a sunny office space just off our bedroom. Chris is static in that he has his desktop computer on an actual desk with a large monitor. With a laptop, I am a bit more mobile, with a comfortable chair, the living room couch and even my side of the bed serving as my workplace. I found that a music stand functions okay as a sit/stand work station. I try to keep a beloved work of art in my background to offer colleagues a glimpse at the more aesthetically pleasing aspects of our home during Zoom meetings. In normal times, this is the room where Chris rehearses and makes recordings.

Chris: Our two boys are home from school – one from college and one from high school. During their spring breaks, that left lots of unstructured time for video gaming, working out in the garage, and eating and snacking – a lot!

Gina: Seeing colleagues and doing our work in Zoom meetings definitely reduces the anxiety we feel about what is happening in the world around us. I appreciate my colleagues now more than ever and miss seeing them in person!

Chris: It has been unexpectedly challenging to maintain communications with staff and other colleagues. Everything from real-time to asynchronous communications happens through one device: the computer. That means I’m sitting at the computer longer, typing more and generally communicating less efficiently. Zoom has been fun and very helpful. I’ve been attempting to replace what would have been an in-person, real-life, drop-in meetings by combining a Jabber ping with a Zoom link. Did that twice today – it worked!

Gina: I have found that keeping a routine is important for my focus and productivity. It is also pretty important to take breaks for lunch and for walks around the neighborhood so that I don’t get too sedate and get fresh air. My cues are pain in the neck (literally!) and soreness generally from sitting.

Chris: I’d give everything Gina said about routines and breaks a “plus-one.” I would add that trying to multitask is not effective and, certainly for me, is stress-inducing. I recommend closing some applications down – such as email and Jabber – from time to time, so they don’t even creep into your mind and you can focus productively on a single task.

Gina: In one word, I would describe myself today as “refocused.” Every day is different of course. But I return to the idea that every day brings something new, and my goal is to try to refocus on new ideas and new needs for the work that I do.

Chris: This experience has fostered an even deeper appreciation for the professionalism and positive attitudes of our colleagues – both in our own offices and those with whom we collaborate across the university. It has been amazing to see so many people step up to the challenges of doing their jobs under these circumstances while also dealing with the very personal aspects of this shelter-in-place order. In a word, that is inspiring!

Gina Hernandez Clarke and Chris Gonzalez Clarke (Image credit: Courtesy Gina and Chris Clarke)

Gina: We are lucky to have a sunny office space just off our bedroom. Chris is static in that he has his desktop computer on an actual desk with a large monitor. With a laptop, I am a bit more mobile, with a comfortable chair, the living room couch and even my side of the bed serving as my workplace. I found that a music stand functions okay as a sit/stand work station. I try to keep a beloved work of art in my background to offer colleagues a glimpse at the more aesthetically pleasing aspects of our home during Zoom meetings. In normal times, this is the room where Chris rehearses and makes recordings.

Chris: Our two boys are home from school – one from college and one from high school. During their spring breaks, that left lots of unstructured time for video gaming, working out in the garage, and eating and snacking – a lot!

Gina: Seeing colleagues and doing our work in Zoom meetings definitely reduces the anxiety we feel about what is happening in the world around us. I appreciate my colleagues now more than ever and miss seeing them in person!

Chris: It has been unexpectedly challenging to maintain communications with staff and other colleagues. Everything from real-time to asynchronous communications happens through one device: the computer. That means I’m sitting at the computer longer, typing more and generally communicating less efficiently. Zoom has been fun and very helpful. I’ve been attempting to replace what would have been an in-person, real-life, drop-in meetings by combining a Jabber ping with a Zoom link. Did that twice today – it worked!

Gina: I have found that keeping a routine is important for my focus and productivity. It is also pretty important to take breaks for lunch and for walks around the neighborhood so that I don’t get too sedate and get fresh air. My cues are pain in the neck (literally!) and soreness generally from sitting.

Chris: I’d give everything Gina said about routines and breaks a “plus-one.” I would add that trying to multitask is not effective and, certainly for me, is stress-inducing. I recommend closing some applications down – such as email and Jabber – from time to time, so they don’t even creep into your mind and you can focus productively on a single task.

Gina: In one word, I would describe myself today as “refocused.” Every day is different of course. But I return to the idea that every day brings something new, and my goal is to try to refocus on new ideas and new needs for the work that I do.

Chris: This experience has fostered an even deeper appreciation for the professionalism and positive attitudes of our colleagues – both in our own offices and those with whom we collaborate across the university. It has been amazing to see so many people step up to the challenges of doing their jobs under these circumstances while also dealing with the very personal aspects of this shelter-in-place order. In a word, that is inspiring!

Tommy Gray and daughter (Image credit: Courtesy Tommy Gray)

Like many parents, my wife and I have been juggling the responsibilities of full-time childcare and full-time work. My wife is a pediatrician and has continued seeing children at the clinic. I couldn’t be more grateful to my colleagues and Stanford for the flexibility and support we have received as we settle into a new and very different routine.

Since I began working from home, our 16-month-old daughter, Ella, has become known to my colleagues as our “chief of staff.” She enjoys making her presence known during our frequent video calls. Some of her go-to “moves” include spontaneous singing, which she rarely does any other time, throwing her toys against hard surfaces to make loud noises and insisting on sitting in my lap to wave to everyone on the screen. While this can be distracting at times, mostly I think it brings us some much-needed levity.

​I usually work at our kitchen counter, which centrally positions me to spring into action if Ella gets into any dangerous mischief. Occasionally, I mix it up and move to the couch or dining table.

​I’ve found that connecting with people face-to-face via Zoom gives me energy and provides a sense of normalcy during this period of relative isolation. Face-to-face interactions are so much richer than talking over the phone or chatting over Slack, which also have their uses.

Also, as someone who spends a good chunk of time in meetings, videoconferencing saves me transition time. It turns out clicking a link and launching Zoom is much quicker than walking across campus, although it certainly doesn’t help me get my steps in. My Zoom game is still in the “B” range, but I think I’ll get it into “A” territory pretty soon, at this rate.

Tommy Gray and daughter (Image credit: Courtesy Tommy Gray)

Like many parents, my wife and I have been juggling the responsibilities of full-time childcare and full-time work. My wife is a pediatrician and has continued seeing children at the clinic. I couldn’t be more grateful to my colleagues and Stanford for the flexibility and support we have received as we settle into a new and very different routine.

Since I began working from home, our 16-month-old daughter, Ella, has become known to my colleagues as our “chief of staff.” She enjoys making her presence known during our frequent video calls. Some of her go-to “moves” include spontaneous singing, which she rarely does any other time, throwing her toys against hard surfaces to make loud noises and insisting on sitting in my lap to wave to everyone on the screen. While this can be distracting at times, mostly I think it brings us some much-needed levity.

​I usually work at our kitchen counter, which centrally positions me to spring into action if Ella gets into any dangerous mischief. Occasionally, I mix it up and move to the couch or dining table.

​I’ve found that connecting with people face-to-face via Zoom gives me energy and provides a sense of normalcy during this period of relative isolation. Face-to-face interactions are so much richer than talking over the phone or chatting over Slack, which also have their uses.

Also, as someone who spends a good chunk of time in meetings, videoconferencing saves me transition time. It turns out clicking a link and launching Zoom is much quicker than walking across campus, although it certainly doesn’t help me get my steps in. My Zoom game is still in the “B” range, but I think I’ll get it into “A” territory pretty soon, at this rate.

May-Ling Kuo Gonzales and son (Image credit: Courtesy May-Ling Kuo Gonzales)

I’m working at the dining room table in the home I share with my husband and 3-year-old son, Taro. Our place does not have a wall between the dining room and the living room, which means I’ve got to set up and take everything down between meals. It’s less than ideal, but we’re making it work!

My husband, who just started a short sabbatical, has become the preschool parent. Taro’s teachers are sending out activity videos, scheduling 10-minute chats and hosting a live circle time every day. My husband readies the technology and prepares Taro’s “meeting room” and snacks. I’m taking Fridays off to help and my mom watches him three mornings a week.

I’m in meetings three to five hours a day, and with everyone working remotely the tendency has been for leadership to increase meetings, building in structured communication so we feel connected while apart. I get it, as I’m in alumni relations! That said, one-hour meetings at home are tough if I’m actively participating. My co-workers have found it common for Taro to pop up during meetings to say hello.

I enjoy the separation of home and office life, so I miss coming to campus on my bike every day. Still, I’ve had many cool virtual experiences – and my team hopes to recreate some of these for Stanford alumni. My team is responsible for lifelong learning with alumni, and with people becoming more comfortable with Zoom, we’re more likely to make our virtual events more interactive and invite alumni to ask questions. I’ve taken some great online trainings and I recently met virtually with co-workers to carry on our monthly board game lunch. One of my friends who teaches yoga on campus also teaches at a studio that is holding virtual classes – with the camera on – so she was able to connect and chat with over 100 of us.

Incorporating movement, conversation and a breath of fresh air during a short walk every day feels critical to our well-being. How we feel when at work leads to greater happiness, focus and productivity.

May-Ling Kuo Gonzales and son (Image credit: Courtesy May-Ling Kuo Gonzales)

I’m working at the dining room table in the home I share with my husband and 3-year-old son, Taro. Our place does not have a wall between the dining room and the living room, which means I’ve got to set up and take everything down between meals. It’s less than ideal, but we’re making it work!

My husband, who just started a short sabbatical, has become the preschool parent. Taro’s teachers are sending out activity videos, scheduling 10-minute chats and hosting a live circle time every day. My husband readies the technology and prepares Taro’s “meeting room” and snacks. I’m taking Fridays off to help and my mom watches him three mornings a week.

I’m in meetings three to five hours a day, and with everyone working remotely the tendency has been for leadership to increase meetings, building in structured communication so we feel connected while apart. I get it, as I’m in alumni relations! That said, one-hour meetings at home are tough if I’m actively participating. My co-workers have found it common for Taro to pop up during meetings to say hello.

I enjoy the separation of home and office life, so I miss coming to campus on my bike every day. Still, I’ve had many cool virtual experiences – and my team hopes to recreate some of these for Stanford alumni. My team is responsible for lifelong learning with alumni, and with people becoming more comfortable with Zoom, we’re more likely to make our virtual events more interactive and invite alumni to ask questions. I’ve taken some great online trainings and I recently met virtually with co-workers to carry on our monthly board game lunch. One of my friends who teaches yoga on campus also teaches at a studio that is holding virtual classes – with the camera on – so she was able to connect and chat with over 100 of us.

Incorporating movement, conversation and a breath of fresh air during a short walk every day feels critical to our well-being. How we feel when at work leads to greater happiness, focus and productivity.

Matthew Tiews with Charlotte (Image credit: Courtesy Matthew Tiews)

Like so many others, my husband and I have been struggling to establish a new routine in the midst of all the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of working from home, I had several false starts setting up a home office and have finally dragged my kitchen table into another room to get at least a little distance between work and dinner. My husband is still migrating from spot to spot.

Most importantly, I am missing my usual daily contact with Stanford colleagues and am trying to make sure to maintain social connections even while we have to be physically distant. It’s great to see people on Zoom, and I find that it’s very meaningful to take even a few minutes to check in with each other at the beginning of a Zoom meeting about how we are all doing.

My biggest practical challenge is managing the presence of our Chihuahua mix, Charlotte, during video calls. Charlotte has a disdain for all media (she stalks out of the room if a television is on), so I figured she would make herself scarce when videoconferencing was happening.

Instead, Charlotte has decided to be very present: making appearances in the background of video, barking madly whenever I unwisely unmute myself and crawling into my lap in the midst of complicated discussions. Finally, I decided I needed to shut her out of the room entirely.

In the middle of my next call, I heard a terrible wail – a sound I had never heard before, like someone’s heart had been broken and they could never be consoled. Charlotte was sitting right outside the door and had found an entirely new vocalization with which to express her displeasure. Needless to say, she’s now back in the background of my video calls.

Matthew Tiews with Charlotte (Image credit: Courtesy Matthew Tiews)

Like so many others, my husband and I have been struggling to establish a new routine in the midst of all the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of working from home, I had several false starts setting up a home office and have finally dragged my kitchen table into another room to get at least a little distance between work and dinner. My husband is still migrating from spot to spot.

Most importantly, I am missing my usual daily contact with Stanford colleagues and am trying to make sure to maintain social connections even while we have to be physically distant. It’s great to see people on Zoom, and I find that it’s very meaningful to take even a few minutes to check in with each other at the beginning of a Zoom meeting about how we are all doing.

My biggest practical challenge is managing the presence of our Chihuahua mix, Charlotte, during video calls. Charlotte has a disdain for all media (she stalks out of the room if a television is on), so I figured she would make herself scarce when videoconferencing was happening.

Instead, Charlotte has decided to be very present: making appearances in the background of video, barking madly whenever I unwisely unmute myself and crawling into my lap in the midst of complicated discussions. Finally, I decided I needed to shut her out of the room entirely.

In the middle of my next call, I heard a terrible wail – a sound I had never heard before, like someone’s heart had been broken and they could never be consoled. Charlotte was sitting right outside the door and had found an entirely new vocalization with which to express her displeasure. Needless to say, she’s now back in the background of my video calls.

Felicia A. Smith (Image credit: Courtesy Felicia A. Smith)

I created a home office in a comfy, light-filled corner of my living room where I can see a dazzling silver mask I bought in Venice, Italy, that I have hung on the wall. During the first week I was working from home, I sat at a card table. But I realized that I rarely stood up all day. So, I created a “standing desk” by placing my laptop on a mirrored pedestal.

I use Zoom at least three hours every day for leading team meetings and training sessions. We’re preparing to transform the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) Library Workshops that we offer to first-year students into an online format. Before the libraries closed as a result of the pandemic, we led students on walking tours of Green Library and sent them on scavenger hunts to retrieve books from shelves.

During spring quarter, when students will be learning from home, PWR instructors will assign students to watch our instructional videos, affectionately called “Nerd Squirrel Videos” in honor of the cartoon black squirrel that stars in them. Later, librarians will join the classes via Zoom to do question-and-answer sessions. We will be offering virtual office hours for PWR students and will do brief drop-in sessions upon request. A couple of Nerd Squirrel Videos, which also feature appearances by the Stanford Tree, can be found here.

At the start of our Zoom meetings, I lead my staff of four librarians in a karaoke exercise called “Felicia’s First 5-Minutes of Fun.” I share my screen, which shows the lyrics of a song I am playing on YouTube. My goal is to get everyone singing and laughing. So far, the biggest hits have been two songs from the 1970s – the rock anthem Hotel California by the Eagles, and YMCA by the disco group, Village People.

Felicia A. Smith (Image credit: Courtesy Felicia A. Smith)

I created a home office in a comfy, light-filled corner of my living room where I can see a dazzling silver mask I bought in Venice, Italy, that I have hung on the wall. During the first week I was working from home, I sat at a card table. But I realized that I rarely stood up all day. So, I created a “standing desk” by placing my laptop on a mirrored pedestal.

I use Zoom at least three hours every day for leading team meetings and training sessions. We’re preparing to transform the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) Library Workshops that we offer to first-year students into an online format. Before the libraries closed as a result of the pandemic, we led students on walking tours of Green Library and sent them on scavenger hunts to retrieve books from shelves.

During spring quarter, when students will be learning from home, PWR instructors will assign students to watch our instructional videos, affectionately called “Nerd Squirrel Videos” in honor of the cartoon black squirrel that stars in them. Later, librarians will join the classes via Zoom to do question-and-answer sessions. We will be offering virtual office hours for PWR students and will do brief drop-in sessions upon request. A couple of Nerd Squirrel Videos, which also feature appearances by the Stanford Tree, can be found here.

At the start of our Zoom meetings, I lead my staff of four librarians in a karaoke exercise called “Felicia’s First 5-Minutes of Fun.” I share my screen, which shows the lyrics of a song I am playing on YouTube. My goal is to get everyone singing and laughing. So far, the biggest hits have been two songs from the 1970s – the rock anthem Hotel California by the Eagles, and YMCA by the disco group, Village People.

Miesha Hardy (Image credit: Courtesy Miesha Hardy)

I have a dedicated office in my guest bedroom. However, I like to sometimes move around and sit at my breakfast bar or in our backyard patio.

My husband, who is the assistant chief of the Santa Clara County Probation Department, heads into work daily. Last week, our two children – Jaydon, who is 17, and Malia, who is 14 – began completing their school work via distance learning. Sometimes all three of us are on Zoom calls at the same time! There have been a few times our schedules matched and we enjoyed lunch together.

Oh, and I can’t forget our sweet pit bull terrier, Bess, who is my true and favorite officemate. She is always quiet while I’m on Zoom calls, and nudges me when it’s time to step outside for some fresh air, or just because she needs some love.

Working from home has allowed me to spend more quality with my family. I cook more and exercise daily, which has been nice.

The HR communications team has check-ins several times a week via Zoom so that we can stay connected. Next week, we plan to hold our first virtual birthday celebration for team members born in April. We’ve all been challenged to change our virtual backgrounds to festive birthday themes.

On Friday afternoons, University Human Resources schedules a Virtual Water Cooler meet-up via Zoom. More than 50 team members attend and share their favorite Netflix or binge-worthy television shows, recipes and walking trails, or simply discuss our plans for the weekend.

You don’t have to schedule a meeting to connect with fellow team members. Just send them a quick message or share a joke on Slack. We all love the work we do, but it’s the people that make Stanford a special place, no matter where you work from.

Miesha Hardy (Image credit: Courtesy Miesha Hardy)

I have a dedicated office in my guest bedroom. However, I like to sometimes move around and sit at my breakfast bar or in our backyard patio.

My husband, who is the assistant chief of the Santa Clara County Probation Department, heads into work daily. Last week, our two children – Jaydon, who is 17, and Malia, who is 14 – began completing their school work via distance learning. Sometimes all three of us are on Zoom calls at the same time! There have been a few times our schedules matched and we enjoyed lunch together.

Oh, and I can’t forget our sweet pit bull terrier, Bess, who is my true and favorite officemate. She is always quiet while I’m on Zoom calls, and nudges me when it’s time to step outside for some fresh air, or just because she needs some love.

Working from home has allowed me to spend more quality with my family. I cook more and exercise daily, which has been nice.

The HR communications team has check-ins several times a week via Zoom so that we can stay connected. Next week, we plan to hold our first virtual birthday celebration for team members born in April. We’ve all been challenged to change our virtual backgrounds to festive birthday themes.

On Friday afternoons, University Human Resources schedules a Virtual Water Cooler meet-up via Zoom. More than 50 team members attend and share their favorite Netflix or binge-worthy television shows, recipes and walking trails, or simply discuss our plans for the weekend.

You don’t have to schedule a meeting to connect with fellow team members. Just send them a quick message or share a joke on Slack. We all love the work we do, but it’s the people that make Stanford a special place, no matter where you work from.

Jeff Jones (Image credit: Jeff Jones)

I’m working at a card table I set up in our living room next to the front window, which provides plenty of natural light and affords a great view of our flowering cherry tree. It’s currently doubling as the tabletop for my 11-year-old son’s jigsaw puzzle.

I’ve got a whole crew of new “office mates.” My wife and I are parents to three daughters and one son who are all schooling from home. We’ve got one in high school, two in middle school and one in elementary school. One of our biggest challenges is finding enough devices for all the digital work and video calls we’re doing between the six of us.

I learned a valuable lesson about sharing our home’s Wi-Fi when I hosted a training session for 50 colleagues via Zoom and started experiencing video and audio problems. I overheard loud noises from our family room and discovered that two of my daughters and my son were playing the video game Minecraft online and hogging all the bandwidth. Once I booted them off – much to their consternation – I was able to rejoin the training.

Since the start of the shelter-in-place order, I’ve been leading Hoover’s effort to train staff and scholars in how to use remote work tools – Zoom, Slack, Jabber – as well as online productivity apps. Our team is also working to transform research conferences and events into virtual experiences.

During one training session, we invited everyone at Hoover to share tips for dealing with the challenges of working from home. Here are some of them:

• Use noise-cancelling headphones or grab a pair of old-fashioned earplugs.
• Set a schedule that others in your home know about; work your standard eight hours – with breaks – and then dedicate time to your family.
• Classical music is great for setting a calming environment.
• Consider investing in a “mesh” router system to better distribute your wireless internet throughout your home.
• Take your laptop and sit outside for a time when the sun is shining.

Jeff Jones (Image credit: Jeff Jones)

I’m working at a card table I set up in our living room next to the front window, which provides plenty of natural light and affords a great view of our flowering cherry tree. It’s currently doubling as the tabletop for my 11-year-old son’s jigsaw puzzle.

I’ve got a whole crew of new “office mates.” My wife and I are parents to three daughters and one son who are all schooling from home. We’ve got one in high school, two in middle school and one in elementary school. One of our biggest challenges is finding enough devices for all the digital work and video calls we’re doing between the six of us.

I learned a valuable lesson about sharing our home’s Wi-Fi when I hosted a training session for 50 colleagues via Zoom and started experiencing video and audio problems. I overheard loud noises from our family room and discovered that two of my daughters and my son were playing the video game Minecraft online and hogging all the bandwidth. Once I booted them off – much to their consternation – I was able to rejoin the training.

Since the start of the shelter-in-place order, I’ve been leading Hoover’s effort to train staff and scholars in how to use remote work tools – Zoom, Slack, Jabber – as well as online productivity apps. Our team is also working to transform research conferences and events into virtual experiences.

During one training session, we invited everyone at Hoover to share tips for dealing with the challenges of working from home. Here are some of them:

• Use noise-cancelling headphones or grab a pair of old-fashioned earplugs.
• Set a schedule that others in your home know about; work your standard eight hours – with breaks – and then dedicate time to your family.
• Classical music is great for setting a calming environment.
• Consider investing in a “mesh” router system to better distribute your wireless internet throughout your home.
• Take your laptop and sit outside for a time when the sun is shining.

Deborah Costa-Stone (Image credit: Courtesy Deborah Costa-Stone)

Working from home has been a fun and challenging adventure. Having two new “coworkers” – my husband, Dave, and our 14-month old daughter, Shoshana – was an adjustment for all of us.

Initially, I worked in various rooms in the house, but Shoshana likes to “help” me type, so I now work in a makeshift office, which consists of a writing desk we put in a corner of the bedroom. I created a stand for my laptop with a stack of books, including several about yoga, one of my favorite hobbies.

I try to get as much work done as possible while Shoshana naps via Zoom calls and Slack chats, independent work, and phone calls and virtual meetings with colleagues across campus who are affiliated with the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program.

During breaks, Shoshana and I take walks around the neighborhood collecting rocks, looking for neighbors’ dogs, and making sure to stay six feet away from other walkers.

In addition to using Zoom for team meetings, we’re using it to stay in touch with our scholars across campus, through seminars on leadership in turbulent times, community conversations and a virtual town hall. I’ve had a few Zoom happy hours with friends and former colleagues from the Graduate School of Business and the Stanford Alumni Association.

My top five silver linings of these crazy times are:

• Family: In spite of the challenges, having more time together with my husband and daughter is the best part of sheltering in place.

• Community: Our Stanford community’s response fills me with hope and enthusiasm.

• Cooking: I’ve baked more in the past four weeks than in the past four years.

• Attire: I get to wear yoga pants on a daily basis, so “business casual” has taken on a whole new meaning.

• Instant messaging: Our team has finally adopted Slack!

Deborah Costa-Stone (Image credit: Courtesy Deborah Costa-Stone)

Working from home has been a fun and challenging adventure. Having two new “coworkers” – my husband, Dave, and our 14-month old daughter, Shoshana – was an adjustment for all of us.

Initially, I worked in various rooms in the house, but Shoshana likes to “help” me type, so I now work in a makeshift office, which consists of a writing desk we put in a corner of the bedroom. I created a stand for my laptop with a stack of books, including several about yoga, one of my favorite hobbies.

I try to get as much work done as possible while Shoshana naps via Zoom calls and Slack chats, independent work, and phone calls and virtual meetings with colleagues across campus who are affiliated with the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program.

During breaks, Shoshana and I take walks around the neighborhood collecting rocks, looking for neighbors’ dogs, and making sure to stay six feet away from other walkers.

In addition to using Zoom for team meetings, we’re using it to stay in touch with our scholars across campus, through seminars on leadership in turbulent times, community conversations and a virtual town hall. I’ve had a few Zoom happy hours with friends and former colleagues from the Graduate School of Business and the Stanford Alumni Association.

My top five silver linings of these crazy times are:

• Family: In spite of the challenges, having more time together with my husband and daughter is the best part of sheltering in place.

• Community: Our Stanford community’s response fills me with hope and enthusiasm.

• Cooking: I’ve baked more in the past four weeks than in the past four years.

• Attire: I get to wear yoga pants on a daily basis, so “business casual” has taken on a whole new meaning.

• Instant messaging: Our team has finally adopted Slack!

Steve Olson (Image credit: Courtesy Steve Olson.)

I never thought I’d miss my daily commute.

When we all began working from home three weeks ago, I naively assumed that things would go relatively smoothly. Then my son returned from college, along with two wonderful international friends who needed a place to stay. So now we have a very full house, with two work-from-homers, a high school junior and three college frosh taking online classes, and two dogs wondering why we aren’t playing with them constantly.

My “office” (a.k.a. the guest room) is now occupied, so my workspace is fluid: living room to bedroom to kitchen counter to patio if the weather is nice. Every evening, my wife and I compare our next-day schedules and negotiate who gets to use her office with its privacy and sit-stand desk.

While Zoom has been a tremendous tool, having back-to-back remote meetings over the course of a day can be exhausting – much more so than with face-to-face meetings. Recently, my screen froze while I was hosting a meeting with 75 participants. Everyone got a tour of my house as I searched for a better connection and begged my housemates to hop off the internet if possible!

I’ve found that periodic virtual lunches and happy hours with my team, Stanford colleagues, family and friends help alleviate the stress and cabin fever. I’m also trying to keep some of my routines the best I can, like setting the coffee maker each night, carving out time to exercise and enjoying long dinners with the crew.

Though this has been the most surreal and challenging stretch of my professional career, I am continually impressed and inspired by the tireless and selfless efforts – as well as the camaraderie and positive spirit – of our entire community. I’m looking forward to the day I can commute to campus and see everyone in person.

Steve Olson (Image credit: Courtesy Steve Olson.)

I never thought I’d miss my daily commute.

When we all began working from home three weeks ago, I naively assumed that things would go relatively smoothly. Then my son returned from college, along with two wonderful international friends who needed a place to stay. So now we have a very full house, with two work-from-homers, a high school junior and three college frosh taking online classes, and two dogs wondering why we aren’t playing with them constantly.

My “office” (a.k.a. the guest room) is now occupied, so my workspace is fluid: living room to bedroom to kitchen counter to patio if the weather is nice. Every evening, my wife and I compare our next-day schedules and negotiate who gets to use her office with its privacy and sit-stand desk.

While Zoom has been a tremendous tool, having back-to-back remote meetings over the course of a day can be exhausting – much more so than with face-to-face meetings. Recently, my screen froze while I was hosting a meeting with 75 participants. Everyone got a tour of my house as I searched for a better connection and begged my housemates to hop off the internet if possible!

I’ve found that periodic virtual lunches and happy hours with my team, Stanford colleagues, family and friends help alleviate the stress and cabin fever. I’m also trying to keep some of my routines the best I can, like setting the coffee maker each night, carving out time to exercise and enjoying long dinners with the crew.

Though this has been the most surreal and challenging stretch of my professional career, I am continually impressed and inspired by the tireless and selfless efforts – as well as the camaraderie and positive spirit – of our entire community. I’m looking forward to the day I can commute to campus and see everyone in person.

Imee and Anthony DuBose with Commander Cody (Image credit: Lauren DuBose)

My husband, who is a physician at Stanford, and I share an office in the corner of our bedroom with a view of “the hill,” as we coastsiders call the landmark that stands between Half Moon Bay and the Peninsula.

I bought a multi-panel screen – framed rice paper decorated with bamboo plants – as a background (and as a room divider) when I am on Zoom calls. I never imagined I’d see my colleagues and scholars from home in this way – let alone from our bedroom!

As COVID-19 was starting to spread in the Bay Area in late February and early March, my husband, Dr. Anthony DuBose, worked tirelessly to help set up a clinic to screen health care workers at Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health for the virus.

I am proud of how quickly Knight-Hennessy Scholars shifted its leadership programs online for our scholars, who are pursuing graduate studies at Stanford. I provide individualized support to promote the well-being of scholars, including the new cohort that will be announced May 4, and create partnerships with the greater Stanford community.

While working remotely, I took on two new roles – as the “principal” for our two daughters who attend Half Moon Bay High School, and as the “dean of students” for our two daughters in college – one is a first-year student at the University of Hawaii and another is a senior at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Our eldest daughter, ’15, lives in Southern California.

Our Bernese Mountain Dog, Commander Cody, adds a calming presence to the chaotic world, forcing us to go on long walks and appreciate the present.

It is amazing how quickly life turned upside down at home, at work and in the world. I feel blessed that we live in a state that values science above politics and that we’re ahead in the “flatten the curve” effort. Now that we have sheltered a month, I’ve experienced a range of emotions from shock, denial, anger and sadness. Today, I find myself in acceptance of this new order. I remain hopeful and optimistic for the time we can all be together again in close proximity and exchanging big hugs.

Imee and Anthony DuBose with Commander Cody (Image credit: Lauren DuBose)

My husband, who is a physician at Stanford, and I share an office in the corner of our bedroom with a view of “the hill,” as we coastsiders call the landmark that stands between Half Moon Bay and the Peninsula.

I bought a multi-panel screen – framed rice paper decorated with bamboo plants – as a background (and as a room divider) when I am on Zoom calls. I never imagined I’d see my colleagues and scholars from home in this way – let alone from our bedroom!

As COVID-19 was starting to spread in the Bay Area in late February and early March, my husband, Dr. Anthony DuBose, worked tirelessly to help set up a clinic to screen health care workers at Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health for the virus.

I am proud of how quickly Knight-Hennessy Scholars shifted its leadership programs online for our scholars, who are pursuing graduate studies at Stanford. I provide individualized support to promote the well-being of scholars, including the new cohort that will be announced May 4, and create partnerships with the greater Stanford community.

While working remotely, I took on two new roles – as the “principal” for our two daughters who attend Half Moon Bay High School, and as the “dean of students” for our two daughters in college – one is a first-year student at the University of Hawaii and another is a senior at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Our eldest daughter, ’15, lives in Southern California.

Our Bernese Mountain Dog, Commander Cody, adds a calming presence to the chaotic world, forcing us to go on long walks and appreciate the present.

It is amazing how quickly life turned upside down at home, at work and in the world. I feel blessed that we live in a state that values science above politics and that we’re ahead in the “flatten the curve” effort. Now that we have sheltered a month, I’ve experienced a range of emotions from shock, denial, anger and sadness. Today, I find myself in acceptance of this new order. I remain hopeful and optimistic for the time we can all be together again in close proximity and exchanging big hugs.

Jan Marie Barker-Alexander (Image credit: Courtesy Jan Barker-Alexander)

Jan Marie Barker-Alexander, assistant vice provost of Student Affairs, works with the Centers for Equity, Community and Leadership, and the Offices of First-Generation and/or Low-Income Programs and Military-Affiliated Communities. She also serves as Resident Fellow at Ujamaa House.

I only work at the dining room table. My Ujamaa Resident Fellow cottage is an open-concept design – kitchen, living room and dining room open to each other – so from time to time I have “teenage” Zoom interruptions. I will need to clean the table off for a photo to go with this article (LOL).

My son Hudson, who is a student at Morehouse College, came home in early March and will be taking online classes during his spring semester. My 14-year-old son, Armstead, who attends Fletcher Middle School, is doing schoolwork in his room. My husband Fred is retired but manages our properties in California and Louisiana from home, so we are actually encroaching on his territory.

Zoom runs my day – as it does for most people these days. My meetings are back-to-back, so I’m just sitting in one place instead of walking somewhere. For my one-on-one meetings, I’m going to use my phone so I can take a walk as I talk.

As much as my generation complains about the negative impacts of social media, the technology has allowed us to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine this happening 40 to 50 years ago, when we relied on three television channels that went off the air at 11 p.m., used rotary phones and landlines and paid fees for making long-distance calls in-state and out-of-state! No cell phones, FaceTime, Netflix, computers … NOTHING!

My heart goes out to the people with COVID-19 who are fighting for their lives, and the healthcare workers on the front lines. Being from Louisiana, I am fixated on the current situation of escalating cases and deaths there. I know people who have died, are currently in the hospital and those who have come out healed.

In this fast-paced environment of Stanford, I ask that we remember to extend grace to others and to ourselves.

Jan Marie Barker-Alexander (Image credit: Courtesy Jan Barker-Alexander)

Jan Marie Barker-Alexander, assistant vice provost of Student Affairs, works with the Centers for Equity, Community and Leadership, and the Offices of First-Generation and/or Low-Income Programs and Military-Affiliated Communities. She also serves as Resident Fellow at Ujamaa House.

I only work at the dining room table. My Ujamaa Resident Fellow cottage is an open-concept design – kitchen, living room and dining room open to each other – so from time to time I have “teenage” Zoom interruptions. I will need to clean the table off for a photo to go with this article (LOL).

My son Hudson, who is a student at Morehouse College, came home in early March and will be taking online classes during his spring semester. My 14-year-old son, Armstead, who attends Fletcher Middle School, is doing schoolwork in his room. My husband Fred is retired but manages our properties in California and Louisiana from home, so we are actually encroaching on his territory.

Zoom runs my day – as it does for most people these days. My meetings are back-to-back, so I’m just sitting in one place instead of walking somewhere. For my one-on-one meetings, I’m going to use my phone so I can take a walk as I talk.

As much as my generation complains about the negative impacts of social media, the technology has allowed us to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine this happening 40 to 50 years ago, when we relied on three television channels that went off the air at 11 p.m., used rotary phones and landlines and paid fees for making long-distance calls in-state and out-of-state! No cell phones, FaceTime, Netflix, computers … NOTHING!

My heart goes out to the people with COVID-19 who are fighting for their lives, and the healthcare workers on the front lines. Being from Louisiana, I am fixated on the current situation of escalating cases and deaths there. I know people who have died, are currently in the hospital and those who have come out healed.

In this fast-paced environment of Stanford, I ask that we remember to extend grace to others and to ourselves.