Join R. Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, for a one-hour speaker series. For nearly two decades, R. Ethan Braden has built brands and teams that people love and trust. Today, he serves as Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University, where he and his team are shaping the national narrative around one of America's most storied and consequential institutions. Reporting to University President General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, a former member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ethan leads the effort to position, promote, and protect the largest land-grant university in the nation, elevating Texas A&M's reputation, relevance, and reach. Prior to Texas A&M, Ethan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Purdue University and Purdue Global, where he helped transform Purdue into a nationally recognized marketing powerhouse. Under his leadership, Purdue earned three Fast Company "Brands That Matter" honors and was named #1 in education on Fast Company's 2023 Most Innovative Companies list, the only university included. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Ethan has spoken at Salesforce's Dreamforce and Connections, Adweek's Brand Week, Google Marketing Live, and keynoted Content Marketing World, where he was named B2C Content Marketer of the Year (2023). He was also named "Marketer of the Year" in higher education by the American Marketing Association (2020), and his work has been featured in Ad Age, The Washington Post, Morning Brew, and NPR, which dubbed him "the top dog in higher ed marketing." Before entering higher education, Ethan spent nearly a decade at Eli Lilly and Company, leading global marketing efforts for billion-dollar brands including Cymbalta and Jardiance. He holds a BA from Willamette University, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and lives in College Station, Texas, with his wife and three children.This will be aone-hour presentation before the USC Meeting. The series can be attended in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101A or via Zoom.

Staff are encouraged to attend the next University Staff Council (USC) meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 2:30 p.m. (immediately following the Common Grounds Series) in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101 or via Zoom. The vision of the USC is to help staff feel supported, included and valued at Texas A&M University, where we live the Aggie Core Values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. Come to the meeting and let your voice be heard or learn more about what the USC is doing for you. You may access full meeting minutes from previous meetings on the USC website.

From Gen Z to Baby Boomers, every generation brings something valuable. Learn how to flex your leadership style to bridge communication and motivation across age groups.  Register HERE (https://tamu.zoom.us/meeting/register/aJTWhaOLRmWHWrqWN5s1Lw). Visit the Managers' Minutes website (https://employees.tamu.edu/talent-management/Managers-Minutes/index.html).

Planning for retirement and choosing the right plan for you and your family can be overwhelming. There is a lot at stake, and it is important that you understand all of your options, as well as the laws and regulations governing the distribution of your benefits once you leave Texas A&M University. Make plans to attend one of our group workshops for pre-retirement counseling. These workshops are not one-on-one sessions, but you will have the opportunity to ask questions. As a participant, you will receive information as to what forms you will need to complete to get you started and to better understand your retirement benefits. Registration is required through: Traintraq (https://traintraq.tamus.edu/SectionDetails.aspx?snum=11744) Find upcoming retirement events on the HROE webpage. (https://employees.tamu.edu/benefits/retirement/index.html)

Delegation isn't just a time-saver-it's a developmental tool. Explore how to delegate effectively while building team capacity and trust.  Additional topics include:SAP Updates from Classification & Compensation Register HERE (https://tamu.zoom.us/meeting/register/aJTWhaOLRmWHWrqWN5s1Lw). Visit the Managers' Minutes website (https://employees.tamu.edu/talent-management/Managers-Minutes/index.html).

Planning for retirement and choosing the right plan for you and your family can be overwhelming. There is a lot at stake, and it is important that you understand all of your options, as well as the laws and regulations governing the distribution of your benefits once you leave Texas A&M University. Make plans to attend one of our group workshops for pre-retirement counseling. These workshops are not one-on-one sessions, but you will have the opportunity to ask questions. As a participant, you will receive information as to what forms you will need to complete to get you started and to better understand your retirement benefits. Registration is required through: Traintraq (https://traintraq.tamus.edu/SectionDetails.aspx?snum=11771) Find upcoming retirement events on the HROE webpage. (https://employees.tamu.edu/benefits/retirement/index.html)

Join Kelly Wellman, Sustainability Director, for an update on sustainability at Texas A&M. At a large university, thousands of small daily decisions—from what we print to how we commute—add up to significant environmental and social impacts. Sustainability doesn't require major lifestyle overhauls; it begins right at your desk, in your office, lab, or vehicle. Join this session to learn about the university's sustainability performance and discover practical, easy-to-implement actions that not only reduce your environmental footprint but also improve efficiency, support university goals, and enhance well-being in your workplace.Kelly Wellman is the Sustainability Director at Texas A&M University (TAMU), where she leads key initiatives, collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to advance a comprehensive sustainability program, oversees the Aggie Green Fund, and guides implementation of the university's Sustainability Master Plan. She holds a BS in Geography with an Environmental Studies emphasis from TAMU (1995), an MBA from the University of Phoenix (2006), and a Master of Jurisprudence in Environmental and Energy Law and Policy from TAMU School of Law (2023).This will be aone-hour presentation before the USC Meeting. The series can be attended in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101A or via Zoom.

Planning for retirement and choosing the right plan for you and your family can be overwhelming. There is a lot at stake, and it is important that you understand all of your options, as well as the laws and regulations governing the distribution of your benefits once you leave Texas A&M University. Make plans to attend one of our group workshops for pre-retirement counseling. These workshops are not one-on-one sessions, but you will have the opportunity to ask questions. As a participant, you will receive information as to what forms you will need to complete to get you started and to better understand your retirement benefits. Registration is required through Traintraq (https://traintraq.tamus.edu/SectionDetails.aspx?snum=11750) Find upcoming retirement events on the HROE webpage. (https://employees.tamu.edu/benefits/retirement/index.html)

Staff are encouraged to attend the next University Staff Council (USC) meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9:30 a.m. (immediately following the Common Grounds Series) in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101 or via Zoom. The vision of the USC is to help staff feel supported, included and valued at Texas A&M University, where we live the Aggie Core Values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. Come to the meeting and let your voice be heard or learn more about what the USC is doing for you. You may access full meeting minutes from previous meetings on the USC website.

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage (https://www.tamus.edu/hr/holiday/). For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage (https://www.tamus.edu/hr/holiday/). For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

If you've ever questioned your leadership abilities, you're not alone. This session explores strategies for building confidence, quieting self-doubt, and owning your role as a manager. Additional topics include:SAP updates from Classification & Compensation Register HERE (https://tamu.zoom.us/meeting/register/aJTWhaOLRmWHWrqWN5s1Lw). Visit the Managers' Minutes website (https://employees.tamu.edu/talent-management/Managers-Minutes/index.html).

Staff are encouraged to attend the next University Staff Council (USC) meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 2:30 p.m. in person at the General Services Complex in Room 101 or via Zoom. The vision of the USC is to help staff feel supported, included and valued at Texas A&M University, where we live the Aggie Core Values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. Come to the meeting and let your voice be heard or learn more about what the USC is doing for you. The USC Common Grounds speaker series will return in January. You may access full meeting minutes from previous meetings on the USC website.

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).

University holidays are established by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Qatar campus, School of Dentistry and School of Law, along with other campuses, agencies and universities within the Texas A&M System, have different holiday schedules listed on the Texas A&M System Holidays webpage. For student-specific holidays and academic breaks, please refer to the Texas A&M Academic Calendar (https://registrar.tamu.edu/academic-calendar).