Brewer, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, shared key findings from his federally funded research on anxiety and behavior change. In a talk punctuated with humorous cartoons, poignant quotes from figures like Marcus Aurelius, Albert Einstein and Tom Petty, brain imaging and personal anecdotes from his life and his career as a clinician, he said curiosity, observation and awareness are key tools to addressing anxiety.

“Curiosity can help us,” Brewer said. “Instead of running away from those feelings of anxiety… run toward them, and actually run for them with a curious smile on our face, because we’re actually out to discover something — that’s how smart curiosity can be.”

Brewer, the author of three books whose TED talk on habit change has over 23 million views, shared findings on the benefits of mindfulness, meditation and habit change to address everything from sleep and diet to overall wellness. He encouraged audience members to resist focusing on the triggers of anxiety, and instead focus on the resulting behaviors, and shared insights on learning and un-learning habits.

“Learning is critically dependent upon awareness,” Brewer said. “Curiosity: that’s what mindfulness is all about, so what if we substitute that ‘oh no’ that comes with worry with, ‘Oh, what am I feeling in my body right now?’ So, here we tap into something that is intrinsically available and intrinsically rewarding. What feels better, worrying or curiosity? To our brains, it’s a no-brainer. Curiosity feels much better.”

The keynote kicked off a day of activities, including more than 80 different sessions that offered employees a sweeping array of topics and opportunities to choose from. Among many others, those included workshops on leadership and networking, sessions on technology topics like cybersecurity, digital accessibility and using AI, a discussion-driven presentation on working with tribal scholars and communities, a session about lung cancer screening and prevention, and tours of various campus spaces including Brown’s new Penner Field House.

Building community beyond campus

The 2026 Staff Development Day theme, “We Are Brown: Forward Together,” was designed to align with the Brown Ever True campus-wide healing and recovery initiative, and to create opportunities for staff to volunteer with a variety of local organizations.

Among the nearly 1,700 staff who participated in Staff Development Day, many engaged in a growing number of volunteer and community engagement opportunities. In addition to on-campus opportunities, employees visited nonprofits in Providence and communities across Rhode Island to tackle projects ranging from packaging pet food at an animal shelter food pantry to assembling summer learning packets that prepare kids for kindergarten.

“One of our main goals with Staff Development Day every year is to help staff build their sense of community — not just within the University, but within their local communities across Rhode Island as well,” said M.J. Malpiedi, who coordinates the day as manager of staff engagement programs for learning, development and engagement in University Human Resources. “We hear that some staff feel siloed or not as connected to the community as they want to be. Staff Development Day gives us the opportunity to create those connections.”

To broaden the scope of volunteer opportunities and build on Brown’s connections with Rhode Island organizations, organizers partnered with the Office of Community Engagement and the Swearer Center to connect more volunteers with a wider network of community organizations this year, Malpiedi said.

Among the wide range of service opportunities, staff cleaned and organized an after-school space with Providence Student Union, cared for injured and orphaned wildlife at Congress of the Birds in Glocester, Rhode Island, and bagged fresh produce at FeedRI’s Hope Market. Others supported children’s literacy initiatives, community gardens and K-12 summer enrichment programs.

Nearly two dozen Brown staff members spent the warm, sunny day with the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, joining the nonprofit’s annual spring cleanup. Volunteers helped restore green spaces along the river by collecting litter and painting railings that line a popular pedestrian and cycling path in downtown Providence.

Jill Davidson, the council’s director of development and communications, said volunteer support is essential to maintaining the river greenway. The railings alone stretch nearly two miles, making upkeep a significant undertaking each year.

“It’s a huge job, and we’re incredibly grateful when groups of volunteers come out and give us a hand,” Davidson said. “We welcome volunteers throughout the year, and their support helps us care for the parks and public spaces along the river.”

Davidson said Brown and the council have enjoyed a longstanding partnership. Several Brown alumni serve on the organization’s staff, and Brown students regularly contribute as interns and volunteers.

“It’s been very meaningful for us to work alongside Brown,” Davidson said. “We value our partnerships with our neighborhood universities and institutions, and we’ve had a particularly strong connection with Brown over the years.”

For the second year in a row, Michelle Graves, a human resources specialist in Brown’s Division of Biology and Medicine, chose to participate in a park cleanup during Staff Development Day.

“I like picking up trash because the impact is immediate — you see it, you pick it up, and it’s gone,” Graves said. “I live nearby and run along the greenway regularly. Every time I’m out there, I notice litter, so I wanted to do something to support the cleanup efforts.”

Ciara Cronin, a marketing coordinator in Brown’s Division of Athletics and Recreation, said the cleanup offered an opportunity to explore Providence while connecting with colleagues outside her division.

“I love Providence, but I had never been down to the greenway before, and since coming to Brown, I’ve wanted to explore more of the city beyond campus,” Cronin said. “None of my close co-workers signed up for this session, so I saw it as a chance to branch out, meet new people and make new connections.”