Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the campus has felt less full, says Beth Daly. A professor of anthrozoology, she has organized a gathering for faculty, staff, and their partners to relax and share some conviviality.

“I’m often the sole occupant of my office hallway. Outside of teaching, I feel lonely on campus,” she says. “Because staff and faculty have no central place to socialize on campus, I thought it would be fun to have an after-work salon.”

The first, held March 16, was fun and Dr. Daly is hoping more colleagues come out for the next, scheduled for Friday, March 31, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Walkerville Brewery. Located at 525 Argyle Rd., the venue promises live entertainment starting at 6 p.m.

Daly notes that social interaction can spark creativity.

“I really miss running into colleagues and ending up having a great discussion about ideas,” she says. “It’s the reason Steve Jobs would not let Apple employees work remotely. He believed that great inventions came from people who met randomly at the water cooler, or in hallways, and shared what they were working on or thinking of.”