As part of a spotlight series launched in February 2023 to feature integrated business operations (IBO) and administration staff at the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), Department of Psychiatry, and Department of Pediatrics, meet the communications team members responsible for bringing all sorts of news and information to department members’ inboxes – and so much more.
The IBO model was implemented in October 2019, when Yale School of Medicine (YSM) leadership asked each of the departmental business managers in Psychiatry and the YCSC to collaborate and find opportunities for business operations staff in both departments to work more closely together. The initial collaboration led to further integration of operations in the areas of Human Resources, Faculty Affairs and Staffing Administration, Research Finance and Administration, and Clinical Finance and Administration. Each of these areas are now run inter-departmentally, the IBO model has been adopted by nearly all YSM departments. As announced in June 2023, the Department of Pediatrics Business Office has also been added to this IBO structure.
Meet Chris Gardner, Director of Communications, Yale Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine
How long have you been at Yale, and what roles have you filled in this time?
Almost 9 years. I have been in the same role my entire time at Yale.
What led you to your current job/career?
I was a journalist at a daily newspaper in Connecticut for 20 years before beginning my job in the Yale Department of Psychiatry in 2015. I have always enjoyed listening to people's stories and then sharing them with a broad audience through the written word. I am grateful for the opportunity to promote the great work of our faculty, trainees, and staff in the Yale Department of Psychiatry.
What is a work-related accomplishment that made you feel proud?
I am very proud of Psychiatry@Yale, the online newsletter that I build from scratch every month and circulate to members of our department, our many alumni, and thousands of people around the world who like to stay in touch with Yale Psychiatry. Any newsletter is only as good as the people it features so I give special thanks to the faculty, trainees, and staff who share their news with me, whether it be scientific research or an award they received.
What energizes you outside of work?
Any day that I can be outside is a good day. I love to hike with my wife, Kath, or just go for a walk in our neighborhood. We enjoy spending time with friends and family, including our children Andrew (22) and Caroline (19). I do a lot of volunteering in my community as a member of two elected boards and the local Lions Club. Giving back is extremely important to me.
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Kind, patient, diligent
What is an accomplishment you are proud of outside of work?
I live in Newtown, and am the caretaker of our town flagpole, which is located literally in the middle of our Main Street. I arrange for flags to be donated multiple times a year and keep a can of white paint in my basement so I can touch up the flagpole when it gets sideswiped by a car or truck. The flagpole is a huge source of pride for me. A flagpole has been located at that same location since 1876. I have a section of that original wooden pole in my living room.
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
Iceland. It's tops on my bucket list. Someday soon...
What would you like to share that might surprise your colleagues?
I am a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox for baseball and the New Jersey Devils for hockey. If there's a game on, I'll try to catch a few minutes or at least follow along on my phone.
Meet Alexa Tomassi, Communications Officer, Department of Pediatrics
How long have you been at Yale, and what roles have you filled in this time?
I've been at Yale for about 4.5 years, working first as Associate Communications Officer and now Communications Officer in Pediatrics.
What led you to your current job/career?
After college, I worked at a gun violence prevention nonprofit for 5 years before coming to Yale Pediatrics. While there, I was part of a small but mighty marketing and communications team where my focus was organic social media. I was able to work with people in public relations, policy and advocacy, paid social marketing, and so much more, getting to manage rapid response, ghost-write op-eds, and write and send press releases regularly. My prior work overlapped a lot with the issues our department advocates and educates on. I always loved writing, news, social issues, and public health so I was excited to get to work in communications at Yale.
What energizes you outside of work?
Outside of work, I love taking dance classes, group exercise classes, walks and hikes with my family and friends, and I enjoy volunteering and local organizing.
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Compassionate, supportive, witty
What is an accomplishment you are proud of outside of work?
In 2021, I ran for Town Council in Wallingford. It was very out of my comfort zone, and I didn't win, but I learned so much and made so many great connections in the process. I was very proud of my campaign and the other members of the slate I ran on.
Meet Crista Marchesseault, Director of Communications, Yale Child Study Center
How long have you been at Yale, and what roles have you filled in this time?
Technically, 22 years this month! I was first hired at Yale in 2002 as a research associate at the YCSC and I have since held roles as a project director, operations manager, and now communications officer.
What led you to your current job/career?
It's been quite the winding path considering I have a Bachelor's in organizational communications and initially worked in PR and marketing in the late 90s (yes, I'm showing my age) but, feeling unfulfilled, returned to school to obtain a Master's in Teaching. That was when I gained a passion for developmental literacy and related research, which led me to Tufts for additional graduate school. Entering a 6-8 year PhD program was a bit too much for me at that point, so I pursued a second master's degree instead, in child development. When I finished that program, I began networking (via snail mail letters and phone calls, the old-fashioned way) and a connection through the CT School Readiness Program led me to a 5-year research position with Walter Gilliam, who led me to Gesell Institute for a few years following a lay-off, with an official return to the YCSC in 2010 to work in research and program administration with the amazing Minding the Baby™ team. I've been in my current comms role for the department since November 2021.
What is a work-related accomplishment that made you feel proud?
I'm not sure it's an accomplishment, but it was certainly an honor to be asked by Linda Mayes to serve as a vice chair (for communications) as part of the YCSC strategy and stewardship team not long after I entered my current role. I’m also proud of the work I’ve done to advance communications efforts within and from the department over the last 2.5 years, including through the external newsletter launched in July of 2022, YCSC Connections.
What energizes you outside of work?
Aside from spending time with and sharing laughter with my fiancé Paul and our combined four kids (three of which are now technically adults), gardening gets top billing – particularly growing veggies from seed – and pretty much any type of outdoor activity in beautiful weather, including one of my latest favorite pastimes thanks to my future step-daughter – watching high school rugby matches.
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
I literally took a poll of some of my closest friends/family, and the top three descriptors were: kind, organized, and hard-working
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
Hawaii – I don't have a bucket list, but if I did, spending a couple of weeks in Hawaii would be on it.