Dr. Mike Perko is a Professor of Public Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). He served as the Associate Director of Alabama Power’s Good Health Makes Sense worksite health promotion program, recognized as one of the top 10 programs in America. In 1994, Dr. Perko developed the Survey to Predict Adolescent Athlete Dietary Supplement Use, which is used by researchers worldwide. As a high-rated speaker and authority figure in public health, he has authored nearly 50 peer-reviewed articles, has presented 100 national papers, and is the author of two books.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [0:00] Introducing Dr. Mike Perko, a leader in worksite wellness
- [12:02] Dr. Perko addresses college students’ difficult transition from remote to in-person learning
- [17:14] How perceptions about the workforce have evolved
- [23:46] Recruiting and retaining students in the workforce through acknowledgment and gratitude
- [26:34] Transitioning from participation to engagement
- [29:07] The importance of preparing programs for the long-term
- [34:15] Dr. Perko explains the 500 fist bump experience — and how it builds community
In this episode…
As new generations of students enter college post-pandemic, they must transition from online instruction to in-person learning in unfamiliar environments. This difficult adjustment translates to the workforce, where companies’ demands contradict the social behaviors acquired from remote instruction. As a society, how can we prepare the next generation of students for the workforce?
As a pioneer of worksite well-being, Dr. Mike Perko observes students’ demands for convenient education and advocates for remote work policies that deliver similar valuable experiences. With mental health struggles rising among students and next-generation employees, Dr. Perko urges educators to shift from an environment that rewards participation to one that encourages active engagement. This involves fostering a sense of community, acknowledgment, and acceptance to build trust and security.
On this episode of What The Teck?, UNCG’s Professor of Public Health Education, Dr. Mike Perko, joins Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly for a discussion about cultivating worksite wellness among students. Dr. Perko addresses the evolving perceptions about the workforce, why educators should prepare programs for the long-term, and the value of the 500 fist bump experience.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Rolando Rosas on LinkedIn
- Dave Kelly on LinkedIn
- Global Teck Worldwide
- Circuit Loops
- Dr. Mike Perko on LinkedIn
- Braedon Dixon on LinkedIn
- “How To Achieve Higher Retention Rates and Improve Your Bottom Line” with Steve Cadigan on What The Teck?
Sponsor for this episode…
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Since 2002, Global Teck Worldwide has provided affordable, high-quality communications equipment and customized telecommunications services to organizations of all sizes.
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Episode Transcript:
Dr. Mike Perko 0:00
Here’s the million dollar question, what behaviors that I’m seeing now in the classroom will translate into the workplace. So that’s one of the things that we talk about when it comes to well, we call it worksite. Wellness, that word is actually a transition now to worksite. Well being the idea is that now we’re not only focused on wellness, which is like, you know, health from the neck down, but the well being aspect means we’re now talking about health from the neck up and how important our mental health is. But here’s the thing. And I hope you’re sitting down because I also have live human beings who are in my classroom. Here’s what happened, obviously, during COVID, everybody went online. And we did that for a number of years. In fact, UNCG and our Department of Public Health actually went against the grain because this is important. Our chancellor says, you know, everybody’s back face to face, because we wanted to have a show of good faith. We’re taking all the precautions put as epidemiologist we said, well, it’s not over, there’s going to be an upswing when it gets cold. And we actually went against the grain and said, you know, don’t come back to class. We had a slap on the wrist, but we actually minimize the infection rates. So we actually thought of the employees or our students first and kept them safe.
Rolando Rosas 1:06
Think long term. And this gets into where you and I were talking about also your initiative as well. What’s that all about? thinking long term?
Dr. Mike Perko 1:15
I’m literally ready to jump out of my seat. Ah
Rolando Rosas 1:27
Welcome to What The Teck? your gateway to business strategies and tech secrets, shaping today’s workplace. Welcome back to this episode with Rolando right over here on this side. They don’t
Dave Kelly 1:40
forget me Dave Kelly over here from Southern New Hampshire. Where are you today? Rolando?
Rolando Rosas 1:44
I think I’m still in the Blue Room in Loudoun County, Virginia. On the transitioning day, from what I think is the end of summer to maybe fall I don’t know the weather. It’s been goofy the last couple of weeks. So I’m hoping that it’s solid fall from here on out,
Dave Kelly 2:00
we officially turned the heat on for the first time this morning. My house got down to 63 degrees. Ooh, and I don’t mind paying make it 68 to 70 degrees. So yeah, we had to turn it on. It’s official, summer’s over changing.
Rolando Rosas 2:15
No Football season is in full swing. I’m loving it. So I’m also loving who we’ve got on today. I had the privilege Dave of chatting with him before he came on. He’s before he’s his appearance today. Our good mutual friend Steve Cadigan. put us together and so I’m really appreciate it. Now I want to give big props to Steve catagen for doing that, because, uh, Mike is is not only a stand up guy, but he’s got a lot to say in what’s really happening. I don’t know if behind the scenes would be the right word, but certainly an important topic as it relates to people that are working from home remote work, the workplace, people’s lives, and how their their their breed thinking how their lives are structured. And he’s got some really wonderful insights on on things that he’s doing some research, some some data, some stats and some initiative that he has with the future of our kids. So I’m really fascinated to jump into that discussion today. All right, well, let’s not wait around. Let’s bring what before we bring him out. Let me let me tell you, let me let me formally introduce him, Dave. Alright, let’s do Dr. Mike Perko, some justice. All right. So Dr. Mike Perko is an award winning educator, author, professor, and he in 2018, earned the UNC System Board of governance in Teaching Award. He’s a professor at UNC Greensboro known for his pioneering children’s book, How to Eat, leap and sleep like a superhero. I want to be one of those one of these days. And as an expert in wellness, Mike led Alabama’s power acclaimed health promotion program. He created the survey to predict adolescent athlete dietary supplement use which has been used around the world by researchers. Fascinating. I wish I’d known that or had information on that when I was an athlete back in the day, Dave, and he wrote a book titled taking one for the team. Interesting, interesting title. And Mike has a passion for inspiring the future leaders with his initiative called 500. Fist bumps, and we’re looking to hear a lot more about that because it’s fascinating what he’s doing there. So let’s welcome to the show. Dr. Mike Perko. Oh, right I hit the wrong one. That’s not what I wanted to say. Oh, no, I wanted to give you a clap. That’s what happens when you push the wrong buttons. Mike, you hit the Oh no. And when I should have hit the clap button
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