Mission
The Office of Work/Life promotes the University's commitment to a working and learning environment supportive of its faculty, researchers, administrators, staff and students in their pursuit of productive and fulfilling professional and personal lives.
The office has three primary goals:
In support of its mission
In support of its mission, the Office of Work/Life offers programs and services that lay the foundation for a university culture supportive of both work and life.
Collaborations and Committees
The Office of Work/Life collaborates with other administrative and academic units across the University's campuses, as well as with external organizations that can help support the needs of the Columbia community.
Our Team
Jo Golden serves as Senior Associate Director for Administration and Planning, supporting strategic and operational initiatives across the University, with particular emphasis on PreK–12 partnerships, including collaboration with The School at Columbia University and Tompkins Hall Early Childhood Center, as well as faculty housing initiatives. Her work also includes support for the Office of Work-Life through the Housing Information and Referral Service and other special projects advancing institutional priorities.
Jo has worked in higher education for 20 years, with experience spanning administrative leadership, enrollment management, policy development and evaluation, and student and faculty engagement. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives in admissions strategy, recruitment, customer service, and events programming, with a focus on effective operations and support for academic communities.
Prior to joining the Office of the Provost in 2024, Jo served as an Associate Director in the Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University. Earlier in her career, she held several leadership roles in the Office of Admissions at Western Washington University in Washington State.
She received her bachelor’s degree in English and her Master of Education degree in Adult and Higher Education from Western Washington University.