Schedule & Workshops

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

This roundtable dialogue will focus on how retention and persistence work impacts the work of student affairs professionals. In a time of decreasing populations and enrollments, increased fiscal costs, and FLSA guidance, the focus on student retention is gaining increased importance across student affairs.   How are we changing job descriptions? Responsibilities? Collateral Experiences?   This session will provide participants with an opportunity to think about retention and persistence and share meaningful experiences with colleagues across institutions and position types.

Presenter(s):
Thomas Tressler-Gelok, Director of Residential Education & Retention Specialist, Residential Education at Wagner College

Matthew Kubacki, Ed.D., MA, Dean for Academic & Career Engagement at Wagner College

Topic Area: Professional Development

Increasing a sense of inclusion and belonging for emerging first-generation student affairs professionals (FGSAP) has implications on the growth, development, and retention of a diverse student affairs workforce. Challenges and best practices which impact emerging FGSAP are identified through a review of the literature and group discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their institution’s engagement with emerging FGSAP, identify an action item that commits to initiating or increasing support at their institution, and share existing best practices with other participants.

Presenter(s):
Ashley Cisneros, Residence Hall Director, Residential Life & Housing at Barnard College

Luis Cisneros, Graduate Assistant for Inclusive Leadership Programming and Advancement, Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation at New York University

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

Performing artist students often have unique challenges to consider due to differences in their college experiences and academic programs.  From career advising, to disability support and counseling services, to visa requirements, these various stressors impact how they can be engaged on campus.  This session will explore how student affairs professionals can best support artists on their campus.

Presenter(s):

Cory Owen, Associate Dean of Student Development at the Julliard School 

Crystal Wilson, Assistant Director of Student Engagement & Coordinator of Disability Services, Student Affairs at Manhattan School of Music

Topic Area: Professional Development

Is your team struggling with motivation? Are there issues meeting deadlines? Are you curious about how to optimize your 1:1s? If you answer yes to any of these questions, this session is for you! While the art of coaching has been around for years, professional organizations, institutions, and groups are just now understanding the power of coaching. This presentation will examine where the coaching phenomenon originated, the principles of coaching, frameworks, approaches to coaching that will improve interpersonal communication, and get a chance to practice these skills!

Presenter(s):
Daniel Nicholas Erosa, Residence Hall Assistant Director, Residential Life & Housing Services at New York University

Topic Area: Professional Development

This session aims to increase awareness of the connection between the K-12 system and higher education for current graduate students or student affairs practitioners. Participants will learn about what is currently happening at the policy level and in practice in the K-12 system, as this experience shapes both traditional and non-traditional students entering community colleges, public four-year, private four-year, and for-profit institutions. We will talk about poverty, race, first-generation, discipline, and academic rigor and support. All crucial components affecting students college readiness.

Presenter(s):
Carolina Reyes, Graduate of NYU Steinhardt Educational Leadership, Politics and Advocacy MA in Administration, Leadership & Technology at NYU Steinhardt

Topic Area: Health & Wellness

While institutions have historically prioritized mental and physical health on campus, promoting holistic wellness among students has become a critical imperative for student affairs practitioners. This session will discuss the extant and emerging scholarship around student wellness promotion and explore a case study from the Thrives pilot initiative at The Juilliard School. Attendees will leave the session with practical tools for developing and assessing initiatives around social, physical, emotional, career, community, and financial wellness within their unique campus communities.

Presenter(s):
Elizabeth Scott-Francis, Assistant Director of Residence Life at the Julliard School

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

Career services extends beyond the career center walls. How can college campuses embed career development into students’ overall academic experience? Join us in a deep dive of how NYU is reimagining traditional career services by equipping both campus partners and students in innovative ways. Participants who attend this session will leave with tangible, creative, and sustainable approaches to integrate career services into the university ecosystem and meet customized career development needs across their own campuses.

Presenter(s):
Gracy Sarkissian, Senior Director, Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University

Akiko Yamaguchi, Director, Stern School of Business at New York University

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

Complex factors prohibit students from being proactive, even when proactive behavior — such as utilizing tutoring — is in their own self-interest. The NYU Office of Student Success and the Faculty of Arts collaborated to development a text-message based nudging initiative to support academically at-risk students in high enrollment, gateway STEM courses. We will share research on the benefits of nudging, offer best practices for this type of highly personalized intervention, outline technology and staffing requirements, and discuss the role of nudges as a tool to create a more equitable campus.

Presenter(s):
John M. Burdick, Associate Director of Student Success, Office of Student Success at New York University

Whitney Hawkins, Associate Director of Student Success, Office of Student Success at New York University

Topic Area: Professional Development

The decision to pursue a career at a community college is a both a professional and personal decision. This program will focus on the presenters intentional decisions to pursue their careers at a community college. While addressing the misconceptions of community college, presenters will also be reviewing the quality of life a professional can experience while ultimately changing the lives of students.

Presenter(s):
Tania Velazquez, College Director for Career Services at Suffolk University

Dr. Brian Mitra, Dean of Student Affairs at Kingsborough Community College

Topic Area: Diversity

As student affairs practitioners become increasingly committed to incorporating social justice within their practice, “buzzwords” are removed from their theoretical context, which leads to incorrect application. While the intent is to serve students with diverse needs, we must properly utilize these concepts to support the well-being of students and affirm their identities. This program will help practitioners better understand intersectionality through discussion, while identifying strategies that can be integrated into practice.

Presenter(s):
Harlie Pietrangelo, Graduate Hall Director, Residence Life at Rutgers University - New Brunswick

Vanessa Danek, Graduate Hall Director, Residence Life at Rutgers University - New Brunswick

Topic Area: Professional Development

Learn tips for ways that residential life staff can increase accessibility and access for students with disabilities in their communities.  Participants will learn ways to create more accessible programs, including creating accessible advertisements. This session will also cover common accommodations and an overview of assistive technology.  Finally, there will be an activity for participants to consider ways they can apply this new information to their roles while asking questions and getting feedback.

Presenter(s):
Jacqueline Atkins, Residence Hall Director, Residential Life at Columbia University

Topic Area: Professional Development

In the United States, the national student loan debt and the average credit card debt has never been higher. Financial literacy is not a topic that is typically covered in our current education system, however, money management plays a significant role in being able to build net worth, purchase a home, and comfortably retire. To assist students in learning about financial literacy, we first need to understand these concepts. This presentation provides an overview of how credit scores are calculated, tips on how to budget, and suggestions on saving for retirement.

Presenter(s):
Levi Verges, Residence Hall Director at Columbia University

Presenter(s):
Jason Joyce, Assistant Director of Student Life, School of Professional Studies at Columbia University

Topic Area: Student Engagement

Despite our students’ origins, the internet is a necessity of life. However, Student Affairs Professionals often project uniform ways of social media engagement across various student populations. The presenters aim to point out the differing social media usage habits of international students and how social media is enforcing (or impeding) their adaptation to the new environment. The presenters also suggest best practices for Student Affairs Professionals to advise and support international students via social media.

Presenter(s):
Violet Yin, Student Affairs Officer, Data Science Institute at Columbia University

Viva Ye, Admission and Communications Assistant, Office of Graduate Affairs at Columbia University

Topic Area: Health & Wellness

Can we have it all? This question plagues women as they return to work from maternity leave.  After surviving three trimesters of pregnancy and the newborn phase, the “fifth trimester” defines when the working mom is born.  Presenters will share their personal strategies for navigating work and life after maternity leave. Whether you’re about to experience maternity leave or are looking to support others who are, this session will start conversations around what it means to become a working parent in student affairs.

Presenter(s):
Krista Klein, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Honors College at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Nicole Baron, Assistant Dean & Director for Admissions, Honors College at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Delmy Lendof, Ed.D., Associate Dean for Student Affairs at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

Kelly Hennessy, Ed.D., Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Services at The College of New Jersey

Issata Oluwadare, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Rutgers University-New Brunswick Honors College

Topic Area: Advising

In this session, the presenters will apply linguistic research to the academic advising role and share quick, accessible communication strategies focused on improving the experience of English Language Learners. Through interactive team exercises, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in best practices when revising written communication and practice active listening.

Presenter(s):
Roxana Ashtari, Academic Advisor, Student Affairs at the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University

Briana McDonald, Academic Advisor, Student Affairs at the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

By 2018 in the US, approximately 101 million jobs required a post-secondary degree. This session is intended to help higher education administrators develop a strong understanding of the relationship between first-generation African American students and the campus environment in predicting student persistence or
withdrawal behavior at PWI's. A better understanding of this relationship will allow higher education administrators to more clearly design and manage institutional programs that will have the greatest influence on student persistence. This session will include current research.

Presenter(s):
Dr. LaToya Blount, Interim Senior Advisor - Student Success at SUNY Rockland Community College

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

Research shows that the design and implementation of a curriculum model for programming and student learning outside of the classroom has a positive effect on student learning. However, the ways in which that curricular approach takes form varies at each institution. This round-table discussion will focus on common practices and current iterations of approaching programming for students with a pedagogical, curricular approach.

Presenter(s):
David R. Nielsen, Residence Coordinator, Office of Community Engagement at Purchase College (SUNY)

Tolu Omole, Residence Coordinator, Office of Community Engagement at Purchase College (SUNY)

Topic Area: Technology

As the digital age has become increasingly prominent in the lives of our students, it is imperative that we evaluate our communication strategies to ensure they are accessible, engaging, and inclusive. In doing so, we will be able to create content that is authentic and allows students to feel a sense of belonging online. This presentation will highlight student-centered strategies and best practices for creating aesthetic content by understanding your digital brand aesthetic, knowing your audience, and ensuring accessibility on all media and communications platforms.

Presenter(s):
Zach Harrell, Director of Student Engagement, Office of University Life at Columbia University

Isabella Villacampa, Associate Director, Center for Student Life at New York University

Emily Anderson, Graduate Assistant, Center for Student Life at New York University

Fatime Osmani, Graduate Assistant, Office of University Life at Columbia University

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

High school students have many influencers in their college application journey. This workshop will discuss how to prepare current high school students to become college access ambassadors. Peer to peer advisement can prove to be very effective when reaching certain student populations.  We will conduct a deepdive of the NYU College Access Leadership Institute (CALI) to explore the various intentional partnerships that have allowed this program’s success. CALI is a collaboration among universities, CBOs, high schools, and others in the higher education realm.

Presenter(s):
Jimmy Suarez, Director of Planning and Program Development, Undergraduate Admissions at New York University

Tysha Vulcain-Murrell, Graduate Assistant, Pipeline, Undergraduate Admissions at New York University

Topic Area: Diversity

For better or worse, our personal biases are woven into all facets of our work as student facing professionals. The good thing is that all biases are not inherently negative. Our goal in this session is to help participants identify their existing biases, think critically about their root cause, and implement strategies to mitigate their impact. Grounded in existing research, participants will leave the session with strategies they can apply to their roles as student affairs professionals, and best practices they can bring to their colleagues.

Presenter(s):
Joshua Mackey, Assistant Director of Student Life, Office of Student Engagement at Columbia University, School of Professional Studies

Phong Luu, Interim Director of Student Support, Office of Student Engagement at Columbia University, School of Professional Studies

Topic Area: Professional Development

Student leaders & student affairs professionals have at some point experienced some of the stressors that are so prevalent within our field and modern lives. The reality is that stressful environments with stressed out participants tend to foment a space in which creative challenge solving, spontaneous cognition, intuitive discernment and transformational leadership becomes limited at best and stifled at worst. Throughout this workshop, I will outline tools and practices to assist individuals and groups in creating mindful spaces that enhance productivity, a sense of presence and fulfillment.

Presenter(s):
Juan-Carlos Piñerio, Assistant Director of Student Involvement: Leadership and Multicultural Programs, Department of Student Involvement at Westchester Community College

Topic Area: Professional Development

Like Lizzo said, let us “help you with your career, just a little.” For graduate students and new professionals, navigating the student affairs job search process can be intimidating and daunting. This session will provide participants tips and tricks for all things job search related, including resume and cover letter prep, placement conferences, and phone/on-campus interviews. The session will also aim to allow participants the chance to begin practicing strategies for self-reflection as well as interview questioning.

Presenter(s):
Joey Kopriva, Associate Director of Residential Life at Columbia University

Tara Hanna, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Life/Executive Director of Residential Life at Columbia University

Janae Buege-McClain, Residence Hall Director at Columbia University

Topic Area: Professional Development

Determining the most effective strategies for engaging participants in a workshop can be especially difficult for facilitators working with non-traditional undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff. These adult learners are unique in their view of and approach to learning meaning strategies for engagement need to be equally unique. In this session we will introduce some theoretical approaches to adult learning, explore effective facilitation tools designed specifically for adult learners and discuss how to successfully incorporate these strategies into your workshops.

Presenter(s):
Samantha Collins, Coordinator, Center for Faculty Engagement and Advancement at Stevens Institute of Technology

Yijia Liu, Coordinator, Graduate Academics & Student Success at Stevens Institute of Technology

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

How can we turn tedious, bureaucratic, work flow processes into effective engagement tools?  This session will explore Vassar College's revamped student activity event approval process - a peer-led planning and approval process that has yielded a more successful programming model AND a more impactful student leader experience.  Attendees will explore how to leverage day-to-day operational needs of their institution into effective developmental conversations, and higher accountability and empowerment among students.

Presenter(s):
William Rush, NYU HESA '14, Assistant Director of Campus Activities at Vassar College

Topic Area: Diversity & Professional Development

This roundtable is focused on helping traditionally marginalized students communicate effectively in an academic environment. While the key focus of the discussion will address "common" concerns as they impact students of color, the tools, resources and information provided can be used to help other traditionally marginalized students (ex: LGBTQ+, low-income, first-generation, etc.) navigate many of the academic offices where there may be a lack of representation (administrators, faculty and staff may not look like the student or may not be associated with the same background).

Presenter(s):
Quintin E. Sipp, Financial Aid Counselor at New York University

Danielle P. Cooper, Financial Aid Counselor at New York University

Topic Area: Diversity & Student Success

The number of neurodiverse students entering college and the workforce is rapidly increasing. These students bring an important perspective to the classroom and a valuable skill-set to the workplace. But there are challenges. Traditional support in the form of accommodations is often not enough. This interactive session will help colleges and employers identify their neurotypical bias and explore innovative ways to prepare the workforce of the future.

Presenter(s):
Gracy Sarkissian, Senior Director, Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University

Lauren Hough Williams, Director, ASD NEST Support Network at New York University

Jacob Cohen, Disability Specialist, Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at New York University

Topic Area: Health & Wellness

In a fast-paced academic environment, it can be difficult to pause and ask ourselves, "how am I doing?". As higher ed practitioners, our attention is often on the wellbeing of our students. However, to continue providing sustainable and authentic care, it is paramount that practitioners take care of themselves as well. This presentation is a follow-up from The Compassionate Leader, & will focus on the practice of mindfulness. Participants will not only learn more about shame and anxiety & its contribution to self-critical cycles, but will engage in an experiential exercise & learn new skills.

Presenter(s):
Matthew Poon, PsyD, Staff Psychologist, Student Health Services at Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Topic Area: Professional Development

NYU has developed a program that transforms its students into hiring managers, giving them the opportunity to make decisions about a pool of fictional job candidates.  As students review the candidates’ applications, watch their interviews, and ultimately negotiate the salary of their prospective hire, they engage in rich discussions with their peers and develop insight into the job search process.  Participants of this session will experience a portion of the program for themselves and learn how to design and assess a version customized for their own institutions.

Presenter(s):
Miriam Miller, Senior Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Development, Wasserman Center for Career Development at New York University

Topic Area: Diversity

The experiences and struggles of LGBTQIA+ people of color (QTPOC) are often forgotten- especially when people fail to recognize what life is like at the intersection of those identities. Using findings taken from the personal narratives of experiences of students of color who took part in a camp designated for queer-identifying individuals, this workshop will be centered around the complex array of power that impacts the experiences of students with intersections of blackness, queerness, and gender while also helping attendees to understand how to better support LGBTQIA+ people of color.

Presenter(s):
Suede Graham, Coordinator for Student Development, Student Development & Campus Activities at Pace University

Erinn Furey, Adjunct Professor of Social Work & Psychology at New York University, Fordham University & Columbia University

Topic Area: Student Success & Development

Academic integrity defines a university and is essential to the mission of higher education. This presentation outlines national trends in academic integrity in higher education and provides an overview of best preventative practices. It will provide context of how Columbia University orients its undergraduate students to understand how to uphold integrity by drawing on cross-promotion of academic and campus resources. Participants are invited to engage in participatory dialogue about academic integrity trends and start an action plan to strengthen their academic integrity values on their home campuses.

Presenter(s):
Victoria Malaney Brown, Director of Academic Integrity, Student & Family Support at Columbia University

Topic Area: Professional Development

Vast and varied is the field of higher education and student affairs. This presentation will support student affairs professionals by helping them find alignment within their professional trajectory. By workshopping through concepts and frameworks such as Tim Tamashiro’s Ikigai, Simon Sinek’s Start with your Why, and Angela Duckworth’s Grit, attendees will self reflect, unpack their experiences, and examine their future prospects. In finding one’s personal charge, one can explore what role within student affairs feels best paired with their working theory of change.

Presenter(s):
Stephanie Liu, Assistant Director, Breakthrough Scholars Leadership Program, Leadership Initiative at New York University