2020 University Life Student Success Symposium: Full Schedule

8:30am EST

Check-In

Thursday January 9, 2020 8:30am - 9:00am EST
Johnson Center, Ground Floor Lobby

9:00am EST

Welcome

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:00am - 9:20am EST
Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall

9:35am EST

Adult Learners at Mason: What You Don’t Know

Adult learners, ages 25 to 64, have become a popular point of conversation in the field of higher education and student affairs. Join us in a discussion regarding what this community looks like at Mason and how we as professionals can best support their educational aspirations. We will examine common assumptions about adult students, gauge our shared knowledge of this growing community, and how to broaden our scope of support.

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Speakers

Julie Allstrom

Student Services Manager, Bachelors of Individualized Studies Program (BIS)

Shyama Kuver

Assistant Director, Contemporary Student Services

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, Room F

Educational Session #1

9:35am EST

Engaging Family to Bolster the Psychological Well-Being of First-Generation College Student

First-generation college students (FGCSs) represent a significant population on college campuses, in general, and about 33% of the population at George Mason University (GMU). However, FGCSs may come to college with social and academic concerns that may make their post-secondary journey more challenging. One of these challenges is the messages FGCSs may receive from their families about college. This presentation shares results of qualitative research conducted at GMU on the role of family messaging about college and FGCSs’ psychological well-being. Our presentation will focus on the learning that emerged via students’ voices and the practical recommendations we can deploy across academic and student affairs to serve FGCSs and their families.

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Speakers

Graziella P. McCarron

Tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor, School of Integrative Studies (SIS)

As a former student/academic affairs professional and as a current leadership studies faculty member, Dr. Graziella McCarron brings 20+ years of work focused on holistic student development, increasing students' access to higher education, community-building, and creating learning... Read More →

Sharrell Hassell-Goodman

Doctoral Candidate, Human Development and Education, George Mason University

Elizabeth D. Dalbec

Doctoral Candidate, Human Development and Education, George Mason University

Christian Rafael Suero

Doctoral Student, Sociology, George Mason University

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, Room E

Educational Session #1

9:35am EST

Let’s build a user experience (UX) culture at George Mason University!

Let’s build a user experience (UX) culture at George Mason University!

A student comes to us with a problem. We all want to help. But is immediately getting out the tools and tinkering the right answer? Do we really understand the problem? If not, how can we really fix it? Are we going to make things worse?

Let’s make sure we understand the problem before we work on the solution. To do that, we should apply design thinking. Design thinking is a process of creating and testing innovative ideas to improve a product/service or solve existing problems.

During this interactive session, the presenters will discuss the stages of design thinking and, by using examples, share methods to see the problem from the user perspective. Participants will conduct usability testing and learn how to get insight into actual student behavior. These approaches will help reduce wasted effort and ineffective solutions and increase the overall student experience.

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Speakers

Telli Morris

Assistant Director, UL Operations and Planning

Birgit Debeerst

Associate Director, UL Operations and Planning

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, Room A

Educational Session #1

9:35am EST

Leveraging Pre-College Leadership Development Influences Toward Supporting the Whole GMU Student

Avolio and Vogelgesang (2011), in their work on leadership beginnings, noted that strategic leadership development efforts most likely start too late in the lifecycle to optimize the impact on genuine leadership development. Given this prompt and our own observations, our research team developed an instrument to explore individuals’ current and retrospective conceptualizations of leadership (and influences on those conceptualizations) so that we may inform college-level leadership work.

Our instrument was designed for distribution to (a) a sample of current George Mason University students (asking about pre-college and college leadership concepts) and (b) a sample of post-baccalaureate adults from a national population (asking about pre-college, college, and current leadership concepts). While the instrument will be deployed more fully to both students and the national participants in Spring 2020, our team expects preliminary findings from the national sample by early January 2020.

At this Symposium, we hope to share preliminary findings exploring how individuals define leadership and what shaped that thinking. We also expect to examine the link between pre- and college-based activities and leadership/leader development. These findings will, hopefully, contribute further to the thoughtful approach to college student leadership development that honors the whole student and their rich histories.

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Speakers

Alec Campbell

Master’s Student, I/O Psychology, George Mason University

Elizabeth Schierbeek

Master’s Student, Interdisciplinary Studies, George Mason University

Stephen Zaccaro, Ph.D.

Professor, I/O Psychology, George Mason University

Steven Zhou

Ph.D. Student, I/O Psychology, George Mason University

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, Room D

Educational Session #1

9:35am EST

No simple stories: Engaging in real-world supervision case studies (sponsored by the Supervision Collective)

Understanding strategies for working through difficult situations and subsequently putting those strategies into practice are beneficial for learning how to best approach and solve supervision challenges. This case study program will allow supervisors at all levels to identify potential situations, practice developing their individual supervisory skills, leverage the knowledge of those in attendance, and learn from experienced facilitators including Juliet Blank-Godlove (Dean of Students) and Dr. Creston Lynch (Associate Dean). Small groups will be organized to facilitate in-depth analysis and discussion of realistic scenarios that supervisors may face.

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Speakers

Meeghan Millette

Associate Director Staff Development, Housing and Residence Life

David Gaskins

Executive Director, Mason Recreation

Morgan Strimel

Access Consultant, Disability Services

Juliet Blank-Godlove

Dean of Students, University Life

CRESTON LYNCH

Associate Dean, George Mason University

Creston Lynch is the Associate Dean for University Life & Deputy Title IX Coordinator. He supports the projects and units related to diversity, equity, and inclusion including the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education & LGBTQ+ Resources; the Women & Gender Studies... Read More →

Dr. Sally Lorentson

Associate Dean, University Life

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, George's

Educational Session #1

9:35am EST

Reset: Creating an Academic Integrity Center on a Budget

How does an office of 1 with a part time admin assistant transform into a center that has become a resource for the Mason campus? Come join us to learn the process undertaken to rebrand the office into a resource that attempts to meet the needs of both students and faculty. Growing from case adjudication, we have developed an interactive website and educational modules designed to educate students and faculty on integrity at Mason.

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Speakers

LaShonda Anthony

University Life, George Mason University

Dr. LaShonda Anthony serves as the Director for Academic Integrity and an adjunct professor in the Women and Gender Studies program at George Mason University. In this role she works with college students who serve on the university’s Honor Committee. These students are tasked... Read More →

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, Room G

Educational Session #1

9:35am EST

The Green Zone

The Green Zone is a Nationally shared program that educates faculty and staff on what it is like for students to transition out of the military and into the college environment. Four presenters share four distinct aspects- student life, GI Bill impact, mental health, and how to assist student veterans within your community. The spinoff benefit is this also helps the students that are part of the panel presenting!

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Speakers

Stephen Ross

Director of MSS and Staff, Military Student Services Office

Thursday January 9, 2020 9:35am - 10:35am EST
Johnson Center, Room B

Educational Session #1

10:00am EST

ENGAGE

Feeling inspired from a session? Come up with a great idea? Did you start a conversation with a colleague you want to continue coming out of a session? Then drop by the ENGAGE space, located in the alcove of the 3rd floor! This space is designed to give you as an attendee the opportunity to have further conversation with colleagues, draft out an new idea that was sparked, share a takeaway you have from a session, or write a note of affirmation and appreciation to a colleague. In the space you there are materials for you to share your thoughts and ideas on our Engagement Wall. For each engagement post you add to the wall, you will receive an additional raffle ticket to be used at the UL Symposium raffle at the conclusion of the day. We can't wait for you to ENGAGE in this space!

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:00am - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, 3rd Floor Alcove

10:45am EST

A Year in the Life of a Supervisor: From Setting Expectations to Performance Improvement

What are the best practices to evaluate the employees you supervise? In this session, we will guide you through the ‘life cycle’ of feedback and evaluation. From implementing a culture of regular feedback during the onboarding process, to having crucial conversations, to self-evaluations and yearly performance reviews, you will learn how to be intentional as you build your structure for development and growth for those whom you supervise whether they are student-wage, part-time, graduate assistants, or full-time employees. Whether you are currently in a supervisor role, plan to work in a supervisor role, or want to learn what types of expectations future employers may have, this session has something for everyone with tips and proven methodologies for supporting current (or future) supervisors and supervisees.

Spark your planning and organization to structure a comprehensive feedback process, from one cycle to the next! Handouts with resources will be provided. Sponsored by the Supervision Collective – a part of UL Professional Development. Build on your new knowledge by joining us for our afternoon session: practice how to have crucial conversations through the examination of case studies.

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Speakers

Krisztina Roder

Event Support Superviso, George Mason Student Centers

Kelly Reid

Office and Program Administrator, George Mason Student Centers

Christie Michals

Employer Relations Coordinator, University Career Services

Trasi Watson

Associate Director, University Career Services

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, George's

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

Dare to be Vulnerable: Creating Brave Spaces to Foster Authentic Student Engagement

As student demographics continue to dramatically shift in higher education, colleges and universities are engaged in national dialogue on how to best assess and respond to the unprecedented needs students bring to campus. Student Affairs Practitioners have access to a growing repository of best-practices, strategies, frameworks, and student development theory to inform their practice, but there is a lack of personalized application of how those concepts apply to each individual student.

There is a growing area of research from multiple disciplines that suggests how courage and vulnerability are the ingredients needed to cultivate joy and sense of belonging among individuals. Through a multi-disciplinary approach, participants will explore the concepts of courage and vulnerability and identify three ways to create brave spaces for students to share authentically where they feel valued, seen, and heard.

Facilitators will provide case-study examples of how infusing courage and vulnerability in their professional practice have direct impact on student engagement, success, and well being. Participants will also learn how sharing the student impact of courage and vulnerability with their colleagues boosts moral and serves as a powerful reminder of the 'why' behind the work we do as educators.

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Speakers

Bradley Brooks

ADVANCE Success Coaches, University Life

Sabrey Garling

ADVANCE Success Coaches, University Life

Sharon Kim

ADVANCE Success Coaches, University Life

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room B

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

Resilience on the ODU Campus

Due to the increasing demand for mental health services and the increasing severity of issues seen in counseling centers, many schools are implementing resilience programming on campus. This session will describe ODU’s resilience initiative. The presenters will discuss the key concepts involved in resilience and describe the behaviors that indicate resilience. We will share a variety of efforts including our: Resilience Committee, Monarchs Bounce Back, Monarch Mind, First Class, and presentations to student organizations. Participants will learn about the efforts being made on the ODU campus and will be given the opportunity to think about ways that resilience can be increased on their own campus.

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Speakers

Nancy Badger

Executive Director, Counseling Services, Old Dominion University

Dr. Johnny Young

Associate VP for Student Engagement and Enrollment Services, Old Dominion University

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room F

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

Retaining African-American Males in College: Hands up! Stop, Wait. Do I Belong Here?

Learning Objectives:
• At the conclusion of the presentation the audience will be able to identify the Cool Pose behavior and to create positive responses
•Participants will be able to recognize the impact of the stereotype threat for men of color and determine positive strategies to implement.
•Faculty, Staff and students will walk away with a blueprint on how to build community with Men of Color Alumni and students.

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Speakers

Carlton Goode

Academic Advisor, Student Success

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room A

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

Sprinting toward SLOs – Student Learning Outcomes in Student Affairs Work

The national context increasingly requires student affairs units to identify the ways in which their work contributes to student learning in the institutional context, and practitioners have been challenged to measure the impact of their work, demonstrated in metrics that were not common in past practice. To that end, institutions across the country have been working to develop, implement, and measure student learning outcomes across divisions of student affairs. In Spring 2019, University Life took on the challenge of developing and implementing Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the division through a “sprint team” process and an accelerated exploration. This session will present information on the compelling national context for the use of SLOs, the institutional and divisional approach Mason and UL are utilizing, and hands-on activities about how to put SLOs into practice in the work of a unit.

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Speakers

CRESTON LYNCH

Associate Dean, George Mason University

Dr. Sally Lorentson

Associate Dean, University Life

Elysia Lash (she/her)

Interim Director, University Life Assessment

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room C

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

Supporting Students with Disabilities and Addressing Challenging Behaviors

Nationally, the number of students that Disability Services offices serve on college campuses continues to grow relative to overall student enrollment. This increase comes with a shift towards more complex student needs and accommodations across campus, both in and outside of the classroom. In an effort to recognize disability as an aspect of the diversity that comes with increased enrollment and foster inclusive campus environments, it is increasingly important for all members of campus communities to deliver educational opportunities, programs, and support services while addressing disability-related needs and behavioral challenges appropriately.

Participants will leave this interactive and engaging session with greater knowledge about what Disability Services offices do, strategies and tips related to disability etiquette, and approaches for managing potentially challenging behavior across different university contexts. A majority of the session will be spent encouraging and facilitating interactive dialogue around ways that individuals have addressed challenging behaviors in the past, current questions they may have about disabilities more broadly, and to share tips and strategies around disability etiquette.

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Speakers

Morgan Strimel

Access Consultant, Disability Services

Naomi Martinez- Jones

Director, Disability Services

Naomi Martinez-Jones is the Director of Disability Services at George Mason University. She has over 15 years of experience working with people with disabilities in secondary and post-secondary education and in the community. Naomi received her undergraduate degree in Special Education... Read More →

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room G

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

Supporting the Well-Being of George Mason University Student Activists

Bjornsen-Ramig and Kissinger (2018) affirmed that student involvement in the intense arena of advocacy/organizing can shape student mental health and overall wellness. Yet, little is still known about how best to serve student advocates and organizers. Given this gap in our understanding, we undertook a research effort to unpack a distinct element of this experience: social justice and human rights (SJHR) student activist burnout. At this symposium, we present a portion of a larger project exploring the well-being of SJHR student activists, for which we conducted interviews with 14 SJHR student activists at George Mason University (GMU).

Among other findings, the interviews revealed that (a) there is prevalence of burnout among the student activists that has affected their bodies and their activism, and each has their own burnout response and (b) there exists a need for more institutional training on how to cope with activist burnout. Given the passion for positive social change student activists possess, as educators committed to holistic student development, we must not only help shepherd students into an engaged citizenry, but we must also care for their total well-being. In this presentation, we will unpack the study findings and discuss recommendations for practice at GMU.

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Speakers

Graziella P. McCarron

Tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor, School of Integrative Studies (SIS)

Cher Weixia Chen, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, International Studies, Legal Studies, and Social Justice and Human Rights, School of Integrative Studies

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room E

Educational Session #2

10:45am EST

What can TV’s “The Good Place” teach us about Positive Change?

If you have been following the news recently, you have likely observed major societal problems. Can a TV sitcom help us learn ways to create positive change? NBC’s “The Good Place” is a show in which humans are scored on how ethical they are, in order to determine their place in the afterlife. This session will introduce participants to the 5A’s of positive change using examples and video clips from “The Good Place.”

Are you addressing all 5A’s of positive change? Some of us help students, faculty and/or staff to clearly identify important issues, increasing AWARENESS; some focus on the commitment to make the world a better place, highlighting ASPIRATION; some introduce critical decision-making principles, emphasizing ANALYSIS; others concentrate on the importance of follow-through, prioritizing ACTION; and some provide opportunities for reflection and revision, advocating ADAPTATION. How many of us are doing all five effectively? Attend this session to better understand the 5A’s of positive change and how they can re-focus your work.

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Speakers

Nick Lennon

Director, Leadership Education and Development (LEAD)

Director, Leadership Education and Development

Thursday January 9, 2020 10:45am - 11:45am EST
Johnson Center, Room D

Educational Session #2

12:00pm EST

Lunch

Thursday January 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall

1:00pm EST

Becoming Recovery Allies

This program will train individuals to be supportive of people in recovery from drugs and/or alcohol. By the end of this program, attendees should be able to demonstrate empathy towards those in recovery by:

Understanding that recovery is a long-term process with unique implications for student success

Confronting myths and stigma regarding addiction and recovery

Using appropriate language related to addiction and recovery

Being available to listen openly to students who express the need for help or support and talk to students who might be struggling with substance use

Support those in recovery by knowing resources Mason has for people in recovery and how to access those services

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Speakers

Lin Chun

Assistant Director for Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Education, Student Support and Advocacy Center

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room C

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Breaking the Ice: Chipping away at the Hidden Issues in Career Advising

Ninety percent of an iceberg's mass is hidden from view under the surface of the water. The same is true for the issues and concerns that students have when they come for career advising. When a student asks a question of their advisor, the advisor may frequently provide an answer or a resource that only addresses 10% of the student’s actual concern. This is like a doctor prescribing medicine to alleviate symptoms without evaluating the reasons why the ailment may exist. In doing so, the doctor may cause more harm than good. We want to support our student services colleagues to better assess student needs. Learn how to go beyond the prescriptive methodologies of advising through comprehensive, probing questions in order to serve students holistically. While this presentation is designed around career advising, the skills and best practices taught can be applied to all facets of student affairs.

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Speakers

Ash Taylor-Beierl

Job Location and Development Coordinator, Career Services / VCU

Krystle Dorsey

Assistant Director, Education & Human Service, Career Services / VCU

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room D

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Into the Unknown: Facilitating Change as a Mid-Level Manager

Mid-level managers are often faced with opportunities to facilitate both large and small scale departmental change. While change can be exciting and an opportunity for innovation, it can also lead to analysis paralysis and choice overload. Charged with leading change into the unknown, mid-level managers ideate and execute future strategic plans while managing those staff who are implementing the day to day operations. This often results in needing to place one foot in the future while maintaining another in the present. At the same time, it requires a shift from being an individual contributor to managing a team of contributors. Promotion into mid-level management often results from successful leadership and execution of the day to day operations. Moving up to the next level does not always come with the training and development to shift from a focus on execution to a focus on management.

This session will discuss the responsibilities of a mid-level manager, key factors to implementing successful change through the role, and roadblocks and challenges. We will explore ways to ensure staff and environments are primed for change while being solution oriented to successfully chart the course into the unknown.

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Speakers

Aysha Puhl

Associate Director Residential Student Education & Engagement, Housing and Residence Life

Meeghan Millette

Associate Director Staff Development, Housing and Residence Life

Christian Barber

Associate Director Residential Communities, GMU

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room A

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Mason's Resilience Badge: Past, Present, Future

Knowing that college students need to develop 21st century skills such as problem solving, teamwork, and communication, Mason has offered the Resilience Badge since spring 2016. Housed within University Life, this badge highlights some of these 21st century skills outside of the academic, discipline-based classroom by bringing students together to learn and reflect on how these skills function in their current lives as engaged students, how they will be instrumental in their future lives as working professionals, and how they contribute to higher levels of resilience no matter the setting.

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Speakers

Katie Clare

Associate Director for Resilience Programs, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Lewis Forrest

Associate Dean, University Life

Melissa Schreibstein

Director of Well-Being Programs, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Gold Room

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

MicroStrategy Reports that lead to Student Success

Present Mason's MicroStrategy Dossiers, Visualizations, Dashboards and Reports. These track Admissions and Student enrollment processes at Mason. The reports and dashboards are widely used for making key decisions at Mason.

Some of the reports I plan to share:

Pre-Enrollment Summary
Admissions Funnel
Student Enrollment Summary
Course Enrollment Summary
Waitlist Counts Alert

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Speakers

Rupa Mehta

Data Analyst, Enrollment Management/Provost Office

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room E

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Safe Zone : Developing and Assessing Mission-Driven Learning Outcomes

With young people today being more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ than older generations, we need to be prepared to support our students throughout their journey with us with any identities they bring. In this presentation, we will re-introduce attendees to our Safe Zone Program at Mason and compare our program and its measures with others at the national level to examine how it has developed over time. With an assessment lens, we will share how we moved Safe Zone from simple program outcomes to more meaningful learning outcomes with new measures. After an overview of this process and a deeper dive into our data tool, we will then engage the audience in activities around planning for data analysis as well as drawing conclusions from the data. We will discuss our current state of things in terms of examining the data and plans for next steps. Finally, we will share lessons we have learned through this process and the implications for the future of Mason’s Safe Zone Program and an integrated assessment approach to student learning initiatives.

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Speakers

LuLu Géza Kelemen (they/them)

Assistant Director, LGBTQ+ Resources

Elysia Lash (she/her)

Interim Director, University Life Assessment

Kayla Keener (she/her)

Graduate Professional Assistant, LGBTQ+ Resource

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room B

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Serving Gen Z and their Families

Today's generation of graduating high schoolers are as diverse and technologically advanced than ever, and the have certain expectations about their college experience. Their families are also as diverse as ever, and come with a separate set of needs and expectations of our campus community. Understanding these new populations as they enter college and those who come connected to them will allow institutions to evolve to offer better support. Come learn about these changing populations and identify how your own work can better support them.

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Speakers

Rick Gray

Director, New Student and Family Programs

Sam Greenberg

Associate Director for Families, New Student and Family Programs

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room F

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Social Mobility and Student Success: Old Dominion University’s Innovative Approach

A college degree advances socioeconomic status for our students, often positively impacting their families and the greater community. By expanding college access for low-income and first-generation students, higher education institutions can promote social mobility in a tangible way. Providing coordinated financial assistance, academic, and support programs for low-income students is of paramount importance.

This session explores Old Dominion University’s (ODU) development of the Social Mobility Center which is an outcome of ODU's Social Mobility Symposium. Social mobility is achieved through programs such as ODU's comprehensive student success coaching, Mane Connect. Our coaching program is empowering the most historically under served students to complete their degrees. The Mane Connect Coaching program assists first year students in making a successful transition to the university by assisting them with overcoming obstacles and helping them create and accomplish academic and social goals. In addition, success coaching provides targeted programs (e.g., financial literacy, time management, & career exploration). ODU staff will discuss the social mobility, success coaching, and ways to retain economically disadvantaged students, improve college completion, and graduate students into productive jobs.

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Speakers

Carin Barber

Project Manager, Old Dominion University

Jane H. Dané

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Old Dominion University

Sherri Watson

Director of the Center for Major Exploration & Mane Connect Success Coaching, Old Dominion University

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, George's

Educational Session #3

1:00pm EST

Using Digital Tools to Help First Generation College Students Connect to Student Support Offices

First-generation college students face many challenges when entering a higher education institution. One of their challenges is transitioning from high school to college life. Student support offices are designed to help student to be successful in college. However, first-generation college students struggle in connecting with student support offices and at times they do not know that those offices exist. This presentation provides a new approach using digital tools and social media to teach First-Generation students how to connect and familiarize themselves with student affairs offices. By using digital tools such as social media, first-generation students can feel more identified with their campus and ultimately connect with student affairs staff members who can guide them through their college life.

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Speakers

Julio Diaz

Master's Degree Student, Higher Education Program, George Mason University

Thursday January 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Johnson Center, Room G

Educational Session #3

2:15pm EST

Engaging the Non-Help-Seekers: Novel Approaches to College Student Mental Health

Promoting the mental health and wellness of the campus community is beyond the scope of any single department. No matter how innovative, inclusive, or engaging a college counseling department is, there are many students who could benefit from treatment who are unable or unwilling to seek it out. As such, it is important for student success that we engage students in mental health treatment outside of the counseling office.

Research has found that individuals with mental health and substance use disorders are often more likely to seek out services from a primary care provider than specialists and often do not identify mental health or substance use as the primary problem for their visit. 45% of people who die by suicide have been found to have visited their primary care provider within a month of their death.

Student Health Services identifies students in need Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and initiates them in the Collaborative Care Model (CCM) of integrated mental health care without students ever needing to seek out services or wait for an appointment for an initial visit. This care model capitalizes on existing university mental health and medical staff to meet the needs of students.

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Speakers

Lisa Park, MD, MPH

Executive Director, Student Health Services

Rachel Wernicke, PhD

Associate Dean & Chief Mental Health Officer, University Life

Chris Rzengota, LPC

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Clinician, Student Health Services

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Room E

Educational Session #4

2:15pm EST

Foreign Service Day: A Sustainable and Collaborative Approach to Student Success

Foreign Service Day originated in 2016 with the recognition that students from a variety of academic disciplines gravitated to the same career goal: a career in the Foreign Service. A cross-campus collaboration was created between four units in order to build a professional high-impact career readiness experience. This full day conference has promoted community engagement and cultivated partnerships with the US State Department and associated organizations. After a rigorous application process, students are invited to attend this event involving direct networking opportunities, hands-on simulations, and break-out sessions featuring current and former Foreign Service Officers. A featured highlight of the day includes a high-profile keynote speaker, among whom have included Ambassadors and Deputy Secretaries of State. We will share student outcomes from these events based upon survey results and career outcomes, showing how cross-functional collaboration can lead to increased student engagement and success. This presentation will share a blueprint for high-impact events across campus that you can adapt for your students and your field.

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Speakers

Leslie Durham

Program Coordinator, Recruiter and Academic Advisor, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Ann Ludwick

Assistant Dean and Academic Advisor, George Mason University

Erika Marquina

Academic Advisor, Global Affairs

Matt Myers

Assistant Director, University Career Services

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Room B

Educational Session #4

2:15pm EST

HRL Staff Devo Committee: Creating a Workplace of Connection and Development

Housing & Residence Life is a large, dynamic department comprised of five functional areas, over 160 professional staff members, and provides education, service, and support to over 6000 on-campus residents. With the volume of staff in the HRL department and the specialized roles different positions play in the operation, a lack of interpersonal connection and engagement was identified. As the full HRL department underwent went a reorganization, the HRL Staff Development Committee was created to address these needs for the overall department. Our approach to this work has been collaborative and with our progress we have faced challenges along the way. With the support of departmental leadership and addressing the apathy of staff, we are starting to see a shift in our HRL interpersonal culture to be one of increase engagement and connection.

Over the course of this session our team will share the details of our work, our approach to navigating challenges, and provide time for brainstorming how you can replicate these efforts on your team, regardless of staff size. With intentional conversation, planning, and creating opportunity for engagement, the potential for your team’s development could be limitless.

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Speakers

Meeghan Millette

Associate Director Staff Development, Housing and Residence Life

L'Erin Garner

Project Specialis, Housing and Residence Life

Christopher Gremillion

Community Director, Housing and Residence Life

Leslie Coonfield

Business Process Coordinator, Housing and Residence Life

Shameka Jones

Procurement & Asset Control Cooridnator, Housing and Residence Life

Joel Byron

IT Specialist, Housing and Residence Life

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Room A

Educational Session #4

2:15pm EST

International Students and Mason's Office of International Programs and Services

This presentation overviews Mason's Office of International Programs and Services and details the support OIPS provides to the international population at Mason and those who support the population.

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
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Speakers

Ashley Bus Morgan

International Advisor, International Programs and Services

Jonathan Carmona

Global Programs Coordinator, International Programs and Services

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Georges

Educational Session #4

2:15pm EST

Lessons Learned: Tips on Interpersonal Communication and Healthy Relationships from SSAC

Do you know that many of our students struggle with interpersonal communication and healthy relationship skills and sometimes so do we as professionals? How can we as higher education professionals connect our students, staff, and faculty to these skills? How do we model the skills needed for student success?

In this session, we will explore some of the most helpful communication skills we use in the Student Support and Advocacy Center when working with students as they navigate through challenging situations. Some of these skills include active listening, perspective taking, boundaries setting, deescalation of difficult situations and emotions, development of autonomy and efficacy, and mindful grounding practices. This active workshop will be grounded in evidence and will provide faculty and staff with tolls to utilize these skills as they navigate difficult situations with our students and the entire Mason community.

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
Link to Individual Session Evaluation

Speakers

Courtney Diener

Assistant Director, Student Support and Advocacy Center

Matt Carlos

Assistant Director, Student Support and Advocacy Center

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Room D

Educational Session #4

2:15pm EST

Transfer Student Success: An Exploration of Identity and Best Practices

Transfer students experience college differently. National data shows that transfer students have a lower engagement rate and sense of belonging, but why? What does this mean for you as a practitioner? In this session, we will explore national data, Mason data, and best practices to help your unit create a personalized plan to prioritize and engage transfer students.

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
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Speakers

Casey Smith

Assistant Director, Contemporary Student Services

Emilie Dubert

Director, Contemporary Student Services

Caroline Simpson

Senior Off-Campus Advisor (student), Contemporary Student Services

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Room F

Educational Session #4

2:15pm EST

You say you want student input? Be careful what you ask for! The Student Centers Student Advisory Board Journey

Join us on an adventure that has at times felt like a wild safari, a float through the doldrums, and 10,000 foot skydive. About two years ago, Student Centers embarked on a journey with the goal of increasing our student employee engagement in our current and future programs and operations. In Spring 2018, with leadership from our Associate Director, input from our Supervisors, and interest from our student employees, the Student Centers Student Advisory Board met for the first time. Almost two years later, we will share some of the stumbles we made, lessons we learned, and victories we celebrated.

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
Link to Individual Session Evaluation

Speakers

Megan Neff

Event Support Student Lead and Student Centers Advisory Board President, George Mason Student Centers

Krisztina Roder

Event Support Superviso, George Mason Student Centers

Thursday January 9, 2020 2:15pm - 3:15pm EST
Johnson Center, Room G

Educational Session #4

3:30pm EST

Academic Panel: Trends in Academia

Moderator: Dr. Lynn Jorgenson

Dr. Shannon Davis, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr. Jaime Lester, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Sara Montiel, School of Integrative Studies
Dr. Ivory Berry, College of Education and Human Development
Dr. Laura Lukes, Stearns Center

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
Link to Individual Session Evaluation

Speakers

Dr. Shannon Davis

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Sociology, Sociology and Anthropology

Sara Montiel

Associate Director of Student Services, School of Integrative Studies

Dr. Ivory Berry

Director of Student Success, College of Education and Human Development

Dr. Laura Lukes

Assistant Director for Teaching Excellence, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

Dr. Jaime Lester

Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Thursday January 9, 2020 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Johnson Center, Bistro

Panel Presentations

3:30pm EST

Contemporary Student Trends

Moderator: Emilie Dubert, CSS
Veterans - Ryan Barnett, Military Services
Transfer Students: Jennifer Nelson, NOVA
Student parents – Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon in COS
Returning/Adult Learners – Kurt Lazaroff, BIS

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
Link to Individual Session Evaluation

Speakers

Jennifer Crewalk

Assistant Director, Diversity Inclusion and Multicultural Education

Jennifer Crewalk is on the professional staff of the office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education. Jennifer’s primary responsibilities include educational equity and institutional support for students with liminal immigration statuses , especially undocumented... Read More →

Emilie Dubert

Director, Contemporary Student Services

Thomas Barnett

Assistant Director, Military Services

Jennifer Nelson

NOVA

Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon

College of Science

Kurt Lazaroff

BIS Program

Thursday January 9, 2020 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Johnson Center, Georges

Panel Presentations

3:30pm EST

Senior Student Affairs Officers/Vice Presidents Student Affairs Panel

Moderator: Rose Pascarell, Vice President, University Life, George Mason University

Panel:

Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover
Vice President of Student Services
Northern Virginia Community College

Dr. Don Stansberry
Interim Vice President
Student Engagement & Enrollment Services
Old Dominion University

Dr. Yolanda Barbier Gibson
Vice President for Student Success
Division of Student Success
Shenandoah University

Dr. Leonard Brown Jr.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Dr. Charles Klink
Senior Vice Provost
Division of Student Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University

Click below to access individual session evaluation:
Link to Individual Session Evaluation

Speakers

Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover

Vice President of Student Services, Northern Virginia Community College

Frances Villagran-Glover was appointed Vice-President for Student Services in January 2019. Prior coming to NOVA, Frances served as the Associate Vice-Chancellor for Special Programs and Success at Houston Community College. She provided leadership for programs supporting student... Read More →

Dr. Don Stansberry

Interim Vice President, Student Engagement & Enrollment Services, Old Dominion University

Dr. Don Stansberry serves as the Interim Vice President of Student Engagement & Enrollment Services at Old Dominion University. Dr. Stansberry leads the areas of student engagement, student success, enrollment services, and institutional research. Don is a student-focused professional... Read More →

Dr. Yolanda Barbier Gibson

Vice President for Student Success, Division of Student Success, Shenandoah University

Dr. Yolanda Barbier Gibson became Shenandoah University’s Vice President for Student Success in June 2019. As vice president she is responsible for ensuring that all students are successful both inside and outside of the classroom. Her office oversees six departments including career... Read More →

Dr. Leonard Brown Jr.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Dr. Leonard Brown Jr. is currently the Vice-President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Brown earned a B.A. from Dickinson College majoring in psychology. He received a... Read More →

Dr. Charles Klink

Senior Vice Provost, Division of Student Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Charles (Chuck) Klink has worked for forty years in student affairs. Currently, Dr. Klink serves as the Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. The division encompasses 16 student serving departments and 4 administrative support units with... Read More →

Rose Pascarell

Vice President, University Life, George Mason University

Thursday January 9, 2020 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Johnson Center, Cinema

Panel Presentations

4:30pm EST

Closing

Thursday January 9, 2020 4:30pm - 5:30pm EST
Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall