Student Affairs Professional Development and Staff Recognition Calendar

Please register online for each session you plan to attend.

August

Project Bird Tracks: New Initiative Supporting Student Engagement & Success

Friday, August 20 –1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 26 – 11:30 a.m. - Noon

Project Bird Tracks is the culmination of several years of work to help center learning in the cucurriculum and aid students in navigating the myriad of choices to engage at Illinois State University. Through collaboration and harnessing technology, Project Bird Tracks allows students to search, sort, and filter experiences by what they’ll learn from them, time of year, hours per week, if you’ll be paid, and the list goes on. In this brief session, attendees will learn how Project Bird Tracks came to be, what the initiative entails, and how to use it when working with students.

Presenter: Dr. Erin Thomas, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support and Digital Fluency & Assessment

Power BI: The Tool and What We're Learning from It

Tuesday, August 24

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Power BI (PBI) is a business intelligence tool in the Microsoft platform that provides interactive visualizations to aid understanding and decision-making for users. In the last two years, Illinois State University has begun to move data into this tool in meaningful ways. Attendees will learn about the tool, see various reports created from institutional and divisional data, and spend time discussing what can be learned from the available reports and how PBI could improve their work.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

Articulate the main components of PBI
Describe what they gained from viewing reports based on institutional and divisional data
Discuss possible applications for PBI to their daily work

Presenter: Dr. Erin Thomas, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Digital Fluency & Assessment

The Truth About Microaggressions

Monday, August 30

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send hurtful and demeaning messages to the individuals being aggressed. Research has shown that consistently experiencing microaggressions can be psychologically and physically draining. No one should have to navigate this regularly. This session will help participants understand the different forms of microaggressions, what they look like, and how they manifest. We will determine the safest and most effective ways to address microaggressions and reflect on ways to check our own behaviors.

This session will help you to:

Understand the different forms of microaggressions and how they manifest
Determine the safest and most effective ways to address microaggressions
Learn different action steps to take to respond to these situations effectively

Presenter: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Leadership Competencies, Productivity & Problem Solving, and Global Perspective & Worldviews

September

Let's Talk Proposals and Presentations

Friday, September 3

3:00 - 4:15 p.m.

Presenting at conferences is an efficient and exciting way to share your interest, ideas, and research. However, presenting your work to others can be scary and requires determining what type of presentation would best suit your material as well as choosing the appropriate conferences. This session will provide you with the tips and tools needed to feel more confident in yourself and your abilities.

After attending this session, you will:

Understand the different types of presentations offered within conferences. Learn how to determine what a conference is looking for in a proposal.
Be able to decide which presentation format would best suit your style and material.
Learn how to create a "blueprint" for writing a great proposal.

Presenter: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Technology, Assessment, and Professional Competence

Project Bird Tracks: New Initiative Supporting Student Engagement & Success

Tuesday, September 7 – 3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Friday, September 17 – 11:30 a.m. - Noon

Presenter: Dr. Erin Thomas, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support and Digital Fluency & Assessment

QPR: Ask a Question, Save a Life

Wednesday, September 8

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone for help. As members of the ISU community, you are often the first individuals to notice signs and symptoms of suicide in a colleague, student, resident, coworker, friend, or loved one. This uniquely positions you as the first line of defense to assist someone in getting help and, therefore, saving a life. Participants will receive electronic access to helpful materials and receive a certificate from the QPR Institute upon completion.

This training will help you to:

Learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide
Learn how to offer hope
Learn how to refer someone to help

Presenter:Dr. Gina Meyer, Student Counseling Services

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support

New Staff Orientation

Monday, September 20

11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Division of Student Affairs offers a half-day new staff orientation program several times a year to welcome new employees and provide important information to help them be successful in their new roles.

The orientation program includes:

Networking with other new staff members and Student Affairs leaders.
Information on the 13 diverse departments that comprise the Division and the students we serve.
An introduction to cultural competency in Student Affairs.
The history of Student Affairs at Illinois State University.
Introduction to needed technology.

This is an opportunity to learn about the values and mission of the Division.

Community Cultural Wealth: A Counter Story of Blackness

Tuesday, September 14

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

This interactive session will draw on a community cultural wealth approach to expand how we create an environment of belonging for students and reduce anti-black ways of thinking and doing. Participants will have the opportunity to develop goals to disrupt anti-blackness in their area of influence.

This session will help you to:

Understand community cultural wealth and how to integrate this approach into their daily work practices.
Identify areas of shortcomings and develop strategies to combat anti-blackness.

Presenter: Tamekia Bailey, Director of CAST Connections

Knowledge Areas:Student Advising & Support, Teamwork, Mentorship & Interpersonal Skills, Productivity & Problem Solving, and Global Perspective & Worldviews

Creating Good Assessments

Friday, September 24

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Time to assess your program or service? This session is designed to help you organize your thoughts and efforts to get the data you need to make good decisions regarding your program or service. We will discuss types of assessment, available tools, and how to administer assessments that meet your needs.

*To get the most out of this session, please bring your goals, outcomes, and past assessment tools and/or data for the program or service. (The session will still be valuable without this information.)

After attending this session, you will be able to:

Match appropriate assessment tool to a type of assessment question(s).
Describe at least two types of assessment.
Create a high-quality assessment for a program or service.

Presenter: Dr. Erin Thomas, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas:Digital Fluency & Assessment

Help Us, Help You: Partnering with Your Marketing Colleagues

Tuesday, September 28

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

One of the responsibilities of marketing and communication professionals is to promote the programs and services of their departments while upholding institutional brand and strategy. These individuals bring great knowledge and expertise to their roles but also need to form strong partnerships with colleagues who understand the goals, audiences, and details of programming efforts. Learn the value of relying on each other's content expertise and working together toward mutually beneficial goals from a panel of marketing professionals who have built strong partnerships within their departments. Hear about how they partner with colleagues to support and promote the important work happening in their departments.

This session will help you to:

Gain an understanding of best practices and elements of successful marketing strategies, as well as general marketing processes and expectations
Identify the most important information that marketing colleagues need in order to create strong marketing materials
Build stronger partnerships with their marketing colleagues by getting insight into the marketing mindset

Facilitator: Megan Rolfs, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Panelists: Ed Campbell, University Housing Services; Jordan Cox, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs; Emily Nafziger, Center for Civic Engagement

Knowledge Areas:Teamwork, Mentorship & Interpersonal Skills

October

Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame

Friday, October 1

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m.

The Division of Student Affairs Legacy Hall of Fame is named in honor of Vice President Emeritus Steve Adams and former First Lady of the Division Sandi Adams for their many years of combined service and commitment to Illinois State University. It recognizes their dedication to the role holistic education plays in the life of a student, as well as their loyalty to Illinois State University. Join us as we honor the legacy of Steve Adams and recognize this year's inductees.

iGen: What We Need to Know About Today's Students

Tuesday, October 5

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

This session will be covering aspects from Dr. Jean M Twenge's book iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us. The discussion throughout the session will give you more insight into "Generation Z" (1995-2012) and how to connect with them in both your work and personal lives. Join us to learn more about today's college students!

This session will help you to:

Identify who makes up Generation Z (igen)
Describe characteristics that are representative of Generation Z (igen)
Differentiate Generation Z (igen) from previous generations
Suggest and support changes to operations and/or programming to meet the needs of Generation Z (igen)

Presenters:Drew Ison & Krista Gooris, Campus Recreation

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support and Teamwork, Mentorship & Interpersonal Skills

Fall Kickoff

Wednesday, October 6

9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Join Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Levester "LJ" Johnson, to kick off the 2021-2022 academic year! Reconnect with your colleagues, learn what's happening in the Division, and get ready for an outstanding year!

The Truth About Microaggressions

Friday, October 15

8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

This session will help you to:

Understand the different forms of microaggressions and how they manifest
Determine the safest and most effective ways to address microaggressions
Learn different action steps to take to respond to these situations effectively

Moderator: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas:Leadership Competencies, Productivity & Problem Solving, and Global Perspective & Worldviews

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Wednesday, October 20

1:00 - 2:15 p.m.

Change is inevitable and can cause fear of the unknown. However, when embraced, individuals and teams can successfully navigate changes that come their way. This year, our team has faced significant change with having multiple supervisors and shuffling of positions. Under normal circumstances, these transitions would have been difficult on their own but were mixed in with the changes caused by Covid-19. By adapting to change, changing supervisors, supporting staff through change, and changing positions, we came out a stronger team than what we started as and want the same for any Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes you may be faced with.

This session will help you to:

Have tools to help navigate change in the workplace (supervisors, priorities, etc.)
Gain skills to support staff through changes that are occurring
Learn ways to adapt to change and how to advocate for themselves through changes

Presenters: Kiley Sturm & Julia Durnell, University Housing Services

Knowledge Areas:Personal & Career Development

Taking Control of Your Workday: Support Staff Edition

Friday, October 27

10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Support staff are vital to the successful operation of each Student Affairs department. This special lunch and learn is designed specifically for support staff to network, share expertise, and discuss the best practices with one another to enhance professional development.

Moderator: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Personal & Career Development, Productivity & Problem Solving, and Digital Fluency & Assessment

The Power of Empathy and its Connection to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Thursday, October 28

9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Recent surveys suggest that divides among Americans are more significant than ever. People are more hostile and less trusting of one another, making it very hard to empathize and show compassion to others. A study found that today's average American is less empathic than 75% of Americans 30 years ago. This means that today's leaders and the leaders of tomorrow are struggling to connect with and understand others from different social, cultural, or economic backgrounds. This interactive session will explore empathy through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. Participants will learn, practice, and be challenged to apply empathy skills into their professional and personal lives.

This session will help you to:

Understand empathy and the role it plays in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Assess who and how we restrict ourselves from connecting to others experiences.
Learn what is needed to improve your ability to empathize.

Presenter: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Teamwork, Mentorship & Interpersonal Skills, Personal & Career Development, and Global Perspective & Worldviews

November

CRCC Conference

Monday, November 1 – 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

and Tuesday, November 2 – 8:30 a.m. - Noon

Bone Student Center

Save the date and visit the CRCC website for more information!

Can I Teach You to Juggle in One Minute?

Thursday, November 4

11:00 a.m. - Noon

Learning does not take place in discrete or isolated episodes. It takes place across time, interacts with other learning, and is applied in various contexts across one's time in college. But how do we capture this learning in its complexity? How do we create conditions that encourage students to develop increasingly complex skills the longer they are involved? This session is titled, "Can I teach you to juggle in one minute." The answer, as you might expect, is "No." But, participants will be able to learn new juggling skills and have the opportunity to put them into practice as they also learn about the complexities of creating and measuring student learning.

This session will help you to:

Understand how to construct learning activities that provide increasingly higher order thinking skills as students invest more time and energy.
Understand how to write learning outcomes that measure complex learning over time.
List the five a's of skill development and apply them to writing learning outcomes.

Presenter: Dr. Adam Peck, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas:Student Advising & Support, Leadership Competencies, Personal & Career Development and Productivity & Problem Solving

This Changes Everything: Movie Discussion

Monday, November 8

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Told first-hand by some of Hollywood’s leading voices in front of and behind the camera, This Changes Everything takes an incisive look into the history, empirical evidence, and systemic forces that foster gender discrimination and thus reinforce disparity in our culture. Most importantly, the film seeks pathways and solutions from within and outside the industry, as well as around the world. Features interviews with Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Rashida Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Oh, Jessica Chastain, Tiffany Haddish, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Maria Giese, and many other influential voices in the fight for gender equality.

*Free on Netflix w/subscription & cost $3.99 on Amazon Prime

Facilitator: Barb Dallinger, Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality

Knowledge Areas:Global Perspective & Worldviews

New Staff Orientation

Tuesday, November 16

11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Bone Student Center Founders Suite- RSVP

The orientation program includes:

Networking with other new staff members and Student Affairs leaders.
Information on the 13 diverse departments that comprise the Division and the students we serve.
An introduction to cultural competency in Student Affairs.
The history of Student Affairs at Illinois State University.
Introduction to needed technology.

This is an opportunity to learn about the values and mission of the Division.

Save the date and visit the CRCC website for more information!

Moving Beyond Challenge & Support: Utilizing Theories of the Third Wave

Monday, November 29

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Zoom- RSVP

Drawing on the framework of Jones & Stewart (2016) and Jones (2019) we will discuss the student development theories that arose out of the Third Wave of Student Development Theory. These theories offer perspectives that “critique, challenge, and seek to dismantle inequitable power structures” (Jones & Stewart, 2016, pg. 21). Answering the prescient questions of Jones & Steward (2016) who asked “ (1) in what ways do critical … perspectives prompt student development theorists and educators to reevaluate the foci of student development theory and practice and (2) in what ways do critical … perspectives enable student development theorists and educators to reconsider knowledge in the field” (2016, pg. 22). As such, this session will be oriented around these questions with an eye to illuminate theories from the so-called Third Wave of Student Development Theory, and how you may be able to use these theories to sharpen your practice as an educator.

After attending this session, you will:

Understand the 3 waves of student development theory.
Understand the notion of critical approaches to student development theory.
Spend time considering how you can use critical approaches to student development theory in your practice.

Presenter: Dr. Gavin Weiser, College of Education

Knowledge Areas:Student Advising & Support

December

Writing and Using Student Learning Outcomes (two-part session)

Monday, December 6 (Spotlight Room)

Monday, December 13 (Founders Suite)

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Bone Student Center- RSVP

While there are tools and resources available to write student learning outcomes, it takes time and practice to get comfortable with the concept and task. Participants will learn a couple approaches/models to writing outcomes, why outcomes are valuable to program planning, and get time to practice reviewing and writing outcomes. By the end of the sessions, participants can have new/updated learning outcomes for their program/services that will help guide its implementation and assessment.

After attending this session, you will be able to:

Identify good and bad learning outcomes.
Write a good learning outcome statement.
Discuss the types and levels of Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning.

Presenter: Dr. Erin Thomas, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Digital Fluency & Assessment

Neal R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life Award Ceremony

Tuesday, December 7

10:30 a.m. – Noon

Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom- RSVP

Join the Division as we remember Dr. Neal R. Gamsky and celebrate this year's Quality of Student Life Award recipient. Dr. Gamsky, Vice President for Student Affairs Emeritus, created an endowment to encourage professional staff to make significant personal contributions to the students at Illinois State University. The recipient of this award receives a recognition plaque, monetary award, and their name permanently displayed on a plaque in the Student Services Building.

Let's Talk Proposals and Presentations

Monday, December 20

10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Zoom- RSVP

After attending this session, you will:

Understand the different types of presentations offered within conferences. Learn how to determine what a conference is looking for in a proposal.
Be able to decide which presentation format would best suit your style and material.
Learn how to create a "blueprint" for writing a great proposal.

Presenter: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Technology, Assessment, and Professional Competence

January

Professional Development Pop-Ups

Zoom links will be sent the morning of each session.

This semester we will have professional development pop-ups. They will be quick 30-minute sessions covering a multitude of topics. There will be no need to RSVP for these. You will be able just to pop in whenever they pop up!

February

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide Reading Group

Zoom- RSVP

From the end of the Civil War to our combustible present, an acclaimed historian reframes the conversation about race, chronicling the powerful forces opposed to black progress in America.

"I've read a fair bit of African-American history, but White Rage, by Carol Anderson, which is beautifully written and exhaustively researched, illuminated for me just how deliberately education policy in the United States disenfranchised African-Americans." – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, bestselling author of AMERICANAH and HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

There are two different reading groups to choose from.

GROUP 1: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Feb 8, Feb 22, Mar 8, Mar 22, Apr 5. Apr 19
GROUP 2: Noon – 1:00 p.m., Feb 18, Mar 4, Mar 18, Apr 1, April 15, April 29

*Books will be provided to those who need them.

Moving Beyond Land Acknowledgements & Token Representations Recording and Discussion

Friday, February 11

2:30–3:30 pm

Zoom - RSVP

Watch the pre-recorded session before our Zoom discussion.

More and more, universities, organizations, and companies are drafting and implementing Indigenous land acknowledgement statements and media makers are hoping to incorporate Native representations into their work. But how do we make sure that these attempts at recognition and representation don't stop at check-boxes or symbolic work, or become token inclusion without meaningful change?

In this session, scholar, writer, and cultural critic, Dr. Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation), discusses the history and context of these current movements and examines case studies of how to move beyond the token or symbolic and into deeper, sustainable change.

Knowledge Areas: Global Perspective & Worldviews

CRCC Conversations

Wednesday, February 23

3:00–4:00 pm

Zoom- RSVP

Save the date! Details coming soon!

Legacy Multi-dimensional Framework: Bridging the Access and Opportunity Gap for First-generation Students and Professionals

Monday, February 28

10:00 am – Noon

Zoom or Founders Suite, Bone Student Center - RSVP

The purpose of this interactive presentation is to discuss the Legacy framework that provides a cross-functional approach to closing the opportunity and access gap for first-generation students and professionals. This framework takes an innovative approach to address systemic barriers by cultivating spaces that build community as well as address deficit perspectives and language to change the narrative of first-generation students to an asset-based approach. "When there is a gap in access and opportunities due to systemic oppression, the ability to be successful seems out of reach. Closing the opportunity and access gap occurs when we identify what is holding the gap open." -Dr. Black

After attending this session, you will:

Learn ways to close gaps that serve as systemic barriers to First-Generation students' and professionals' pipelines to success.
Discuss the Social and Cultural Capital First-Generation students and professionals bring to the college experience.
Learn how to use the L.E.G.A.C.Y. framework as an asset-based approach to developing pipelines to success.
Discuss examples of how the framework is intentional in developing programs and initiatives that expand the student’s perception of their abilities.

Presenter: Dr. Shatoya Black, University College, TRIO/Student Support Services

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support, Global Perspective & Worldviews

March

Asian Americans: Facing Hate, Fighting for Justice, and Shaping the American Story Recording and Discussion

Tuesday, March1

3:00–4:00 pm

Zoom - RSVP

Watch the pre-recorded session before our Zoom discussion.

Two outspoken, activist Asian American women speak their minds about anti-Asian racism and misogyny in the current climate of hate—and how they seek to build multiracial, multicultural unity to address white supremacy and sexism.

Renee Tajima-Peña is an award-winning filmmaker whose work focuses on immigrant communities, race, gender and social justice. Helen Zia is a noted author and activist on social justice issues ranging from civil rights and gender equality to countering homophobia and hate violence.

Presenter:Renee Tajima-Peña and Helen Zia

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support, Global Perspective & Worldviews

Exploring and Understanding Allyship

Monday, March 14

10:00–11:15 a.m.

Zoom- RSVP

This session will help participants define what allyship is and understand what it is not. We will explore the ways to earn the title and the responsibilities that come along with it.

After attending this session, you will:

Understand what allyship.
Learn what allyship is not.
Understand the responsibilities that come along with being an ally.

Presenter: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Leadership Competencies, Global Perspective & Worldviews

CRCC Conversations

Thursday, March 17

3:00–4:00 pm

Zoom- RSVP

Save the date! Details coming soon!

Behind the Attacks on "Critical Race Theory" and How We Can Respond Recording and Discussion

Wednesday, March23

3:00–4:00 pm

Zoom - RSVP

Watch the pre-recorded session before our Zoom discussion.

Attempts to censor discussions of race and racism are underway nationwide. GOP lawmakers in at least 21 states are either introducing legislation or have already passed bans that impact K-12 classrooms and in some cases, colleges and universities. At the federal level, 30 House Republicans signed on to bills that would prohibit diversity and anti-racism training in the military and federal agencies.

Critical race theory (CRT) is becoming the flashpoint in this debate over how U.S. history and racism can be addressed in classrooms, government agencies, trainings, and conferences. CRT examines the ways institutionalized racism and other systemic barriers to equality are embedded in U.S. society and how institutional and systemic inequities disproportionately affect people of color. But for opponents, it is a catch-all threat to white people, lumping together multiculturalism, anti-racism, identity politics, and racial justice education.

Panel: Jesse Hagopian, Educator & Co-Founder of BLM @ Schools; Loretta Ross, Professor, Author, & Human Rights Advocate; Tim Wise, Anti-Racist Author & Eductor

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support, Global Perspective & Worldviews

Taking Control of Your Workday: Support Staff Edition

Wednesday, March 30

10:30 am – 3:00 p.m.

Prairie Room III, Bone Student Center- RSVP

Moderators: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Personal & Career Development, Productivity & Problem Solving, and Digital Fluency & Assessment

April

Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame

Friday, April 8

10:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Munch and Mingle

10:30 am - 12:30 pm - Ceremony

Old Main Room, Bone Student Center- RSVP

The Division of Student Affairs Legacy Hall of Fame is named in honor of the late Vice President Emeritus Steve Adams and former First Lady of the Division Sandi Adams for their many years of combined service and commitment to Illinois State University. It recognizes their lifelong dedication to the role holistic education plays in the life of a student, as well as their steadfast loyalty to Illinois State University. Join us as we honor the legacy of Steve Adams and recognize this year's inductees.

Supporting Autistic College Students

Monday, April 11

9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Zoom- RSVP

The current prevalence rate for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is 1 in 54, but only about 35% of autistic individuals attend college, and only 39% of those who attend will graduate. For autistic individuals, college brings upon a host of difficulties inside and outside of the classroom setting, indicating that professionals in higher education need to be informed on the lived experiences of autistic college students in order to mediate the challenges faced.

After attending this session, you will:

Understand ASD as a spectrum including shared characteristics and the various ways ASD differs from person to person.
Understand the lived experiences of autistic individuals attending college at ISU, including what they see as goals for future improvement.
Be able to use the information provided to inform how to work and interact with autistic college students in various settings.

Presenters: The Autism Place at Illinois State University, Morgan Johnson, M.S. & Jessica McKinley, SSP

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support, Teamwork Mentorship & Interpersonal Skills

Moving Beyond Challenge & Support: Utilizing Theories of the Third Wave

Friday, April 15

10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Zoom- RSVP

After attending this session, you will:

Understand the 3 waves of student development theory.
Understand the notion of critical approaches to student development theory.
Spend time considering how you can use critical approaches to student development theory in your practice.

Presenter: Dr. Gavin Weiser, College of Education

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support, Leadership Competencies, Digital Fluency & Assessment

White Supremacy and Cancel Culture: Countering Right Wing Attacks on Anti-Racism Work

Wednesday, April 20

11:00 am – Noon

Zoom - RSVP

Watch the pre-recorded session before our Zoom discussion.

As demands for institutional and structural change are being heard around the country, the right wing attacks against “wokeness” are mounting. This strong pushback to antiracist and inclusive education uses the charge of “cancel culture” as an attempt to foment white grievance anxiety and block racial equity efforts.

In this webinar, activist, public intellectual, and professor, Loretta Ross, will discuss how the cries of “cancel culture” by the right wing serve to reassert white supremacist dominance by describing the most privileged as victims. Ross lays out the need for a coordinated and politically astute strategy to counter these attacks on anti-racist education and DEI. She brings decades of experience to a topic so critical to building a unified and strategic movement.

Presenter: Loretta Ross

Knowledge Areas: Global Perspective & Worldviews, Leadership Competencies

New Staff Orientation

Monday, April 25

11:00 am – 4:30 p.m.

Founders Suite, Bone Student Center- RSVP

The orientation program includes:

Networking with other new staff members and Student Affairs leaders.
Information on the 13 diverse departments that comprise the Division and the students we serve.
An introduction to cultural competency in Student Affairs.
The history of Student Affairs at Illinois State University.
Introduction to needed technology.

This is an opportunity to learn about the values and mission of the Division.

Let’s Talk Proposals and Presentations

Thursday, April 28

3:00 – 4:14 p.m.

Spotlight Room, Bone Student Center- RSVP

After attending this session, you will:

Understand the different types of presentations offered within conferences. Learn how to determine what a conference is looking for in a proposal.
Be able to decide which presentation format would best suit your style and material.
Learn how to create a "blueprint" for writing a great proposal.

Presenter: Angell Howard, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs

Knowledge Areas: Technology, Assessment, and Professional Competence

STAR Awards

Tuesday, May 3

Noon - 2:30 p.m.

Prairie Room, Bone Student Center- RSVP

The STAR Awards recognize “Staff That Are Remarkable” within the Division of Student Affairs in several categories. Each spring, the Division gathers to recognize staff that have made significant contributions to their departments, the Division, and the University during the year. Nominations are sought early in the semester and the selection committee carefully evaluates the nominations in determining award recipients.

Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Transforming Trauma into Thrivance Recording and Discussion

Friday, May 20

9:00-10:00 am

Zoom - RSVP

Watch the pre-recorded session before our Zoom discussion.

How can educators create safe learning environments for young people who’ve experienced or witnessed a lifetime of trauma? They’ve lived through school shootings, police violence, natural disasters, the pandemic. Or their personal lives have been scarred by physical abuse, sexual assault, violence, poverty, neglect. Research has shown that by the time they reach college age, 66 to 85 percent of youth report lifetime traumatic event exposure, with many reporting multiple experiences. For Black, Indigenous, and other young people of color, young immigrants and refugees, queer youth, and current and former foster youth, the risk factors are even higher. Award-winning author and scholar Dr. Stacey Patton is a nationally-recognized child and youth advocate whose research focuses on the intersections of race and childhood. In this session, she draws on that framework to show how trauma manifests in young people, how it affects their learning and development, and what educators can do to support them.

Presenter: Dr. Stacey Patton

Knowledge Areas: Student Advising & Support, Global Perspective & Worldviews