The nexus feb 2013

THE NEXUS MCPA NEWSLETTER

February 2012

THE NEXUS

MCPA Newsletter

February 2012 education news. How are you going to make a positive change this year?

Letter from the President

By Jen Casavant, MCPA President 2012-2013

I don’t know about all of you, but the last few weeks have made me a bit skeptical about our furry friend Puxatawney Phil. Typically when I think about the arrival of spring blizzards do not come to mind!

For many of our colleagues across the state, ―Nemo‖ started off the semester with a bang. The historic storm meant completely rearranging schedules and rescheduling campus events for some and working to keep snowed-in students safe on our campuses. No matter what effect the storm had on you, I imagine that it forced you to re-think what you had initially planned and scheduled.

A new year is often a time where we reevaluate things in our lives and seize the opportunity for a fresh start. This can be as simple as cleaning or rearranging your office or as challenging as committing to a new fitness routine.

Whether seeking a personal or professional change, professional networks can provide support in areas beyond those that generally come to mind. A great example of the support our colleagues can provide outside of

best practices and conference presentation ideas is the Student Affairs Health Pledge developed by Bridgewater State University’s Ed Cabellon. Ed provided the keynote address at our annual Drive-In Conference and his personal focus on health has started a movement on twitter (#SAfit) inspiring higher educational professionals across the country to focus on their own health and fitness.

I consider myself very fortunate to work in a field where our colleagues care so much about one another - both in and out of the office. Starting something new can be exciting and inspiring, but we all know that change is hard and that a strong support system can be vital to sustained momentum and success. How amazing that we are able to find this support not only in our personal lives, but also in so many amazing individuals that we have the privilege to work alongside. Take advantage of the support available to you as you embark on a new year and new endeavors. Find a colleague to walk with you at lunch or commit to reading the Chronicle each week so that you can push each other to stay abreast of the latest higher

This semester has gotten off to a great start. In addition to the great events planned, we are excited to welcome some fresh faces to our executive board with the MCPA election process underway! Our latest Coffee Talk event discussing Working with Underrepresented Student Populations took place on February 15th at Assumption College. Believe it or not, the annual ACPA Convention in Las Vegas is upon us! Several members of the MCPA Executive Board (including myself) will be attending and for those of you that will also be attending we hope to see you at Showcase and at our Massachusetts Social (held in collaboration with BACHA) on Tuesday, March 5th from 7:30-9pm in Bally’s Palace 6.

Hope to see you in Vegas and at an MCPA event soon!

Jen

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Coffee Talk Recap:

I bundle up and take a walk through the Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Being in the fresh air while surrounded by nature and lots of cute dogs always uplifts my spirits. ~Dawn Eades, MCPA President Elect

Working With Underrepresented Populations, What Can We Learn from Each Other?

By Kathryn Wojcik, Residence Director for Housing Operations Rhode Island School of Design MCPA Graduate Liaison On Friday, February 8th, both MCPA members and colleagues alike gathered for our second Coffee Talk of the year at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. The topic was Working with Underrepresented Populations: What Can We Learn from Each Other? The roundtable discussion was led by our featured guests Robert Jones, Associate Director of Multicultural Education at the College of the Holy Cross, Christ Lauth, Diversity Coordinator at the Rhode Island School of Design, and Stephanie Williams, Director of Multicultural Affairs at Annamaria College.

Aside from being asked to share their distinct experiences when working with underrepresented student populations, our guests also discussed the unique needs of these students when assimilating them into the college community. Participants at the Coffee Talk also provided their own experiences and the challenges they have faced when working with these populations.

The focus of being multicultural competent was discussed at great lengths and the integration of that competency in our work in Student Affairs.

Wellness Tips from the MCPA Exec Board!

Like Jen mentioned in her letter above, February has caused us to question whether or not Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction about this Winter wrapping up early is true or not.

In an effort to promote ongoing wellness amongst our members, some of our exec board members gathered together to share some thoughts and tips on how they stay well in the cold New England Winter!

I use the cold, gray days to recharge with a warm blanket and a cup of tea. ~Jen Casavant, MCPA President This winter I have joined a local basketball league to continue to stay in shape. It is a great way to continue to stay active inside! ~Shannon J. Pittman, MCPA Member-at-large Yoga – inside! I Still try to get out for brief walks at lunch to get fresh air. ~ Sara Jacques, MCPA Past President

I bundle up and take a walk through the Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Being in the fresh air while surrounded by nature and lots of cute dogs always uplifts my spirits. ~Lauren Piontkoski, MCPA Marketing Coordinator As cold as it is outside, I try to find fun things to do outdoors. Try snowshoeing, downhill skiing or cross country skiing! It makes the winter seem a little less long and reenergizes me. ~Jess Kit, MCPA Treasurer This year I decided to invest in myself, and my health and signed up for personal training sessions.

By reworking my budget, and taking advantage of a good deal at the gym, it has been great and worth the money! ~Erin Kelley, MCPA Newsletter Editor “I stay well by ensuring I have at least one item on my daily to-do list dedicated to me. Sometimes I tend to forget that I’m a person before I’m a college administrator. I try to set a few small, attainable, personal goals around my health and wellness at the beginning of the week. My to-do list is mostly business, but it’s easier for me to look at it if I know there’s something I’m looking forward to doing on there too!” ~Brandon Huggon, MCPA Member-at-large

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MCPA ANNUAL DRIVE IN RECAP

By Shannon Pittman and Brandon Huggon, Drive-In Co-Chairs 2012 MCPA is pleased to announce that this year’s Drive-In Conference was one of its most successful. This year’s conference was held on December 7, 2012 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA and was attended by more than 130 professionals representing over thirty institutions. In an effort to engage its membership, MCPA decided to try something new this year and allow its membership the opportunity to choose the theme.

Thanks to two of our creative members, the first ever Drive-In Theme contest resulted in three!

This year’s theme was “Social Media, Social Justice and Social Beings”, which includes three topics of particular interest in the higher education profession. Each area of the theme is defined as followed: o

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Social Justice: Understanding the value in humanity; serving as an advocate for equality, inclusion, opportunity for all Social Media: Incorporating web and mobile platforms into your work; using technology and innovation to enhance our practice Social Beings: Engaging your professional staff and students; using communication and collaboration to move your institution forward

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We believed that this threepronged theme would provide conference attendees a wealth of information universal enough to be put into practice on any campus.

Special thanks to Donna Rogalski of Boston University and Lisa ―Lee‖ Forest of Bridgewater State University for providing the inspiration for this year’s theme.

Our attendees were greeted by an excellent keynote speaker and professional, Ed Cabellon, Director of the Campus Center at Bridgewater State University. Ed provided a very energetic and informative speech about the need for higher ed. professionals to ―be in the know‖. The MCPA Executive Board was very confident in Ed’s ability to deliver a keynote address that would inspire its members to be Social Beings, stand up for Social Justice causes, and to continue to learn about Social Media avenues that continue to change our practice. Ed is no stranger to Social Media and Technology, as he continues to offer programs and services that integrate social education and assessment. Ed currently hosts ―Student Affairs Live‖, the weekly web show dedicated to topics in Student Affairs in Higher Education on the Higher Ed Live network.

MCPA would like to thank Ed for his professionalism throughout the entire coordination of the conference. From the months preceding the conference to the day of the event, Ed was one of the most easy-going individuals to work with! In addition to being both humble and appreciative of the opportunity, he provided a unanimously well-received keynote to conference participants. Here are a few comments from our conference attendees: o

―The keynote was phenomenal, very informative and though provoking‖

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―Great info and really good presenter!‖ ―I found the keynote to be the most helpful. It really set the tone for the rest of the conference.‖

Again, special thanks to Ed for providing an engaging and informative speech for our attendees. The conference would not have been such a success without his contribution.

Ed Cabellon delivers the MCPA Keynote A stellar keynote address was also accompanied by a number of quality programs at the event. Our program proposal coordination committee was overwhelmed this year by the record response of program proposals! The committee was proud to provide our conference attendees with informative and engaging session topics from presenters who clearly demonstrated passion for their respective programs. Featured programs and presenters included the following: o

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How The Class of ’16 Will Change Marketing - Presented by Dean Kenneth Elmore Multipartiality 101 - Presented by Rhian Waterberg and Elizabeth Thompson Transformational Learning: A Commitment to Learning Partnerships

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Presented by Brent Ploughe Social Modes of Delivery: Rethinking On –Going Trainings - Presented by Megan Wyett, Kim Bornstein , Alysha Dockum, and Dawn Rendell Virtual Yet Personal: Transforming Online Learning - Presented by Clara Lau and Whitney Jorns Suffering Succotash Social Media ( and Justice) - Presented by William Elum Making the Case for Gender Neutral Housing - Presented by Maria Anderson Bringing Sunshine to your Department: Organizational Sub- Cultures and Community- Building Initiatives - Presented by Cecilia Hughes and Jessi Robinson ―Did you just say that?‖ New Approaches to Diversity Training - Presented by Justin Woodward, Bobbi- Lynn Anderson, and Courtney Moore Debummerfication: Encouraging Authenticity Through Attitude Management - Presented by Amma Marfo Conversations about Classism: Beginning an Inclusive Dialogue with Students - Presented by Genia Bettencourt and Cortney Johnson -

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Undergraduate Commuter Students: Turning College Roadblocks into Green Lights - Presented by Sutha K Kanagasingam, Amanda George, Sarah Lane, and Larez Wilson

Thank you again to all our presenters. We appreciate the hard work and thoughtfulness that went into your presentations!

We hope our attendees had the opportunity to meet and network with other area professionals throughout the day. It was exciting to have a diverse range of graduate students, new, mid-level, and senior higher education professionals from a wide array of institutions represented at the conference.

The Conference would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship from Johnson and Wales University and MyFavoriteStudent.com. The individuals at MIT who served on our local arrangements team did an outstanding job coordinating logistics with their staff and facilities. Special thanks to their dining services, Bon Appetite, for their generous donation to the conference. We are so grateful that the staff at MIT was so ready and willing to work with us; we were pleased to showcase their facilities this year. We’d also like to acknowledge the MCPA Executive Board who continues to show leadership for this organization and state chapter of ACPA. Last, but certainly not least, our sincere thanks and appreciation to our 2012 Conference Planning Committee: Jess Bolandrina, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Laurel Dreher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Joshua Gonzalez, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nataliya Halavan Becky Kjaerbye, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Benjamin Lamb, Williams College Clara Lau, Northeastern University Michelle Lessly, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lauren Piontkoski, Massachusetts Institute of Technology James Reed, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dena Reuben Jessica Robinson, Boston University Sarah Santiago, Springfield College Tim Smith, Boston University Rhian Waterberg, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Michael Zakarian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Thank you to all attended and assisted with the coordination of the conference! Brandon and I were so happy to see all of you there and we hope you had a great time. We’ll see you next year!

THE NEXUS MCPA NEWSLETTER | Fall 2012

Discover #SAFIT on Twitter

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focusing on wellness and work/life balance. Check it our yourself and see what you think…

Ryan Greelish Resident Director 

Bridgewater State University MCPA Social Networking Coordinator Wellness and finding a work/ life balance has become more of a focus for student affairs in recent years. There is a strong push for us to take care of ourselves and prevent burn out, taking more of a holistic approach so that we can better serve ourselves and our students. This is not only talked about in our offices and at conferences, but also on social media.

If you go on Twitter and search the hashtag ―#SAfit,‖ you will find a network of student affairs professionals having conversations about their fitness goals, challenges, and triumphs.

Colleagues from all over the country are celebrating their accomplishments, sharing inspirational quotes, asking questions, looking for advice, and announcing their personal fitness goals. This support and motivation from one to another is making a huge difference in our colleagues’ lives, accomplishing things they never thought they could. Some colleagues have also written blogs about their fitness journey to share their inspiring stories, tips and tricks, and reflections. These are better to read than books because they have comment sections that spur conversations between colleagues. #SAfit has really taken off and added to this new culture for student affairs

Staying Well in the Winter Lauren Salmo, MPH Health Educator Bentley University Living in a winter wonderland can present many challenges to attaining wellness. Whether you’d prefer to hibernate with the bears or frolic in fresh snow, there are many ways you can stay well in the winter! 

Protect yourself from the flu: This year’s flu epidemic has proven to be a strong one. The good news is that it’s not too late to vaccinate! Flu vaccines are highly effective when it comes to flu prevention. Other than the vaccine, there are many steps you can take to avoid catching the flu. Be sure to wash your hands frequently, taking special care to wash your hands before and after touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you are

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unable to wash with soap and water, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Staying away from those who are ill is also an important strategy.

Stay fit: Freezing temperatures and icy conditions can bring many challenges to exercising regularly. Not only can icy conditions stop runners and bikers in their tracks, whipping winds may prevent you from performing simple activities, such as choosing to walk instead of drive. It is still important to stay active when temperatures drop.

Great winter options include joining a gym, taking fitness classes with friends, or even working out with fitness videos at home. If none of these options tickle your fancy, don’t forget that cranking up the volume and dancing is a great workout—whether alone at home, or with friends and family.

Get plenty of rest: No matter the season, getting those 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is necessary to fully rest and recharge.

What’s more, getting a good night’s sleep can help support a healthy immune system—vital for fighting off winter bugs!

Try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule

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in terms of when you rise and go to bed. In addition, a comfortable room temperature can make a huge difference.

For most people, the best temperature for sleeping is between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Boost your social calendar: Frosty temperatures may deter you from leaving the house at times when you would usually be social.

Remember, getting together with friends and family is an important part of social wellness! Be sure to incorporate quality social time into your life, whether that means getting together with a friend at a coffee shop, going to a dinner party, or staying involved with an interest group (such as a book club or religious organization).

Remember, wellness is important all year long—even in those cold winter months. Keep up the good habits and spring will come before you know it. Be well!

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HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY TOUR OPPORTUNITY Ecuador Higher Education Study Tour Dates: June 13 -23, 2013

Dr. Leon is an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Counseling at Eastern Michigan University. He was born and raised in Ecuador and will lead the tour. Please contact Dr. Leon directly at rleon1@emich.edu for more details with regards to this study tour.

Tour Leader: Dr. Raul Leon (Eastern Michigan University) Registration Deadline: April 1, 2013 Study Tour Fee: $2,400 (Member of Professional Association MCPA) / $2,100 (Graduate Students)

Located on the imaginary line that divides the globe into North and South, Ecuador stands as one of the smallest countries in South America, but offers numerous attractions that continue to captivate visitors from all over the world. You are invited to visit Ecuador this summer and take part in a 10 day international study tour that examines the major facets of the Ecuadorian system of higher education in the XXI century. This study tour hopes to bring together a group of colleagues (graduate students, faculty, and staff) from several institutions and is centered on comparing and contrasting higher education in Ecuador and the U.S. The theme of the study tour is: "Fostering Student Success: The Evolution of Higher Education in Ecuador" All tour activities will take place in Quito (capital of Ecuador), recently selected by National Geographic as one of the top 10 destinations to visit in 2013.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Kelsey Stokes University of Massachusetts Amherst Major: Kinesiology Minor: Psychology and Education Hometown: Greenlawn, New York What are you involved in at UMass?

At UMass, I have been a Resident Assistant for three years. This year I have had the opportunity to live in a first-year hall, which I have fallen in love with. Being in my senior year, it is especially rewarding to be able to have an impact on new students to UMass. I have had so many opportunities to share my knowledge and love of UMass. I am President of the National Residence Hall Honorary, which is an organization that recognizes the top 1% of leaders on campus.

This organization is based on four

THE NEXUS MCPA NEWSLETTER | Fall 2012

pillars of leadership, scholarship, recognition, and community service. This year, I launched a Mentor/Mentee program where newly accepted members of our organization are grouped with Executive Board members to guide their learning and understanding of our mission and the four pillars. This has given students a great opportunity to get more involved, gain knowledge about leadership, and network on campus. I am also the President of another registered student organization, Sisters on the Runway – UMass Division. This organization fundraises and promotes education, awareness, and prevention of domestic violence. Each year we have small events leading up to our final event, a fashion banquet, in the spring. The whole production is student run with local and corporate sponsors. We have raised over $7,000 for our local domestic violence shelter in Northampton, Ma, Safe Passage.

What are your plans for life after college?

With my Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, I am planning on taking the Health Specialist certification exam and working as a HS for a year at home. I hope to then attend graduate school for Occupational Therapy. I plan on continuing within this field with doctoral work and eventually working for the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs.

What is your favorite event on your campus?

My favorite event would definitely have to be the Sisters on the Runway Annual Show. All year we work so hard to put together this huge event for over 400 people to attend and it is amazing to see everything come together. We always have a great turnout and it is so rewarding to

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be able to give a huge check to our charity and hear the amazing work being done from that.

What are your goals for this year?

My goals for this year would be to finish off strong and enjoy the time I have left at UMass. I would like to be able to take my certification test by the start of the summer and to try and find a job so I am currently studying for the test. I would like to leave the organizations I am apart of with a good head start for next year. I think in both of the organizations I run, we are always looking to the future and learning from the past so we are constantly improving. A personal goal of mine is to train and run a 10K over the summer.

heightened academic expectation of current students.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned at UMass?

Success means many different things to different people. But what I have learned success, to me, is knowing that I tried my best and made a difference. If you only even impact one person, that one person will affect another and so on. Set off a chain reaction, and you can change the world.

Any advice to student/staff/faculty? Words of wisdom?

I think the biggest piece of advice I have for any student is to get involved and be apart of something bigger than you. Put your 100% effort out there and you will always succeed, no matter how big or small. When you rely on your common sense and leadership ability to guide you, anything is possible.

What can your institution do to help students succeed?

The University of Massachusetts has so many opportunities and programs to help students succeed. From the Supplemental Instruction and tutoring programs, live in academic support, resume workshops, student leadership programs and the ever expanding Maroon Central Alumni network, UMass has an abundance of outlets for students to succeed. I think this is highlighted in the increased academic excellence of the new incoming classes as well as

Kelsey Stokes

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Just 7 days to convention….

Join your ACPA colleagues in Las Vegas as we co-locate our annual convention with NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation.

The co-located 2013 annual convention is an extraordinary opportunity for our members to examine the role that college and university leaders play in:    

advancing student learning and wellness cultivating critical discourse integrating intersectional approaches to identity transforming higher education

ACPA 2013 Convention registrants have unrestricted access to hundreds of educational sessions, discounted rates at our convention hotels, and unlimited networking opportunities with colleagues from around the world. http://convention.myacpa.org/vegas2013/

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THE NEXUS MCPA NEWSLETTER | Fall 2012

THE NEXUS MCPA Newsletter

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Look out for our next newsletter this Spring.

If you are interested in submitting an article on any topic please email Erin Kelley at ekelley@bentley.edu.

In addition to seeking articles, we are also always looking for undergraduate and graduate students to spotlight in each newsletter. If you have a student you would like to nominate, or an article you would like to submit for the Winter Newsletter, please email Erin.

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