The nexus may 2013

THE NEXUS MCPA NEWSLETTER

May 2013

THE NEXUS

MCPA Newsletter

May 2013

Letter from the President

By Jen Casavant, MCPA President

2012-2013 It’s hard for me to believe that this is my last letter as MCPA President. I know that we seem to say it every year, but time does fly. It’s been an eventful few months in Massachusetts and as the semester wraps us for so many of us we are approaching a time when we can finally sit back, take a deep breath and reflect on the past year.

We had a great time at Convention 2013 out in Las Vegas back in March and it was great to see so many MA colleagues out west. I certainly attend some fantastic sessions and brought back ideas for my home campus. Our social planned in collaboration with the Boston Area College Housing Association (BACHA) was a huge success with over 50 attendees representing well over 20 different institutions! It was wonderful

to talk with colleagues from institutions across the Commonwealth and at all different stages of their careers. I heard a lot of comments like, “we need to get together more often back home!” I hear myself saying the same things quite often. It’s too bad that it takes traveling across the country for a major convention to meet up with colleagues that are only 30 minutes away! I would venture to guess that we all need to commit to making more time for each other.

I have always felt as though April is a hectic month for all of us in student affairs, but this April was certainly more than any of us could have imagined. The tragedy that occurred at the Boston th Marathon on Monday, April 15 shook us on both a personal and a professional level. As if that was not unthinkable enough, we awoke that Friday to the devastating news out of MIT that they lost a member of their community, Officer Sean Collier, and chaotic events were unfolding in the Boston suburbs.

Many campuses were locked down on Friday, thrusting many of our colleagues into immensely challenging situations in order to keep our campus communities safe and cared for.

While we certainly don’t hope for tragedies to occur anywhere, when the dust has settled I have found myself consistently in awe of the amazing work that you all do both, under ordinary and extraordinary circumstances, to support students. I’m sure we are aware that we have amazing professionals across our state, but the strength of our profession is highlighted when we are called on to handle the unexpected, and downright unimaginable.

As my term as MCPA President comes to a close and I reflect on the past year, it is easy to pinpoint what stands out in my mind. The amazing professionals in the Commonwealth and the importance of the work that we do continues to leave me speechless. Please continue to reach out and take advantage of the opportunities to learn from one another and continue to build on the outstanding tradition of higher education in Massachusetts.

Thank you for all that you do and have a wonderful summer!

Jen

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Boston Strong: A Tribute from the MCPA Executive Board The events of April had a profound impact on the MCPA executive board, and gave us reason to pause and appreciate the pride we take in our Commonwealth’s capitol. Here is why we love Boston: I love the electric atmosphere when our athletic teams compete. ~Jen Casavant, President You will not find a better city than Boston! It is rich in history and culture, mighty in sports and higher education, asserts all four seasons, small yet the largest city in New England, and with its public transportation system, can get you anywhere you want to go! I am proud to say I love that dirty water! ~Dawn Eades, President Elect I love Boston because there is so much pride in who we are and what we represent. We are a mix of people who come together in support of each other! ~Ryan Greelish, Social Media Coordinator I love Boston for its subtle nuances that only true Bostonians understand and appreciate. That's what makes Boston so unique and distinctive. Aside for the notorious accent, the small things like how you can smell a Dunkin Donuts from 3 blocks

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away and navigate to it without a map, or the excitement and anticipation that surround opening day (and the 5,000 little kids that skip school and ride the T in with their parents to go to the game). Those small things bring the city together and keep Boston Strong. ~ Kelly Konevich, Graduate Student Liaison My favorite thing about Boston has to be its resiliency. While often considered “rough around the edges”, the people of Boston are persistent, hardworking, and fighters through and through.

Living in the city can teach you a tremendous amount both about independence and community.

While Bostonians may be rough around the edges, they are truly loyal and thoughtful at the core.

The character that the city possesses will undoubtedly push us to be stronger than we were before the tragedy. Boston Strong. ~Brandon Huggon, Member-atLarge Boston is an amazing city because no matter which area of Massachusetts you hail from, there is an overwhelming sense pride. The term community comes to mind, and a tough one at that. This city is brought together by college institutions, sports, events, history and our people. Proud to be a Bostionan. ~Lauren Piontkoski, MCPA Marketing Coordinator I love Boston because you can walk everywhere and get great food of all different kinds! ~Jess Kit, MCPA Treasurer I love that I grew up right outside of Boston and that a strong sense of pride in the city was instilled in me the day I was

born. I couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else home. ~Erin Kelley, MCPA Newsletter Editor I love Boston because Boston has the BEST sporting atmosphere!

Whether you are a fan (initially) of any Boston sport ( Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots or Bruins) IF you attend a game, then you will immediately become aware of the sporting community. It is a great feeling. I love doing the wave in Fenway Park. ~Shannon Pittman, MCPA Member-at-large

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Voices from Boston:

By Paul G. Brown, Teaching Fellow Boston College Working in student affairs and higher education, one frequently works with students who experience tragedy, trauma, grief and loss. Some of us are on the front lines of responding to crisis, often risking our own safety, and some of us deal with the indirect effects of these incidents, supporting our students and campus by helping a community process through difficult experiences and emotions. As helpers, this often requires us to set our own emotions and difficulties aside‌ But who helps the helpers?

Together with the students in my student affairs and higher education class at Boston College, we wanted to share our stories of working through the tragedy at the Boston Marathon. We share them here to help others in our profession understand that they are not alone in working through these tragedies on our campus, big and small. We also share them to help ourselves heal and to begin to make sense of these recent events. We hope these stories will help others understand and find comfort. http://voicesfromboston.paulgor donbrown.com Contributors include: Bridget Buoniconti, Kara Connally, Jessica Crowley, Tim Dugan, Nick Gawlik, Caitlin Green, Maureen

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Halton, Brendan Kennedy, Emily Merritt, Brittany Topper, Xiaofeng Wan, and others.

Self-care Following a Traumatic Incident; the Challenging Role of a Student Affairs Administrator

By Maura Mulligan, Director, Center for Wellness & Disability Services Wentworth Institute of Technology In the aftermath of traumatic events that impacts our campus community, such as the recent bombing of the Boston Marathon, a school shooting, or a student death, student affairs professionals often jump into crisis mode. Taking care of our students, offering day and evening support to those who need a compassionate ear, or a shoulder to cry on, this is a role in which student affairs professional excel.

In the effort to support our students and our staffs, we often forget the need to care for ourselves. It is important to remember that the traumatic event also impacts us and the need to care for ourselves should not come second to caring for others. Often in the days following a traumatic event, individuals may experience a range of emotions, from shock, denial, anger, and anxiety. It is

essential that we care for ourselves during this time and have appropriate time to process our own emotions and responses.

When dealing with trauma, it is helpful to remember that our responses are normal reactions to abnormal circumstance. There is no one right way to handle these events and it can be challenging to support others, or feel the pressure to support others while you are dealing with your own emotional responses.

In the days and weeks following a traumatic event, it will be important for you to pay attention to your emotions and to take time away from work and students if you are feeling overwhelmed.

The importance of sleep, exercise, and good nutrition should never be discounted when dealing with a traumatic event.

These basis self-care skills are essential, as you will be of no use to others if you do not properly care for yourself.

It is also helpful to reach out to others to discuss your emotions and the event itself. As student affairs professionals, it will be important to discuss the events with your colleagues, but it is also wise to discuss them with outside family and friends, who may have more distance from the trauma and be in a better position to support you.

In incidents where large scale media coverage is involved, it is also essential that you make an effort to turn off the television or stop checking internet sites for updates. While our initial response to crisis is to learn everything we can about the situation, it can be emotionally overwhelming and further

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traumatizing to relive the event for hours and hours each day.

This is also not the time to make major life decisions and changes. Trauma impacts our mental health in such a way that we may not make the best long term decisions for ourselves when under the stress of a traumatic event.

In the weeks following a trauma, make an effort to spend time with others and engaged in activities that you enjoy. As student affairs professionals, we can sometimes feel guilty for taking time to do things we enjoy when knowing that others may be in distress. But taking some time to go for a walk, read a book, listen to music, spend time engaged in fun activities, can allow us to recharge and be better prepared to meet the needs of students in the future.

Most of all, it is important to allow yourself to express your feelings about the traumatic event. Whether you need to cry or yell, finding a healthy way to express your feelings is key to recovering from trauma. Try your best to not use excessive amounts of alcohol or other drugs to numb your feelings. While this may allow you a temporary escape, use of substances while under stress often complicates the healing process.

Finally, recognize that recovery from trauma may take a long time. Don’t be discouraged by peers who seem to be fine within a few days, as everyone handles trauma differently. Don’t be afraid to speak to your supervisor if you are in need of additional support or need to take a mental health day to care for your own needs. If at any time your emotional responses to trauma are getting in the way of daily

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functioning please seek professional help from your school’s counseling staff or employee assistance program.

The Chateau Event: Supporting our Students with Disabilities On April 18th MCPA joined with BACHA and MA-NASPA to host a dinner and panel discussion focused on best practices and current knowledge on how to serve our students with disabilities. Topics and questions included understanding the accommodation process, working through an Office of Civil Rights investigation to creating a more inclusive campus community. We send a huge thank you to our panelists and co-sponsors for an excellent night full of good food and great conversation!

MCPA ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS This year MCPA was pleased to present the following awards at the annual Drive-In Conference this past December: New Professional of the Year Jessica Kitt Graduate Student of the Year Joanne Darrigo Accomplished Leader Award C. Daryl Healea Outstanding Service to MCPA Award Ryan Greelish Access and Inclusion Award Brian Falter Pillar of Mentorship Award Kenneth Douglass

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SAVE THE DATE!

THE NEXUS MCPA NEWSLETTER | May 2013

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Look out for our next newsletter this Summer.

If you are interested in submitting an article on any topic please email MCPA Membership at membership@mymcpa.net.

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 next newsletter, please contact us!

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