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Vermont Connection Letter from the Editor Hello HESA Alums, Friends, and Family, It‟s hard to believe we are more than halfway through the fall semester. The first snow flurries were in the air today, but hopefully we will hold off on winter until a little bit longer! It is my honor to introduce myself and this year‟s Executive and Full Boards to you all. We are excited about this upcoming year and the production of the 33rd edition of The Vermont Connection journal. We are incredibly pleased with the level of scholarship and innovation in this 32nd anniversary edition‟s articles. Our journal theme this year is “Liberating the Learner: Access and Privilege in Higher Education.” Each article encompasses this theme in a different way through exposing issues of access and privilege that continue to permeate higher education. Please consider participating in and supporting TVC and reconnecting with HESA. If we did not reach you during Phone-athon and you would like to donate to TVC, there‟s still time! We always appreciate alumni/ae support during Production Week and at the NASPA and ACPA conferences. HESA and The Vermont Connection journal would not be possible without your support and participation. We look forward to this next year of TVC. I feel fortunate to be a part of this talented Executive and Full Board. We hope to connect with you soon! Best, Kristin Lang Executive Editor TVC Left to right: Beth Walsh, Kristin Lang, Betsy Crouch, Mathew Shepard, Ashley Gunn, mae stephenson, Jilliene Johnson, Heather Lou.
2011-2012 Executive Board Executive Editor Kristin Lang, „12 Managing Editor Betsy Crouch, „12 Content Editors mae stephenson, „12 Jilliene Johnson, „12 Alumni/ae Public Relations Chair Beth Walsh, „12 Membership Chair Heather Lou, „12 Social and Professional Development Chairs Mathew Shepard, „13 Ashley Gunn, „13 Staff Advisors Tricia Rascon, „06 Nick Negrete‟, „06 Faculty Advisor Deborah Hunter
THE VERMONT CONNECTION
FALL 2011
Meet the 2012 & 2013 Cohorts 2013 Cohort Miracle Husband (UC Berkley, „11), Christine Dolan (Lehigh University, „09), Samantha Stocksdale (Gettysburg College, „10), Laura Birdsall (Rochester Inst. Of Technology, „10), Ashley Gunn (University of Florida, „08), Julie Oberts (Eastern Michigan University, „07), Dirk Rodricks (University of Vermont, „10), Sara Blair (UC Santa Barbara, „09), Devan Carrington (Bridgewater State University, „11), Cornell Woodson (Ithaca College, „09), Mathew Shepard (University of Kansas, „11), Queena Hoang (UC Santa Barbara, „11), Ana Cristina Jaramillo Valencia (Seattle University, „11), Benjamin Huelskamp (University of the South, „10), Barbara Perlman (Bucknell University, „09), Macki Snyder (Iona College, „10).
2012 Cohort Beth Walsh (University of Vermont, ‟09), Jude Dizon (UC Berkeley, ‟09), mae stephenson (Portland State University, ‟09), Jilliene Johnson (College of Wooster, ‟08), Kristine Din (University of Connecticut, ‟09), Kristin Lang (University of Iowa, ‟08), Kim Stabile (Lawrence University, ‟08), Ray Mattila (Ohio State University, ‟10), Betsy Crouch (University of Virginia, ‟06), Jesenia Gervacio (Bryn Mawr College, ‟07), Heather Lou (San Jose State University, ‟09). Not Pictured: Danielle L‟Esperance (University of Vermont, ‟09), Nicole Palmer (St. Peter‟s College, ‟10).
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THE VERMONT CONNECTION
FALL 2011
2010 TVC Phone-A-Thon This year‟s The Vermont Connection Phone-A-Thon was great fun. Over the week of September 20th through 23rd HESA students gathered at the office of Student Life to call on HESA alumni/ae to chat about student affairs and HESA happenings….and to ask for donations. Every year, we set new goals for the journal and try to raise as many funds as possible to keep the journal completely run and funded by HESA. The Vermont Connection is a unique aspect of the UVM HESA program that allows graduate students and Alumni/ae the opportunity to publish their works. This year we set a goal of $12 to $13 thousand dollars. As you may know, the money we raise each year is put toward printing the journal as well as hosting The Vermont Connection Receptions at ACPA and NASPA conferences. We still haven't reached this year's TVC Phone-A-Thon fundraising goal! In order to ensure that we can produce a high-quality journal next year, we'd appreciate anything you may be able to donate to TVC. If you return your pledge card with a donation, please make sure to specify that it should go to the "VTCONN" gift fund account. We are guessing that some of you may not receive your pledge cards due to incorrect or missing addresses. If you do not receive a pledge card or if you would prefer to donate online, you can do that at any time by visiting https://alumni.uvm.edu/giving/support.asp. Under the "Gift Designation" field, please select the circle marked "Other" and type "VTCONN" in the box to ensure your gift makes it to TVC. We hope that you will be able to contribute to our fundraising efforts and help make the 33rd Edition of The Vermont Connection a success.
The Vermont Connection 33rd Edition Journal Theme Liberating the Learner: Access and Privilege in Higher Education The 33rd Edition is well on its way to completion. Co-content Editors, Jilliene Johnson and mae stephenson, sent out a call for submissions via an amazing video (http://vimeo.com/31384258). If you haven‟t seen it, check it out now! Current HESA students spent a few hours in September reviewing all of the great submissions. Forthcoming deadlines are:
Second Drafts Due Second Draft Edits to Authors Third Drafts Due Third Draft Edits to Authors Final Drafts Due Production Week Premiere of 33rd Edition
Monday, November 7th Wednesday, November 16th Monday, December 5th Friday, December 23rd
2,000-4,500 Words
Friday, January 13th January 24th- 27th Friday, February 24th
3,000-5,000 Words
3,000-5,000 Words
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All are welcome to help out during production week! Let mae or Jilliene know if you want to join us!
THE VERMONT CONNECTION
FALL 2011
Alumni/ae Spotlight As a TVC Executive Board, we wanted to provide the space for a HESA Alumnus who has recently returned to UVM in a professional capacity the opportunity to share her story. This newsletter‟s spotlight is on Kailee Brickner-McDonald. Kailee graduated from the HESA program in 2010. While in HESA, Kailee served her assistantship in Student Life with Leadership and Civic Engagement Programs. She served two practica in Career Services and one at St. Michael‟s College in the Center for Women and Gender. Following graduation from HESA, Kailee enjoyed a summer of fun-employment, then was a Vermont Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA at UVM with the Community University Partnerships and Service-Learning Office (CUPS) and the Dewey House for Civic Engagement last year. She is now the Program Coordinator at UVM's Dewey House for Civic Engagement. As the Program Coordinator of a new Residential Learning Community, Kailee gets to work creatively with the leadership team to build meaningful experiences for students in the Dewey House for Civic Engagement. She works with 40 inspiring first- and second- year students to provide social and educational programming, advise service-learning projects and partnerships, teach academic seminars on civic engagement, and provide leadership development and general program support. When asked what to name her favorite HESA memory, Kailee said, “It's hard to choose! One favorite was the pumpkin carving and fall celebration in Keene, NH that a bunch of us enjoyed together. A near-graduation picnic at Oakledge is also up there!” Recently, Kailee attended the International Institute on Partnerships last spring at Portland State University. Most recently, she served on the Next Step Retreat's Leadership Team, which is helping her grow in new directions. Current HESA students are welcome to contact Kailee with questions about job transitions and choices, service-learning and leadership development, and social justice education. Kailee‟s short- and long-term professional goals are to use and grow the skills that she most enjoys using: collaborating, teaching, building relationships, developing programs...and being open to challenges that come along the way. When asked for advice she would give to the class of 2012, Kailee said, “I'm not very distant from my own graduation experience. What helped: Knowing what I needed to be happy and prioritizing that in my job search, even if it wasn't glamorous. Be gentle on yourself in your upcoming transitions, build from your strengths, and connect with your communities and friends for support.” We are glad to see a HESA Alumnus return to UVM in such a great role! Congratulations Kailee!
Kenneth P. Saurmann Award Winner The Kenneth P. Saurmann Award is presented to a selected student, or students, who best display(s) the established award criteria. Those recognized: (a) show a record of outstanding achievement; (b) demonstrate ability to make outstanding future professional contributions at both local and national levels; (c) demonstrate future ability to make outstanding intellectual contribution to the field in the areas of research and scholarship; (d) show evidence of having fostered a sense of community and cooperation among peers, staff, and faculty; and (e) show evidence of outstanding contribution to the University through internship and practical experience. The 20102011 award winner is Jimmy Doan. Jimmy is currently working as Program Coordinator, Student Activities at Bentley University. Congratulations Jimmy, from the entire HESA community! 4
THE VERMONT CONNECTION
FALL 2011
Meet HESA… Jude Paul Matias Dizon, HESA ‘12 Where are you from? Union City, CA What was your undergrad major and what institution? Development Studies, UC Berkeley Why did you choose UVM/HESA? I chose to come to the UVM HESA program because of the warm weather during recruitment, its commitment to social justice, and because I sat in Deb’s rocking chair.
Want to get in touch with any of the current HESA students or respond to their questions? Email beth.walsh@uvm.edu.
Where is your assistantship? Center for Health and Wellbeing
Macki Snyder, HESA ‘13
Where is your practicum? Learning Co-operative (previous ones: ALANA Student Center; Assistant Dean for Retention and Assessment)
Where are you from? Niagara Falls, NY What was your undergrad major and what institution? Psychology, Iona College
Who are your supervisors in each? Diana GonzalezCHWB, Patience Whitworth-LC
Why did you choose UVM/HESA? Great faculty, well known and prestigious program, beautiful state, could feed the outdoor enthusiast in me, small and bustling city, people are happy and outside in the winter!
What do you love about UVM/HESA? The Vermont Connection--the journal and the people What are your challenges? My challenges here center on being a person of color in Vermont; being a Californian in Vermont; and in trying to bring a student organizer and Ethnic Studies lens to my work and academics.
Where is your assistantship? Residential Life ARD
What is your focus in Student Affairs? multicultural affairs; access for underrepresented students; admissions; academic support; health promotion
What do you love about UVM/HESA? Community, support, proximity to outdoor awesomeness
Where is your practicum? ACCESS Who are your supervisors in each? Vu Tran (ResLife) Laurel Cameron (ACCESS)
What are your challenges? Time management, work/life balance, figuring out where to get involved on campus
What do you do in your free time? When it’s not winter, I like being outside and going to the farmer’s market. I also like eating.
What is your focus in Student Affairs? I don’t have one yet. I’m using my practicums to try to narrow my focus.
What is your favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice author or book? Methodology of the Oppressed by Chela Sandoval
What do you do in your free time? Hike, Roller Derby, Travel What is your favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice author or book? Jessica Valenti
What is your current favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice quote? “Today I believe in the possibility of love; that is why I endeavor to trace its imperfections, its perversions.” --Frant Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks
What is your current favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice quote? "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world" -- Anne Frank
What is your favorite non-HESA book? The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh
What is your favorite non-HESA book? The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series
What is your favorite movie? Inception
What is your favorite movie? Pulp Fiction
Where do you hope to be in 5 years? Working abroad or in a PhD program
Where do you hope to be in 5 years? I just want to be happy : ) I want to live where I’m happy, have a job that makes me happy and have meaningful things/people in my life.
A question that you have for alum is…How did the HESA program help you get to where you are right now?
A question that you have for alum is…What is one thing you wish you’d known about the “real world” before graduating from HESA? 5
THE VERMONT CONNECTION
FALL 2011 Jesenia Gervacio, HESA ‘12 Where are you from? I was born in Passaic, NJ but was raised in Lynn, MA. What was your undergrad major and what institution? I attended Bryn Mawr College and double-majored in Psychology and Spanish. Why did you choose UVM/HESA? I chose UVM because it felt right even though I knew I’d be freezing later. Where is your assistantship? I work for the Department of Residential Life as an Assistant Residence Director for Living/Learning. Where is your practicum? I am currently completing my practicum with Student Financial Services. Who are your supervisors in each? My assistantship supervisor is Carrie Wicks and my practicum supervisor is Marie Johnson.
Heather C. Lou, HESA, ‘12
What do you love about UVM/HESA? I love the connections I have made at UVM.
Where are you from? Torrance, CA What was your undergrad major and what institution? San Jose State University. B.S. Public Relations and Humanities Minor
What are your challenges? The challenges I have faced are being Latina at a predominantly White institution. I also miss my family. I get cold a lot and it is cold for a large part of the year.
Where is your assistantship? First Year Experience
What is your focus in Student Affairs? I would like to work with low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color. I would consider a variety of avenues to do this work such as academic advising, working at a Multicultural Center, working for a nonprofit organization, etc.
Where is your practicum? Res Life Student Staff Recruitment Selection and Training, ALANA Student Center Who are your supervisors in each? Dani Comey, Tomas Sanchez, Maria Erb, Beverly Colton What do you love about UVM/HESA? The Vermont Connection, challenge and support, and the opportunity to learn about myself in a new space
What do you do in your free time? I am low-key so during my free time I like to spend time with friends. I also like to go out to eat.
What are your challenges? Navigating institutional politics and graduate school, being far from family and friends, and affinity as a womyn of color in higher education
What is your favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice author or book? I love Paulo Freire and I am tied between Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Pedagogy of Freedom.
What is your focus in Student Affairs? Multicultural Affairs, Advocacy work
What is your current favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice quote? "If you have come here to help me, then you are wasting your time…But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." --Lila Watson
What do you do in your free time? Work with ACPA’s MutliRacial Network as Incoming Chair, explore New England, and travel (when/if possible) What is your favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice author or book? Borderlands by Gloria Anzaldua
What is your favorite non-HESA book? I am not sure I can pick a favorite book but one I read recently that I really enjoyed was The Power of One.
What is your current favorite Student Affairs or Social Justice quote? As long as I fight, I am moved by hope; and if I fight with hope, then I can wait. – Paulo Friere
What is your favorite movie? Again, I have a hard time picking a favorite of anything but one movie I really love is Love & Basketball.
What is your favorite non-HESA book? All About Love- bell hooks and Part Asian, 100% Hapa- Kip Fulbeck Where do you hope to be in 5 years? Somewhere metropolitan, working in a cultural center, applying to a doctoral program, and building a family.
Where do you hope to be in 5 years? In five
years I
hope to be happy.
A question that you have for alum is… What is the best piece of advice you have for the 2nd years starting the job search?
A question that you have for alum is… How is life after HESA? 6
Staying Connected The Executive Board will utilize our electronic resources in order to update our website and email listserv. To update your information, please copy and paste the link below in your web browser, fill out the form with your current information and click submit. http://www.uvm.edu/~vtconn/?Page=updateform.html&SM=directory_menu.html We have continued to incorporate social media into the ways in which we keep our connection active. We hope you had a chance to view our video that accompanied this year‟s call for submissions. You can video it online at: http://vimeo.com/31384258. We recently created a Facebook group “TVC-The Vermont Connection,” which you should feel free to join as an alum or friend of HESA ~ and then invite all of your other HESA friends! We also continue to update our website (http://www.uvm.edu/~vtconn/) with information about upcoming events and the timeline for authors AND you can follow us on Twitter @uvmhesa. The 32nd edition of The Vermont Connection journal is available on the TVC website as well. To manage production costs, we continue to print a set number of journals each year, but if you would like a journal mailed to you, or you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact us at tvc@uvm.edu. Please consider participating in and supporting TVC and reconnecting with HESA.
Congratulations! On behalf of the entire HESA community, we‟d like to congratulate the HESA Class of 2011 on their recent graduation! The graduates include Xavier DeFreitas, Sarah (Surgala) Wasilko, Alicia Ferrell, Dustin Evatt, Vay Van, Amanda Flores, Cait Bjellquist, Viraj Patel, Christine Nguyen, Nydia Santana, Jennifer “JJ” Jang, Amarildo”Lilu” Barbosa, Leah Charpentier, Jimmy Doan and Katie Sadler. Missing from photo, Salomon “Salo” Rodezno. Congratulations and best wishes!