Presenter: Nick Lennon
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room A

This highly interactive workshop will help participants develop skills to better understand those with opposing viewpoints, explore 4 qualities of good questions, and learn how minds change. Participants will craft engaging questions useful in many situations, as well as practice essential conversational skills to develop deeper understanding across difference.

Presenters: Kim Seligman, Ali Bartow, and Jennifer Beck-Wilson
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, George’s

Discover how to transform on-campus student employment into a high-impact practice that bridges academic learning with real-world application. This interactive session equips attendees with tools and strategies to support working learners in developing career readiness competencies through practical discussions, case studies, and collaborative exercises. Ideal for supervisors of student employees.

Presenter: Mandi Quay
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room C

The Power of We: Using Group Facilitation to Foster Belonging and Connection in Higher Education explores how group-based spaces support student mental health, connection, and success. Participants will learn about the need for group spaces (not just group therapy) and learn foundational group facilitation skills to confidently lead reflective, inclusive spaces across campus contexts.

Presenters: Birgit Debeerst, Susan Pilley, and Nico Marin
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room D

Are you serving students or staff and feeling frustrated by their lack of follow-through? If so, this session is for you! UL Project & Process Management has 6+ years of experience in improving customer satisfaction. We have compiled a list of techniques that you can easily implement to enhance customer satisfaction. In this interactive session, you will discuss real-life scenarios, identify root causes of customer confusion, and learn strategies for a more seamless customer experience.

Presenter: Jill Manuel
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room E

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to an array of physical and mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and lower levels of educational attainment. ACEs also present as factors in the increased number of students seeking treatment at university and college mental health agencies (Wright et al., 2009). With an understanding of the effects of ACEs, and the implications

Presenter: Rachel Iverson
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, George’s

Experiential learning in UL takes many forms. This pre-symposium immerses professionals in The EDGE’s approach through active participation, reflection, & collaboration. Through fun, problem-solving activities, colleagues will build authentic connections, explore commonalities in experiential learning, & enhance collaboration. Come ready to move, think, laugh, and create in this session.

Presenters: Supervision Collective (Rachel Lindsey, Sarah Ahmed Atif, Kim Dao-Catlin)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room A

Explore the art of storytelling to share professional success & growth, for yourself or your team. This session covers key elements like audience, purpose, & format for presenting your story in reports, presentations, etc. Using the 5 W’s and H framework, you’ll craft meaningful narratives and leave with actionable strategies, tools, & a storytelling artifact.

Bring a laptop or other device.

Presenters: Lisa Campo and Chris Rzengota
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room C

This interactive workshop will provide opportunities for University Life Staff to practice and refine their motivational interviewing (MI) skills applied to a wide variety of student behavior change.

The workshop will focus on intentional application of MI skills to respond to change talk, sustain talk, and discord in order to elicit change talk and behavior change

Presenter: Erikca Brown
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room D

This workshop guides participants in examining their practices to foster environments where everyone feels valued and included. Attendees will reflect on personal approaches, identify organizational challenges that hinder inclusivity, and engage in meaningful conversations aimed at addressing these challenges. Aligned with the core values of Inclusion and Opportunities and Leadership for Positive Change, this session equips participants with strategies to build supportive and collaborative communities.

Time: 1:15PM - 4:00 PM

• 1:15pm - Depart GMU Fairfax (Sandy Creek Shuttle Stop) to GMU Mason Square, Arlington
• 2:00 - 3:00pm - Tour of Fuse Building
• 3:15pm - Depart Mason Square, Arlington to return to GMU Fairfax

Don’t miss your chance to step inside Fuse at Mason Square - George Mason University’s brand-new, state-of-the-art, 345,000+ square-foot multidisciplinary building designed to spark innovation, foster partnerships, and connect community. Join us for a guided tour led by Cathy Pinskey, Capital Program Director for Mason Facilities, who will share insights into the building’s development, including the unique P3 (public-private partnership) model that made it possible. You’ll also hear from Mary O’Connor, UL Mason Square Programming Coordinator, who will highlight dynamic activation efforts and community-focused programming in the Plaza at Mason Square.

Whether you're curious about cutting-edge facilities, collaborative workspaces, or how Mason is shaping the future of urban campuses, this is a must-see experience.

Field Trip Itinerary:

Getting there is easy! Take the Mason Shuttle from Sandy Creek at 1:15 PM or the Rapp Deck (outside Merten Hall) at 1:20 PM and arrive in time to join the group on the Plaza. The tour will conclude by 3:00 PM, with a return shuttle to Fairfax departing at 3:15 PM.

• 1:15pm - Depart GMU Fairfax (Sandy Creek Shuttle Stop) to GMU Mason Square, Arlington
• 2:00 - 3:00pm - Tour of Fuse Building with Cathy Pinskey & Mary O'Connor
• 3:15pm - Depart Mason Square, Arlington to return to GMU Fairfax

Presenters: Ethan Carter (Mason Recreation), Paul Bazzano (Mason Recreation), and Lauren Shutt (Mason Recreation)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room A

We all say that we work well on teams, but that is not always the case. A Team Charter sets the groundwork for successful team engagement. This session will define Teaming, introduce you to the concept of a Team Charter, and allow you to discuss the hurdles of feedback in a team setting so that we all can be better teammates in the days ahead.

Presenters: Alexandra Minieri and Jessica Hively (Counseling and Psychological Services)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room B

This interactive session aims to support University Life staff in feeling equipped to support students in distress. Specifically, we will focus on helping participants build the knowledge required to recognize signs of distress and learn practical tools for providing compassionate support within the scope of their role. We will also explain how to refer students to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and review other relevant campus and crisis resources.

Presenters: Birgit Debeerst, Nico Marin, Susan Pilley (UL Project & Process Management) and Sara Heming (Student Involvement)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room C

Since 2023, in collaboration with UL Project & Process Management, the Student Involvement team has adopted customer journey management to monitor and optimize the Registered Student Organization (RSO) journey. This approach has enabled the team to better identify areas of friction and address problems from the perspective of the RSO officer. Throughout this process, the team developed new skills, such as creating rubrics in Excel, writing Standard Operating Procedures, and defining Objectives and Key Results.

Presenter: Kaitlin Cicchetti (University Life Advancement)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room D

Student affairs professionals play a vital role in fostering relationships that drive philanthropy. This session will debunk fundraising myths and show how everyday interactions can inspire giving. Using the story of how a major gift came to life, we’ll explore ways to support advancement without making an ask—leveraging storytelling, engagement, and relationships to inspire generosity.

Presenters: Philip Wilkerson and Ana Lobaton (University Career Services)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room E

Beyond the job description? No need to panic! Learn to master unexpected projects in higher ed. This session offers strategies for upskilling, leveraging resources like LinkedIn Learning, building collaborations, and showcasing new skills. Ideal for early career to mid-career professionals seeking growth and adaptability.

Presenter: Jo Wilson (Housing and Residence Life)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room F

Despite the view that educators should avoid too much mental investment, particularly with student staff. With this, ignoring ongoing stressors and mental health issues entirely may not be a feasible or successful option for supervisors of student staff. Using recent literature on supervision and counseling, this presentation provides relevant skills to holistically supervise student staff.

Presenters: Brent Ericson (Student Conduct) and David Farris (University Risk and Resilience)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room G

Ever wonder what goes into a campus demonstration? How do students express their viewpoints in a positive and productive manner? In a partnership between University Life and Risk, Safety and Resilience, this session will help staff members understand how to work with students who wish to make their voices heard. The session will explore University procedures for hosting a demonstration as well as the 'behind the scenes' support from University Life.

Speaker: David Burge
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, George’s

An explanation of Enrollment Management (EM) principles, the session will be highlighting how collaboration between EM and UL enhances university reach, improves student retention and promotes success. Both focus on creating a supportive, holistic student experience through shared goals - building an inclusive environment, regularly communicating with students, making data-informed decisions, and paying for college.

Presenter: Sarah Atif (Ombudsperson Office)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room A

Verbal Aikido is a practice of going from conflict to conversation. Verbal Aikido™ is a peaceful and effective way to manage negativity and verbal attacks. It is inspired by the practice and philosophy of Japanese martial aikido. It is a tool to help de-escalate verbal situations.Verbal Aikido is a practice of going from conflict to conversation. Verbal Aikido™ is a peaceful and effective way to manage negativity and verbal attacks. In our time together we will explore Verbal Aikido's Key Concepts followed by some practice.

Presenter: Allison Castro (University Life Human Resources)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room B

Through data driven statistics, this program aims to enhance recruitment and hiring practices through intersectional focused recruiting, mindful position description design, inclusive marketing campaigns, and effective interview logistics. Focused on well-being, the program advocates for competency-based hiring to overcome socio-economic barriers, improving opportunity pathways, and common search committee pitfalls. Attendees will leave equipped to create recruitment plans that enhance candidate experience to attract top talent.

Presenters: Jonathan Holbcom and Caroline Simpson (New Student and Family Programs and Services)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room C

This session examines national best practices for supporting first-year students and evaluates George Mason University’s efforts. Participants will discuss integrating campus resources for a more comprehensive experience, review the first-year curriculum, and identify opportunities for strategic improvements to enhance student success, retention, and well-being.

Presenter: Laxmi Shastry (Human Resources)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room D

Are you doing work that matters to you? Using your talents? Feeling aligned with your values? In this session, participants will explore these questions and leave with insights about life, work, and purpose. Participants will sort through a deck of "Values Cards" and draw connections between their core values and Strengths through group discussions. You are encouraged to bring your top 5 Strengths

Presenter: Erikca Brown (Office of Access, Compliance, and Community)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room E

This interactive session explores the power of storytelling to challenge dominant narratives and reshape cultural meaning. Participants will examine how stories shape identity, influence perception, and reinforce or resist systems of power. Through reflection and dialogue, attendees will practice reclaiming and rewriting personal and collective narratives. Grounded in the values of Inclusion and Opportunities and Leadership for Positive Change, this session fosters connection, critical thinking, and ethic.

Presenters: Nakia Waters and Syed Mustafa Hassan (First-Gen+ Center)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room F

In this workshop, we’ll walk through our process of developing a standardized framework for first-generation college student retention and success initiatives, from identifying key components to addressing institutional challenges. Through discussion and real examples, we’ll explore how these standards enhance retention, degree completion, and student well-being. Drawing on national best practices, attendees will learn methods to identify unique needs, set measurable outcomes, and foster interdepartmental collaboration.

Presenters: Dr. Christopher Carr and Christi Wilcox (College of Engineering and Computing: Office of Outreach, Student Success, and Engagement)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room G

The Career Prep Lab addresses overlooked aspects of STEM success through tailored professional development. Our program combines clothing resources, styling, & coaching for introverted, neurodivergent, & culturally diverse students. Data shows improved confidence, interview success, & placements for underrepresented STEM students. The program bridges technical skills with professional presence.

Speakers: Birgit Debeerst, Stacey Ellis, Amanda Torres, Demarcus Merritt, and Sonya Henry
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, George’s

The moderated panel conversation will feature experiences from dynamic and successful mid-level professionals, who will share their experiences navigating career moves throughout their professional journey to date. Panel discussion topics will include career transitions, recognizing transferable skills, overcoming challenges, and capitalizing on multidisciplinary expertise for career growth.

Presenters: Morgan Thompson, Jamilah Anderson, and Jennifer Torrance (Disability Services)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room A

Student affairs professionals in higher education are key in advancing access, equity, and inclusion. An effective strategy in this is promoting disability allyship. This presentation will (a) define disability allyship in higher education and (b) demonstrate ways to foster allyship across campus communities. Attendees will explore how to implement allyship-informed practices in their units.

Presenter: Nick Lennon (Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room B

University Life’s Vision is “Every Student Succeeds.” This highly interactive workshop will help participants to think critically about the idea of success: Who is successful? What is success? Is success what we most commonly discuss at Mason? Shouldn’t we help students reach success however they define it? What if 1 person’s success conflicts with another person’s success? Attend this engaging session to dive into the idea of success.

Presenters: Ethan Carter (Mason Recreation), Dr. Diana Bharucha (Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning), and Dr. Eunkyoung Park (Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room C

Before you tell a story with data, you must make sense of your numbers in a way that is captivating for your audience. That is why I want to introduce you to concepts I found helpful in Heath and Starr’s (2022) Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating. Together we will explore strategies to make numbers friendly for listeners.

Presenters: Megan Symnowitz and Kesha Billups (Student Health Services)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room D

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a pervasive health concern in the United States, particularly among young adults between the ages of 15-24, who in 2018 accounted for almost half of the 26 million new diagnosed cases of STI (CDC, 2021). STIs pose a significant health risk to college students across the U.S., particularly when presenting as asymptomatic.

Presenter: Jamie Kizer (Human Resources)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room E

Transformational Leadership: Inspiring Change and Innovation is an energizing, hands-on workshop that will challenge you to think like a visionary leader. Discover the secrets of transformational leadership—how to inspire others, spark innovation, and drive meaningful change. Walk away with fresh insights and practical tools to lead with confidence and make a lasting impact!

Presenters: Jeff Grim (Higher Education), Birgit Debeerst (UL Project & Process Management), Sara Montiel (School of Integrative Studies), Taylor Crickenberger (Student Success & Advocacy Center), Joisanne Rodgers (Contemporary Student Services), Patricia Appiah (Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning), and Marisa Parikh (UL Project & Process Management)

Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room F

This session will provide an in-depth analysis of the Pell-eligible student experience. Presenters will showcase quantitative descriptive statistics of who Pell-eligible students are at Mason using integrative and intersectional identities, experiences, and outcomes. In addition presenters will highlight the results of a qualitative focus group research project that examines the academic and social experiences Pell-eligible students have. Participants will use acquired knowledge to improve practice in their home units.

Presenters: Julie Choe Kim (Graduate Student Life), Austin Deray (Graduate Student Life), and Dr. Laurence Bray (Graduate Education)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room G

Graduate Student Life and the Graduate Division, along with partners across George Mason, assessed graduate students’ academic, career and professional, and support needs through the Graduate Student Experiences Survey in Spring 2024. Join this session to hear insights from our graduate student population and develop actionable, data-informed recommendations for improved programs and practices to enhance holistic support for their success and well-being.

Panelists: Kelly Schrum, Jihye Moon, Michai Boicu, Antti Pentikainen, and Josh Kinchen
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, George’s

University Life (UL) Faculty Fellows collaborate with UL on projects that connect interests and expertise with divisional, departmental, institutional, and student needs. This session will familiarize attendees with the program, highlighting benefits for both UL units and for faculty. Panelists will discuss the impact of their projects, lessons learned, and academic partnership strategies.

Presenter: Etlin Flores (Housing and Residence Life)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room A

In Student Affairs, professionals navigate challenges while guiding students through growth. This interactive workshop explores how personal narratives shape confidence, leadership, and student support. Through self-reflection and storytelling exercises, participants will learn to reframe their narratives to strengthen resilience, leadership, and student engagement.

Presenter: Chris Rzengota (Student Health Services)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room B

Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” illuminates the impact of smart phones and social media on the students we serve. Now more than ever, higher education professionals need to understand addiction to help our students thrive. Come to broaden your view of addiction, deepen your insight into student barriers, and leverage Mason Values for student success.

Presenters: Lana Harris, Katherine Trejo, Sam Frazier Hediger, and Micah Hodges (Student Success Coaching)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room C

This workshop will introduce participants to Iris Young’s 5 Faces of Oppression as an alternative framework to conceptualize the barriers to success experienced by different student populations. We will engage in a discussion about the challenges our students are facing and highlight the similarities we find across groups. We will conclude with a brainstorming session where participants can consider collaborative ways to address these concerns across campus.

Presenter: Adam Anthony (University Life Marketing and Communications)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room D

AI is transforming higher education marketing, streamlining workflows, enhancing engagement, and personalizing messaging. This session explores how AI-powered tools can be leveraged to improve productivity while maintaining authenticity and quality. Through hands-on exercises and group discussions, attendees will leave with actionable insights to apply AI responsibly and effectively in their work.

Presenters: Stacey Ellis, Robyn Madar, and Laxmi Shastry (Human Resources)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room E

Just like a great recipe, resilience is built with the right ingredients—confidence, adaptability, purpose, and support. In this interactive workshop, you’ll mix these key elements with George Mason’s well-being resources to create your own “Resilience Recipe". Resilience isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s a recipe unique to you. Join us to discover the ingredients that best support your well-being!

Presenters: Sam Greenberg and Noe Todorovich (University Life Technology)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Room F

Want your email to actually get opened? From subject lines to calls to action, this interactive session covers email best practices that help your messages stand out and connect with students. You’ll explore real examples, learn what works (and what doesn’t), and leave with easy strategies to improve the emails you send—no matter how often.

Panelists: Nance Lucas (Center for Advancement of Well-Being), Pam Patterson (University Life), Amy Snyder (University Life), Rachel Wernicke (University Life), Birgit Debeerst (UL Process & Project Management), Ethan Carter (Mason Recreation), Saskia Campbell (University Career Services), and Lisa Snyder (Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement)
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, George’s

This engaging workshop, sponsored by the UL Workplace Well-Being Working Group, will provide an overview of UL's Workplace Well-Being Initiative Pilot, the national context in higher education, lessons learned, best sample practices from select units, future directions and expectations for this initiative, and strategies that units and individuals can apply in their workplaces, Participants will learn about trends in higher education that underscore the importance of well-being and the business case for workplace well-being.