Presenters: Stacey Ellis, Adrienne Jones
Location: Johnson Center, Room A

This workshop is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills essential for thriving in a modern, flexible work environment. Supervisors will discuss the benefits of flexible work, develop essential knowledge and skills for engaging a hybrid workforce, and learn how to effectively manage employee performance, development, and engagement in a hybrid environment. Participants will be provided with actionable strategies to leverage the opportunities presented by hybrid work.

Presenters: Rachel Wernicke
Location: Johnson Center, B

As Mason grows, leaders must promote innovation to meet the changing needs of students and find ways to retain employees who are increasingly exhausted. As a result, we must learn how to create cultures that support innovation and well-being.  A critical part of this process is psychological safety. This workshop will allow participants to learn about the benefits of psychological safety and to identify practices that support psychological safety in an engaging, interactive space.

Presenters: Sarah Atif and Kimberley Jackson Davidson
Location: Johnson Center, Room C

This session will demonstrate experientially how essential intentional listening can be to team based inquiry and problem solving. In the current polarized context, supervisors, students, workers, and scholars of every stripe can benefit from a deliberate focus on how we comprehend, or disregard, other’s observations, values, and concerns in the public square, the workplace, and academia.

Presenters: Morgan Strimel, Jamilah Anderson, and Jennifer Torrance
Location: Johnson Center, Room D

In this interactive workshop, attendees will first identify key terms and concepts related to disability and neurodiversity. Then, presenters will provide an overview of a multi-year Disability Access, Equity, and Inclusion Improvement Plan at Mason, including a community-created action plan for improving Mason’s culture of access and inclusion. Finally, presenters will facilitate an activity for attendees to identify strategies for implementing components of the action plan in their roles.

Presenters: Makenzie Gold Quirnos
Location: Johnson Center, Room A

This program is designed to help UL staff think critically about their role and the importance of day-to-day operations in their units. Too often, daily procedures and job duties are accepted at face value, with little thought as to how they might be improved or eliminated. Through the praxis of workplace wellness, this workshop aims to help reclaim ownership of our job duties and functions.

Presenters:Ericka Brown
Location: Johnson Center, B

In this session, participants will explore how their identities intersect with feelings of inclusion and exclusion. By enhancing their understanding of personal belonging, attendees will cultivate an equity lens to evaluate organizational practices, analyze systemic disparities, and foster honest, compassionate conversations addressing existing inequities. Join us to deepen your awareness and contribute to creating inclusive environments that promote equity and understanding.

Presenters:Joisanne Rodgers, Shyama Kuver, Matthew McLaughlin
Location: Johnson Center, Room C

There’s no longer a singular or “typical” definition of students. Students have evolved beyond the perceived "traditional" norms to include myriad & intersecting contemporary identities. In an era of shifting demographics & evolving paradigms, serving contemporary students has become increasingly complex & a vital endeavor for higher ed institutions. This session’s dedicated to emerging trends in support, promising practices, & exploring strategies tailored for the contemporary student community

Presenters:Meeghan Milette and Amy Snyder
Location: Johnson Center, Room D

For the first time in history there are five generations actively participating in the professional workforce. With Gen Z entering the workforce, it is crucial for supervisors and leaders to maximize individual perspectives, skills, and talents to achieve stronger outcomes to fully leverage their teams. This pre-conference workshop will include shared conversation and experiences; providing you with resources and strategies to embrace the generational differences in the workplace.

Facilitators: Matt Myers and Philip Wilkerson
Location: Johnson Center, Room A

We have all seen the growth of Artificial Intelligence in recent years. This session will explore how Mason students are using AI in their job searches, and what their prospective employers are seeing; and what they don't want to see! Learn how you can help students navigate these tools in a way that will maximize their competitiveness while still maintaining authenticity.

Come with ChatGPT or your favorite AI tool downloaded onto your device!

Facilitators: Shyma Kuver and Alexia Ferguson
Location: Johnson Center, Room B

Mason is preparing to make higher education more accessible for justice-impacted students. In this session, Contemporary Student Services will be introducing a toolkit created to support this emerging population in navigating higher education. Attendees will learn about the unique experiences of these students and explore how their offices can support Mason’s efforts in establishing intentional initiatives to be more accessible and a place of belonging for justice-impacted students.

Facilitators: Austin Deray, Dr. Julie Choe Kim and Jonathan Carmona
Location: Johnson Center, Room C

The increase in international graduate student enrollment over the past two years has put pressure on all units at Mason. Join us for an interactive and insightful discussion on how we can collectively better engage and support these students. After an overview of enrollment trends and common issues, we will hear from students about their lived experiences. We will conclude with individual and group reflections on solutions to promote success, well-being, and inclusion for this population.

Facilitators: Meeghan Milette, Riley Redd, and Zareena Khan
Location: Johnson Center, Room D

Podcasts have emerged as an innovative, dynamic form of media. With being highly accessible, discussing topics that range from fandoms to hard sciences; there is truly a podcast for anyone. This session will explore how to put podcasts to work for you to inform and enhance your professional development, for you as an individual and your teams. With so many possibilities to customize your podcast consumption, you will be able to grow you professional development with this session's strategies.

Facilitators: Josh Kinchen
Location: Johnson Center, Room E

This interactive session will include a history of LGBTQ+ service in the U.S. military, discuss of LGBTQ+-related military policies, and research related to LGBTQ+ student veterans and cadets. We will explore recommendations for creating inclusive communities for student veterans and non-military affiliated students that recognize the tension between the military-industrial complex and the individual experiences, intersectional identities, and motivations of U.S. servicemembers.

Facilitators: John Cicchetti, Threat Assessment Team Members
Location: Johnson Center, Room F

Attendees will understand the role and function of BTAM Teams. Participants will enhance their awareness of aberrant or threatening behaviors and understand ways to properly report such concerns. The goal is to explore how each person plays a role in preventing targeting violence on our campuses. An overview of theory will be covered with a summary of relevant policy and Va. Code that directs the work of these required teams at public institutions in the Commonwealth.

Facilitators: Jill Manuel
Location: Johnson Center, Room G

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a variety of physical and mental health issues, as well as lower levels of educational attainment With an understanding of the effects of ACEs, and the implications on post-secondary education, the American College Health Association has called for trauma-informed training for faculty and staff. This session explores the science behind the impacts of childhood trauma and the ways in which institutions may respond to this increased need.

Facilitators: Rebecca Mattern, Micah Hodges, and Michael Rybak
Location: Johnson Center, George's

How do we motivate students to create change? Motivational Interviewing is one of many helping skills student affairs professionals have used to support students in creating change. In this presentation, we focus on the application of the “spirit” of motivational interviewing to our work in student affairs and other ways it has been applied. Participants will be able to leave with an understanding of how motivational interviewing can be applied in their own units.

Location: TBD

Panelists: coming soon

Facilitators: Samantha Greenburg and Casey Machuga
Location: Johnson Center, Room A

While ChatGPT may have written this, Sam & Casey told it what to say. Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of AI in student affairs with ChatGPT & Goblin Tools – the dynamic duo that will unleash your imagination, refine your ideas, & amplify your productivity. Get ready for an interactive journey filled with creativity, innovation, & a dash of AI magic. Say goodbye to any worries about AI & prepare for an interactive adventure packed with valuable insights & engaging demonstrations.

Facilitators: Christiana Bello, Nikki Harris, and Joshua Braaten
Location: Johnson Center, Room B

This session will invite participants to think of new ways of engaging with their students on their campus that supports student success. Presenters will demonstrate how centering cultural recognition of a student cultural identity can aid in academic success and sense of belonging on a 40,000+ student campus. Strategies for incorporating campus partners in a large-scale student initiative.

Facilitators: Wai Ling Fong and Meeghan Milette
Location: Johnson Center, Room C

Graduate students are a diverse population with varying needs and goals. Despite their differing reasons for enrolling in graduate programs, they are all actively forming their professional identity through the socialization process of graduate school. This session explores how supervisors can actively support graduate assistants' professional development and foster a positive environment to empower them to reach their full potential.

Facilitators: Olivia Bowman
Location: Johnson Center, Room D

Student affairs professionals can feel the effects of imposter syndrome (IS) at any stage of their career. This program aims to identify the signs of imposter syndrome and discuss ways to dismantle negative thinking cycles. Participants will also brainstorm ways to kick Imposter Syndrome to the curb at any career level!

Facilitators: Kaitlin Cicchetti and Mary McMahon
Location: Johnson Center, Room E

A growing number of colleges and universities have started to focus on fundraising for student affairs, raising money for everything from mental health and basic needs resources to scholarships that support contemporary college students. Student affairs professionals of all levels play an important role in furthering their division’s fundraising goals. This session will cover the fundamentals of advancement to encourage participation and partnership in raising money for student success.

Facilitators: Alexander Harrison and Adam Moore
Location: Johnson Center, Room F

Join us for a comprehensive session tailored for university staff seeking to support students on the autism spectrum. Explore strategies for fostering inclusivity, providing personalized support, and establishing meaningful connections to empower neurodivergent students. Learn about available resources and effective approaches to enhance their academic success. Gain valuable insights and practical tools for creating a supportive environment for students with autism in the university setting.

Facilitators: Brent Ericson
Location: Johnson Center, Room G

This session will explore the concept of Restorative Justice in student conduct proceedings. As an alternative to a traditional hearing, this process allows a student who has caused harm to the campus community to repay the harm in a facilitated dialogue with those impacted by the harm. While historically rooted as a traditional method of resolution, this method is gaining popularity n K-12 and higher education conduct and conflict management.

Facilitators: Adam Anthony
Location: Johnson Center, George's

The higher education workplace is an increasingly complicated space where programs and initiatives compete for university leaders' and policymakers' attention and resources. Clear communications are more critical than ever.

The traditional slide deck has not evolved to meet these challenges, and a new approach is needed.

This session will help participants learn how to advocate for themselves and their programs more effectively by creating vibrant and persuasive presentations.

Facilitators: Nikki Harris, Kelly Schrum, Dr. Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron, Erin Fay, Victoria Barrett, and Mario Osorio-Ferrufino
Location: Johnson Center, Room A

Imagine a world in which students can learn to navigate campus resources and develop a sense of belonging from day one! Augmented Reality (AR) has the potential to revolutionize higher education’s support services. This session unveils a game-changer! Join us as we explore how AR can become a powerful asset in Mason’s student affairs toolkit.

Facilitators: Matt McLaughlin
Location: Johnson Center, Room B

Contemporary Student Peer Mentors at Mason have positively impacted the lives of the university's contemporary student communities. The opt-in mentorship model is guided by research-backed learning outcomes, strong relationship-building within the community, and student perspectives. Participants will learn about the Contemporary Student Mentorship Program including planning, curriculum, student mentor training, and the outcomes in its first year.

Facilitators: Erikca Brown
Location: Johnson Center, Room C

This interactive session explores intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of Compassionate Conversations, equipping participants and organizations with skills for constructive dialogue. It emphasizes cross-cultural communication through authentic exchanges, fostering understanding, collaboration, celebrating differences, identifying shared values, and addressing shared needs.

Facilitators: Rebecca Mattern and Laura Winkler
Location: Johnson Center, Room D

Did you know that career well-being has the biggest influence on our happiness out of the five well-being elements? Individuals with strong career well-being have higher work engagement and are twice as likely to thrive in life overall, yet its impact is often underestimated. Join our presentation to assess and strengthen your career well-being, leading to increased happiness and more fulfilling experiences at Mason and beyond.

Facilitators: Tisheika Snow and Lauren Kaplan
Location: Johnson Center, Room E

Has “sense of belonging” become a buzz-phrase in student affairs? What does it mean when we say “sense of belonging” at Mason? In this session we will breakdown "belonging", review data and application, and discuss its relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Facilitators: Vicki Dominick, Mary Crowe, and Dr. Anthony Dyer Hoefer
Location: Johnson Center, Room F

The Undergraduate Learning Support Task Force was formed in Spring 2024 to understand the most pressing learning needs of our undergraduate students. During this session the task force will share initial findings about the learning needs of Mason students, the learning supports currently in place at Mason, best practices at other institutions, and recommendations to meet the needs of our undergraduate student body. In addition, the task force will share information about the Knack tutoring pilot

Facilitators: Jennifer De La Rosa
Location: Johnson Center, Room G

Everyone knows that events need good marketing, but not all programmers know how to plan with intentional marketing in mind. This session will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to planning an event with intentional marketing efforts in mind. Learn about what the lifecycle of an event marketing plan should entail, and how to leverage it for success in the planning and execution of your campus special events.

Facilitators: Supervision Collective
Location: Johnson Center, George's

How did 100% become too little and what does it mean for our work? What is the impact on staff motivation if they feel pressured to give the unreachable 110%? During this interactive program participants discuss the implications exaggerated remarks about performance can have on employee productivity and morale. Attendees will examine how to provide equitable support while maintaining well-being for staff members, especially those that work non-traditional hours.