Small Colleges and Universities Division Newsletter
Greetings from our Director
Colleagues - Stop and take a deep breath, a sigh, or a laugh! We made it!
By the time you are reading this message, I hope that you have completed all of your respective banquets, commencement ceremonies, and any lingering end of the year reports. In a recent student affairs meeting, the moderator shared that student affairs professionals have yet to fully recoup from navigating Covid-19 while having to now mitigate anti-DEI legislation and student-activism.
Small Colleges and Universities continually are navigating these issues with different human and capital resources than some of our larger peers. Please know that the SCU division is your professional community within NASPA as we understand the complexities of working at SCU’s. In addition to focusing on some much needed and deserved self-care, we welcome you to join the SCU community at the bi-annual M. Ben Hogan Small Colleges and Universities Institute June 23-26th at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
Dr. Aarika C. Camp, she/her Vice President for Student Affairs, Goucher College aarika.camp@goucher.edu
2024 NASPA M. Ben Hogan Small Colleges & Universities Institute
Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
June 23-26, 2024
t’s not too late to register and attend the M. Ben Hogan Small Colleges and Universities Institute (SCUI)! SCUI will take place June 23-26, 2024 on the beautiful campus of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. SCUI is a four-day residential program in which vice presidents for student affairs (and the equivalent) and other senior-level professionals are able to engage and talk on the critical issues facing higher education and pertinent issues pertaining to small colleges and universities.
Please find below the list of the great leaders at institutions across the country that will make up our Presidents Panel, along with our Featured Speakers:
PRESIDENTS PANEL
Robin Holmes-Sullivan, President, Lewis & Clark College
Rebecca L. Johnson, Interim President, Linfield University
John Carmichael, President, The Evergreen State College
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Brian Arao, President & Co-Founder, Brave Space Leadership
Kevin Kruger, President, NASPA
Jason Kilmer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Adjunct Associate Professor, Psychology, University of Washington.
Your registration fee includes: all institute materials, housing, and several meals throughout the duration of the institute. Registration cost is based on individual membership status at the time of the event.
For additional information please visit the SCUI webpage.
Danielle Nesselbush (she/her)
Dean of Students & Title IX Coordinator
D’Youville University, Buffalo, NY
We are excited to welcome Danielle Nesselbush to the Small College and Universities Division’s Advisory Board. Danielle will be serving as one of the co-coordinators for the Early Career Development
Institute (ECDI). Danielle will help with the planning and organization of the Institute, as well as facilitate pieces of the curriculum for participants and mentors in the program.
In her professional role, she oversees the Title IX policies & adjudication as well as the student facing offices at her university. This includes Student Wellness & Counseling, Student Experience, Student Development & Advocacy, Orientation, Student Engagement & Housing, Conduct & Veterans Affairs. Danielle is also responsible for the planning and implementation of D’Youville’s December & May commencement ceremonies. “I have many favorite parts of my job, but just coming off Commencement season, I love working with our chosen student speaker for commencement. It’s amazing to hear the students tell their story, share their memories and refine their remarks in a short amount of time. During rehearsal they, usually, are very nervous; but by the ceremony time, they become so confident. It's amazing to see.” Danielle also enjoys supporting the Student Government Association’s Welcome Back Weeks Programming. D’Youville features over 50 events in the first two weeks of classes in order to get students engaged in life outside the classroom. “I love meeting new students during those events, and making sure they are connected to the resources they need to be successful both inside and out of the classroom.”
Why work at a Small College/University? “Working at a small university allows me to fully embrace and embed the mission and vision of the institution amongst our student population through personal approaches. Not only does this foster a unified campus voice, but also increases student connectedness; improving satisfaction, achievements, retention, and completion.” shares Danielle.
2023-2024 Early Career Development Institute (ECDI) Cohort
Help me congratulate the 2023-2024 ECDI Cohort as they near the completion of the Institute! ECDI is a year-long program that primarily takes place during the spring. This opportunity provides practitioners within their first three years of professional work an opportunity for affordable professional development, mentorship, and networking. Selected cohort participants attend monthly webinars covering a wide array of topics related to the NASPA professional competencies, participate in monthly roundtable discussions with smaller clusters from within the cohort, and engage in monthly conversations with a senior-level coach that has been paired with them.
"This year's group has been extremely engaged in our monthly conversations. We've had some great guest presenters and our coaches really help the participants dive deeper into the subjects we're highlighting as critical aspects for success in student affairs,” states Kerry Greenstein, ECDI Co-coordinator.
Cohort Participants:
Shirley Pattman Stubbs - Director of Career Services, Brenau University
Tabisha Raymond - Assistant Director of First@Colgate, Colgate University
Jessie Black - Assistant Director of Student Engagement, College for Creative Studies
Christian Nipp - Coordinator of Fitness Recreation and Sports, College of the Marshall Islands
Pat Kelley - Assistant Director of Student Activities, Curry College
Corey Frederick - Residential Life Coordinator, Goucher College
Kierstyn Worthem - Associate Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Illinois College
Rene Guo - Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Kenyon College
Kennedey Bell - Administrative Assistant to the Office of DEI, Kenyon College
Carly Livingston - Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Kenyon College
Elisa Espinosa - Student Activities Coordinator, Midwestern University - Downers Grove
Jimmy Bowen - Assistant Director, First Year Residential Experience - Oberlin College & Conservatory
Sheron Henry-Smith - Director and Case Manager for Student Support and Outreach, Oberlin College and Conservatory
Mya Sedwick - Residence Life Coordinator, Oglethorpe University
Savannah Davis - Coordinator of Student Engagement and Leadership, School of Visual Arts
Carly Reyes - Student Support Manager, St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Sekhar Mamidi - Program Assistant, Multicultural Student Affairs, The College of Wooster
Jenna Morgan - Hall Director, University of Portland
Genevieve Presley - Hall Director, University of Portland
Elizabeth Parkman - Associate Director of Student Engagement, University of Portland
Veronica Ramirez - Hall Director, University of Portland
Rose Sweetwood - Academic Advisor, University of South Carolina Beaufort
Rachel Williams - Community Standards Coordinator, University of the Arts
Hannah Bush - New Student Programming Coordinator, University of the Arts
Leslyn Tonge - Dean of Students, University of the Virgin Islands
Sydney Fox - Assistant Director of Career Engagement, Washburn University
Henley Ballou - Assistant Director, Wheaton College MA
Tebraie Banda-Johns - Director of the Intercultural Center, Whitman College
Allante Hughes - Area Coordinator, Wittenberg University
Madison Green - Program and Administrative Coordinator, Wittenberg University
Athletic Direct Reports (ADRs)
We are looking at ways to best support Athletics Direct Reports (ADRs) and those who supervise intercollegiate athletics in their roles leading Student Affairs at Small Colleges and Universities. If you currently serve as an ADR or know the ADR at your institution, please share this SURVEY with them to help us best understand the needs of ADRs at Small Colleges and Universities. The deadline to complete this survey is Friday, June 14, 2024.
Please contact Dr. John Mark Day, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at DePauw University at johnmarkday@depauw.edu with any questions.
Let’s Connect
From Haydee Reyes (SCU Advisory Board Communications Coordinator)
Make sure to Like & Comment on our Pinned Post and tag two friends/colleagues who should get involved with NASPA
Share our post to your Instagram Story & tell us what you believe are the benefits of working at a Small College/University OR why you enjoy working at a Small College/University. Make sure to tag us in your story using @NASPAscu
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Do you have suggestions for our next newsletter or information you would like to share with our Division?
If so, please contact haydee.reyes@washburn.edu with the subject line “SCU Newsletter” or please consider nominating a colleague that is truly making a difference in their role/institution/our profession, by completing the SCU Member Spotlight Submission Form: https://forms.gle/pdTiuQALdbMCgmdXA
NASPA Annual Conference Call For Programs and Reviewers
We need your help to make #NASPA25, the 107th gathering of our Association, the most memorable yet! We're seeking both programs submissions and reviewers.
