Breakout Sessions

Session Title: Ready, Set, Ask ISSS!

Presenter(s): Amanda Brinlee

Room: Assembly 2

Abstract: In this session, ISSS will present the latest immigration updates that impact international students and scholars, equipping attendees with crucial knowledge to navigate the evolving immigration landscape. The presentation will highlight available ISSS services and resources designed for faculty and staff who work with international students and scholars. An ISSS director will facilitate an extended Q&A section, providing an opportunity for attendees to address audience questions. 

Session Title: Navigating the OODA Loop: Scenario Based Approaches to Advising

Presenter(s): Chris Reyes

Room: Assembly 3

Abstract: This presentation applies the OODA Loop decision making framework, commonly used in high stress environments, to advising by breaking interactions into clear, actionable stages. Paired with the Appreciative Advising Framework, this approach helps advisors recognize where they may get “stuck” in the process and how to move forward effectively. Participants will explore scenario-based strategies to prepare for both routine and not so routine advising situations. The session offers working definitions, case studies, and practical tools designed to empower advisors in their student interactions.

Session Title: Advising as Performance: Rethinking the Advisor-Student Encounter

Presenter(s): Ashley Schmitt

Room: Assembly 1

Abstract: What if the advising encounter has less to do with information exchange and more to do with performance? Despite its centrality to student success, the live interaction between advisor and student remains undertheorized as a social and communicative event — one shaped by roles, scripts, and institutional power.

Drawing on Erving Goffman's dramaturgical model and John Searle's theory of speech acts, this presentation examines advising as a structured performance with identifiable roles, scripts, and stakes. Goffman illuminates how advisors and students manage identities and navigate expectations in real time; Searle reveals how advising language — "you need to," "I recommend," "have you considered" — carries institutional weight that actively shapes student decision-making.

Recognizing these performative dimensions has practical implications for advisor training, advising practice, and how the advisor-student relationship is understood.

Session Title: Life is Like a Box of Lego: It’s What You Make of It!

Presenter(s): Mary Ennis

Room: Room 102

Abstract: Nobody signs up to be the villain. Yet we’ve all felt that “Bad Guy” energy when delivering a reality check—the talk that feels less like mentoring and more like destroying a student's favorite Lego set.

But what if missing bricks isn’t a dead end? This interactive dialogue explores how to pivot from Dream Crusher to Lego Master. We’ll share strategies for helping students shift their focus from the "missing parts" of an original goal to the impressive set of skills they already possess. If the box is missing pieces, it’s time to stop mourning the loss and start building a custom masterpiece with the parts they do have.

Session Title: Education Abroad Program Types & Pre-Approval Form

Presenter(s): Jessica Meado & Spenser McGowan

Room: Assembly 2

Abstract: This presentation will provide a breakdown of key education abroad program types, the role of the academic advisor and how you can support students considering an international experience. We’ll also take an in-depth look at transfer credit and the pivotal role of academic advisors with the transfer credit pre-approval form.

Session Title: Embracing the NACADA Core Value of Caring: Advisors Who Care for Themselves Are Better Able to Care for Students

Presenter(s): Crucita Treadwell

Room: Assembly 3

Abstract: Academic advisors consistently model care and promote self-care to students while navigating increasing caseloads, institutional demands, and emotional labor themselves. This interactive session explores the NACADA Core Value of Care as it applies not only to student support but also to advisor well-being and professional sustainability. Participants will examine the relationship between caring, advisor self-care, and the Relational component of the NACADA Core Competencies through the lens of the six dimensions of wellness: Physical, Intellectual, Occupational, Spiritual, Social, and Emotional. Using a guided worksheet, participants will reflect on current practices and identify intentional strategies to support holistic well-being over the next ninety days. The session will include structured opportunities for participants to share strategies and insights, emphasizing self-care as both an individual and organizational responsibility.

Session Title: Supporting Foster Care Alumni

Presenter(s): Katt Mathes

Room: Assembly 1

Abstract: Students with experience in foster care (SEFC) often face a myriad of unique and unexpected challenges when they reach university. One such difficulty this population faces includes exposure gaps, where they may be missing knowledge, insight or life skills due to missed experiences in their childhood and early adolescence. As higher education professionals, we have an opportunity to help students bridge these gaps and find success by offering skill-based asset development, providing learning opportunities in real time, and checking in with them rather than assuming they understand our expectations. This interactive presentation aims to equip attendees with a deeper understanding of how university life impacts SEFC as well as how to creatively support them through graduation and beyond.

Session Title: Life in the Borderlands: Neurodivergence, Neurotypical Expectations and Navigating the Space Between

Presenter(s): Lori Ann Wischnewsky, Camrie Piper, & Allie Crawford

Room: Room 102

Abstract: Neurodivergent students frequently exist in the in-between spaces associated with multiple marginalized identities. Existing in these liminal spaces, who they are and how they experience the world collide with the systems that were built to support neurotypical students. Often, neurodivergent students’ intersectional identities extend beyond the borders of traditional educational spaces; leaving their needs unmet within academia. 

This session addresses the intersectionality of neurodivergence, how having multiple intersectional identities impacts students and their support needs. We will discuss the cooccurrence of neurodivergence with chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, identities, and culture, as well as the broad scope of neurodivergent support in conjunction with the more nuanced needs of these students. 

Awareness of these intersectional topics supports the development of student‑centered practices and contributes to equitable access to institutional resources.

Session Title: Reflection, Connection, and Repair: A Communication Toolkit

Presenter(s): David Wellman

Room: Room 106

Abstract: Effective communication is a fundamental component of successful advising. This session will explore the key elements of communication, including how we can enhance our skills. We will consider the components of communication, the challenges involved, and practical tools to improve our interactions. Specifically, we will use metaphors such as a mirror, linking cups, a stethoscope, and duct tape to symbolize important steps in effective communication—both among colleagues and with students. These tools serve as visual reminders of the essential practices for ensuring our messages are clearly received and retained.

Session Title: Unpacking Success, Elevating Experience: International Student Edition

Presenter(s): Rebecca Shafer & Matthew Hilgemeiser

Room: Assembly 2

Abstract: As international students cross continents and cultures to pursue higher education, their journeys are shaped by much more than academics. This session explores the multidimensional experiences of international students through three core elements. First, we investigate cultural adaptation and its impact on academic success, social integration, and emotional wellness. Next, we examine the influence of immigration regulations, highlighting how evolving policies affect resource access, compliance, and future planning. Lastly, we discuss strategies for supporting international student wellness in this dynamic landscape. Participants will gain tools to move beyond borders and bridge gaps in their own departments to create an empowering campus community for international students.

Session Title: True Crime Meets Academic Advising: Applying Behavioral Analysis to Academic Advising

Presenter(s): Cesily Hibbeler

Room: Assembly 3

Abstract: In the high-stakes world of academic advising, practitioners often encounter "academic crime scenes"—transcripts littered with unexplained withdrawals, "ghosted" semesters, and recurring failures. Traditional advising models often focus on the what (the grades), but to truly impact retention, advisors must become expert profilers of the why (the behavior). By shifting the advisor's role from "record-keeper" to "investigative partner," we can identify red flags before the "academic offense" occurs. Attendees will leave with a "Field Manual" of leading questions and a Triage Scale to help solve their most challenging cases and move students from "at-risk" to "commencement."

Session Title: A Cultural Framework for Academic Advising

Presenter(s): Alyssa Locklear & Beth Netherland

Room: Room 102

Abstract: Culture is a set of beliefs, traditions, and values that are shared by a group of people and passed down from generation to generation. Our communities, families, organizations, and peer groups all have distinct cultures. By recognizing the many cultures that students belong to, we can start to understand the diverse influences on their decisions and behaviors. Geert Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of National Culture model provides the framework for this session’s discussion of culture and how it relates to academic advising. Through discussions and interactive activities, participants will learn about cultural dimensions such as Uncertainty Tolerance/ Avoidance and Indulgence/ Restraint that may help explain student behaviors. By applying this cultural framework, advisors can guide students toward academic pursuits and wellness decisions that provide an appropriate mix of comfort and challenge.

Session Title: Navigating the Academic Journey: Strategic Learning Handouts for Student Support

Presenter(s): Gabriela Garcia

Room: Room 106

Abstract: Advisors and counselors regularly support students facing challenges with time management, exam preparation, study strategies, and learning from past exams. This session introduces a collection of Academic Success Center handouts designed to provide practical support in these areas. Participants will explore how each resource aligns with common student situations and learn when and how to introduce them effectively during advising conversations. Using a navigation framework aligned with the conference theme, the session presents these handouts as tools that help students move through academic challenges. Attendees will also work through interactive case scenarios to practice selecting appropriate resources and leave with strategies for integrating these materials into their student support practices.

Session Title: Global Career Readiness

Presenter(s): Michayla Robles & Olivia Mvula

Room: Assembly 2

Abstract: This session will focus primarily on preparing students for the global workforce through opportunities offered by Global Engagement's Global Learning programs. We will also highlight practical strategies to support international students transitioning to employment in the United States, with attention to workplace adjustment, communication norms, and U.S. workforce culture.

Session Title: Lone Ranger Syndrome: Identifying and Helping the Student Behind the Mask

Presenter(s): Timothy Cedor

Room: Assembly 3

Abstract: This session will examine the lone ranger student and how college faculty, staff, and administrators can better help these students. These students feel as if they must go through college alone and are more likely to isolate themselves from fellow students and professors. These behaviors often increase the student's anxiety, depression, and stress causing emotional issues and limited problem solving skills that often lead to the student leaving college altogether.

Session Title: Advising for the Students We Have: A Student-Ready Approach

Presenter(s): Fatima Caldera

Room: Assembly 1

Abstract: In higher education, student success conversations often center on what students lack: academic preparation, knowledge of institutional systems, or access to resources. This deficit-focused perspective can unintentionally place a burden on students who have no prior knowledge of complex institutional structures. A student-ready advising approach shifts this mindset by asking how institutions and advisors can adapt their practices to better support the students they serve.

This session explores how advisors can implement student-ready principles through an intentional advising curriculum that supports students holistically. Topics such as degree planning, goal setting, decision-making, and socio-emotional development will be discussed as key components of proactive advising.

Session Title: Personal Advising Philosophies – What Goes Into Creating a Personal Approach

Presenter(s): Scott Skrla

Room: Room 102

Abstract: An advising philosophy is not a document you write once and file away—it is a living framework that evolves alongside the advisor. This session explores what it means to develop a personal advising philosophy that is both grounded in core values and responsive to change. Participants will examine how shifts in technology, student generations, and institutional culture challenge advisors to adapt their approaches without losing the foundation of who they are. Through guided reflection and peer dialogue, attendees will identify the principles that anchor their practice and explore how those principles hold up—or require revision—when circumstances change. The goal is not a finished philosophy, but a commitment to the ongoing process of building one.

Session Title: Making the Aggie Experience Accessible for All: On-Campus & Abroad

Presenter(s): Irene Scott

Room: Room 106

Abstract: Advisors play a vital role in student retention beyond degree planning, supporting students’ academic, personal, and professional growth. International students with disabilities studying at Texas A&M and domestic students with disabilities pursuing global opportunities often navigate structural, cultural, and logistical barriers. This session explores how advisors can cultivate inclusive practices that address the intersection of disability, nationality, and international mobility. Attendees will learn the challenges these students encounter, as well as practical strategies to promote students’ access within both local and global contexts.

Session Title: Advising for Global Futures: Post-Graduation Opportunities Beyond Borders

Presenter(s): Kerri Vance

Room: Assembly 2

Abstract: As global experience becomes increasingly important for career readiness, more students are seeking opportunities to study, work, or serve abroad after graduation. Advisors play a key role in helping students understand the range of international pathways available to them. This session will provide an overview of major post‑graduation options, including graduate programs abroad, teaching placements, global service, fellowships, work visas, and short‑term cultural experiences. Participants will learn essential program features, advising considerations, and how to match opportunities to student interests and goals. The session will also highlight key campus and national resources that support globally minded graduates. Attendees will leave with practical tools and referral guidance to confidently help students pursue meaningful experiences beyond borders.

Session Title: Teaching in Disguise: A Refresher of a Powerful Teaching Tool in Advising

Presenter(s): Nina Morgan

Room: Assembly 3

Abstract: In an age dominated by digital distractions, advisors face challenges helping students grasp complex academic information. This presentation reimagines advising as a teaching practice by using visual representational aids—posters, diagrams, and graphic organizers—to enhance engagement and understanding. Grounded in research, the session demonstrates how visual tools highlight degree requirements, support diverse learning styles, and transform curriculum review into an interactive experience. Using the pedagogical concept of scaffolding, advisors will learn to break down information into manageable parts through color coding, symbols, and flowcharts. The presentation includes hands-on activities culminating in a collaborative poster-making exercise. Participants will leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use materials to implement learner-centered, visually enriched advising that cultivates academic agency and transforms advisors into teachers in disguise. 

Session Title: Self-Care Isn’t Selfish Care: Helping Students to Understand Why Taking Care of Their Mental Health Should Be Viewed as a Priority and Not a Luxury

Presenter(s): Brooke McElroy

Room: Assembly 1

Abstract: This session aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of why it is important to support students through discussion and provide resources for those who find themselves struggling with mental health issues during their college experience. Using their awareness of campus resources, participants will explore how to equip students with the knowledge of a variety of skills and strategies regarding self-care, providing them with the ability to advocate for themselves during challenging times.

To accomplish these objectives, we will be examining data that details areas where students tend to struggle the most and why they might be reluctant to seek out help. Attendees will engage in conversations as to why these occurrences seem to be on the rise across our university settings and discuss the various techniques both successfully and possibly not so successfully, that have been utilized. Throughout the session, participants will discover ways they can equip students with the ability to connect with the people, resources, and strategies to utilize self-care strategies, leading not only to building and strengthening their mental well-being, but also re-enforcing their academic strengths as well. 

Session Title: Third Culture Kids: Hidden International Students

Presenter(s): Colby Seay

Room: Room 102

Abstract: Third Culture Kids are individuals who spend a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents' home culture(s), often due to parental expatriate work. This often leads to TCKs not having a sense of ownership of place, nor a sense of where they are “from.” American TCKs hold U.S. passports. Often, they are not institutionally recognized as an “international student.” But in effect, TCKs are hidden international students. Without the proper support mechanisms, TCKs often struggle with adjustment to university life, and to the culture of their country of citizenship. Globalization is growing the TCK population, and higher education professionals need to be equipped with how to best serve this hidden and growing population. This session will equip advisors with the perspective and tools to support this unique population.