About
Serving Higher Education Institutions of California
CONNECT * EDUCATE * GROW * SUPPORT The CSU+UC Event Professionals Network is a community of practice for event specialists working at higher education institutions across California. Led by a steering group of professionals from the two public university systems in California, the network is dedicated to helping the state’s professionals with the tenets below.
CONNECT event professionals with their counterparts to foster a rich exchange of ideas and successful practices.
EDUCATE event professionals with the skills to excel in their work.
GROW event specialists professionally by bolstering their career development.
SUPPORT event professionals with empathy and community as they navigate the stressful nature of their work.
MISSION
The network is working towards a reality where higher education event professionals in California have influence and are recognized and respected as professionals at their universities.
PARTICIPANTS
The network's programming and committees welcome all event professionals working at a higher education institution in California. There is no fee to be part of the network; some programming has registration fees.
STRUCTURE
The network operates as several committees led by the Leadership Council and the CSU Advancement Academy at the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Leadership Council members chair the working committees that are composed of any interested network member.
Leadership Council
Phyllis Grillo
CSU Monterey Bay
Chair, CSUUC Event Professionals Network
Chair, On Call/ Hot Topics Committee
Monica Doll
Stanislaus State
Vice Chair, Administration
Chair, Engagement and History Committee
R. Paul Villaluz
Sac State
Vice Chair, Marketing and Communications
Chair, Digitial Communications Committee
Melissa Henss
San Diego State
Co-Vice Chair, Network Recruitment and Retention
Co-Chair, Membership Committee
Merry Coder
CSU Bakersfield
Co-Vice Chair, Network Recruitment and Retention
Co-Chair, Membership Committee
Adrianne McCraw
UC San Diego
Co-Vice Chair, Network Recruitment and Retention
Co-Vice Chair, Programming
Co-Chair, Membership Committee
Jessica Rowland
Cal State Fullerton
Co-Vice Chair, Programming
Chair, Conference Committee
Sam Camarena
Cal State Chancellor's Office
Vice Chair, Finance
CSU Chancellor's Office Liaison
Co-Chair, Finance Committee
Committees of the CSU+UC Event Professionals Network
The CSU+UC Event Professionals Network is a volunteer-run venture, and its success is based on the work of our committees. Committee membership is open to all. Many committee members find their work rewarding because of its impact on elevating the profession and the new skills and professional connections they develop in service of the network. The charges of the current committees are below. If you are interested in joining a committee, please reach out to the respective contact.
On Call/Hot Topics Committee
Charged with researching current and trending topics of keen interest to the network's membership to explore in ad hoc On Call webinars, discussions at the monthly Network Hot Topic meetings, and in conference programming.
Contact: Phyllis Grillo, pgrillo@csumb.edu
Engagement and History Committee
Charged with providing high-touch engagement of network members to support them through difficult life moments, engaging the network's emeriti society in meaningful touchpoints, and serving as historians for the story of the CSU+UC Event Professionals Network.
Contact: Monica Doll, mdoll@csustan.edu
Digital Communications Committee
Charged with engaging the larger network through our social media channels and email in order to foster a rich exchange of ideas between event professionals, increase a sense of belonging, and relay important information.
Contact: R. Paul Villaluz, villaluz@ucdavis.edu
Membership Committee
Charged with recruiting, onboarding, and supporting the network's volunteers, who serve on Committees and as Network Ambassadors, they create awareness of the network among higher education institutions across California.
Contacts: Merry Coder, mcoder@csub.edu
Melissa Henss, mhenss@sdsu.edu
Adrianne McCraw, amccraw@ucsd.edu
Programming Committee
Charged with planning networking and professional development opportunities for the network, including and beyond the annual conference.
Contacts: Adrianne McCraw, amccraw@ucsd.edu
Jessica Rowland, jerowland@fullerton.edu
Conference Committee
Charged with collaborating with the programming committee and the host institution of the annual conference to plan and execute the network's signature event.
Contacts: Adrianne McCraw, amccraw@ucsd.edu
Jessica Rowland, jerowland@fullerton.edu
Sam Camarena, scamarena@calstate.edu
Finance Committee
Charged with developing revenue-generating programs for the network. Including developing sponsorship opportunities for the annual conference and beyond, as well as making sure that funds are spent in a way that adds the most value to the network.
Contact: Sam Camarena, scamarena@calstate.edu
Network Ambassadors
The CSU+UC Event Professionals Network organizes a group of Network Ambassadors that promote the Network's resources at their institution and help connect new ideas, successful practices, and professionals back to the Network. Each institution has two ambassadors, a primary and an alternate. Ambassadors advise the network's leadership on the current issues and needs of the network and the larger profession of higher education event planning.
Interested in Serving as a Network Ambassador?
A Network Ambassador serves as the vital link between their institution and the CSU+UCEPN, promoting resources and programming while recruiting colleagues to contribute to the network's growth and excellence. They actively participate in committee work, monthly meetings about hot topics, and the annual conference, sharing innovative ideas and best practices from their institution to enhance network programming. Each institution in the CSU+UC Event Professionals Network is represented by two ambassadors.
Responsibilities
Have a pulse on events at your institution.
Represent the network at your institution by promoting CSU+UCEPN resources and programming and recruiting the time and talent of colleagues who want to help foster the growth and excellence of the network.
Serving on a network committee is encouraged.
You are encouraged to participate in monthly Network Hot Topic meetings (one hour per month) and the annual conference (three days per year). We promise you will get plenty out of these gatherings.
Be prepared to share trending ideas, speakers, and best practices from your institution for network programming.
If this sounds exciting, contact our membership committee to learn more about how you can serve as a Network Ambassador.