Presentations & workshops

14th International Conference on Supplemental Instruction (Portland, OR) – June 2026

We live in a world of filters, where curated images and polished narratives often hide underlying realities. But some realities shouldn’t stay hidden. Across college campuses, many students and peer educators quietly experience disability burnout, the chronic exhaustion that comes from masking, self-advocating, and adapting to systems never designed for them. This form of burnout, common among neurodivergent and disabled individuals, erodes both learning and leadership. Drawing from research on organizational belonging and neurodivergent inclusion (Blau et al., 2023; Graham, 2025; Wolbring & Lillywhite, 2023), this session reframes burnout as a systemic issue of accessibility rather than personal weakness. Through reflection, collaborative analysis, and design activities, participants will examine how academic support programs can recognize, reduce, and prevent disability burnout. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to build peer-learning environments that honor cognitive diversity, sustain authenticity, and help every student, and student leader, thrive without the filter.

14th International Conference on Supplemental Instruction (Portland, OR) – June 2026

Across higher education, well-intentioned restructuring often stacks silos closer together without creating true systems. In this session, participants will examine how academic support programs (such as SI, tutoring, and peer mentoring) can move beyond consolidation toward coherence. Drawing on organizational change research (Lewin, Kotter, Heifetz, Schein, Cooperrider, and Freeman) and community-based participatory models, this session explores how inclusive, collaborative design fosters stronger, more equitable student support ecosystems. Participants will learn practical strategies to engage administrators, faculty, coordinators, and student leaders as co-architects of sustainable systems that align efficiency with lived experience. By shifting from top-down restructuring to participatory leadership, we strengthen belonging, quality, and trust, celebrating our collective brilliance by building systems that work with people, not around them.

Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance – ACTLA 51 Annual Conference (Online) – April 2026

Take a look beneath polished narratives and recognize the hidden pressures faced by neuro- and ability-diverse students and peer educators. Research on masking, emotional labor, and disability burnout highlights how these demands undermine motivation. Let’s uncover these dynamics and learn to design environments that foster authenticity, belonging, and student success.

Promoting Achievable College Transitions (PACT) - Professional Preparedness Course (Riverside City College) [Guest Lecturer] - February 2026

Workplace communication breakdowns are rarely caused by lack of effort or intelligence; they are usually the result of missing structure. This session reframes communication as a system designed to clarify purpose, reduce ambiguity, and create shared understanding. Using real-world scenarios across meetings, calls, and email, participants will learn practical techniques for structuring messages that lower cognitive load and prevent misinterpretation. The session also explores how AI tools can serve as communication scaffolding while preserving human judgment and integrity. Participants leave with actionable frameworks for communicating clearly, professionally, and confidently across diverse workplace contexts.

Promoting Achievable College Transitions (PACT) - Professional Preparedness Course (Riverside City College) [Guest Lecturer] - November 2025

Purpose is often framed as a single predetermined calling, but research suggests it is better understood as alignment. This session introduces a practical framework for discovering purpose at the intersection of personal values, strengths, and real-world needs. Drawing on concepts such as Deeply Embedded Life Interests and job crafting, participants will explore how recurring patterns across their experiences can reveal meaningful directions for work and life. The presentation offers reflective exercises and practical strategies for translating purpose into action, helping individuals design roles and environments that sustain motivation, engagement, and professional fulfillment.

Promoting Achievable College Transitions (PACT) - Professional Preparedness Course (Riverside City College) [Guest Lecturer] - November 2025 & January 2026

Motivation is often treated as a personal trait, yet behavioral science shows it functions as a system shaped by purpose, environment, and self-awareness. This session explores how motivation emerges from the interaction of capability, opportunity, and internal drive, drawing on frameworks such as the COM-B model, Self-Determination Theory, and Sinek’s Golden Circle. Through narrative examples and guided reflection, participants will learn to identify the patterns and experiences that reveal their underlying “why,” enabling them to sustain motivation, navigate career decisions, and align their goals with meaning and long-term engagement.

10th Annual West Coast Supplemental Instruction Conference (Online) [Presenter] - November 2025

Discover how to move beyond program silos toward a unified, student-centered ecosystem of support. This interactive session offers practical strategies grounded in organizational change and collaboration research, helping academic support professionals, coordinators, and faculty co-create coherent systems that strengthen belonging, streamline services, and celebrate the collective brilliance of peer-led learning.

“Peer Educator Power”: Ensuring Learning through Peer Connections (Online) [Presenter] - October 2025

Every learner’s mind adds a different splash of color to the canvas of higher education. Students with neurodivergent profiles such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia bring unique strengths and perspectives, yet often encounter barriers in classrooms and institutions that blur their sense of belonging and hinder academic success. Because of stigma, many choose not to disclose their differences, leaving them without the support that could help their talents shine. This session invites peer educators to “color outside the lines” by reimagining how we support students whose learning styles don’t always fit the traditional mold. Together, we’ll uncover the hidden challenges neurodivergent students face and explore practical peer-to-peer strategies for creating spaces where every learner’s colors are welcomed and celebrated.

9th Annual West Coast Supplemental Instruction Conference (Online) [Presenter] - November 2024

Discover how the Theory of Planned Behavior and other change models can foster a Growth Mindset within academic support environments. Learn evidence-based strategies to encourage student resilience and engagement, empowering them to embrace challenges and enhance their academic success. Join us to unlock the power of behavior change!

9th Annual West Coast Supplemental Instruction Conference (Online) [Presenter] - November 2024

Expand your DEI superpowers by exploring the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent students. Discover effective support strategies, identify inclusion barriers, and learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging, creating an equitable learning environment where all student heroes can thrive and achieve their full potential.

13th International Conference on Supplemental Instruction (Baltimore, MD) [Co-Presenter] - May 2024

The realities associated with “inheriting” an SI program are often challenging. Session presenters will cultivate an environment among participants for authentic, open, and informed conversation through shared stories, initial program evaluation, and personal leadership reflection. Based on the theoretical framework of Bridges (2017) and Kotter (2012), participants will explore how change leaders may professionally navigate program transformation while strategically managing the expectations of faculty, peer-leaders, administrators, and students. Special attention will be given to negotiating transitions with respect to historical and emotional components at all stakeholder levels (Carucci, 2017; Bridges, 2017).

7th Annual West Coast Supplemental Instruction Conference (Online) [Conference Host - The Wellness Team from James Graham Health & Fitness] - November 2022

The mission of WCSI is to promote the collective success of peer-led support on campuses across the western region of the U.S. The conference was designed to create a network of Support Staff, Faculty, Administration, SI Leaders, and Tutors and to provide a platform for sharing ideas and best practices. The WCSI Conference centers around the initiative of “students empowering students to succeed.”

7th Annual West Coast Supplemental Instruction Conference (Online) [Panelist/Moderator] - November 2022

Join in an interactive discussion with the wellness team members from James Graham Health & Fitness followed (Q&A session)

West Coast Supplemental Instruction Webinar Series (Online) [Moderator] - March 2022

How do we assess what is the post-pandemic reality? What are the gaps our students come to us with? What is missing coming into their college experience? What is missing in their current college experience? What can we do to address these gaps (developmental skills, social skills, professional skills, academic skills)?

West Coast Supplemental Instruction Webinar Series (Online) [Panelist] - November 2020

Discover strategies for creating SI community at both the program and student level. With featured guests from CSU Long Beach, CSU San Bernardino, and Mt. San Jacinto College.

CSU Student Success Analytics, Certificate Program Series (Online) [Presenter] - March 2019

https://certificate-program.dashboards.calstate.edu/curriculum.php

3rd Annual IE-SI Regional Conference (Riverside, CA) [Co-Presenter] - November 2018

Presenters from California State University, San Bernardino will discuss a multilayered model for the training and development of college paraprofessionals. This model includes offerings specific to Supplemental Instruction as well as collaborative offerings for peer leaders campus-wide (including, but not limited to, mentors, advisors, tutors, and SI leaders).

Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Academic Resources Conference (San Francisco, CA) [Co-Presenter] - May 2018

Successful, continuing collaboration between Undergraduate Studies and the Office of Institutional Research in the development and promotion of a newly aligned Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program will be showcased in this presentation. Presenters will explore the use of program-level data, dashboards, infographics, and participatory action research to facilitate continuous program improvement.

The International Center for Supplemental Instruction 10th Annual International Conference (Seattle, WA) [Presenter] - May 2018

In Southern California's Inland Empire, SI Coordinators from different colleges and universities meet to collaborate on ways to enhance each institution's SI Program. The presentation highlights the value of this alliance and the effort to plan and host the annual SI Conference for SI Leaders by SI Leaders.

The Division of Academic and Student Affairs, California State University (CSU), Academic Technology Services (Online) [Presenter] - April 2018

Award-winning CSU campus SI programs describe effective SI implementation and outcomes, including extensive data demonstrating significant impacts on student success.

CSUSB WorkAbility IV / CA Department of Rehabilitation Development Series (San Bernardino, CA) [Panelist] - November 2017

Are you interested in a career in education? Would you like to gain insight from CSUSB’s education professionals? WorkAbility IV is hosting a panel discussion with CSUSB’s faculty and staff. The 90-minute panel discussion will provide students the opportunity to learn and ask questions about education and career road maps from faculty and staff that are working in these professions. 

Graduation Initiative 2025: Informed Decision-Making Summit (San Bernardino, CA) [Co-Presenter] - May 2017