Cutthroat Kitchen: Programming Style

Description: Elevate your RA or student leader training programs with a dynamic and engaging approach inspired by the competitive spirit of Cutthroat Kitchen! In this interactive session, you'll explore an innovative RA training activity where participants tackle program planning challenges while navigating unexpected sabotages.  Learn about the unique activity inspired by Cutthroat Kitchen that combines competition with strategic problem-solving, aimed at enhancing teamwork and creativity among RAs. Whether you're looking to invigorate your current training program or seeking fresh ideas for developing your student leaders, this session will provide you with practical tools and strategies to make your RA training both impactful and memorable!

Presenter:  Annika Philippe-Auguste, Residence Hall Coordinator, East Carolina University 

Program Location: 2002

Hiring the Summer Dream Team, Revolutionizing your Summer Conference Staff

Description: This program is geared towards professionals whose major responsibility is to provide conference and events services at their educational organizations. We will discuss how institutions approach recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining students to work with summer camps & conferences.  We’ll also elaborate on benefits and concerns with hiring hourly employees opposed to hiring employees that live on-campus.  How do you determine what’s best for your institution?   

Presenters: 

Brandy Daniels, Associate Director of Campus Living, East Carolina University 

Olivia Sachtleben, Assistant Director of Conferences and Guest Services, NC State University 

Joshua Levine-Ingebretson, Assistant Director of Conferences and Guest Services, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2127

A Supervisor’s Guide to Enhancing RA Academic Accountability 

Description: This session is designed for supervisors to enhance their role in supporting Resident Advisors (RAs) with their academic success. The focus will be on understanding RAs' comfort with accessing resources, guiding them through academic goal setting, refining the language used to support them, and creating strong partnerships with campus resources that can directly benefit RAs. The session will use poll-based questions and pair-share interactions to engage participants throughout.

Presenter:  Tabi Zarazinski, Community Director, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2128

Groupons: A Refresh on One-on-Ones

Description: Introducing "Groupons," an innovative approach to staff check-ins designed to enhance efficiency and collaboration. With this new structure, Professional Staff will meet with groups of supervisees instead of scheduling individual one-on-one sessions. By bringing staff together, "Groupons" will streamline the check-in process, fostering a more dynamic exchange of ideas while also optimizing Professional Staff's schedules. This approach not only frees up valuable time but also strengthens team connections and encourages collective problem-solving.

Presenter: Becca Gillison, Assistant Director for Student Staff Recruitment and Selection, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2201

Why Did I Walk in Here? From Surviving to Thriving as a Neurodivergent Housing Professional 

Description: In today's diverse workplace, it's crucial to recognize and support the unique needs of neurodivergent housing professionals. This presentation aims to recognize, inform and empower neurodivergent staff members as well as equip student housing leaders and administrators with the knowledge and tools to better understand the challenges faced by neurodivergent staff. We will explore the common workplace difficulties that neurodivergent professionals may encounter, including sensory sensitivities, communication differences, and cognitive overload. The presentation will offer insights into effective task management techniques tailored to the needs of neurodivergent staff, as well as approaches to self-advocacy and communication in the workplace. Attendees will learn practical strategies for requesting/providing effective support and accommodations, fostering an inclusive work environment, and promoting self-care among neurodivergent employees.

Presenter: Amanda Morales, Director of Residence Life, Meredith College

Program Location:  2002

From Cords to Community: Rebuilding Your NRHH  with Purpose

Description: Join us for From Cords to Community: Rebuilding Your NRHH with Purpose, where we’ll dive into transforming your NRHH chapter into a residential community hub! This presentation is all about creating an environment where recognition and service go hand in hand, while also making your NRHH more than just a club for earning cords. We’ll explore creative ways to recruit passionate student leaders, foster genuine connections, and plan fun, engaging engagement themes that bring everyone together. Get ready to share ideas, spark conversations, and leave with fresh inspiration to build a lively and supportive NRHH that truly makes a difference in your residence halls!

Presenter: Paige Hlad, Coordinator for Residential Leadership, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2127

Engaging Students in Apartments/Non-First Year Communities Panel

Description: With the increase in class sizes, each year comes changes to residential community sizes and styles. Apartment-style halls have become more and more popular as campuses have had to adjust to the influx of students. Apartments are typically seen as upperclassmen, grad, or family housing options but some include freshmen and transfer students. How do you engage such a wide variety of students in one community? This program will consist of a panel of 4-6 RLCs and/or Grads from across the state who have or currently work in apartment, grad, and/or family housing. 

Panelists:  Zach Short-Wake Forest University,  Stephen Salazar- UNC Chapel Hill, Mike Jefferson- UNC Wilmington

Presenter: Hallie Bowen, Residence Life Coordinator, NC State University

Program Location: 2128

Prioritizing Mental Health: A Holistic Approach to Conduct & CARE on Campus

Description: In the world of Housing and Residential Life, many new, advancing, and even mid-level professionals often find themselves in situations where conduct and care intersect. This session will delve into how to approach these situations holistically, while also placing a strong emphasis on mental health and well-being. Using real world scenarios and open dialogue, attendees will leave equipped with practical strategies for navigating these situations. Join me to explore how to strike the right balance between conduct and care and leave empowered with strategies to strengthen both your professional impact on students and personal resilience.

Presenter: Zach Johnson, Community Director, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2201

A Case Study of Granville Towers; Aiming for Cohesion Within a Managed P3 Partnership

Description: This program delves into Public-Private Partnerships (P3) in higher education, focusing on the Granville Towers partnership between American Campus Communities (ACC) and Carolina Housing. Participants will explore the history, staffing structures, and process alignment of P3 models, and examine collaborative strategies to enhance student engagement and community cohesion.

Presenter: Tabi Zarazinski, Community Director, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2002

Crafting with Purpose: Weaving a Strong and Celebrated Leadership Organization 

Description: Join us in this session where we’ll show you how to weave a vibrant leadership organization from the ground up. We’ll dive into crafting engaging marketing strategies, designing leadership retreats that spark connection, and supporting your student leaders through holistic development approaches. You'll also discover how to thread balance, mindfulness, and creativity into your leadership quilt, while using recognition practices to celebrate every achievement along the way. This session is perfect for any advisor looking to create a leadership program that’s not just strong but celebrated!

Presenter: Paige Hlad, Coordinator for Residential Leadership, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2127

Supervision 201 

Description: Whether it's your first year or fifth year of supervision, this session will have insightful tips and tricks to elevate your supervision skills. Join us as we share learned lessons and resources for you to take your team to the next level. Through this session you will take away skills on coaching your team, rising through conflict, and building trust and inspiring your team.

Presenters: 

Gia Lee, Assistant Director, NC State University 

Kelsey Hansen, Associate Director of Residence Life, App State University

Program Location: 2128

Building Supportive Relationships around LLCs and Residential Colleges

Description: Are you currently supervising a building that has Residential Colleges or LLCs? If so this is the program for you! In this program, we will be having a roundtable discussion about how residence life and academic affairs professionals can work together to build a supportive relationship to engage students in LLCs and residential colleges. In this discussion, Gia will use her experience as both a former housing professional and current role in academic affairs to give tips and tricks on how to build meaningful and supportive relationships to cultivate meaningful student experiences. 

Presenter: Gia Born, Program Manager for South Campus, UNC Greensboro

Program Location: 2201

Roundtable: New Professionals

Program Location: 2002

Roundtable: HBCU

Program Location: 2127

Roundtable: LGBTQIA+

Program Location: 2128

Roundtable: Women In Housing

Program Location: 2201

Drip In Office: Shopping Your Closet

Description: Are you a young professional wanting to refresh your wardrobe without overspending? Join us for a session on how to 'shop your closet' and make the most of what you already have. We'll cover ways to mix and match, accessorize, and update your current pieces to create a polished, business casual look that fits your style and budget.

Presenters: 

Nadia Sharpe, Residence Life Coordinator, NC State University 

Timothy Robinson, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, High Point University

Program Location: 2002

SHO Roundtable: Implementing FLSA Updates

Description: During this roundtable discussion attendees will learn about FLSA updates and discuss ways in which they've updated expectations/pay structures in order to meet recently implemented federal guidelines.

Presenters: 

Amanda Morales, Director of Residence Life, Meredith College 

J. Kala Bullett, Senior Director for Residential Education, UNC Chapel Hill 

Program Location: 2127

Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Best Practices for Organizing & Managing Your Communities

Description: As entry-level professionals, we sometimes have a LOT of things thrown at us all at once! This Pokemon-themed presentation will show you how to "catch" best practices and ideas for staying organized when it comes to managing student-staff, resident concerns, your building, and other job-related responsibilities. 

Presenter: Michael Hazan, Community Director, UNC Chapel Hill

Program Location: 2128

Let’s Get This Bread: Turning Job Applications into Dough

Description: Tired of making crumbs and ready for some real bread? This presentation aims to equip graduate students with the tools and strategies necessary to successfully navigate the job search in Student Affairs. It will cover essential topics such as job search resources, professional networking associations and job boards, and interview preparation. Job searching can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! You will leave this presentation with hands-on resources that will lay the foundation for you to be organized and prepared for your job search.

Presenters: 

Savannah Matherly, Program Director, NC State University 

Jaquan Nelson, Residence Life Coordinator, NC State University 

Program Location: 2201