Volume 2

Issue 2

May 2015

Welcome Class of 2017!

This upcoming year will see a brand new cohort of 20 enter into the UConn HESA program. From California to Mississippi to New Jersey to Jamaica, this new group represents a diverse array of backgrounds both in and out of the country. We look forward to their contributions to the UConn community and to the fields of higher education and student affairs overall. Welcome to the HESA family and get

excited for an eventful experience!

Keep an eye out for the upcoming

Class of 2017 bios!

HESAs Take a

Break

2

Conferences and

Awards

2

Alumni Spotlight 3

Post-Practicum

Perceptions

3

A Semester in

Review

4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

The UConn Student

Affairs Association is an organiza-tion committed to the social and

professional development of the individuals who are interested in a career in student affairs.

Digging Deeper Updates from the HESA Program

Congratulations Class of 2015!

As another year comes to an end at UConn, it means the end for this group of 20 graduating from the HESA program. The Class of 2015 have “mastered” the skills and knowledge to enter into the field of higher education and student affairs feeling both competent and prepared. From their first days as a group for HESA

Orientation to Hooding this May, they have spent the last two years together learning and growing both inside the classroom and outside in the UConn community. Best of luck to all of you, please keep in touch, and

see you all again soon!

The UCSAA Executive Board would like to extend a sincere welcome to the incoming Class

of 2017.

2014-2015 Assessment Projects:

Determining the Effects of the "Husky Sport" Service-Learning Course and it’s Components on Students Day-to-Day Actions

Assessing the Learning and Development of Students in the "La Comunidad Intelectual" Living-Learning Community

Understanding the Learning Experiences of Mentors in the “Kids and UConn Bridging Education (KUBE)” Program

Measuring How Students Learn and Gain Intercultural Competence During Winter "Education Abroad" Programs

Another trip to Immokalee, Florida saw first-year HESAs Tina Harney (’16) and Michelle Scali (’16) leading UConn students on a trip focused around migrant workers. During one project where students were creating a mural in a cafeteria, Michelle recalled a point when “about 15 of the children came in and we let them put their own spin on it and I spent 30 minutes painting their hands so they could make handprints. The students that we worked with are amazing I am grateful for this

experience.”

Both trips allowed the HESA students involved to have unique experiences while learning more about UConn students and

themselves.

During the middle of March, several HESAs spent their spring breaks traveling and serving with UConn students in the southern portion

of the U.S.

First-year HESAs Mike Malenfant (’16) and Ryan Baldassario (’16) traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi with 54 students where they engaged in hurricane restoration work. “We completed four days of service while in Mississippi assisting all different aspects of the community,” Mike said. “Despite the 20+ hour bus ride, it was an amazing experience to connect with UConn students in a different capacity and witness many

‘ah-ha’ moments throughout the week.”

Alternative Learning: HESAs Take a Break

Page 2

Highlighting the HESAs: Spring Conferences and Awards (congratulations to EVERYONE who won awards as there are others who have not been listed here)

Congratulations to Eileen Rodriguez (‘15) for being awarded the 2015 Division of Student Affairs Graduate

Student of the Year Award!

Shanna Graham (‘15) was recognized at the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) Phenomenal Women

of Power Leadership Breakfast!

Jackie Lee (‘15), Eileen Rodriguez (‘15), and Tina Harney (‘16) won a case study competition this semester at the 2015

Maryland Student Affairs Conference!

Virginia Cabrera (‘16) and Louis Cameron (‘16) presented at the New England Latino Student Leadership Confer-ence at Dartmouth

College!

Congratulations to Ty McNamee (‘15) for being awarded the 2015 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award at the UConn

Student Life Awards!

V OLUM E 2 ISSU E 2

M AY 2015

performed benchmarking assessments on stewardship of major gift donors as well as talent management practices of foundations linked to institutions

of higher education.

My practica really helped me understand the importance of donor support for a university's budget. State support continues to decline. Tuition increases present more of a barrier to entry for students. The third leg of the funding equation comes from donations from alumni and friends of the university. This piece continues to increase in importance, and student affairs professionals will need to understand and participate in fundraising as they

advance in their careers.

Pat Gotham, Class of 2015 Practicum Location:

UConn Foundation

I did both of my practica experiences with the UConn Foundation. My spring practicum was with the Annual Giving Office working with the Student Philanthropy Association as well as performing a benchmarking assessment on stewardship practices of other schools at the annual giving level. My fall practicum was with the University Programs Office at the Foundation where I worked on donor strategy for higher-level donors as well as

HESA graduation year: 2012

What is your professional title?

Associate Director of the Center for

Student Academic Success at Roger

Williams University

What are your responsibilities in

your position?

My role has recently expanded to

include some new projects along with

the continuation of some long standing

responsibilities. I oversee a variety of

programs within the Center for

Student Academic Success that relate

to retention, early alert, students

academically at risk, and the running of

a large scale peer mentorship and

advisement program that is integrated

into the freshman year experience

seminar. Additionally, I manage the

departmental budget, oversee the

university hiatus and reinstatement

process, and serve as the coordinator

of marketing and communication for

the entire department.

How has UConn HESA shaped

your career/perspective?

I know for a fact I would not be

where I am today without HESA. I

got to work with and learn from

professionals who are truly

energized by their work and are so

very talented. Making it through the

HESA program was not easy, but it

gave me the confidence to know

that I graduated prepared to be a

valuable asset to any institution, and

it gave me the strength to always

challenge myself to take on

opportunities that came my way.

What words of advice do you

have for current HESAs?

If someone you respect and who

knows you well tells you that you

are ready to take on a new,

challenging experience, take it no

matter how scared you are.

Another piece of advice is that you

usually have to be really bad at

something be-

fore you can be good at it and

hopefully you are in a place where

people give you a chance to be bad

at something. Finally, know that you

will always have more work than

there is time in the day to finish it.

Make sure to value and invest in

what matters to you outside of

work as much, if not more, than

your job.

Want to connect with Morgan?

Contact her at mcottrell@rwu.edu.

UCSAA is looking for individuals interested in presenting about a variety of professional

development topics next year!

Not located in New England? That’s okay! Contact Michael Thompkins at

michael.thompkins@uconn.edu for more info.

Post-Practicum Perspectives

Alumni Spotlight:

Morgan Cottrell

Interested in Presenting

to Current HESAs

Next Year?

On behalf of the UCSAA membership, we would like to extend a special THANK YOU to the HESA alumni who have lent their time to UCSAA throughout the year. Christine Wenzel (‘05) and Bryanna Anderson (‘06) lead one of our Lunch and Learn talks about students with disabilities and how to best work with them. Mike Lynch (‘13), Alyssa Stoner (‘11), and Umesh Vig (‘04) spoke at this spring’s HESA Alumni Panel, sharing their insights about life after HESA and searching for jobs. It was a pleasure to hear from all of you

and we appreciate your time and knowledge!

Page 3

Spring 2015 UCSAA Executive Board

President—Michelle Scali

VP of Membership & Finance—Alberto Jacome

VP of Operations—Michael Thompkins

Social Events Coordinator—Virginia Cabrera

Professional Development Coordinator—

Natalie Hershberger

Alumni Relations Coordinator—Tina Harney

Community Outreach Coordinator—Abdul Abad

GSS Senator—Huong Nguyen

HESA Liaison—Ryan Baldassario

HESAs joined other UConn graduate students to solve crimes and dance the night away at the 2015 “Clue”

themed Grad Prom.

Grad Prom 2k15

Hooding Selfie The HESA second years take the traditional

“Hooding Selfie” picture before graduating!

Second-years dress for success during

their afternoon of practice interviews.

HESAs Help Out

From paint night to bowling to dinners, UCSAA events have

given members fun and laughs

throughout the semester.

First-years take pride in the end of their yearlong Assessment journey and

celebrate with smiles.

Even the cold and snowy weather couldn’t stop the HESAs from volunteering at the

MLK Day of Service.

HESAs get excited to welcome the 2015-2016 HESA candidates to interview days with big smiles

and warm hearts.

Hooding times means celebration and bright futures for our second-

year HESAs.

UCSAA Events