“From Manager to Multiplier: How Leaders Unlock Potential”
Presenter: Arin Patterson, UNC Charlotte

Are you multiplying your team’s potential or limiting it? Let's explore the difference between “managers” and “multipliers” and how your leadership style directly impacts team performance, ownership, and growth. Walk away with simple, actionable strategies to unlock the full potential of the people you lead.
 

“Scroll, Like, Engage: Turning Campus Social Media into a Student Success Tool”
Presenter: Rogelio Nunez, UNC Charlotte

In today’s digitally connected campus environment, social media is no longer just a marketing tool, it is a critical engagement strategy for student affairs professionals. This interactive session explores how campus offices can intentionally leverage platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to foster connection, increase student engagement, and support student success.

Participants will learn practical strategies for creating authentic, and student-centered content while aligning social media efforts with institutional goals. Through real-world examples, attendees will gain insight into building meaningful online communities, responding effectively to student needs, and using analytics to inform practice.

Whether you’re managing an established account or just getting started, this session will provide actionable tools to transform your office’s social media presence from passive posting to purposeful engagement.
 

“Connecting with Compliance in 2026: How Compliance Should Inform Student Service Design”
Presenters: Lyda Costello Kiser and Nicholas Kehrwald, USC-Upstate

Three of the top eight issues within Student Affairs involve re-imagining student affairs structures, institutional-wide collaborations, and regulatory compliance (NASPA, 2025). As the floor of what institutions should be doing, compliance should inform institutional student service design. Through compliance data and trends, institutions can better serve students and better protect the institution. The presenters will use [3-5] examples of trend data to demonstrate the intersection between compliance and student service design.
 

“From Conduct to Connection: A Collaborative Model for Student Development”
Presenters: Ti-Ana Pyatt and Christopher Davis Jr., Clemson University

This session highlights a collaborative initiative between the Office of Community and Ethical Standards and the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement at Clemson University that transforms low-level conduct violations into restorative, educational opportunities. Through structured peer and staff engagement, students develop leadership skills, strengthen their campus connections, and reflect on ethical decision-making. Learn how this innovative sanction model promotes student growth while fostering cross-departmental collaboration.

Building Bridges: Keeping Teams Connected Through Staff Transitions
Presenters: Joe Yavelak and Claire McAlister

Staff transitions provide a unique opportunity to rethink how we work together across departmental lines. This session explores a collaborative partnership between Housing & Residence Life and Disability Services at UNC Charlotte, demonstrating how team changes can serve as a catalyst for a more unified front. Join us to explore practical frameworks for establishing a strong relational foundation and achieving strategic alignment between offices. You’ll leave with actionable steps for enhancing cross-functional communication, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring your partnerships remain resilient through any season of change.
 

“Neurodiversity in the Workplace”
Presenter: Nic Capano, Davidson College

We all bring different strengths to our work and they show up in different ways. Neurodiversity is more than a difference of thoughts or a group of labels. This presentation helps clear up misconceptions and provides some accessible ways we can all support Neurodiversity so that everyone's strengths can shine. A rising tide raises all boats. If everyone in the workplace embraces Neurodiversity it will create a better environment for all, especially for those that need it most. I hope this presentation can act as a catalyst for such positive change by sharing helpful information, some of my own experiences as a neurodivergent higher education professional, and a chance to learn from each other.
 

“Title vs. Calling: Reframing Student Leadership Motivation in Higher Education”
Presenter: Akio Brown, Newberry College

Student leadership roles are often positioned as transformative opportunities for engagement, service, and personal development. Yet many students affairs professionals encounter a recurring challenge: students who pursue leadership roles primarily for instrumental reasons - resume building, recognition, or titles - rather than a deeper commitment to community impact or personal growth. This roundtable discussion invites practitioners to examine the motivations behind student leadership engagement and reflect on how these motivations influence both student development and professional practice. Participants will explore the tension between instrumental and purpose-driven leadership, discuss how institutional structures may reinforce resume-driven involvement, and consider how educators can guide students toward more meaningful engagement. Additionally, the session will encourage professionals to reflect on their own sense of vocation and how it shapes their expectations of student leaders. Through collaborative dialogue and shared experiences, participants will leave with new perspectives and practical strategies for fostering intentional leadership development among students.
 

“Transforming Student Accountability: Restorative and Educational Approaches to Student Conduct”
Presenters: Shawn McQuillan-Krepps and Mak Tompkins, Davidson College

Explore how Davidson College is redefining student accountability through restorative, educational, and student-centered practices rooted in the Honor Code and Code of Responsibility. In this interactive community-of-practice session, we’ll tackle the challenges campuses face today—from evolving student expectations and academic integrity concerns to complex community dynamics—and share practical strategies to foster reflection and learning, social responsibility, and community engagement.

“From Data to Siloes to Strategic Insight: Building a Student Affairs Data Ecosystem”
Presenters: Ellissa Brooks Nelson and Mark Manning, UNC Charlotte

How can student affairs move from fragmented data to demonstrating measurable impact on student success? This session shares how one institution built a Student Affairs Data Lake—transforming siloed data into a strategic asset that connects student engagement to retention and academic outcomes. Learn practical strategies for building a data ecosystem, engaging stakeholders, and turning insight into action.
 

"Are you a Student Here?": Establishing Authority, Boundaries, and Identity as a New Professional”
Presenter: Madison Chaplin, USC-Upstate

"Are you a student here?" 

Many new professionals are faced with this question from students, families, and sometimes their own faculty and staff. The challenges faced by many new professionals in higher education are very unique. You have to lead, supervise, and make the tough calls, all the while trying to find your own professional identity. 

This session will explore how early-career professionals can establish credibility, communicate expectations clearly, and set healthy boundaries, without losing their authenticity. Participants will gain practical strategies and real-world language they can apply immediately to strengthen their professional presence.
 

“Learning Beyond the Classroom: Creating and Measuring Student Learning Outcomes Through Collaboration”
Presenter: Dr. Alen Doty, South Piedmont Community College

Attendees will learn the importance of co-curricular learning and identify the benefits of collaboration between academic and student affairs. Learn the importance of learning outcomes in student life, and how to demonstrate student growth and program effectiveness.
 

“Building Quality Community Engagement: Creating Community Collaborators”
Presenter: Buck Cooke, USC Upstate

Everyone has probably heard the phrase “do no harm” in relation to some type of service or community engagement, but, sadly, we often fall short of that basic goal. By attending this session, participants will learn how to build Community Collaborators within an organization’s culture and to use the 9 Components of Quality Community Engagement to create beneficial and appropriate connections with the community.

“​​Fresh Start, New Squad: Navigating Team Transition”
Presenters: Jamar Whitfield, UNC Charlotte and Emmy Womble, Davidson College

Change is inevitable in any workplace setting. From student leaders to professional staff advisors, there is arguably a revolving door of new people to acclimate to your organizational culture and leadership styles. Whether you are brand new to an institution or have new members added to your team, it is important to foster an environment where tradition is honored, but innovation is cultivated. Join us to learn and share ways to navigate successful transitioning amidst institutional and personnel changes on your campus.