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 [email protected].
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
[email protected] 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
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