THE
AIMHO Angle November 2017
2017 RAppin' Conference University of Nevada, Reno
OVERVIEW The AIMHO Angle is the official publication of the Association of Intermountain Housing Officers (AIMHO). The AIMHO Angle is published on a quarterly basis throughout each year and includes submissions and articles by staff and students of the region. The AIMHO Angle is compiled and distributed by the AIMHO Marketing Committee. The purpose of the AIMHO Angle is to provide additional, year-round, out-of-conference opportunities for associated members to share information and learn. All members of AIMHO are encouraged to write for and submit articles to the AIMHO Angle about topics such as passion areas, research, hot topics in housing, projects happening on their campus, and best practices in the field. If you are interested in submitting to the AIMHO Angle, learn how to on AIMHO Angle website at http://www.aimho.org/?page=SubmitAnArtlcle. You will also find previous issues of the AIMHO Angle on the website for your reference and to download. If you have any questions, please email aimhoangle@gmail.com We look forward to receiving your submissions!
MARKETING COMMITTEE Catherine LaRoche (Chair) - Arizona State University Cory Shapiro (Co-Chair) - Arizona State University Hannah Baley - Montana State University - Billings Jordan Garceau - Montana State University Megan Letchworth - Prescott College Matthew Linton - University of Arizona
CONTENTS 4-9.......President's Corner (Richard Clark, AIMHO President) 10-11.....Annual Conference (Brad Shade, AIMHO President Elect and Andrew Lignelli, University of Nevada, Las Vegas) 12..........Conference Volunteer (Kathleen Finnegan, AIMHO Programming Committee) 13-18...AIMHO Elections - Candidates President Elect: Maureen "Mo" Ward Secretary: AC Monrroy Member-at-Large Entry Level: Dan Foley Member-at-Large Entry Level: Emilie Nemchak Member-at-Large Entry Level: Michael Palacioz Member-at-Large Entry Level: Mike Schilling 19..........NACURH 2018 (Cory Shapiro, Arizona State University) 20-22....Featured Articles -ACUHO-I Internship Search Process (Matthew Linton, University of Arizona) -Colorado Mountain College Updates (Chip Thomas, Colorado Mountains College Spring Valley) -RAppin' Reflections (Nikki Chapman, University of Arizona) 23..........Fall 2017 New Hires
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
AIMHO Appreciative Inquiry Update Submitted By: Richard Clark, AIMHO President
AIMHO has completed the Discovery Phase of Appreciative Inquiry process to learn from the members of the association “the best of what is” regarding the AIMHO organization. The core group identified 5 Affirmative Topics that were thought to define AIMHO at its very best. Your voices provided valuable insight into what gives life to the association and who we are when AIMHO is at its very best. The core group spent seven months reviewing all the information provided by the interviews and as a result three of the five Affirmative Topics were confirmed that this is AIMHO at its best. Based upon what you told us, two of the Affirmative topics were strongly desired by the membership and you all described what the possible outcomes and impact that these two Affirmative Topics could provide; yet at this time, they did not give life to the organization. Below are the three Affirmative Topics that were confirmed as who AIMHO is at its very best. Additionally, common themes from all the interviews were identified that represented each respective Affirmative Topic along with a story (or two) and a quote (or two). AIMHO Affirmative Topics “Who AIMHO is at its very best” Affirmative Topic 1 Meaningful Engagement: AIMHO is engaged in creating a personalized experience that serves their institution and individual needs contributing to the association’s success. The association in turn provides for both institutions and members through a variety of avenues. 1. Common Themes a. Relationships b. Encouraged to get involved c. Connecting both personally and professionally d. Assuming responsibility to make change e. Support f. Exchange of ideas
PRESIDENT'S CORNER g. Committee involvement h. Presenting i. Mentors/mentorship j. Institutes (SHO, AIMHO College, NHTI, Rappin’) k. Acknowledgement of contributions (publically) l. Hosting a conference m. Welcoming atmosphere/family feeling n. Intentional interaction to exchange ideas and learn 2. Stories that represent this Affirmative Topic a. It actually was a day and half ago. We had just finished up SHO. I had recently been struggling in terms of my identity in housing and residence life. And really believing that I was on the right path in terms of providing services to our students. I was questioning – kind of – my ability to do my job, right? I went to SHO and Brad found me in a parking lot afterwards. We chatted for a second and I was also with my friend, Megan, who also attended SHO. He asked us, ‘Seriously, ladies, how was this year’s SHO compared to last year’s SHO?’ And, of course, we have learned so much more being in our roles for a year longer. We were able to utilize some concrete examples and extrapolate or blow up the information we were being given. Once I explained all that, he, in his very unique Brad-caring and genuine way, said, ‘Well, you ladies are the next up and coming. You’re aspiring SHO, you’re already SHO. You’re doing great things, and you’ll continue to do great things.’ The organization is always looking for small institutions. And, in that exchange, the value of being at a smaller institution and the value we had brought through our experience in SHO was validated. It really felt wonderful. b. “I think the breadth of types of universities and colleges in our region provides us with opportunity to do some cool stuff. And have some good conversation about understanding higher education and housing from multiple perspectives, there are a lot of committed folks to profession and association in the region, and some who are committed to reviewing the organization to make sure we are staying relevant and doing things in the right way. This process being an example, rather than just resting on our laurels, we are looking at where to make changes and what is the whole of what we do well. And keep going from there, and I think there are a contingency of folks who are committed to doing that and we have a good contingent of young professionals who are doing that .and recent time with AIMHO see a lot of young professionals getting excited and getting involved with AIMHO and that is healthy good sign to it, if the involvement and leadership were all my age we would be in trouble and that is not the case.”
PRESIDENT'S CORNER c. I really love that we have an AIMHO College. I really love that we offer SHO Institute, and I absolute adore the Sage program. I think that is something that has really taken my attention, especially as an aspiring SHO one day. To think about, good gravy, we can really recognize those people who have really taught us so much. It’s a wonderful opportunity. So, AIMHO, and that progression towards all levels seems good, and it’s really the people within those experiences asking about how you are doing as a human being. That brings more holistic vibe to it. Even in the Sage presentation, they talk about their personal lives, and families, and personalities and not just a job. 3. Quotes that represent this Affirmative Topic a. I want to give back to AIMHO since I’ve received so much from it Affirmative Topic 2 Innovative Education: AIMHO is committed to the transmission and advancement of knowledge in regional housing programs. Accessibility to educational resources manifest digitally, in-person and through shared experiences developing both the person and the professional. 1. Common Themes a. Willing to take risks b. Technology c. Cutting edge d. Thinking outside of the box e. Accessibility – integrate teaching and learning styles f. Challenge status quo g. Open and willing to change h. Proactive –not reactive i. Understanding the “what” and also “why does this matter?” j. Different learning models k. Creative l. Importance of intentional reflection – making meaning of experiences 2. Stories that represent this Affirmative Topic a. “I would say that, in my mind, innovative education takes into account how adults – adult learning theory and how adults learn – and applies it to our work through understanding its ever-changing nature of the students that we serve. I would say that innovative programming comes primarily through understanding, and responding to, what we see on our campuses, what we see on our staffs, and helping each other, kind of, figure that out through a variety of means, modems, and learning opportunities.”
PRESIDENT'S CORNER 3. Quotes that represent this Affirmative Topic a. “I’ve never had my mind blown” – SHO was great experience and was a new way of getting exposure to different peer set and able to see self in new light. b. I think, for me, it is about having a culture of people who will push. And will push and push and push. And will bring new ideas. Affirmative Topic 3 Authentic Relationships: Individuals engage and create lasting connections to one another and the association. Relationships are genuine and foster a sense of belonging which affords members the opportunity to be a part of a caring community. 1. Common Themes a. Kindness b. Honesty c. Vulnerability d. Sustained relationships outside of attending conferences e. Getting to know people on a deeper level f. Common bond g. Regular communication h. Challenge and support each other i. Equitable treatment j. Intentional attention to one’s identities and abilities k. Support and listening l. Mentoring relationship m. Co-create meaning together n. Genuine care o. Different perspectives p. Challenging preconceived notions q. Non-judgmental 2. Stories that represent this Affirmative Topic a. “So I’ll talk about a person I met outside of AIMHO at RAppin my first year at Utah. I got to talk with her and realized she is very involved in AIMHO and at her institution. She was someone I was able to connect with and find out that we have very similar interest and like paths and directions. When I came to AIMHO after I already had that connection, it didn’t feel fake like we have a conference connection. Sometimes people have that and they are like “We are going to be best buds forever,” and then after the conference they don’t talk to one another anymore. In this situation, I think she has served as a mentor to me and even
PRESIDENT'S CORNER even though she is stepping out and not being a part of AIMHO, her loyalty and passion for the profession still really shows and I think that is where the authentic relationship will come in and it’s when you can show your passion and desire to be there and then share that with others and that has empowered me to do that because I was kind of thinking this past year maybe I shouldn’t do AIMHO, and then going to the conference and talking to her I realized “No this is somewhere I belong, somewhere I can make those connections, have authentic conversation, not just surface, but go deeper and understand who they are as a person.” 3. Quotes that represent this Affirmative Topic a. “She and I really connected because we have a similar approach to interacting with students and work styles. We shared genuine interest in each other and our lives, and as a result she has become my AIMHO bestie!” b. “Opportunity! AIMHO provides opportunities for relationships to be formed with people that I would have never interacted with otherwise. I’m trying to think of the three things. I think I just want to talk about what it looks and feels like.” AIMHO DREAM During the Dream cycle, participants articulate a shared image or dream of the most desired future for the entire organization. Not idle fantasizing; it is purposeful envisioning of where AIMHO can be. Doing so involves inviting organization stakeholders to engage in “possibility conversations” about the organization’s position, its potential, its calling, and the unique contribution it can make to the region and beyond. It reveals who and what people wish for themselves, the organization and the profession they represent. The following times are opportunities for our AIMHO family to participate in the Dream Phase of our planning process. If you are not participating in the SHO or AIMHO College, please give strong consideration to participating in one of the open sessions. • Friday 11/10/17 (7:15 - 8:45 p.m.): Dream Phase with SHO Institute. • Saturday 11/11/17 (9:00 - 11:00 a.m.): Dream Phase Open Session o Location: TBD, please see Guidebook at conference • Saturday 11/11/17 (1:00 - 3:00 p.m.): Dream Phase with AIMHO Executive Board • Sunday 11/12/17 (1:00 - 2:30 p.m.): Dream Phase with AIMHO College • Monday 11/13/17: Dream Phase Open Session o Location and Time: TBD, please see Guidebook at conference
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Photos from different institutions during AIMHO President's travels
CONFERENCE WELCOME Dear AIMHO Family, As the Annual Conference quickly approaches, I want to welcome everyone to my home…Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas at the annual conference, I want to encourage all members of AIMHO to participate in program sessions, AI Dream sessions (Appreciative Inquiry), Corporate Partner Fair, and connect with colleagues and friends during meals and conference activities. The annual conference provides a wonderful opportunity to reconnect professionally and personally with our AIMHO Family. I hope to see you soon and please let me know how I can be of service while attending the annual conference and visiting my home…Las Vegas. Sincerely, Richard Clark AIMHO President
ANNUAL CONFERENCE Submitted By: Brad Shade, AIMHO President Elect As you read this publication, we are literally less than 2 weeks away from the start of another AIMHO Regional Housing Conference – WAHOO!!! This will be our 62nd Annual Conference and our conference hosts have truly had to work through many challenges this year to provide us with what will undoubtedly be another great conference. Hosting is definitely an enormous task that truly requires significant effort on the part of the host institution and their team. Any institution who has hosted knows how tough it can be to pull together a top rate conference and we ask them to do this while keeping the costs as low as possible. Bring in as many corporate partners as your space can handle and provide excellent facilities while serving outstanding meals. Disseminate and communicate all the details effectively to all potential participants as well as all Corporate Partners and orchestrate all of this in a timely manner. There is so much more that goes into hosting, but I know you appreciate the scope of this task. Then we hope for good weather for everyone traveling, days not too hot, nights not too cool and many other things that are truly out of our control. With any large event, challenges must be overcome. This year AIMHO is competing for several Corporate Partners who have to choose between our conference and other regional housing conferences, thus reducing our pool of potential vendors a little, which makes the budget a bit tighter for our host. Then Sunday, October 1, 2017 the city of Las Vegas was rocked by an unthinkable event that stunned that city, the state, the nation and essentially affected the world. This event also affected some UNLV staff, faculty and students which meant that the AIMHO Conference planning and prep would take a back seat for a while as the UNLV Host Committee needed to care for their community and each other. In the last AIMHO Angle, I wrote about family and how we care for one another in this region. This is one of those times where we need to show a level of care, concern and compassion for this community and for our host. Please do not misinterpret what I am saying, I believe the conference will be outstanding, but I encourage everyone to tell the host committee how much you appreciate them and their efforts despite the obstacles that they have had to overcome. The UNLV staff have not asked me to write this article or asked us to lower our expectations in any way, but I would appreciate our AIMHO Family granting some grace if something is out of place or needs to be addressed. Safe travels everyone, see you in Vegas!!
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE VOLUNTEER Submitted By: Kathleen Finnegan AIMHO Programming Committee AIMHO Volunteering Opportunity: The Programming Committee is looking for individuals who are interested in volunteering as AIMHO session liaisons. These liaisons will be responsible for moderating a presentation at the conference including introducing the presenter, handing out Summit the Season stickers, confirming any presentation the presenter uses is loaded onto the flash drive provided and being a support to the presenter during the session. It is a great opportunity to connect in deeper ways with the presenters at the conference and to gain a broader connection to AIMHO conference itself. Liaisons will have the opportunity to pick which session they would like to moderate for so the volunteering will fit into the sessions you may have already been planning to attend. Interested? You can sign-up ahead of time to volunteer by selecting the volunteering option during the conference registration. There will also be a volunteer orientation on the first day of the conference, before the opening banquet at 4:30pm on Sunday November 12th in the St. Andrews room. You must attend the orientation to have the opportunity to sign-up to liaison. No previous experience at a conference is needed and there are Programming Committee members who will be around all conference to provide you any support. Bring a friend (or two)! If you have questions please contact Kathleen Finnegan (Kathleen.Finnegan@unco.edu), Zach Santos (zsantos@email.arizona.edu), or Collin Wallace (cwallace@westminstercollege.edu).
AIMHO ELECTIONSCANDIDATES
PRESIDENT ELECT Maureen “Mo” Ward, M.Ed. Director of Community Living Carroll College Student Life
Greetings! It is with much excitement and heartfelt appreciation that I ask you to consider electing me your next AIMHO President Elect. I have had the opportunity to serve as the Secretary of the association for the last two years, and have been very involved with the inner-workings of the Executive Committee, and I feel the time is right to serve my association and help it continue to grow. We are at a very important junction right now of building a strategic plan under the vision of Rich Clark that will be a living and breathing document really built form the grassroots level of our organization. I am excited and would be honored to continue to help us deliver on the provocative propositions we design as an association. As President Elect, I would commit to learning as much about the role of President and what the needs of the Association are in order to best fulfill my role over the three-year commitment. As a Senior Housing Officer at a small, private school, I hope to bring a slightly different lens to the role to help ensure we are creating accessibility to resources and providing the proper assistance to schools in our region who have fewer financial and personnel resources. As a Director, and as a mother of two young boys, I think it is also important to continue to explore ways for our profession to promote work life balance and healthy work habits, especially for our young professionals. Over the years, I have served on multiple committees, including Assessment (formerly Research) and Information, a Host Committee, a multi-year member of the Programming Committee, including serving as co-chair, and as Secretary of the Association. I have been a program presenter at several of the annual conferences, and have been an active participant throughout the years as member of three AIMHO institutions. Last but not least, I have lots of AIMHO love. AIMHO is home. I have a lot of investment in the goals of our organization and its commitment to continuing to grow and become the best housing regional association it can be. I’m willing to put in the time and dedication it takes to help assist AIMHO with the support it needs to accomplish its goals and keep on being the best we can be to help students. Thank you for your consideration!
AIMHO ELECTIONSCANDIDATES
SECRETARY AC Monrroy Residential Life Coordinator University of Nevada, Las Vegas
When I first began my AIMHO journey in 2011 I knew I wanted to get involved with the Association. It was a personal and professional goal of mine to grow as a professional and gain as much experience as possible as a member. Through committee involvement, attending AIMHO’s annual conference, and allowing my extrovert-ness to create lasting connections, I discovered I wanted to do more with the Association, beyond what I had accomplished, and serve in an Executive Board position. At first I thought to myself: “Is this opportunity even possible? Am I right or qualified for a position? What would I even do??” After reflecting on my experiences and strengths as a Residence Life professional, the bright neon arrow appeared and pointed directly to the Secretary role. Immediately I began to think of all the skills & qualities of a positive, successful secretary in any organization would be. My mind went beyond the technical skills of great note taking and stellar attention skills of a secretary and focused on key necessities the Executive Board may also want: teamwork, focus, growth, and enthusiasm. I am confident I would bring the skills necessary to perform the role, work with the Executive Board to ensure the goals of the board are met, learn and grow from others around me, and bring enthusiasm to the work we do as an organization. In my Residential Life Coordinator role at UNLV I have the opportunity to serve on various committees within the campus to further my growth and experiences as a Student Affairs professional. One committee I currently serve on is our Inclusion Change Team (ICT), which provides professional development and training opportunities within the realm of inclusion, social justice and equity for staff within our division. This past month I was asked by the ICT committee chairs to serve as the committee secretary, compiling and providing weekly meeting notes, to which I happily accepted as I knew this would be an opportunity to build upon my strong administrative skills and be a positive step for our committee. When it comes to Residence Life staff meetings or committee work, I am always one who is willing to take notes and, at times, take down minutes/notes even if it was not necessary or requested of me. Remember when I posed the question of “what would I even do?” in my quest for involvement? After discovering what I wanted to accomplish in AIMHO, it was no longer a matter of what I wanted to do. It was more of what I wanted to be. I want to be a positive influence within the association and be completely immersed in the AIMHO experience. The Secretary position is so much more than just a note taker, and I want to be the person to help show others ways in which this position can contribute overall. I am confident this will not only impact me as a growing professional, but also the AIMHO association as a whole.
AIMHO ELECTIONSCANDIDATES
MEMBER-AT-LARGE ENTRY LEVEL Dan Foley Resident Director New Mexico State University Hello AIMHO! I’m very excited to be considered for the Member-at-Large, Entry Level position for the AIMHO Executive Committee. This past year, I have had the exciting privilege to work as a Resident Director at New Mexico State University, and to get my foot in the door with AIMHO. In Denver last fall, I stepped into the role of State/Provincial Representative for New Mexico. Through this position, I have taken the opportunity to try to build a stronger network of professionals across the state. New Mexico faces a unique challenge of being a geographically large state while having a relatively small network of professionals. This means that we have great potential to build outstanding connections between our institutions. I see AIMHO as facing the same challenge of building a strong network across a very large geographical area, and I look forward to helping to build stronger connections among professionals across the region. One of the areas that interests me the most about this position as well as working with AIMHO in general is the sharing of ideas across institutions and across the nation. As a new member of the executive committee, I have many ideas to contribute to help make AIMHO an even stronger organization than it already is. Starting on the most basic level, I am able to contribute as a new voice on the executive committee, and bring representation from NMSU, which has not happened in recent years. After reading through the position description, there is much more that I can contribute beyond just being a new voice on the executive committee. One aspect that I am particularly interested in is the newcomer orientation at the annual conference. An idea that I’d like to borrow from UMR-ACUHO is pairing interested first-time conference attendees with more experienced conference attendees. I have found this type of relationship to be very meaningful and beneficial for all involved; this has been my experience from participating in the National Housing Training Institute, as well as from mentoring relationships as a Resident Director and with Resident Assistants. Often these mentoring relationships extend well beyond the conference itself. Additionally, the ability to participate in the RAppin’ program committee is something that is of great interest to me. Conference opportunities for students are something that I place a great deal of importance on; it is an excellent way to encourage the sharing of ideas and networking between young people who may not otherwise have opportunities beyond their own institution. Helping to create quality programming for RAs would be a very exciting opportunity. I am also looking forward to bringing new ideas to AIMHO College. Having attended NHTI this past summer, I know how beneficial it can be to learn from experienced faculty from around the nation. I can bring ideas from NHTI regarding possible topics, and can also utilize the network that I built through this experience to help recruit participants and faculty.
AIMHO ELECTIONSCANDIDATES
MEMBER-AT-LARGE ENTRY LEVEL Emilie Nemchak Residence Life Coordinator Colorado School of the Mines
My name is Emilie Nemchak and I would like to officially state my interest in being considered for the AIMHO Member at Large – Entry Level position. My involvement in AIMHO began when I was in graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). In 2015, I attended my first AIMHO conference and immediately fell in love with the region and with the folks I met at AIMHO. I ended up receiving the Outstanding Graduate Student Award that year, and it was a huge honor to be recognized by a region where I was still a newcomer. I immediately signed up to be a part of a committee, and for the 2016 year, I got to be a part of the Awards and Recognition Committee, which was a highly enjoyable experience and allowed me to give back to a region that had already given me so much. When I attended the 2016 conference at Boulder as a first-year professional, I also got a chance to be a part of the AIMHO College program, which I had missed out on as a graduate student. This was, by far, one of my favorite parts of AIMHO. I met so many amazing folks and got to know many new professionals who had entered the region. The programming was very mentorship-friendly and drove many connections to people in the region, which I still hold in high regard. After the 2016 conference ended, I was thrilled to be able to be a part of the AIMHO College committee, and I can’t wait to get started on making sure the 2017 AIMHO College experience is just as amazing as what I experienced. If I were to receive the Member at Large – Entry Level position, I would work to implement more intentional outreach to new members and create an online orientation to the region, including welcome videos, webinars, and chances to connect online via social media, which would allow to for continuous recruitment and onboarding for new members of AIMHO. In addition to my work with AIMHO and my involvement as a committee member, I have also been a RAppin’ advisor for three years – twice for UNC and once for Colorado School of Mines. While I have not held a position on a conference host board for RAppin’, my experience attending RAppin’ conferences for three years has given me insight into what types of programs are successful at these conferences, in addition to areas we can improve the programming at upcoming RAppin’ conferences as well. I would love to bring more ART sessions to RAppin’ conferences for advisors, as well as provide a more concrete advisor track for RAppin’ conferences, which allow more options for advisors to choose from when it comes to programming and breakout sessions. Overall, I love AIMHO and have been looking for a way to get more involved in the region and find a way to welcome even more professionals into this fantastic organization. I hope you will consider me for the Member at Large – Entry Level role, because I would love the chance to give my all for the AIMHO region and its members.
AIMHO ELECTIONSCANDIDATES
MEMBER-AT-LARGE ENTRY LEVEL Michael Palacioz Community Director Univesity of Arizona It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my interest for the Member at Large-Entry Level position within the AIMHO Region. For the past three years, I have worked at The University of Arizona in various roles. For those three years, I have been actively involved within the AIMHO region as an AIMHO College participant, AIMHO College Committee member, AIMHO Program Committee member, and advisor for the University of Arizona’s RAppin’ delegation. It is my experiences within the AIMHO region, as well as my passion for giving back to the region that has provided me many opportunities, that has led me to apply for the Member at Large- Entry Level position. When I moved to Arizona to attend graduate school, I had no idea what to expect or what professional development opportunities would be available for me. After talking with my supervisor at the time, she explained to me what AIMHO was and how I could become involved. When I attended my first AIMHO conference, I decided to participate in AIMHO College. Attending AIMHO College was one of the best professional development opportunities that I have had in my short student affairs career. Because of the great experience I had at AIMHO College, every year I continually pass on the information about the college to the new professionals at the University of Arizona and encourage them to attend. If selected as the Member at large-Entry Level I plan to tirelessly encourage new professionals to attend the college on the regional level and share my personal stories about attending to show them how great of an opportunity it is to attend AIMHO College. Additionally, in this role, I hope to be able to foster a sense of community and comradery among new professionals in the region, especially for new professionals of color. At last year’s annual conference, I was able to attend the People of Color Affinity Group session where it was discussed that there needs to be a network for professionals of color in our region. This initiative put forth by the Social Justice Committee shows there are many great opportunities available for new professionals to make connections; however, many new professionals may not know about them or take advantage of them. If I can serve in the Member at Large-Entry Level position I hope to be able to spread awareness of the many opportunities there are for new professionals to gain valuable experience outside of the annual conference. Being a new student affairs professional, I am continually looking for ways to advance my skill by challenging myself in new ways. The Member at Large-Entry Level position speaks to my skillset well, and I have experience with all the required positional responsibilities. I cannot see a better way to give back to the region that has afforded me so many opportunities and I am eager to start by helping my fellow entry-level professionals.
AIMHO ELECTIONSCANDIDATES
MEMBER-AT-LARGE ENTRY LEVEL Mike Schilling Community Director Univesity of Arizona It is an honor to submit my interest for the Executive Office of Entry-Level Member at Large. Since attending my first conference as a graduate student in 2013, I have felt at home in AIMHO, and I would love the opportunity to create a welcoming space for others entering the student housing field. Through service as a general member, presenter, committee member, and current Co-Chair of the Assessment & Information Committee, I have seen not only the good this association can do for emerging professionals, but also the potential yet to be realized; I believe I can facilitate our reaching that potential. Developing our electronic outreach to and enhancing non-conference opportunities for graduate students and entry-level professionals are important first steps towards that goal. Through my work on the AIMHO Leadership Team this past year, I have seen firsthand how we could enhance our use of electronic communication. Most importantly, I am not convinced those entering the region know how to become members until it is time to register for the Annual Conference. I want to cease this trend and engage graduate students and entry-level professionals in late summer and early fall, sending templates of registration instructions and a welcome video to all senior housing officers to share with those staff member. I would then send monthly e-mails to registered emerging professionals, providing an initial “face” of the region and informing them of the many resources available. This would also engage them in year-round opportunities, as I would call their attention to any AIMHO Angle articles or AIMHO 365 Webinars covering topics important to their experiences. While this may seem a huge task, I believe my energy and strength in connectedness set me up to take on the challenge. While I have had great experiences with AIMHO as both a graduate student and entry-level professional, I recognize that much of that experience has centered on attendance at the Annual Conference, and there are privileges that enable me to attend and subsequently come with attendance. We do a lot to engage emerging professionals in attendance, including regional orientation, AIMHO College, Summit the Session, and the case study. I would want to sustain successes with these initiatives while focusing on enhancing year-round engagement. Through collaboration with the Marketing and AIMHO 365 Committees, I would work to ensure at least one Angle article and webinar per month pertains to graduate student and/or entry-level experiences and competency development. I am further interested in testing bi-monthly roundtable webinars or chat discussions with rotating topics focused on emerging professionals; given that my current research area in my PhD program is entry-level professional support, exploring such topics is a passion of mine. I am excited for the potential opportunity to build a more welcoming and engaging AIMHO together. I believe my energy, strengths, and interests make me an excellent candidate for the Entry-Level Member at Large position, and I thank you for considering my candidacy.
NACURH 2018 NACURH 2018 Updates By: Cory Shapiro, Arizona State University In just over six months, Arizona State University will be hosting the NACURH 2018 housing student leadership conference in Tempe, Arizona from May 25-28, 2018! NACURH is considered the largest student-run corporation in the world. ASUTempe’s RHA and NRHH are hosting the conference anticipating to bring up to 3,000 student leaders and advisors from around the world to ASU next year. The theme is “Showcase the Leader in You” (Broadway/theater theme). The forty-person conference staff and advising team has been hard at work to prepare a memorable experience for all delegates and advisors alike. The NACURH Conference Resource Consultant visited ASU last month for a site visit, and in just under two months, the Semi-Annual Business Meeting of NACURH will take place in Tempe with about fifty student leaders from across the United States and Canada. The conference website went live this past week (http://conference.nacurh.org) along with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. There are also links to various videos created by the conference staff along with the monthly newsletters, spirit challenges, and much more. If your institution is not yet affiliated with NACURH, visit http://nacurh.org/whyaffiliate to learn more about the benefits of doing so. Then, your institution too can join the fun at NACURH 2018 in Tempe in May for three days of leadership presentations, keynote speakers, socials, and entertainment including a behind-thescenes tour of the famous Gammage Auditorium which hosts renowned musicals such as Hamilton, Wicked, Rent, and Avenue Q. Stay tuned for more updates to come in future editions of the AIMHO Angle as well as on the NACURH 2018 conference website and social media pages.
NACURH 2018 Conference Staff and Advisors
FEATURED ARTICLES ACUHO-I Internship Search Process By: Matthew Linton, University of Arizona Whether you are a graduate student looking for an internship opportunity over the summer or you are a on a search committee for an ACIHO-I intern, it is incredibly important to understand the timeline process moving forward. In addition to the timeline, there are also some tips and tricks I would like to provide to better assist your search process, either as a candidate or an employer. First the timeline‌
Now for the advice. Whether you are a candidate or an employer, I would highly recommend taking a look at your communication efforts throughout the process. I have seen countless times where candidates are unable to truly communicate their interest and experiences to an employer, possibly costing them an amazing opportunity. On the flip side, I have seen employers completely leave candidates in the "dark" with a lack in communication efforts. While every single candidate doesn't necessarily need a response, it is important to understand what message that sends a candidate and member of the Higher Education community. If you've interviewed a candidate and decided to not continue to pursue their candidacy, please communicate that to the indvididual so they know their standing with the process.
FEATURED ARTICLES Colorado Mountain College Updates By: Chip Thomas, Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley We wanted to tell you about the great things happening at Colorado Mountain College. For those not familiar with CMC, we are 11 campuses spread around the mountains of Colorado. We have as a total 16,463 total students taking some type of course at CMC. 66% of these students are taking college credit courses, with the remaining 34% taking community based education. There are 115 FTE faculty, 537 part time faculty, which teach our classes throughout our campuses. Eight of our campuses are commuter with the remaining three campuses being residential campuses. Here is what’s happenin’ at our residential campuses: Leadville Campus hired two new and great staff to manage their housing, activities, and summer conference program. Katie Bosio came to us from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan to come back “home” to Colorado as our newest Director of Student Life & Housing. Brooke Larson, a CMC graduate, joined her as the Assistant Coordinator of Student Life. We want to welcome both to the CMC Mountain Life! Spring Valley (Glenwood Springs) campus added two new staff members as well. Chip Thomas, our new Director of Student Life & Housing came to us via California State University, Monterey Bay last February as an interim Director and decided to stay at Spring Valley in May. In August, Jessie Pooler, our new Coordinator of Student Activities and Summer Conferences came to us from Alaska! Ask her about her cool stories of hiking and biking up in last frontier! We are also getting to ready to break ground on a new Leadership/Wellness Center and a massive renovation of our student center up at Spring Valley. Future plans are hopefully going to include an addition to our residence hall! Steamboat campus celebrated our 50th anniversary last spring in style! They welcomed new and old to the campus followed with the Winter Carnival Night Extravaganza and Fireworks Program.
FEATURED ARTICLES RAppin' Reflections By: Nikki Chapman, University of Arizona A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to participate in RAppin’ as an RA. I wanted to attend so that I could create relationships with individuals from across the region, learn more about core topics that affected my role as an RA, develop skills or understandings of key concepts or initiatives that other campuses were partaking in, and finally come back to my home campus and share the knowledge with my department. I was able to do all of this and more! In addition to attending this conference and gaining knowledge from my peers, I also had the opportunity to present material to my fellow RA's. Our advisor was truly the reason behind my positive experience. He provided support, acted as a resource, helped create networking opportunities with professional staff members across the region, and was a constant positive energy source in our group. After seeing first-hand how impactful a great advisor could be for this experience, I was inspired to do the best I could so that I could advise students in a similar manner. After applying and being selected as an Advisor for RAppin’ at the University of Aizona, it was a whirlwind of travel forms, coordinating, and working with the students who were selected to attend the conference and prepare them for the upcoming experience. Once we arrived at the conference and settled into our rooms, it became a non-stop adventure. I was introduced to many full-time professionals in Housing and was able to gain more knowledge than I expected, not just about my role as an Advisor or Graduate Community Director, but about life after graduation. This was a phenomenal networking opportunity and I was able to swap business cards many individuals who genuinely cared about helping others obtain their goals. Furthermore, I was also given the opportunity to present to other advisors at this conference. This was my first opportunity to present to full-time professional staff outside of my home institution. While I was nervous, I feel it was very successful and many of the attendees had fun during the activity and discussions. Overall, this experience has allowed me to make great progress on my professional goals to further develop my advising, coaching, and mentoring skills. In addition, I was able to finalize a plan following my graduation from a Master’s Program. It is my belief that through this experience, I have become a better leader and am more able to serve my community in a greater capacity, both now and once I graduate and enter the professional world full time.
FALL 2017 NEW HIRES Arizona State University Brittany Chetochine, Administrative Assistant Emma Daberko, Administrative Assistant Julie G. W. Graham, Business Analyst Tina Jojola, Human Resources Specialist Blendi Kokona, Director of Business & Finance Cosme Madrid, Community Director Kristen Rothermel, Facilities Coordinator Nickala Wasson, Community Director Bridgette Wynn, Coordinator of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Northern Arizona University Alana Brooks, Residence Hall Director Briana Ott, Residence Hall Director Brianna Pearson, Residence Hall Director Carolyn Burrell, Assistant Director, Housing and Residence Life Dani Hall, Residence Hall Director Jacob Matthews, Coordinator, Learning Communities Jimmy Luckman, Graduate Residence Hall Director Katie Chew, Coordinator, Learning Communities Kelly Goolsby, Residence Hall Director Kyra Kennedy, Graduate Residence Hall Director Madison Weber, Graduate Residence Hall Director Maggie Weir, Graduate Assistant for Staff and Community Development Sara Bieschke, Graduate Residence Hall Director Tyler Conlon, Residence Hall Director Victoria Pietsch, Graduate Residence Hall Director
If you want to see your institution's new hires on the next edition of the AIMHO Angle, please email aimhoangle@gmail.com!