CHAS Annual Representatives Conference

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Branca Patio

As social and political landscapes directly impact most work environments, leaders strive to balance organizational priorities, community expectations, and staff engagement while also striving to practice life balance and self-care. 

Dr. Hernandez will facilitate a discussion highlighting a culturally relevant leadership model as a resource which draws from adaptive, collaborative, and student affairs literature. Through scenario-based exploration, this keynote will guide participants in reflective activities in an effort to identify strategies for leading through chaotic times, benefiting both individuals and institutions. 

About the presenter: Dr. Miguel Angel Hernandez is the Associate Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students for San Francisco State University where he oversees various functional areas including: Associated Students, Basic Needs, Campus Recreation, New Student & Family Programs, Residential Life, SAFE Place, Student Activities & Events, and the Office of Student Conduct. Miguel also serves as adjunct faculty at Florida State University for the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program. Miguel’s research agenda focuses on public policy and undocumented students who engage in social activism.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Branca Patio

About Bob Johnson: Bob (“BJ”) is a Los Angeles based entertainment attorney, producer, and civic activist. In addition to practicing law, he is a Peabody Award-winning film producer with Spike Lee (and Oxy alum Roger Guenveur Smith). A former senior music executive with Atlantic Records, his law practice includes representation of prominent musicians, film & tv talent, athletes, and visual artists. An advocate of using art and culture as a tool for societal change, Bob is involved in “Land Back” movements and related efforts to revitalize marginalized communities devastated by racism, economic challenges, and poor public policy.  Bob is a graduate of Occidental College, UCLA School of Law and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Branca Patio

Recent challenges in higher education have felt unrelenting and have compelled some staff and leaders to leave the field entirely. How are leaders and Vice-Presidents of colleges navigating these tumultuous times? How are they keeping staff motivated and how are they keeping themselves centered. Listen to how five different vice-presidents are making their way these difficulties and how they are choosing to lead.

Panelists: Vivian Santiago, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Occidental College, Panel Moderator 

Vivian has worked in higher education for over 20 years in various roles including student advising and support, residence education, behavioral intervention, and case management. Originally from Los Angeles, she received her doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy from the University of Vermont, her Masters degree in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland, and her Bachelors in Anthropology from UC Berkeley. She is most passionate about working with students who are struggling and working through personal and life challenges. She strives to support students with empathy, authentic connection, and humor when appropriate

Jan Barker Alexander, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Pitzer College

More information to come.

Emelyn A. de la Peña, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Loyola Marymount University  

Emelyn dela Peña, Ed.D. serves as Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Loyola Marymount University.  She serves on the President's Cabinet and oversees the LMU Anti-Racism Project; Hiring for Mission & Inclusion Excellence initiative; and Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center Alliance. Prior to LMU, she served as the inaugural Associate Vice Provost for Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning at Stanford University where she oversaw the Centers for Equity, Community & Leadership, First Generation and/or Low-Income Office, Office for Military Affiliated Communities, Office for Inclusion, Belonging & Intergroup Communication, Office of Student Engagement, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Career Education. Previously, Emelyn was Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis, served as the inaugural Assistant Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Harvard College, and was a Campus Diversity Officer and Director of the Women’s Center at the University of California, San Diego.

Cynthia Martinez, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Harvey Mudd College

Cindy has 25 years of experience as a higher education administrator. In her role as Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Harvey Mudd College, she is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and administration of the division.  She provides leadership, vision, and direction for activities and services that enhance students’ experiences and engagement. She also facilitates open communication and information sharing between the students and the administration. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a Master of Education degree in postsecondary administration and student affairs from the University of Southern California, and a Doctor of Philosophy in leadership studies at the University of San Diego.  

Nick Negrete, Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity & Inclusion, Otis College Art and Design

Dr. Nick Negrete (he/him) currently serves as the at Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity & Inclusion at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Negrete's skills, experiences, and demonstrated progressive leadership and supervision include:  Academic Advising and Student Retention, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Crisis Response and Management, Student Health and Wellness, Title IX and Student Conduct, Career Development and Education, Disability Services, Basic Needs, and Assessment & Strategic Planning. Negrete's 20 year career within higher education, includes his experiences at three other institutions providing him both breadth and depth of knowledge, serving in a variety of roles at: UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), and the University of Vermont (UVM).

Jerry Price, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Chapman University 

Dr. Jerry Price has served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Chapman University in Orange, CA since 2008. He has a bachelor’s degree in English from Carthage College, a master’s degree in English from Drake University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Iowa State University.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Morrison Lounge

The presentation will provide a focus on the progress and outcomes of Latinos & first generation students in enrolling, persisting, and post secondary completion. Discuss areas of need, and more discovery, on the educational experience of this student population. We will also review and discuss how colleges & universities can look at their organizational, and refine or pinpoint where changes can be made to increase success rates of Latinos & FG students in college.

About the presenter: Horacio Aceves is the Associate Director for the Upward Bound Program at Occidental College. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Horacio Aceves arrived at Oxy in March 2009.  In high school, he was a participant in Upward Bound at Occidental College. An Oxy graduate, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs. After Occidental, he worked for Partners in School Innovation, an AmeriCorps program, in San Jose, CA. In addition, he earned his Master's degree from the University of La Verne, in Leadership & Management. Horacio enjoys advocating for Federal TRIO programs, loves to travel, and is an avid fan of the LA Dodgers & Kings. He encourages Upward Bound students to be proactive about their education goals.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Salsbury-Young

The “why” fueling our professional aspirations is an undeniable key to unlocking our potential as emerging Student Affairs professionals. However, in the positions we hold, often our bandwidths are limited, risking early burnout if we adhere too strictly to servanthood. This session and corresponding leaded discussion aims to marry maximizing impact with preservation of emotional and mental stamina, using our unique stories as the path forward.

About the presenter: Georgeanna Hall is the Leadership Coach & Administrator for Associated Students of Occidental College (ASOC) at Occidental College  She is a passionate mentor who is a resource in professionalism, leadership and communication for Associated Students of Occidental College (ASOC) and the greater Oxy community. She works closely with student leaders to provide support and development advising. Georgie is a Texas transplant who grew up in Southern California and completed her undergraduate studies at Pepperdine University (B.A. Economics, minor in Applied Mathematics). Having worked not only in Student Affairs and law, but also as a debate coach, she is a firm believer in student empowerment, compassionate leadership, and enthusiastic conflict management.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Commons

The attack on higher education has intensified recently, exemplified by the SCOTUS ruling Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFFA) v. President & Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard) and SFFA v. University of North Carolina (UNC), campus closures, questions about  the value of a college degree, the dismantling of DEI programs, personal attacks on inclusivity advocates, and the questioning or closure of programs and centers supporting our most marginalized student populations. 

Each of us can compile our own personal and professional account of these challenges as well as those we fear sit just on the horizon. By providing analytical frameworks, enhancing data literacy, and collecting evidence-based program impacts and student learning outcomes, we can demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion. Data-informed practices can help counter these attacks and support our mission of creating a more just and equitable society. 

This presentation aims to familiarize participants with strategies  to address present and future challenges; share best practices for data collection; discuss necessary strategies for improving data ecosystems and literacy; and brainstorm ways CHAS can leverage this work across our institutions.

About the presenter: Susan Layden is the Chief of Staff and Senior Director for Student Success in the Division of Campus Life at Brown University. In this role, which she began in May 2023, Sue charged with leading initiatives that bring together the work of the entire division of Campus Life. She will often serve as the primary point of contact for external collaborative partners. As a national leader with decades of experience working on impact assessment among administrators, Sue plays a critical role in the division’s assessment efforts, particularly in relation to the Campus Life Roadmap.

Sue brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education to Brown – the last 20 at the senior leadership level. She previously served as Senior Associate Dean for Student Success at Claremont McKenna College (CMC). Among her many responsibilities, Sue led the development and implementation of a range of initiatives to support students, including new, evidence-based programs supporting student success, wellbeing, and access, including financial aid. She also worked on CMC’s assessment efforts, CMC’s Presidential Initiative on Antiracism and the Black Experience in America, intergroup dialogue training for faculty and staff, and two signature CMC student leadership programs – the Romero Success Coaches and 1Gen. Sue and her colleagues on the Student Success Team were recognized for their work with the 2022 CMC Inclusive Excellence Team Award.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Morrison Lounge

This presentation and panel discussion will focus on student leader well-being and mental health. The session will be framed within the context of student leader burnout, and the initial findings from Devon Sakamoto's case study dissertation research on this topic at Oxy over the past year. Presenters will share information on ways we are working collaboratively to address student leader mental health and well-being proactively through planned mental health training (including mindfulness, self-care, self-compassion). Panelists will also share supervision/management strategies that they use, which have been shown to support student well-being (vs adding to students' stress/burnout levels). Ideas and quotations from students involved in the case study research project (de-identified) will be used to show examples of how student leaders experience burnout, as well as the management strategies they find most helpful in a supervisor, when it comes to preventing burnout.

About the presenter: Devon Sakamoto (she/her) is the Assistant Dean of Students for Emmons Wellness Center at Occidental College. Devon holds a Bachelor's degree in Women’s Studies, a Master’s degree in Public Health, and is currently working toward a doctorate in Education with a focus on Leadership and Innovation. She was recently awarded a grant for her dissertation research entitled, A case for helping the helpers: Addressing burnout and compassion fatigue among college peer group and student organization leaders, which looks at individual and organizational level strategies to help postsecondary student leaders in supportive roles on campus cope with and prevent these phenomena. Devon’s other professional interests include college student mental health, harm reduction, health equity, collective impact, and systems level approaches to health promotion and community well-being.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Commons

How we navigate our higher education positions -- student affairs or faculty -- impacts our sustainability in leadership roles and personal well-being. Gaining insight about inherited and cultivated tendencies, participants will consider the unlearning necessary and continuous learning needs in order to thrive. Participants will have opportunity for individual reflection, small group work and large group discussion, and employ design thinking to chart their course. In this continuing season of the Great Resignation, with attacks on DEI and undermining more generally of/in higher education, we have an opportunity to reimagine a framework for leadership that is empowered by intentionality, care for self and is sustainable. 

About the presenter: Wendy Maragh Taylor is the Associate Dean of the College for Student Growth and Engagement at Vassar College. Through this role, she works to create an integrated living and learning experience by designing and implementing a strategy for student engagement, and thereby, cultivating an environment for all students at the college to thrive, with particular attention to those who are marginalized. She is also the Principal Investigator on two research studies – ECMC Foundation Exploring Transfer Together Initiative and  Lumina College Completion.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Salsbury-Young

The field of student affairs has seen an exodus of staff members over the past few years. While the global pandemic played a significant role, employee attrition is a known issue in student affairs. This session will present research conducted to better understand why student affairs professionals leave the field.  Opportunities for collaboration and reflection on staff retention will be offered, so that we can better understand how this issue has manifested on our individual campuses.  Recommendations from the presentation as well as from attendees will be offered, so that as leaders in higher education we can be poised to best support staff.

About the presenter: Isaiah J. Thomas, currently serves as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residential Education and Housing Services and the Student Conduct Office at Occidental College, where he provides leadership to both the Department of Residential Education and Housing Services and Office of Student Conduct.  Isaiah has served in roles at highly selective liberal arts colleges for over 15 years, and is particularly interested in contributing to the success of students of color at PWIs.  Isaiah earned his doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University in 2018 where he researched the wellness of entry-level student affairs staff to better determine the ways to improve staff satisfaction and retention. Recently, Isaiah was part of a research team that explored student affairs staff attrition throughout the pandemic, and their recent findings were published in the Journal of College Student Development. 

Upper Herrick/Chapel 

The presenter will teach participants two different contemplative practices that can help them reflect upon what gives joy and meaning to their lives. First, the presenter will teach a discernment practice based on the Prayer of Examen (which is a Christian practice that the presenter has adapted for a multi-religious and secular audiences) and then they will teach them how to walk a labryinth. 

About the presenter:  The Rev. Dr. Susan E. Young is the Director for the Office of Religious and Spirtiual Life at Occidental College.  She works with students at Occidental College to promote a respect for interfaith cooperation on campus, provides spiritual care and support to students from a variety of religious traditions including students who do not identify as religious, and helps undergraduate students engage in vocational discernment. Rev. Dr. Young has a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from Claremont School of Theology and a Master's in Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Commons Room

Drug-related overdoses are the number one cause of death for people aged 18 to 45 in the United States, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl play a role in the majority of them. There are tools to keep students safe, but schools may face a wide variety of challenges to make these tools widely accessible on their campuses. In this workshop discussion, participants will learn the basic principles of harm reduction and why they matter in this moment. Participants will also hear from Occidental's Health Promotion Specialist about how Oxy built upon the student organizing already happening on campus to lay the foundation for a harm reduction program that is responsive to student needs.

About the presenter: Laura Fettig is the Health Promotions Specialist for Emmons Wellness Center at Occidental College.  She has been a social worker and advocate since 2014. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College in New York City in 2018 and her BA from UC Berkeley in 2010. She has worked in many different settings including reproductive health, alternatives to detention/incarceration, mental health legal advocacy, and social welfare policy. She got her start in higher education at UCLA, where she worked in mental health prevention and outreach. She loves working with college students and believes that learning the skills to take care of your well-being is a gift not only to yourself, but to everyone else in your community.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Morrison Lounge

Joy and burnout go hand in hand when working in higher education. We’re constantly balancing both vocational awe and also high turnover in all academic fields. How do we recognize the joy within the burnout. Participants will engage in a values activity. Attendees will leave this presentation able to identify joy in their workplace, mental health practices to use when feeling disconnected from work, learn strategies for acknowledging burnout, and learn how to set strategic boundaries that don’t impact their work

About the presenters: Sabrina Willison is the Associate Director for Orientation and Student Development for the Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE) Office at Occidental College. She has 7 years of higher education experience and is currently the Associate Director of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement at Occidental College. As an introvert, Sabrina knows that trying to give 110% of yourself to her work can be draining. She is passionate about designing spaces and programs for students and professionals of all backgrounds. Sabrina enjoys afternoon snacks, painting, and attending concerts.

Johnson Student Center (JSC), Morrison Lounge  

An intimate gathering to collectively celebrate and remember our dear friend, Eric Estes, who served on the CHAS Steering Board from 2011 to 2022.

About the hosts: Adrian Bautista is Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs at Skidmore College. A current member of the CHAS Steering Board, Adrian and Eric worked together at Oberlin for a dozen years. Susan Layden presently serves as Chief of Staff and Senior Director for Student Success in the Division of Campus Life at Brown University. Sue is a former member of the CHAS Steering Board and worked alongside Eric at Brown from May 2023 until his recent death.