Workshop Block 1
10:15 AM
High-Impact AI: Practical Strategies for Student Affairs (Interactive AI Intensive)
Little Theater (1st Floor)
Presenter(s):
Michael Butcher, The Center for Artificial Intelligence
This is a special extended session from 10:15 - 11:45 AM.
This intensive is designed as a working session rather than a second lecture. Drawing on the interactive structure used in Dr. Butcher's student affairs AI workshops, participants will alternate between concise instruction, live demonstrations, guided prompt practice, table-level application exercises, real Student Affairs scenarios, and questions throughout. Participants can work from their own functional area and leave with practical next steps rather than a list of tools to explore later.
Beyond the Resume: How Internships and Student Activity Solve Identity Confusion and Lead to Stronger Career Outcomes
E-266 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Truett Vaigneur, York College; Lisa Maycock, York College
University students with disabilities often face career paralysis; however, Erikson’s term identity synthesis provides a lens to help practitioners understand, and work through it. Identity Synthesis, which is integrating past experiences, current abilities, and future goals into a unified self, provides the perfect framework to solve this. Internships offer vital off-campus professional exploration, on-campus student activities serve as equally powerful identity validation. Leading a student club, joining a committee, or organizing campus events allows students to test leadership styles, discover core values, and build confidence safely. By framing both experiential learning and campus involvement as a modern "psychosocial moratorium," this presentation shows university educators how all-inclusive engagement helps students combat the role confusion, synthesize their personal and professional identities, and graduate with a clear career path and purpose.Holding Space for Grief and Loss: Building Wellness and Grief-Informed Communities in Higher Education
E-150 (1st Floor)
Presenter(s): Sherrill-Ann Mason, Medgar Evers College; Makeba Pinder Hewston, Medgar Evers College
Grief is a quiet but powerful force in academic settings, shaping how students learn, faculty teach, and staff provide support, whether stemming from personal loss, relationship changes, academic setbacks, or collective tragedies such as campus deaths and global crises. This session makes the case for grief-informed academic spaces that intentionally "hold space" for those experiencing loss. Participants will explore the emotional, academic, and relational dimensions of grief and learn to cultivate environments rooted in empathy, presence, psychological safety, and well-being. Through practical tools, case studies, reflective exercises, and guided dialogue, attendees will gain actionable strategies for building a campus culture of compassion and support. By the end, participants will understand how to foster compassionate academic environments that honor rest, nurture resilience, and treat grief as a natural part of the human experience, all within a healing-centered framework.The Peer Effect: Building a Peer-Led Culture of Health & Well-Being
E-135 (1st Floor)
Presenter(s): Kori Deibert, Baruch College
This session explores how peer mentors can serve as a catalyst for connection, belonging, and a culture of wellness on campus. Drawing from the devlopment of a peer mentor program within a College Health and Wellness Office, participants will explore strategies for empowering students to engage their peers, promote holistic well-being, and create meaningful opportunities for connection.The Macaulay Signature Internship Ecosystem: Building a Grant-Funded & Cost-Sharing Model for Equitable Career Readiness
E-265 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Gianina Chrisman, Macaulay Honors College; Rebecca Zimmerman, Macaulay Honors College
Unpaid and low-resource internships present a persistent equity gap in higher education. To address this challenge, Macaulay Honors College established the Signature Internship Ecosystem, a high-impact model curated across high-demand industry sectors (Pre-Med, Pre-Law, Business/Finance, Tech, Public Service, and Urban Design). By leveraging 100% grant funding that transitions into 50/50 corporate and organizational cost-sharing partnerships (e.g., Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell Tech), this model removes financial barriers while embedding NACE Competency frameworks. This educational session presents a comprehensive case study of Macaulay’s ecosystem model. Presenters will share an overview of program development, centralized administration across multiple campuses, dual-stakeholder stewardship, and outcome tracking that demonstrates clear pathways to graduate/professional school and career readiness.Student Conduct in the Age of a Turbulent Higher Education Landscape
E-264 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Yvette Santana-Prado, CUNY Student Affairs; Kevin Adams, Medgar Evers College; Emanuel Avila Queens College; Rachel Brown, John Jay College; Damali Dublin, Kingsborough Community College; Carolee Ramsay, CUNY School of Professional Studies
The University Director of Student Conduct will lead a panel discussion with several of CUNY’s most senior and experienced conduct officers. Conduct officers are responsible for many critical functions on a college campus. Many of them are one-person offices that a staff or faculty member may rarely encounter, but when a student throws a chair in a classroom, threatens violence against a classmate, or shouts at a receptionist, the conduct officer is there to decide what happens next. The panelists will share information and tips about de-escalation, due process, judicial hearings, and how today’s college communities face unique challenges around behavior and conflict resolution.Cannabis, Psychosis, and Campus Mental Health: Recognizing Risk in the Era of Legalization
E-262 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Lisa Halstead, Queensborough Community College
This session examines the relationship between cannabis legalization in New York City and trends in cannabis-related mental health concerns, with particular attention to psychosis and racial and socioeconomic disparities. Drawing on longitudinal public health data from the pre- and post-legalization periods, the presentation explores changes in cannabis-related emergency department utilization, patterns of psychosis, and populations experiencing disproportionate risk. Particular attention is given to Black, Latino, low-income, and younger New Yorkers, as well as the potential influence of increased cannabis accessibility and high-potency products. Findings are considered within the broader context of social determinants of health, health equity, and evolving cannabis policy. The session will discuss implications for social workers, behavioral health professionals, educators, and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of prevention, early identification of cannabis-related psychiatric symptoms, culturally responsive education, harm reduction, and equitable access to mental health services as the legal cannabis market continues to evolve.Building a Talent Pipeline: Lessons from the CUNY Disability Services Apprenticeship Program
E-260 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s):
Raymond Perez, CUNY, Karen Rosenthal, CUNY
The CUNY Disability Services Apprenticeship Program (DSAP) is an innovative model that arose from the 2023 Voluntary Compliance Agreement and an effort to recruit more qualified learning assistants to provide support to CUNY students with disabilities. Through the apprenticeship program, employment opportunities are provided to CUNY students and alumni, exposing interested students to a career path with growth potential. It provides students with an important entry-level role with built-in support while creating a talent pool of qualified, experienced individuals to fill vacant roles in Disability Services offices across the university. This presentation will outline the program's structure, share outcomes from its first two cohorts, and open discussion on opportunities for future growth.
What's Connection Got To Do With It?
E-258 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Deema Bayrakdar, LaGuardia Community College
At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, The Women's Center & LGBTQ+ Hub (WC/Hub) offered support circles for students to express, connect, and build community around common themes. Since 2023, WC/Hub has offered weekly Mindfulness Meditation sessions for students to cultivate present awareness and receive support with starting or maintaining a practice. As a pilot in collaboration with The Wellness Center in fall 2026, we are offering "Got Something On Your Mind?"—a weekly support pop-up where students share what's on heart and mind and receive on-the-spot support and guidance. Making connections and relationship building are at the heart of these initiatives. In this experiential session, participants will engage in a mindfulness meditation session or support circle, and learn about the neuroscience behind these practices. There will also be time to review outcomes from the mindfulness meditation initiative at LaGuardia.Going Beyond the Survival Mode: How to Direct Students to Belonging and Wellness
E-229 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Naziat Hassan, Queensborough Community College
This educational session focuses on helping students move from just coping with stress and anxiety to navigating wellness and a sense of belonging. This session will explore how stress, anxiety, and isolation as well as other challenges can impact a student's academic performance, relationships, and overall functioning. Participants will learn about trauma-informed care, being culturally responsive, and effective practices to meet student needs and recognize obstacles to student success. Strategies for effective communication, encouraging help-seeking, and connecting students to campus rand community resources will be presented. This presentation will highlight the importance of being proactive and taking measures to promote wellness, connections, community, and retain student academic success.From Advising to Empowerment: Practical Success Coaching Across Student Support Services
E-227 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Jessica Rivera, Medgar Evers College; Jeffrey Sigler, Medgar Evers College; Karen D. Thompson, Medgar Evers College; Nadege Waithe, Medgar Evers College
This interactive workshop explores success coaching as a complementary approach that strengthens existing student support services, including Academic Advising, ASAP, SEEK, and other frontline programs. Rather than replacing specialized services or creating additional workload, success coaching provides professionals with practical tools and strategies that can be incorporated into existing interactions with students and colleagues. The session examines how coaching can support student engagement, goal-setting, academic progress, persistence, retention, and graduation while also strengthening communication, collaboration, and a student-centered institutional culture. Drawing on practitioner experiences across multiple student support areas and research on academic coaching, the workshop connects coaching principles to the realities of supporting diverse and historically underserved student populations. Participants will consider how a shared coaching framework can be adapted across professional roles, programs, and institutional contexts while preserving the distinct expertise and responsibilities of existing student support services.Beyond Welcome: Reimagining New Student Orientation as a Pathway to Student Engagement and Success.
E-225 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Ahmed Osman, CUNY Student Affairs; Angela Francis, CUNY School of Professional Studies; Alyssa Hollywood, John Jay College; Shahreen Laskar, Borough of Manhattan Community College
New student orientation is often the first point of connection between students and their institution. When strategically designed, orientation can move beyond information-sharing to establish belonging, build relationships, introduce resources, clarify expectations, and connect students to campus communities. This panel brings together three Student Affairs professionals leading distinct CUNY orientation models: Angela Francis (CUNY School of Professional Studies), Alyssa Hollywood (John Jay College of Criminal Justice), and Shahreen Laskar (Borough of Manhattan Community College). Panelists will explore how orientation can respond to diverse student populations and institutional contexts while supporting connections before and during the transition to college. Drawing on student involvement, integration, and transition theories, the panel will examine welcoming practices, resource communication, family engagement, relationship-building, pre-orientation outreach, and first-semester engagement. Through discussion and audience participation, panelists will share promising practices, challenges, assessment strategies, and lessons learned for strengthening orientation as an entry point to belonging and student success.Everything You Know About Burnout Is (Almost) Wrong: What the Science Actually Says
E-111 (1st Floor)
Presenter(s): Ryan Camire, CUNY Student Affairs
Burnout has become one of the most discussed challenges in higher education, yet many of the beliefs surrounding it are incomplete, outdated, or unsupported by current research. This interactive session invites participants to examine common assumptions about burnout, resilience, work-life balance, mindfulness, and employee well-being through the lens of peer-reviewed research from psychology, occupational health, organizational science, and higher education. Using live polling, case studies, and discussion, participants will compare widely accepted wellness advice with the evidence, distinguishing well-supported interventions from those that are popular but lack strong empirical support. Rather than promoting one-size-fits-all solutions, this session translates complex research into practical, evidence-based strategies that individuals and organizations can use to foster healthier workplaces. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the science behind burnout and resilience, greater confidence in evaluating workplace wellness claims, and practical approaches for supporting well-being while navigating the realities of today's higher education environment.Exploring Neurodivergence, Identity, and Mental Health: Inclusive Strategies for Student Affairs Professionals
E-242 (2nd Floor)
Presenter(s): Regina Varin-Mignano, LaGuardia Community College; Jean Buckley Lockhart; Mariska Kop
Neurodivergent students bring diverse identities, strengths, and lived experiences to college campuses, yet many encounter systemic barriers that affect belonging, academic success, and mental health. This session explores the intersection of neurodivergence with race, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and other dimensions of identity, while examining how stigma, masking, sensory demands, and inflexible institutional practices can contribute to increased stress and mental health concerns. Drawing on LaGuardia Community College’s Neurodiversity Program and Wellness Center, participants will learn practical, strengths-based strategies for creating more inclusive and accessible campus environments. Topics include communication, sensory and environmental supports, self-advocacy, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and responding to dysregulation or meltdowns. Through interactive discussion and a case study, participants will examine how student affairs professionals can shift from “fixing” students to partnering with them, honoring autonomy, cultivating belonging, and designing systems that support neurodivergent students in thriving.