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Session 1
Wednesday, Oct. 7th
1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
Growing and Supporting Student Leaders and Staff Advisors (MID & SHO)

Mitchell Davis, Hall Director at University of Connecticut
Curtis Dugar, Associate Dean at Bentley University
Finnigan Deeley, NEACURH Director


The involvement and development of student leaders and their advisors in student ran organizations is important. However, to fully see the impacts, it is important that mid-level and senior housing officials have a working knowledge of these organizations. This presentation will educate both mid-level and senior level housing officers about how NACURH and its regional affiliate, NEACURH, function so that they may be able to support both students and their advisors through their leadership journey's.
Beyond Thoughts and Prayers: Practical Approaches to Supporting Grieving College Students (Entry & Mid)

Krista Patronick, Senior Associate Director of Residential Life at Northeastern University

Grief can significantly impact a student's academic success, well-being, and sense of belonging, yet many higher education professionals feel unprepared to respond. This session explores practical, compassionate approaches to supporting grieving college students, providing participants with actionable strategies to help students navigate loss while remaining connected to their campus community.
Share Your Story: Creative Thoughts Matter (Entry & Mid / DEIB)

Frederick Smith, Area Coordinator at Skidmore College

Participants will examine how seemingly small interactions can shape a student’s sense of belonging, explore the institutional story students enter, and redesign one current practice so students can more fully see themselves as co-authors of campus life.
Going All-In on the First-Year Experience (ALL)

Kara McCall, Senior Interior Designer at Perkins & Will
Courtney McKenna, Vice President for Student Affairs at Wentworth Institute of Technology
Jenn Kosses Ed.D., Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at Wentworth Institute of Technology


If you could give every First-Year student at your institution the same Residential Life experience, what would that experience look and feel like? Leaders at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA had the unique opportunity to explore this very question for their new "First-Year Tower", which will accommodate their entire First-Year class when it opens in fall of 2028. We will share Wentworth's process of uncovering student priorities as well as outcomes of that exploration including community sizes, ratios and intentionality. Participants will then engage in roundtable exercises designed to articulate the First-Year student needs of their own institution, with a focus on belonging and connection. Come to discover tested strategies to tease out the real needs of students today and leave with a renewed focus on how to inspire an unforgettable experience for each incoming class in the years ahead.
Living, Loving, and Leading: Personal Relationships in Residence Life (Entry & Mid)

Cheyenne Laszlo, Area Coordinator at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)

Live-in Residence Life professionals are expected to build community for students while often navigating their own relationships in an environment where work and home (and sometimes school) are inseparable. This interactive roundtable provides an opportunity for honest conversation and exploring the realities about dating, friendships, family, boundaries, privacy, all while maintaining professionalism while living on campus. Through guided discussion, participants will exchange ideas, identify shared challenges, and contribute to a broader professional dialogue. This session is intended to foster professional dialogue rather than provide relationship advice, focusing on the intersection of live-in work, personal well-being, and sustainable careers in Residence Life.
Behind the Apartment Door: A Live-In Professional's Guide to Surviving and Thriving (Entry)

Marissa Carpinetti, Housing Operations Specialist, Pre-Collegiate Programs at Bentley University

While many professionals receive training on policies, procedures, and crisis response, far fewer conversations focus on how to sustainably navigate the personal and professional realities of a live-in role. The transition to living on campus as a professional comes with a unique set of challenges that no handbook can fully prepare you for. From navigating the realities of being “on” and setting healthy boundaries, managing your finances, prioritizing wellbeing, and maintaining your identity outside of work. Through candid stories, reflection, and discussion, participants will explore topics such as finding balance while living where you work, asking for support and resources, establishing professional boundaries, managing personal finances on an entry-level salary, and investing in yourself as both a professional and a person. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, reassurance that they are not alone in their experiences, and a toolkit of lessons that can help them not just survive their first years in housing, but truly thrive in their roles.
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Session 2
Wednesday, Oct. 7th
2:30 PM - 3:20 PM
Graduate Student Round Table: Connecting Experiences for Current and Future Success (Entry)

Kirwin Seger, Area Director at Hofstra University

Graduate students in Residence Life are critical to the success of institutions. However, it can be daunting to figure out how to best navigate your graduate assistantship among other academic and personal obligations, while trying to set yourself up for success in your professional career. This session is built for current and recent graduate students to connect with each other and learn the foundations of what they need to be successful in their graduate assistantship and the start of their professional career.
If You Build It, Will They Come? Designing Student Wellness Spaces (MID & SHO)

Bri Dazio, Interior Designer at Perkins & Will
Curtis Dugar, Associate Dean Residential Center, Conduct & Care at Bentley University
Luis Inoa, Associate Dean of the College, Student Living & Welnness at Vassar College
Lauren Murphy, Director of Residence Life at Syracuse University
Casey Wall, Direcotr of Residential Life & Housing at Binghampton University

In Field of Dreams, building the field was enough. On today's campuses, creating successful wellness spaces takes a little more strategy. Join residential life leaders as they share how their institutions are reimagining Residence Halls and campus spaces to meet evolving student needs. From sensory rooms to outdoor campus opportunities, panelists will explore what works, what doesn’t, and what students are asking for next. Join for a conversation on creating spaces where students can recharge, connect, and thrive- because great wellness spaces aren’t just built, they’re intentionally designed.
Leading Together: Building a Community of Support for Senior Housing Professionals (SHO)

Dave Zamansky, Director of Residential Education at Colby-Sawyer College

Everyone on campus has a community: our students, our professional staff, and our paraprofessional staff. But who is intentionally building community for Senior Housing Professionals?

Senior Housing Professionals spend much of their time supporting others, yet leadership can often be isolating. This interactive session explores the importance of building intentional connections with fellow SHOs to share experiences, navigate challenges, and create spaces for both professional support and personal renewal. Participants will leave with practical ideas for strengthening their network and a renewed commitment to investing in one another.
Can't Heal in the Chaos: A Conversation About Maintaining Harmony (ALL)

Sarah Almeida, Residence Director at Columbia University
Sam Bassford, Talent & Learning Development Specialist at Montclair University
Janay Diaz, Senior Assistant Director at Brandeis University


Working in student affairs often means supporting others through moments of crisis, but the emotional demands of the profession can make it difficult to prioritize our own well-being. In this conversation, three higher education professionals will share candid reflections on balancing personal wellness throughout their careers, with a particular focus on navigating periods of high stress, crisis response, and sustained professional responsibility. Grounded in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Eight Dimensions of Wellness, this session will encourage reflection, connection, and meaningful conversation around the many factors that contribute to a healthy and fulfilling life. Through personal stories, practical strategies, and honest conversation, participants will explore approaches to maintaining well-being while continuing to effectively support students, colleagues, and campus communities. Participants will leave with practical ideas for creating space to heal, reflect, and sustain themselves—even when the work feels relentless. Participants will have an opportunity to have a Q & A session at the end to create a wellness action plan.
Programming with a Purpose: Age appropriate programming models (Entry)

Jakob Micklas, Residence Hall Director at University at Albany

Programming models must adapt to meet students where they are. The landscape of higher education has rapidly evolved over the past decade, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, reshaping student engagement, sense of belonging, and what motivates participation. In this session, participants will examine how these changes have impacted holistic student engagement, how colleges and universities have responded, and where current approaches are falling short. Together, we will explore innovative ways to redesign programming models to more effectively support students at different developmental stages in age-appropriate and intentional ways.
From Coaching to Documentation: Building a Developmental Accountability Framework for Professional Staff Supervision (Mid & SHO)

Troy Gonsalves, Associate Director, Community Standards & Staff Development at Northeastern University

Supervising professional staff in residence life requires more than supportive one-on-one meetings; it requires clarity, consistency, documentation, and the ability to address performance concerns before they become larger issues. This session will explore how Northeastern University’s Residential Life team developed a professional staff accountability framework to help supervisors distinguish between verbal coaching, written follow-up, and escalation/consultation. Participants will examine common supervisory pitfalls, discuss how accountability can remain developmental rather than punitive, and leave with practical tools for strengthening fairness, consistency, and follow-through within their own departments.
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Session 3
Thursday, Oct. 8th
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Making Meeting Matter: Scaffolding Student Leader Meetings (Entry)

Greyson Bartholomew, Residence Director at Syracuse University
Jonah Carey, Residence Director at Syracuse Unviersity
Jenn Riccardi, Residence Director at Syrcuse University


It’s that time of the week where you are sitting down to write a team meeting agenda. You can already see student leaders’ eyes glazing over as you run through the list of deadlines and reminders. You dread the Gen Z stare when trying to get them to engage with content. The thought, “this meeting could be an email,” passes through your mind. Rather than approaching meetings as isolated touchpoints, team meetings and one-on-ones should have a year-long vision that accounts for the developmental needs of new and returning RAs. When intentionally designed, meetings are opportunities for student leaders and staff to feel connected to professional staff and each other while learning practical skills and developing leadership skills they can carry into other roles. Come explore strategies to structure your meetings in a way that will engage your student staff.
Stop Ghosting Us: Building Resident Buy-In For Residential Curricula (Entry & Mid)

Ben Mendozza, Resident Director at Fordham University
Ellie Davidson, Residence Hall Supervisor at St. Joseph's University, New York


The Residential Curriculum Model has many benefits to offer departments and institutions, but how useful is this tool if it is not correctly marketed towards the members of the community that it serves? With the ever-changing approach to engagement and our students changing drastically every year, it is up to us to better understand how we can share our vision for the holistic student experience with our residents. Our session will guide professionals not only on how to continuously develop their curriculum based on current student populations, but also on how to build resident buy-in across all kinds of living spaces using marketing-focused strategies.
Identity and Representation in NEACUHO: Empowering leaders of tomorrow through GPS (GENERAL & DEIB)

Tyler Bradley, Assistant Director at UMASS Amherst
Casey Wall, Director of Residential Life & Housing at Binghamton University
Antonio Willis-Berry, NEACUHO Past-President
Alexis Monteiro, Residence Hall Director at University of Connecticut


Entry-level positions in NEACUHO residential life roles and even NEACUHO leadership positions are filled with significant diversity, but it fades when examining the makeup of higher positions. A group of NEACUHO members are looking to change this and we need your help in its launch. Come learn about the new Grounding Practitioner Summit and how you can play a role in its success.
Know Your Worth! A Guide for Successful Salary Negotiation (MID)

Haley Besaw, Associate Director of Residence Life & Housing at Curry College

This interactive session covers the 101 of salary negotiation. Attendees will gain tips and tricks from professionals who have negotiated for the first time and advice from seasoned Senior Housing Officers. Attendees will leave the session with more knowledge, confidence, and with a mock script they can use next time they are negotiating salary!
Leading Through the Worst Days- How to Navigate the Uncertainty of a Natural Disaster and Student Loss (SHO)

Joy Schmelzer, Director of Residence Life at Southern New Hampshire University

When a crisis unfolds, campus leaders are often called to make decisions before all the facts are known. Joy will talk about her experience at working at Lynn University during the 2010 Haiti earthquake and its impact on students and staff and tell the story of those that participated in the Journey for Hope service trip in Haiti. This session explores leading through uncertainty, communicating with empathy, and supporting a campus community during an evolving crisis. Participants will learn strategies for responding when information is limited, caring for students and employees affected by tragedy, and guiding a community through the profound loss of students and faculty while fostering resilience, compassion, and recovery.
*Trigger Warning- this session is going to discuss student and faculty loss of life
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Session 4
Thursday, Oct. 8th
3:10 PM - 4:40 PM
Roll for Incident: Storytelling Based Emergency Response Training for RAs

RJ Halliday, Assistant Director of Community Standards & Residence Director at Pace University - Pleasantville

From fire alarms to alcohol transports, RAs encounter a wide variety of incidents while on duty. Ensuring that RAs have the tools to respond effectively is essential to success, but it’s easy for information to be lost in lectures on policy and procedure. Using the foundations of tabletop roleplay gaming, this presentation shows a new way of training RAs to respond to emergencies, bridging the gap between protocol and practice in an engaging and fun way.
Building a Culture of Assessment

Tyler Bradley, Assistant Director at UMASS Amherst
Miranda Wheeler, Residence Director at UMASS Amherst


UMass Amherst Residential Life created an Assessment Committee in Fall 2025 which relaunched an annual Community Feedback survey. Having wrapped year two, it saw a participation increase from 52% of its 14,000 students to 67% - over 8500 responses. Come find out how the department got student and staff buy-in and how it can translate to your campus.
Not Every Concern Is a Campaign: Effective Advocacy in the Workplace

Troy Gonsalves, Associate Director of Community Standards & Staff Development at Northeastern University

Advocacy is an essential leadership skill in residence life and housing work, but not every concern requires the same level of response. When advocacy is grounded in context, credibility, consent, role clarity, and appropriate channels, it can strengthen trust, support colleagues, and move issues toward meaningful resolution. When advocacy is misplaced, overgeneralized, or disconnected from process, it can unintentionally create confusion, undermine relationships, or reduce credibility. Through reflection, guided media analysis, realistic workplace scenarios, and advocacy language practice, participants will learn how to raise concerns in ways that are accurate, appropriately scoped, solution-oriented, and aligned with organizational mission and process.
Cultivating Residential Community Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Amma Marfo, SPEAK Educators

Experiences with residential life can be foundational to a student's sense of self, belonging, and community. However, the close nature of the experience can serve an additional purpose: either a means to compound, or to heal from, trauma.

This session will explore the nature of trauma in our student populations, introduce the tenets of a trauma-informed perspective, and explore how these tenets can be applied to programming, community building, and conduct proceedings.
Best of the Spring Drive-In:

Feel it, Learn it, Lead it: Staying Curious in Residence Life

Kris "KNP" Nolan-Parker, Director of Residential Life at Mount Holyoke College, Lauren Murphy, Director of Residence Life at Syracuse University

Residence life professionals navigate big emotions, complex relationships, and high-pressure moments every day. From conflict and crisis to identity and power dynamics, much of our stress comes from miscommunication and system breakdowns. When things feel overwhelming, the brain’s survival response, often called an “amygdala hijack," can kick in, leading to reactivity, shutdown, and strained connections.

This interactive session introduces a curiosity mindset rooted in emotional intelligence and a little brain science to help participants stay grounded and connected. Attendees will explore how stress affects decision-making, how emotions shape communication, and how curiosity can support regulation and de-escalation. Through creative reflection and a guided self-inventory, participants will gain insight into their triggers, coping tools, and response patterns.
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Session 5
Friday, Oct. 9th
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
The New Front Desk: Social Media as a Community, Connection, and Crisis Tool (Entry)

Grace Berry, Residence Hall Director at Sacred Heart University
Rupert Munnings, Residence Hall Director at Sacred Heart University


Social media has become the new front desk of campus living, a space where students build community, seek information, celebrate experiences, voice concerns, and shape the reputation of their residence halls long before they walk through the doors. This session explores how Residence Life professionals can intentionally leverage social media to foster belonging, increase program engagement, and communicate authentically with today's students while also navigating the realities of anonymous platforms, public reviews, and online criticism. Participants will examine practical strategies for using social media as a proactive community-building and crisis communication tool, learn how to respond to digital challenges without escalating conflict, and explore emerging trends that will shape the future of student engagement. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas, real-world examples, and adaptable best practices to strengthen their department's digital presence and create meaningful connections beyond the bulletin board.
Invisible Leadership: Functional Supervision in Residence Life (Entry & Mid)

Brendan Cody, Assistant Director of Housing Operations at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Functional supervision is one of the most common, yet least explicitly discussed, forms of leadership within residence life and higher education. From committee leadership and cross-campus initiatives to operational coordination and crisis response, professionals are often responsible for outcomes without formal supervisory authority. This session will explore how functional supervision operates within residence life structures and provide practical strategies for navigating communication, accountability, collaboration, and relationship management across decentralized teams. Through real-world examples, interactive discussion, and applied scenario work, participants will leave with tangible skills and frameworks they can immediately apply within their own institutions.
DEIB Activities that Support Student Reflection (Entry & Mid / DEIB)

Tyler Bradley, Assistant Director at UMASS Amherst

UMass Amherst Residential Life instructs an annual 1-credit pre-employment course for its ~450 resident assistants and peer mentors on building inclusive communities. Come experience a couple of hallmark activities such as the Cycle of Socialization and 4 Is of Oppression that our student staff actively share they utilize in their leadership roles.
Burning Bright, Not Out: Building A Wellness based Supervision Lens (Entry & Mid)

Jenn Riccardi, Residence Director at Syracuse University

Burning Bright, Not Out: Building A Wellness based Supervision Lens is a session that explores how supervisors can intentionally support the well-being of their students using a lens of intentional wellness-focused supervision.Utilizing the 8 Dimensions of Wellness as a foundation, this session highlights how supervisors can recognize early signs of burnout, cultivate positive and healthy staff dynamics, and create environments where RAs feel supported, balanced, and able to thrive along with a toolkit of proactive methods to prevent student leader burnout. Participants will engage in meaningful discussion and leave with a toolkit of proactive methods to better support RAs not only as student leaders, but as whole students navigating academic, personal, and professional responsibilities.
Room Selection Without the Panic: Designing Processes Students Can Actually Understand (ALL)

Keegan Carr, Housing Services Manager, Yale University

Housing selection is one of the most visible and stressful processes managed by campus housing offices, yet student frustration is not always caused by limited inventory alone. Confusing policies, unclear timelines, technology limitations, and inconsistent communication can make an already competitive process more difficult to navigate. Using Yale University’s transition to a centrally managed room selection process as a case study, this session will explore how housing professionals can evaluate room selection from the student perspective, identify common points of confusion, and distinguish unavoidable disappointment from preventable process problems. Participants will leave with practical strategies for improving clarity, consistency, and trust throughout the room selection process.
Leading Without the Title: Building Influence (Entry & Mid)

Alexis Monteiro, Residence Hall Director at University of Connecticut

This interactive session explores how housing professionals can navigate organizational dynamics, build credibility, and influence decisions across departments and institutional structures. Participants will examine the difference between positional authority and informal influence, identify key stakeholders within their organizations, and learn practical strategies for managing up, collaborating across functional areas, and leading change from any position.
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Session 6
Friday, Oct. 9th
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Beyond the Job Description: Embracing Leadership from Day One (Entry)

Curtis Dugar, Associate Dean Residential Center, Conduct & Care at Bentley University
Keegan Carr, Housing Operations Manager at Yale University

This interactive session challenges participants to redefine what it means to be an entry-level professional by embracing leadership as an intentional practice rather than a future destination. Participants will explore how leadership begins long before receiving a new title and how their daily decisions, relationships, communication, and professionalism shape both student experiences and departmental culture.
Flipping the Script: Student-Centered Strategies for RA Training (Entry & Mid)

Derek Wills, Assistant Director for Residential Life at University at Buffalo
JoAnna Verlezza, Associate Director Residential Life at Pace University - Pleasantville


Traditional training often relies on lectures and "info-dumping," missing the mark for today’s RAs. In addition to needing to present more content in less time, we face significant challenges. Join two institutions (small private & large public) as we discuss student-centered approaches to improve training: flipped classrooms, pre-training modules, feedback loops, and active learning strategies. Rather than talk about student-centered learning, we’re going to use it. You’ll experience the same strategies we use with Resident Assistants. Participants will leave with ideas to update their approach for the modern RA.
“Are You Ready For It?”: Beyond the Hall Director Role (Entry)

Tymber Powell, Assistant Director for Residential Education at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

This session will focus on entry-level professionals that are considering advancing in their careers, whether that be mid-level within Residence Life or transitioning outside of the functional area. How do you actually make that transition, especially if you aren’t sure what the future may hold for you? Or maybe you can see your future clearly, but you haven’t quite been able to get there yet. This session will provide insight into the various aspects of preparing for a mid-level position, explore what the presenters felt prepared for (and unprepared for) during their own transitions, and offer an opportunity to connect with others navigating similar career paths.
A Case Study: Creating High-Performing Summer Housing Teams in Short-Term Student Employment (ALL)

Marissa Carpinetti, Housing Operations Specialist Pre-Collegiate Programs at Bentley University

How do you create a connected, motivated, and high-performing team when time is of the essence? Student staff often arrive as strangers and are expected to work as a cohesive team almost immediately. This session will explore proven strategies for building team culture in both a comprehensive seven-day training model and a condensed one-day onboarding format, highlighting how intentional planning, relationship-building, and clear expectations can maximize engagement regardless of available training time. Through real-world examples, lessons learned from both successes and challenges, and interactive discussion with colleagues, participants will gain practical tools they can adapt to their own campuses. Attendees will leave with sample hiring timelines, training schedules, and actionable strategies designed to help turn a group of employees into a team; whether they have a full week or just a single day to make it happen.
Culture by Design: Leading Healthy Boundaries in Housing and Residential Life (SHO)

Dave Zamansky, Director of Residential Education at Colby-Sawyer College

Healthy boundaries don't happen by accident. They are shaped by the culture leaders create. As senior housing officers, we are responsible for establishing expectations, modeling professional relationships, and coaching staff through increasingly complex interpersonal situations. This interactive session explores the role of senior leaders in building a culture where boundaries support trust, accountability, and student development rather than creating distance. Through discussion, real world case studies, and practical leadership strategies, participants will examine how organizational culture, supervision, and decision making influence boundary setting across professional and student staff. Participants will leave with actionable approaches for strengthening boundary conversations, supporting supervisors, and fostering healthy professional relationships throughout their housing organizations.
Assessing Sense of Belonging (Entry & Mid)

Jessica Newsom, Assistant Director of Living, Learning Communities at Syrcuse University

Have you ever struggled to form a direct measure of assessment as a student experience or residential education functional unit? Or perhaps you have been trying to figure out a way to assess your learning outcome of Sense of Belonging? Come learn how Syracuse University’s Living Learning Community office took steps to create a rubric to measure their learning outcome of Sense of Belonging. Gain insights to the full process from collecting the data that informs the rubric dimensions to steps on training the live in student staff on implementation. Findings will be shared from the implementation in the Fall 23 and Fall 25 semesters and a practice exercise in interpreting assessment data. Direct measures are hard to come by so take away the knowledge and future steps on how you to can develop a direct measure of assessment for your residential program with accreditation and best practices in assessment.
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