Translating Research and Theory to Practice

Consulting

With nearly 20 years of experience working in higher education and informed by more than a decade of research on student learning and institutional approaches to supporting success, I have been fortunate to engage with practitioners, administrators, and faculty to bring my expertise to bear on their work. I have worked on a variety of campuses ranging from small, private, liberal arts-focused institutions to large, public, research-focused universities as well as consortia of colleges and universities working at the frontier of institutional transformation.

Campuses have sought out my expertise in these key areas of focus:

• First-year Programs

• Sophomore Programs

• Student Transitions and Learning

• Integrated Approaches to Student Success

• Peer Education and Leadership

• High-Impact Practice

• Assessment and Evaluation

If you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss a potential presentation or consultative visit on any of these or related topics, please contact me to discuss your needs and how I can assist in your work.

 Campus-based Presentations and Workshops

 LaGrange College – August 2019 

·      Keynote speech to faculty. Data and Perspectives on Improving the First-Year Experience. 

 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University – June 2019

·      Presentation to The Summer Institute: Professional Development for Undergraduate Education annual summer conference. National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition: Research Opportunities and Findings.  

 University of Georgia – June 2019

·      Presentation to Division of Academic Enhancement. Upgrade Your Peer Educator Program by Creating High-Impact and Transformative Experiences.

 Utah State University – September 2018

·      Meeting with Connections Faculty Committee. Assessment data and improving the first-year at USU.

·      Keynote speech to advisors, faculty, and student affairs staff Transition, Community, and Thriving: Building an intentional first-year experience.

·      Guest lecture in TEAL 6850: Introduction to Leadership in Student Affairs/Higher Education. Intentionally designing student success programs.

·      Working lunch with Vice President and Vice Provost discussing supporting student success initiatives

Stetson University – March 2018

·      Keynote speech to faculty and staff. Transition, Community, and Thriving: Building an intentional first-year experience.

·      Workshop with first-year stakeholders. Building an intentional first-year experience: Doing the work.

 Viterbo University – September 2017

·      Keynote speech to faculty and staff. Making the first-year seminar a high-impact practice. 

·      Workshop with Title III task force. FYE as a high-impact practice

·      Working lunch with Vice Presidents. Why FYE at Viterbo?

·      Workshop with Student Development and administrators. Helping us with the “how to” support FYE work.

 University of Johannesburg – November 2015

·      Presentation to the University of Johannesburg Academic Development and Support Staff Retreat. Theoretical and practical foundations for supporting students in transition.

North Greenville University – August 2015

·      Presentation to the North Greenville University FYE Workshop. Making the first-year seminar a high-impact practice.

 Penn State New Kensington – April 2015

·      Presentation to the Penn State New Kensington FYE Workshop. High-impact practices and assessment in the first-year seminar.

Invited National Keynotes and Plenary Presentations

 5th Annual South African National Resource Centre FYE Conference, Durban, South Africa – May 2019

·      Going Global: International Perspectives on The First-Year Experience. Plenary presentation (with Jennifer R. Keup). 

 Two Year First Year Annual Conference, Norfolk, VA – September 2015

·      Using first-year programs in the community college to support ongoing student transitions. Keynote speaker.

 1st Annual South African National Resource Centre FYE Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa – May 2015

·      Exploring the (high) impact of peer leadership experiences: Findings from the 2014 South African Survey of Peer Leaders. Keynote speaker.

Consortium and System-based Presentations and Workshops

 UIA/APLU Advising Learning Community – July 2019

·      Advising Solution Network Service: Case-Making and Stakeholder Analysis. Presentation to working group (with Kathe Pelletier & Charlie Nutt).

 Utah System of Higher Education – First-year Tuning Group – September 2018

·      System-wide approach to assessing the first year. Working meeting with campus representatives.