Student Affairs Development Conference

Begin the day with conference check-in on the north side of the College of Business, followed by breakfast burritos, pastries, and fresh coffee while connecting with colleagues and getting settled for the day ahead.

Vice President Lesen officially opens the conference, setting the tone for a day focused on growth, adaptability, and navigating change together at The Beach. Followed by our Keynote speaker, President Jones. 

Room: 139/139A

Led by Oscar Jimenez, this interactive improv session energizes the room and invites participants to explore flexibility, creativity, and collaboration in a fun, engaging way.

Room: 139/139A

Take a short break to recharge, connect with colleagues, and continue conversations sparked throughout the morning.

Behind the Scenes: How our CARES Committee Coordinates Crisis Response and Student Support | Student Support

Presented by Danielle Munoz, Amanda De Loera, & Mary Nguyen
Room: 112

Join us for an insightful conversation about what happens when a student faces a mental health emergency or significant distress. This collaborative panel brings together representatives from the CARES Committee: BMAC, CAPS, CARES, Conduct, Housing, and Student Health Services to demonstrate how multiple departments work seamlessly together to support students in their most vulnerable moments. 

Creating Your Personal Professional Development Plan | Professional Development

Presented by Hannah Elliott
Room: 139/139A

Professional development is something that can often be put on the back burner - waiting for conferences or mandatory trainings. This session puts you back in the driver's seat as we go through how to approach professional development from a sustainable, ongoing framework driven by your personal interests and passions. 

Engage, Connect, Collaborate: Team-Building Activities for Student Affairs Professionals | Team Building

Presented by Oscar Jimenez, Anna Nazarian & Passi
Room: 114

Looking for fresh ways to strengthen collaboration and engagement within your team? This highly interactive session invites participants to experience a series of dynamic team-building activities led by Student Life & Development staff. Attendees will not only participate in each activity but also learn practical strategies for adapting these exercises to their own professional and student staff teams. Through hands-on engagement and guided reflection, this workshop will demonstrate how intentional team-building fosters trust, communication, and a sense of belonging—key components for thriving in our campus climate.

Online Career Tools Showcase | Student Support

Presented by Michelle Linton & Mathew Gonzales
Room: 123

Where can I find a job or internship? What careers can I go into with my major? How do I create a resume? If these questions sound familiar, hear from the Career Development Center about the latest tools and resources available to help navigate these and other career-related questions from students. Plus learn about the Career Advocate Program, an in-depth series designed to help staff and faculty feel better equipped to support their students' career goals.

Surfing Success: Designing Departmental Goals & Outcomes for Changing Tides | Innovation

Presented by Daria Graham
Room: 122

As the tides of change reshape the landscape of higher education, departments must adapt with clarity and purpose. “Surfing Success: Designing Goals & Outcomes for Changing Tides” invites participants to explore a dynamic approach to departmental planning using clear goals and outcomes.  This interactive session will equip attendees with a practical worksheet and collaborative strategies for crafting goals and outcomes that are both measurable and responsive to evolving needs. Through hands-on activities and group discussion, participants will learn how to design objectives that keep their teams focused, resilient, and ready to navigate whatever waves come their way. Discover how intentional goal-setting can help your department thrive amid change—no surf experience required!

Don’t Forget Your MAAP (Marketing and Assessment Plan) | Professional Development

Presented by Gary Coyne, Melissa Norrbom-Kawamoto, & Chris Woolett 
Room: 114

This presentation will offer a guide to planning programs and events in Student Affairs that integrates marketing and promotion, attendance tracking and collecting assessment data. The session will include examples of how to integrate campus technology platforms such as Events & Orgs, and Qualtrics to save you time in the event planning, marketing, and evaluation process from start to finish.  This session is ideal for programmers, event coordinators, Directors and Associate Directors. 

Tech Essentials for the Modern Workplace | Innovation

Presented by Kerri Sorenson
Room: 139/139A

Tech Essentials for the Modern Workplace introduces CSULB employees to key tools and practices for working securely and efficiently in today’s digital environment. Participants will learn about tools and apps available through Single Sign-On (many of which are part of Office 365) to help bolster productivity and collaboration.

The Choices We Make: Bias, Identity, and Leadership in Student Affairs | Team Building

Presented by Iliana Rodriguez
Room: 123

This hands-on workshop helps Student Affairs professionals uncover the biases and assumptions that shape their everyday decisions. Using the “Bomb Shelter” activity, participants will navigate tough choices, reflect on identity, and explore how today’s political climate impacts their work. You'll walk away with practical tools, meaningful insights, and an activity you can bring back to your own teams. 

The Missing Link: Spirituality as a tool to navigate change, leadership, and student development | Student Support

Presented by Matt Cabrera
Room: 122

Using a fusion of theories, models, and frameworks on spirituality, this presentation will engage participants in a newer understanding of spirituality within the work of public higher education and student affairs. Participants will learn models and perspectives that they can use in their own development as higher education professionals and use in their work with holistic student development. 

Enjoy a lunch of Mediterranean bowls while taking time to reflect on the morning sessions, recharge, and connect with colleagues across departments.

Expectations For Caring: Reimagining Supervision For A Changing Workplace | Team Building

Presented by Jakeel Harris 
Room: 139/139A

Through dialogue and activities, participants will be challenged to re-evaluate their approach to supervision and how they see themselves as leaders in their units. Participants will be exposed to the self-made approach of  "Leading with Empathy” and "Supervising on a community level," to promote, facilitate, foster, and contribute to a departmental culture of development and holistic support. 

Navigating Cultural Transitions: Strategies for Supporting International Students | Student Support

Presented by Weiying (Lucky) Chen
Room: 114

International students face unique cultural, linguistic, and emotional challenges as they navigate U.S. college campuses. This presentation will use experiential activities to cultivate an empathetic understanding of culture shock and second-language anxiety. Practical strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive campus environment for international students will be discussed.

Plan Today, Relax Tomorrow: CSULB Retirement Benefits | Professional Development

Presented by Carol Sanchez, Jeff Klaus, & Claudia Plaza
Room: 122

Planning for retirement starts with understanding your benefits. This session will walk you through the retirement options available to CSULB employees, including eligibility, contribution plans, and resources to help you make informed decisions for your future. Whether you’re early in your career or nearing retirement, you’ll gain practical tips and answers to your questions.

The Power of Partnership: Driving Innovation Through Collaboration | Innovation

Presented by Norma Salcedo & Erick Peraza
Room: 123

Grounded in the principles of collaborative leadership, this session explores how cross-divisional partnerships amplify institutional impact and foster holistic student success. Participants will examine real-world strategies for aligning departmental missions through intentional collaboration and engage in an interactive activity to identify campus challenges that can be addressed collectively. By leveraging shared resources and expertise, attendees will leave with actionable frameworks to transform siloed efforts into integrated solutions that advance Student Affairs outcomes.

Creating Success Through Smart Goals | Professional Development

Presented by Harrelson Notah
Room: 123

This workshop introduces participants to the 8 Dimensions of Wellness and SMART goals.   Workshop acknowledges holistic health and its relationship with well-being and balance.  Workshop explores creating balance through SMART goals and supports participants with understanding the significance of campus resources with supporting SMART goals.  

De-Escalation with Neurodivergent Folks: DOs and DON'Ts with Individuals with Communication Differences | Student Support

Presented by Alma Jongewaard & Britney Griffin
Room: 139/139A

This interactive workshop and Q&A session will equip participants with practical tools to enhance their student services toolkit. Together, we’ll explore strategies for de-escalating situations involving students who may experience communication differences or exhibit challenging behaviors. Attendees are encouraged to bring real-world scenarios, policies, and questions for collaborative discussion in a judgment-free environment. LIFE Project/Autism Services Coordinators will provide guidance while fostering peer-to-peer support.

From Chaos to Coordination: ASI’s Model for Cross-Department Planning | Innovation

Presented by Taylor Buhler-Scott, Shannon Couey, & Aaron Elimelech
Room: 122

This presentation explores ASI’s innovative cross-department collaboration between programmatic teams and Communications, designed to streamline event planning and promotional coverage. Using a shared Outlook calendar and standardized templates, the system ensures balanced scheduling, prevents event overlap, and centralizes communication. Attendees will learn how this adaptable framework has needed to adapt over the years and how it can be applied to other collaborative project cycles. 

Navigating Leadership According to the Way of the Samurai | Professional Development

Presented by Matt Cabrera
Room: 114

In times of change, it’s important and necessary to explore new approaches and perspectives or to revisit core values and virtues. Shaping a Western understanding of samurai virtues, the book “The Way of the Samurai” provides traits of the samurai, such as rectitude, courage, benevolence, and honor, that any leader can explore as a renewed approach to navigating and leading through change. 

Join us at the Bookstore immediately after the Navigating Change Conference for networking, opportunity drawings, shopping, and light refreshments.

20% off* your entire purchase of Clothing, Gifts, and Supplies at the University Bookstore.

*Cannot be combined with other discounts; other exclusions apply