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I Love You Stinky Face: Holding on to Hope in the Changing Climate of Student Affairs

About the Session

Using the well-known children's book "I Love You Stinky Face," this session will offer some insight into the current issues facing the field of student affairs (both at App and generally as a field), as well as proactive measures for navigating those issues. As the book describes, adaptation is necessary as different circumstances arise in our lives and work. Just as the mother in the book describes adaptations she will make to continue loving her child “even if they were a big scary ape” or a “super smelly skunk,” this session will offer adaptations and potential solutions that can be deployed as folks face known and predictable circumstances/challenges in their role as a student affairs practitioner. Challenges that will be explored in the session may include topics such as: post-pandemic (dis)engagement of students, staff turnover/transition, mental health concerns, and changing student demographics (location, age, social markers). Ultimately, the session intends to offer a way to hold on to hope in what can feel like an impossible situation as we navigate unprecedented times in the field of student affairs.

Session I, Linville Falls, Room 226, PSU
 

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a result of this engagement, participants will be able to articulate some of the current issues facing the field of student affairs
  2. As a result of this engagement, participants will leave with 5 strategies for navigating the current issues facing the field of student affairs.
  3. As a result of this engagement, participants will understand the need to be adaptable, innovative, and hopeful in an unprecedented time in student affairs

Presenter

Heather Jo Mashburn website
Dr. Heather Jo Mashburn, Director, Community-Engaged Leadership
mashburnhj@appstate.edu