FREE Pre-Conference Workshops!

Pre-Conference Workshops YOU Should Attend!

Who doesn't love free professional development?! It can be hard to find, but Region 2 has you covered! Check out an interview with two of our presentation groups that are providing valuable and FREE sessions for you.

Job Search Bootcamp

Presented by Wayne Adams, Jarrett Kealey, and Lisa Yamin

             

             Wayne Adams

Jarrett Kealey

Lisa Yamin

Tell us about yourself:

• Wayne Adams, George Mason University – Fun fact: I sang in a competitive barbershop quartet for 5+ years placing 10^th internationally at our peak.

• Jarrett Kealey, Rowan College at Burlington County – Fun fact: I love roadfood! Some of the best has been a pork tenderloin sandwich at a gas station in Indiana, peanut butter pie at a diner in Ohio, and fried chicken and cinnamon buns in Missouri.     

• Lisa Yamin, Virginia Commonwealth University – Fun fact: I love to travel!  I’ve been to 39 states and have a cross-country trip planned for 2027 that will help me visit the remaining states I haven’t seen!

If you could sum up your pre-conference workshop in one sentence, what would it be?

IT IS FREE! You have no excuse NOT to attend the Job Search Bootcamp at any stage of your career. Seriously though, gaining perspective from seasoned professionals who have been on both sides of the interview process helps not only the entry-level advisor but also professionals looking for a career change.

What inspired you to present on this topic?

Breaking into an advising role, changing roles, or moving from one institution type to another can be challenging! We’ve all had very interesting stories of how we joined the advising profession that are not the traditional job search narrative. So much has changed in the last 5-10 years. The profession is more competitive, and institutions are valuing advising more than ever! Being a resource is what we do at our core. Helping colleagues navigate the job search process is just another way for us to do that. We help people whether they are students or colleagues, and we are very passionate about what we do!

What are you most looking forward to at this conference?

We all look forward to connecting with our advising colleagues around the region. We use this as a way to recharge our respective batteries by collectively working towards elevating advising excellence outside of our own institutions. Of course, we are also looking forward to the energy we will share with our pre-conference attendees!

What are some of the valuable lessons attendees will gain from coming to your workshop?

Attendees will leave with a set of tools to successfully navigate the advising job market: drafting an advising philosophy, perspectives from the hiring manager, tips on interviewing and negotiating, resume/cover letter feedback, and much more! For us, the workshop also lets the attendee know they are not alone in the search and that they have support from their peers.

NACADA Orientation for First-Time Conference Attendees

Presented by Gavin Farber and Mark Costello

                    

                      Gavin Farber

Mark Costello

Tell us about yourself:

• Gavin Farber, Temple University--Fun fact: I did not speak until I was 3.5 years old.
• Mark Costello, Bucks County Community College--Fun fact: I've been advising since 1996 when I still had a full head of hair!

If you could sum up your pre-conference workshop in one sentence, what would it be?

• Gavin: Network, speak up and enjoy the start of your NACADA journey!
• Mark: Find what you are best at and have fun doing it!

What inspired you to present on this topic?

• Gavin: (1) Being able to present with one of my NACADA Mentors, Mark Costello; (2) It's a great way to give back to the region for all the knowledge I have gained over the last 8 years of my engagement in the association, and (3) I enjoy discussing NACADA's structure and organizational dynamics so members really understand the true value of their involvement.
• Mark: The joy I receive from my students in the advising session.

What are you most looking forward to at this conference?

• Gavin: Sharing the experience with colleagues from my advising team who have never attended a Region 2 Conference; meeting new attendees and helping to engage as many new mentors and mentees as possible!
• Mark: Sharing what I've learned over the years and seeing old friends    

What are some of the valuable lessons attendees will gain from coming to your workshop?

• Gavin: (1) NACADA is here for your success, (2) your peers are here you help guide through this new experience and make you feel welcomed in our regional #NACADAFamily, and (3) connecting you to new friends and future collaborators.
• Mark: To learn that it is the intrinsic rewards that matter most and that we all have a positive effect on our students that they will remember throughout their lifetime

We hope each of you will take the time to attend one of our pre-conference workshops. Look for more highlights on all of the other pre-conference workshops which will be posted on the blog and social media in the next few weeks! #ridethetideVA20