HESA Happenings Newsletter – Fall 2016 Edition
November 7, 2016
November 7, 2016
May 16, 2016
May 11, 2016
April 11, 2016
April 7, 2016
Christian Price (HESA Class of 2017), Abigail Smith (HESA Class of 2017), and Jeronima "Niimo" Nix (HESA Class of 2017), will be presenting at the 2016 NACADA CT Drive-In Conference. The theme of the conference is "The Greatest Advising on Earth: Mastering the Balancing Act."
Price and Smith will be presenting, "Beyond Academic Advising: An Approach to Supporting African American Male Student Athletes at Predominantly White Institutions." The pair will focus on the contexts and lived experiences of African American male student athletes, and how to assist students in maximizing their potential as both students and young adults.
Nix's presentation will focus on incorporating social justice theory with academic advising philosophies. Using case studies and some interactive activities, Nix hopes to highlight the importance of embracing cultural differences in advising practices, and share resources that may prepare students and advisors to build more engaging relationships.
Additional details about the NACADA conference can be found at the conference website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-nacada-ct-drive-in-conference-tickets-21017743637. April 4, 2016

Jeronima (Niimo) Nix (HESA Class of 2017) and Yihra Peralta (HESA Class of 2017) presented at the 13th annual New England Latinx Student Leadership Conference at Hampshire College. This year's theme for the conference was "#DecolonizeLatinx."
Nix and Peralta's workshop was titled, "Navigating White Spaces: Self-Care & Success." Additional information about other presenters, presentation, and the history of the conference itself can be found at the conference's website: http://nelslc.com/. March 21, 2016
Michael Thompkins and Ryan Baldassario, both members of the HESA Class of 2016, recently won the second-year graduate student Case Study Competition at the 2016 NASPA Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN.
Competing against eight other teams of second-year graduate students from graduate preparation programs across the country, Michael and Ryan incorporated theory, research, national context, and practical solutions to address the various issues addressed in the case. Michael and Ryan joined the winners of the first-year case study competition to present their approach as an educational session at the NASPA Annual Conference.
Additional information about the Case Study Competition can be found on the NASPA website here: http://conference2016.naspa.org/engage/case-study-competition. February 23, 2016
Dr. Milagros Castillo Montoya, Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs in the Department of Educational Leadership has been selected as one of five national recipients of the 2016 Emerging Scholars Award by College Student Educators, International (ACPA).
ACPA notes, “the Emerging Scholars Program supports, encourages, and honors early-career individuals who are emerging as contributors to student affairs and higher education scholarship and who are pursuing research initiatives congruent with the mission, interests, and strategic goals of ACPA.” This is one of the ACPA’s major awards and will be presented to Dr. Castillo-Montoya on March 6, 2016 at its annual convention in Montreal, Canada. The award will support Dr. Castillo-Montoya’s research on the development of inclusive practices for teaching diverse college students. February 4, 2016
Dr. Blanca Rincón and Dr. Justin Evanovich were awarded a $5,000 Provost’s Teaching Innovation Grant for the UNIV 1820 Intergroup Dialogue on Race course they will be co-developing and co-teaching this fall. The Provost’s Teaching Innovation Mini Grant Competition is designed to support faculty innovation around teaching and student learning.
While both faculty members are housed within the Department of Educational leadership, Dr. Rincón is an assistant professor for the HESA program while Dr. Evanovich is an assistant clinical professor for the Sports Management program.