Are you new to the field of student development? Have you been working with college students for less than 4 years? Do you enjoy hanging out with other professionals with similar passions to yours? If so, then the ACSD New Professionals retreat might be for you!
The New Professionals Retreat is designed for Student Development/Student Affairs/Campus Ministries professionals with one to four years of experience in the field. New professionals from Christian and secular colleges and universities from around the nation gather for several days prior to the Association of Christians in Student Development (ACSD) national conference for a weekend of teaching, sharing, learning, and encouragement from experienced student development professionals. Past participants have ranged from residence directors to vice presidents who were new to the work of student life. Participation in the Retreat will challenge new professionals to explore the process of translating their faith in Christ into competent professional practice in the field of student development.
The New Professionals Retreat will begin with registration at 3:30 pm on Friday, June 4, 2010 and will conclude on Sunday evening. Cost is $185 for ACSD members and $200 for non-ACSD members. To register, please click here: Register for New Professionals Retreat (Note: Separate registration is required for the ACSD Conference and the New Professionals Retreat.)
The retreat will be lead by these seasoned professionals:
Rodney K. Sisco
Rodney K. Sisco, Director of the Office of Multicultural Development, is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Enter his office or home and you will find a man who has a love for the Lord, science fiction, music and people of diverse backgrounds.
Having served over 20 years in Christian Higher Education in Admissions and Student Development capacities, Mr. Sisco has a vision for Christian higher education focused on Christ centered diversity. He has led workshops focusing on diversity for a broad range of audiences including: faculty, administrators, students, church leaders, and business professionals. In addition, he has led workshops focusing on leadership development, educational motivation, mentoring, and spiritual development. Administratively he has consistently provided leadership in Wheaton's developing diverse community. Along with others within the College, Mr. Sisco has helped to develop the greater than 85% retention rate of students of color at Wheaton and the recruitment of students, faculty, and administration. He has a B.A. in Sociology and Christian Education from Wheaton College and has completed the coursework for the Educational Ministries MA program at Wheaton Graduate School.
Rick Zomer
Dr. Rick Zomer serves as associate professor in The Department of Higher Education at Geneva College. He earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. He earned his M.A. in Student Personnel from Kent State University and his B.A. in Economics from Calvin College. Before joining the faculty at Geneva Rick served for 10 years in Student Development at Calvin College as the Director of Housing, Assistant Dean, and then as Associate Dean. He also has five years experience as a Resident Director (Geneva College and Malone University) and two years experience as the Director of Student Activities at Cornerstone University.
Rick is originally from Ontario, Canada and is a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He also has interest and teaching experience in pop culture with a unique ability to incorporate this into his work. He has a quick wit and excels in the classroom.
Patrick Hummel
A graduate of Taylor University in Indiana, Patrick Hummel worked as a resident director at Anderson University (Indiana) for four years before earning a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2002.. Before coming to Northwestern in 2008, he worked in Residence Life at Calvin College in Michigan for seven years, four as the Assistant Dean of Residence Life. He has 16 years experience in college and cross-cultural ministry and has traveled to Haiti, Laos, Thailand, Europe, Egypt, Jordan and Israel for mission and study. He belongs to the Association for Christians in Student Development and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Lori Couch
Under Lori Couch’s leadership, the student activities office at Northwestern College (Iowa) has more than tripled the number of annual events offered to students, and student involvement grows every year. Working with a dynamic and creative Student Activities Council, she has enhanced traditions many college traditions and created new ones. In addition, Couch oversees the planning of special family weekends and Homecoming. Her office also supports numerous student clubs and organizations.
Couch has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado Christian University, where she was student body president. She was named the outstanding graduate in her Master of Education program at Azusa Pacific University. Before assuming her current position, Couch was a Northwestern College resident director and head women’s soccer coach.
Jo Beth Petty
Jo Beth has been at Belhaven University since 2003 and she serves as the Director of Student Leadership. In her current role she oversees new student orientation, student activities, student government, student organizations and intramurals. She earned her B.S from The University of Tennessee at Martin and is an avid VOLS fan.
Kim Stave
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For the past 8 of its 12-year existence, Kim Stave has served on the Student Life staff at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. LCC opened its doors soon after the country gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 at the request of the Ministry of Education and has been growing dynamically ever since. From 2002-2009 Kim was LCC’s Director of Community Life, overseeing the Residence Life and Intercultural Programs and since August 2009 has been the Vice President for Student Life. She earned a Master of Education in College Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University in 2003 and a B.A. in English and Elementary Education from Spring Arbor University in 1996. From 1997-2002, Kim served as an Area Coordinator at George Fox University following a semester of teaching at the Rift Valley Academy in Kenya in early 1997.
Kim is passionate about creating optimal learning environments for university students and is currently working on the design for the construction of LCC’s 2nd campus Residence Hall. She also thrives within the intercultural community LCC offers, looking for ways to contextualize LCC’s Christian liberal arts holistic model into a post-Soviet educational system steeped in hierarchy & bureaucracy. Her husband Andrew currently serves as the Athletic Director at LCC and their two children Ieva (4) and Isak (8 months) were both born in Lithuania (but sadly, aren’t eligible for duel citizenship). |