Programs for Retreat

Presented by: Aliya Barnes, Graduate Coordinator, Health Promotion Division

Health and wellness can be a lifetime investment. In college, we can teach and guide students on how to create those building blocks now for the future instead of waiting until you are forced to build those skills. Built to Last in the Brick City means using the community and resources around us to uplift ourselves and uplift our community. Our program is here to highlight wellness built by faculty/staff and how they can pour into the wellness of the RU-N community.

Presented by: Nikita Pandit, Assistant Dean and Director of Office of Student Life and Leadership

Now that we have survived a semester let's reconnect to understand the lessons learned and discuss best practices to continue supporting our students using our shared vision through the "Learn-Lead-Serve" lens. During this workshop, we will explore ways to come together as the Division of Student Affairs and streamline co-curricular experiences that meet the current needs of students.

Presented by: Theresa O'Neil, Career Coach/Senior Program Coordinator, Career Development Center & Henry Rodriguez, Senior Program Coordinator, Career Development Center

As many as 90% of college freshmen report enrolling in college to improve their career outcomes and opportunities. Yet for many students, there is no direct relationship between coursework, student activities, and career. To that end, students often require additional guidance in making these connections. Most often our colleagues, within various units outside of the Career Development Center (CDC) interact with students who have questions regarding careers and the resources that are available on campus. This workshop will aid our colleagues in having conversations with students about possible actions they can take to contribute to their career development. Attendees will receive information about our student-centered career development approach, the resources that are available at the CDC, the NACE career competencies, and how to broaden the view of what counts as experience beyond internships.

Presented by: Mark Griffin, Director of Athletics

The purpose of this program is to provide and real overview of what non-scholarship Division III sports is all about from the perspective of the student, institution and media perception.

Presented by: Casaundra Pagan, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, Division of Student Affairs

Student Engagement is an integral part of student retention and academic persistence. As Student Affairs professionals, we have the important task of delivering rich programming and facilitating student engagement outside of the classroom. We have the ideas, we have the tools, but do we have our students’ attention? Learn how to capture student attention, boost program visibility, and strategize your approach to student engagement.

During this program, participants will also get a first look at our new Division Style Guide, which delivers helpful division-wide branding guidelines as you create materials for your department, event, initiative, or program. 

Presented by Michael Smallis and Jose Gomez, Associate Director and Program Coordinator for Community Standards and Student Development

By providing resources and support to enhance well-being in our campus, we are continuing to build upon our strong foundation and strength of a caring campus community. This will be an interactive discussion of the different issues that students, faculty and staff are experiencing post COVID. We will explore various practices and scenarios that will assist in navigating through the COVID fatigue that has been a part of the community’s return to campus.

Presented by: Theresa Tantay-Wilson, Director of Health Promotion Division & Dr. Anice Thomas, Executive Director of Student Health & Wellness

It takes a village...RU-N is part of the university-wide JED Campus initiative to assess and enhance existing student mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention efforts. Participants will brainstorm collaborative actions that contribute to creating a culture of emotional wellbeing at RU-N.

Presented by: Dr. Corlisse Thomas, Senior Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Join this kick-off discussion about the 2022 Student Affairs Strategic Plan!  This interactive session will be a guided discussion for participants to share their thoughts about what we have accomplished as a Division and what we need to do next.  Participants will engage in brainstorming and group exercises to address their own role in our progress both individually as a staff member and as a member of their department or work team. 

Presented by: Jill Goordman, pantryRUN Coordinator

Chair Yoga and Meditation will be a 45 minute interactive program for people to learn a few relaxation techniques and stretches right in their office chair. Light stretching and some larger movements will be part of the program, but you will not need to get up/out of your chair. The session will end with a special Sanvello mediation. Absolutely no yoga experience is required.

Presented by: Angie Bonilla, Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Housing and Residence Life

Come learn about the exciting hot topics from the Rutgers One-Red Leadership Class that Dean Bonilla is participating in this year. Lots of interesting information will be shared about leadership, managing change, dealing with conflicts, etc.

Presented by: Paul Lazaro, Assistant Director, Office of Veteran Affairs

This program will consist of a cross-section of Rutgers-Newark's veteran, military, dependent student population, followed by a discussion on how to foster more productive interactions with them.

Presented by: Lynn Riker, Administrative Assistant, Dining Services 

COVID has impacted all of us in many ways. As a result during this program, we will consider: 1) What has changed? 2) How have we changed? 3) How are we feeling about the changes? 4) What outcomes do we need to establish to support our students and colleagues through our services?

The Kindness Rocks Project helps to create connections with unsuspecting recipients by painting and sharing rocks with inspirational messages that are left throughout the community for those in need of random acts of kindness. Participants in this program will be donating their decorated rocks to Newark’s own Nelson Mandela Freedom Garden, where they will be displayed for visitors to find, take, and eventually share more moments of joy.

Participants will also learn about our upcoming Community Engagement Day, an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to give back to our community in our biannual day of service. 

Discover and experience the world of fine fragrance! Participants will learn how to create their own signature scent by balancing a medley of fragrances. From leather and musk, to floral and bright, discover the right blend for every occasion. Best of all, participants will be able to take their signature scents home!