Conference Chats

Following the success of last year’s new initiative, we are thrilled to announce the return of Conference Chats. Wednesday and Thursday at lunch hour, come listen to your colleagues give their “TED-Style” talk. Each lunch block will include three to four, 11-minute presentations on a wide range of topics.

Experience the energy and excitement of a Conference Chat, hearing how these individuals are making profound impacts in our profession. Expect an entirely different approach from the standard Conference education sessions. These Chats will be personal, concise, and take you on a journey. We promise you will laugh, cry, and gain entirely new perspectives on issues and ideas.

Location: All Conference Chats will be held in The Great Hall, Room 3326, Somerville House.

Wednesday, July 10, 12:00 to 1:30 pm

IMPOSTOR SYNDROME: WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE WE’RE GOOD ENOUGH?

Presenter: Marco Dinovelli - Senior Associate Director Rutgers University-New Brunswick

You are doing great in your job. You continue to excel professionally and consistently receive praise for the work that you do. Your peers are always telling you what a difference you are making and how important you are to the field. . . So why can’t you shake this feeling that you just aren’t good enough and one day everyone will figure out what you already know: “You are a fraud!”

ADMISSIONS OFFICES OF THE WORLD - YOU CAN TAME YOUR APPLICATIONS QUEUE!

Presenter: Carolyn Ford - Director, International Undergraduate Recruitment, Western University

Every year, many universities face the challenge of processing a high volume of applications in a timely manner. Their admissions offices are in essence a factory, one whose output is decisions, but with a critical difference: where a factory controls the timing, quality and volume of inputs, an admissions office has less control over the timing, quality and volume of applications received. This chat offers a brief introduction to the use of queuing analysis for admissions offices to better understand their measures of performance (waiting times, service rates, length of queue) and their operational domain (quality, quality and efficiency, or efficiency only). Guidance counselors and applicants are also very interested in the timeline to application complete and evaluation. With the help of queuing champions on campus, these techniques can provide better work-life balance for admissions staff and less application period stress for guidance counselors and applicants.

UNICORNS, MILLENIALS AND THE SILICON VALLEY

Presenter: Michael Sexton - Vice President for Enrollment Management Santa Clara University

A quick look at the rapid pace of change in, arguably, the most creative place on the planet. What do these new and growing companies look for in employees and how do universities prepare them to compete? How do admission offices recruit and identify adaptable students who best fit this dynamic environment?

MAPPING FUTURES: LOCATING POTENTIAL AND MAXIMIZING IT

Presenter: Katrina Edmunds - Associate Director of Guidance Institut Le Rosey

Who are you and how good do you want to be? What are you going to need to get there? What ought you to pick up along the way? With the world of careers in flux, this little counselor believes it has never been more important to understand who you are and where you want to go. With AI coming right up into the university counseling space, we add value by helping people find the answers to these questions. Through incorporating Floyd Woodrow’s (the youngest British soldier ever recruited to the SAS) North Star into the mapping process, I have found a useful tool to use in the counseling process.

Thursday, July 11, 12:00 to 1:30 pm

HOW THE BUS TOUR CHANGED MY LIFE

Presenter: Cory Miller - University Counseling Coordinator Branksome Hall

“As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.” This is a story about how our professional and personal lives can converge. It is an example of how individual relationships can be transformational. It is about the importance of walking the talk about doing our utmost to provide access to opportunity for students.

TO GO DEEPER, GO WIDER

Presenter: Kim Zwitserloot - Director International Recruitment University College Utrecht

By being a generalist you sacrifice depth for breadth. We have all heard this, whether it is as an argument against studying liberal arts and sciences or as an argument for specialization in your career. But is it true? My own experience tells me that it’s not. You can go deeper, by going wider.

DON’T GET BURNED: LESSONS FROM SURGERY RESIDENCY

Presenter: Shannon O’Hagan - Assistant Director of International Recruitment University of Missouri

Burnout is a hot topic with medical residency programs across the U.S. with significant resources devoted to researching, treating, and preventing it as if it were a disease. Although professionals in international education face different challenges than physicians, we are also susceptible to burnout. As a former burnout victim, I will share personal experiences as well as research-based lessons learned from leaving international education, working with a surgery residency program, and returning to international recruitment. The International ACAC conference presents a great opportunity to reflect on your well-being and develop burnout prevention strategies.