PeerFest 2007

Workshop Abstracts

Social Networking (Facebook)

Alan Tan & Matthew Lin

This workshop aims to inform peer educators about the good and bad elements of social networking websites. Sites like Facebook can be effective tools for networking and event planning when used properly. They are not, however, a cure-all solution for staying in touch with mentees or spreading the word about an event. It is important that student leaders on campus understand the issues they face as members of social networks and understand the example they set by their own use of such websites.

Language & Leadership

Samati Niyomchai

Peer Educators interact with a diverse group of individuals through their roles as students, leaders, volunteers, and employees on campus. This workshop will encourage peer educators to think about how their words or actions may or may not be acceptable to people they encounter. Attendees will learn a variety of appropriate ways to express themselves through verbal communication based on the setting.

Networking

Jane Duffy & Patrick Duffy

This workshop will give peer educators the opportunity to understand the basics of 'networking' and its importance. Attendees will practice having conversations that will increase and enhance their network. Both shy and outgoing people will leave this presentation with tips and ideas on how to mix and mingle on a professional level.

Integrity: Matching Your Words with Your Actions

Fany Velasquez

Dwight D. Eisenhower stated that "the supreme quality for a leader is unquestionable integrity." The purpose of this workshop is to explore, know, and understand the role of integrity in leadership and mentorship. Come learn in a creative way that leaders with integrity are sincere, consistent, have character, and are good finishers. This workshop will help you to enhance your knowledge about the role that integrity plays in a student's life. Discover that students with integrity know that their words must match their actions in order to become good leaders and mentors.

Mythbusters - All You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask:
The Truth About Students with Disabilities

Bryanna Anderson & Laura Rowley

Have you ever thought of what a hidden disability is? As a peer mentor, you are interacting with students on a daily basis. The Center for Students with Disabilities serves over 1,000 students here at the University of Connecticut. Chances are, in your everyday interactions, you have encountered a student with a disability whether visible or hidden. In this session you will get the opportunity to learn about common myths concerning students with disabilities and engage in an interactive and informative game to include information on disability etiquette, campus accessibility, and campus resources available for students with disabilities. You will be challenged to think outside of your comfort zone and will be given the opportunity to ask questions.

Multicultural Manners

Christine Wilson

Greetings. Proximity. Age and gender roles. Eye contact. There are so many ways that cultures differ. What do you do when you want to interact, but don't want to offend? In this workshop, we will assure understanding of our personal identities and cultures, explore key categories in which cultures differ from one another, and discuss how to be understanding and inclusive of more cultures in our programs and services. This workshop will involve personal reflection, sharing, and difficult (but civil) discussion.

Got Happiness? Communication Tools that Transform People

Brenda Shaw

Participants in this workshop will come away with effective tools to use in their own lives, as well as tools for helping other students get what they need and value on campus. The way humans communicate with one another says a lot about who we are. When we communicate from the heart, speaking our needs, values and feelings clearly, and when we seek to truly understand the needs, values, and feelings of others, we are transformed. We find ourselves to be more effective in our lives. Our relationships become richer and more fulfilling. The people around us can relax into being themselves as we make empathy part of our communication. Come join us as we learn to speak -- and listen -- in ways that help everyone get their needs met.

Can We Talk? : Peer Mentors' Resolution to Dealing with the Tough Issues

Stacey Anglade & Nicole Benson

The purpose of this workshop is to discuss how Peer Educators can respond in a compassionate manner to challenging issues that first year and transfer students may experience. Difficult issues that mentors might encounter through their work with peers will be addressed, such as academic difficulties, depression, sexuality, relationship issues, sexual, verbal, physical, domestic abuse, etc. Attendees will discuss possible scenarios and participate in an open forum focused on resolving difficult issues.

Developing an Accurate View of Your Self

Kevin Sullivan

The pictures you have of your capabilites are of paramount importance to realizing the enormous potential that you possess. They will determine the degree of competence you exhibit in your career and in your relationships. They will greatly influence the amount of satisfaction and true success that you experience throughout your life. Yet, most people are not conscious of the pictures they have of themselves. This workshop will address the concept of developing an accurate view of Self allowing you to work on your Self pictures.

Cultural and Political Identity in a Globalizing Uconn

Brian Boecherer

The way we approach a situation-- course work, inter-personal relationships, and even work and career goals, is in a large part due to our individual, cultural, and political identity. The diversity of UConn allows students, faculty and staff the opportunity to learn about many other ways of life. However, in today's society it is no longer sufficient to just notice cultural and politcal identities; it is vitally important to try to understand the nature of the differences and similarities. UConn is an ideal place to learn greater cultural and political awareness through discussions, events, and debates- life lessons for our globalizing society. This session will strive to highlight many elements that influence our cultural and political identity. We will discuss how these elements impact interpersonal relationships, peer mentoring and self understanding. This session is highly participatory and you should be prepared to share your ideas and opinions with others in the group.

Sexual Harassment Prevention & Education

Kathy Fischer

This session seeks to initiate a dialogue on sexual harassment; to examine the conditions that promote sexual harassment and discrimination, and to develop strategies for responding to and preventing sexual harassment. The workshop is interactive and asks participants to evaluate a variety of situations that may or may not constitute sexual harassment and discuss issues of climate through the use of case scenarios. The session also details the definition of Sexual Harassment, a supervisors responsibilities and liabilites, and what to do and the resources available if you are sexually harassed.

Leaders Today, Huskies Forever

Ann Salina & Michael Stenko

This workshop will discuss ways that you can enhance your leadership skills by tapping into your Alumni network. The skills that you develop on campus can continue to enhance the student and alumni experience. By attending PeerFest, you have demonstrated you have what it takes to make a difference in the lives of students. Leadership is a talent, an honor, and a responsibility. Learn how the Student Alumni Association offers a platform for you to enhance your skills as a proven leader, build relationships with our community, alumni, students, faculty and staff.

How to be Your Own Best Advocate

Lee Williams

A lot of students have big ideas. And some students have big problems. Both of these might lead you to the office of someone "in charge". You might be looking for assistance in getting your idea off the ground or you might be seeking help to solve a problem. UCONN is full of people "in charge" who want to help students in both situations. But often, students sabotage their own efforts by not thinking through the best way to approach those who can help them. This session will provide some practical advice on how to present your ideas or your concerns to a person, committee, or organization that can help you achieve what you want.

Sharing Information: The Rewards of Being a Leader

Katie Buckley & Kyle Hannon

This presentation will focus on the importance and effectiveness of being a leader on campus. Through teambuilding activities and processing questions, workshop attendees will begin to see how working within a team to communicate information is a way to achieve success. Learning through leadership benefits those who are teaching, as well as those who are giving advice or instruction.

Leading with Heart: Lessons From Summer Camp

Betsy Cracco & Matt Cook

Do you find the tone of the academic environment or even the peer culture to be serious, flat, or half-asleep? Member(s) of the leadership team of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (THITWGC), a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses, in collaboration with Betsy Cracco of the Violence Against Women Prevention Program and volunteer at THITWGC, share their experience in approaching serious issues with laughter, heart and a deep appreciation of what is really important in life. This workshop will help you get passionate about what you are doing and bring others along for the ride! We will focus on tapping into those connections in life that move us, and using that energy to motivate others toward changing the campus culture at UConn.

What's Your True Color?

Marisa Sullivan

Never attended PeerFest and been waiting for the opportunity to find your True Color? Always wondered why you bump heads with the same people yet get along so well with others? Join us to discover your True Color! This presentation will help you identify your individual strengths and weaknesses as well as help distinguish the strengths, values, joys and motivations of each personality! Begin to learn more about the depths of your personality and become more aware of who you truly are. Find yourself appreciative and understanding of other personalities and begin to work more efficiently within your organization and relationships. This workshop will help you capitalize on your strengths as well as effectively utilize the strengths of those around you while improving upon differences. This is truly an interactive and fun experience. Don’t miss out!

The Difference Between Liking Your Students and 'Liking' Your Students: Role Balance and Role Modeling as a Peer Educator.

Gregory Champion

This workshop explores the roles that peer educators take on when working with other students. Participants will explore the often difficult task of balancing their roles and interactions with other students. Powerpoint, short videos, and interactive discussion are used in this practical workshop to help participants learn and discuss different strategies of role modeling among peers.

Finding Your Mentor

Samantha Sherwood

Student leaders serve as mentors for many of their peers on campus. It is important that student leaders also have mentors of their own as they strive to serve others and improve their own skills. This workshop will discuss the benefit of identifying and maintaining a mentor relationship for Peer Educators. By identifying the characteristics that are important in a mentor, students can improve their own mentoring skills and learn how to serve as better leaders within activities, classes, and organizations.

Networking for Success

Larry Gramling & Andy Rosman

The focus of the workshop is to discuss the importance of building networks for success in higher education and subsequently in developing and managing careers. The workshop will include activities that help participants identify meaningful people to have in their network and then to develop a "30-Second Elevator Speech" to begin the process of meeting people who might be in your network.

Does Mentoring Work?

Preston Britner

Mentoring is 'hot' and prevalent as a prevention strategy. Most people think mentoring promotes competence by providing opportunities for training/new roles and responsibilities and/or enhancing emotional, motivational, or strategic supports. In this workshop, we will discuss the concept of mentoring as a prevention or positive development strategy, including discussions of theoretical models of the mechanisms of mentoring and settings as contexts for mentoring. We will then review the findings from mentoring research literatures on student outcomes and the links between mentoring process and outcomes. We will conclude with a discussion of specific ideas for peer mentoring at UConn.

Got Balance? Fitting It All In Without Losing Your Mind

Amy Fallon

This workshop will help Peer Educators develop a strategy for finding and maintaining balance in the midst of the hectic school year. As student leaders on campus, it can be challenging to find a balance between academics, leadership opportunities, jobs, the social scene, and more. Through the practice of yoga, participants will develop a personal understanding of the importance of balance in our lives.

Peer Mentor to Professional Advisor

Cristina Conte

This presentation will focus on the connection between being a peer educator and pursuing a career in higher education. Students will gain perspective on how to tie their experiences as a Peer Educator to their future career goals and aspirations. Talk with an alumna from UConn about her journey from peer mentor to professional academic advisor and everything in between. Students will discuss future goals, including what they may see as the ideal job in the ideal location, as well as how to ensure these goals are achieved.

Using Inclusive Language

Kenny Importante

Have you ever stopped to think about what you're saying and wonder where it came from? Do you really mean the words that you say? Language is a powerful tool used in a positive or a negative way. Without being aware of what is current and appropriate language, a person may inadvertently offend another person or convey a message that they did not intend. In order to build a stronger community, it is important to be mindful of your language. Inclusive language can be inviting and can make everyone feel welcomed. More importantly, appropriate terminology shows respect to the person you are communicating and interacting with.