Region III Newsletter: April 2023

April

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Associate Director for Operations

University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

stephen.mccay@usm.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"The most recent one was when we got to hold a regional conference again after being apart for 3 years. It was a great time to be a part of the CPT and help plan that first event being together again with fellowship and educational sessions being enjoyed by all."

DR. STEPHEN R. MCCAY (HE, HIM, HIS)

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

JEREMIAH JOHNSON

BUSINESS MANAGER

Director, Hill Student Center

University of Alabama at Birmingham

djj84@uab.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"I can’t identify one specific memory, but I would say my favorite thing about volunteering and being a part of the RLT are the friendships I’ve developed, laughs I have shared, and memories I’ve created with colleagues across the region."

LEADERSHIP TEAM

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Senior Director, Student Center & Student Life

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

bbeckwith@gsu.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"Hosting the first Region III conference in our Student Center in 2014. It was a great introduction to the region since I'd only started at Georgia State University in 2013."

BOYD BECKWTIH (HE, HIM, HIS)

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

JACE

PESINA (HE, HIM, HIS)

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Audio/Visual Coordinator

University of North Carolina - Charlotte

jpesina@uncc.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"My favorite memory so far was meeting region members at the regional conference in Atlanta this past October. It was great to connect with so many other student union professionals, especially ones that work in the same area as me (audio). I made a lot of great connections that I feel will last a lifetime."

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Associate Director,

University

Student Center

University of South Florida - St. Petersburg

greenej@usf.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI

Memory?

"My favorite ACUI memory is my first experience with ACUI as a student. I didn’t know what to expect as a junior, but after attending that conference I felt empowered to get more involved in my university and eventually pursue student affairs as a career. "

JIM GREENE (HE, HIM, HIS)

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

SARA COPE (SHE, HER,

HERS)

INCLUSIVITY COORDINATOR

Assistant Director, Facilities and Operations

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

sara.cope@vanderbilt.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"My favorite ACUI Memory is running a 5K in freezing cold, pitch black Philadelphia wayyy too early one morning during the Annual Conference!"

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

SAMMIE KUNZ (SHE, HER, HERS)

East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

kunzs19@ecu.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"My favorite ACUI memory was finally getting to meet my fellow CPT members in person and getting to experience my first in-person conference with them."

MEMBER EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

DARIEN GARRISON (SHE, HER, HERS)

RECOGNITION COORDINATOR

Assistant Director, Hill Student Center

University of Alabama at Birmingham

dmgarrison@uab.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"How could I choose just one! One memory that stands out was serving on the 2019 Region III Conference Planning Team and putting together the conference at UT-Knoxville.

Being able to work with the team for an entire year on this event and to see it all come together was very rewarding. "

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Assistant Director for Event Services

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

kmcalear@utk.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"I have enjoyed getting to watch students attend events over the years and feel empowered to go back to their institution and make a difference in the area. "

KYLE MCALEAR (HE, HIM, HIS)

2023 REGIONAL CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

JAMES CONTRATTO

2024

REGIONAL CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

Executive Director for

Student Life College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

contrattoj@cofc.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"Our old Recreation & Leisure tournaments were amazing. We hosted student tournaments like 9-ball billiards, Table Tennis, Bowling, Poker, Spades, Quiz Bowl and Poetry Slam. We had some of the best tournaments in the association in our region."

REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

DESMOND DUNKLIN

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR

Coordinator of University Programs

University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL

ddunklin@southalabama.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"Attending the conference in Boston was my very first ACUI Conference, and being able to attend it with both of my former and current supervisors was an experience."

GET TO KNOW YOUR 2023 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

BROOKLYN BARNES (SHE, HER, HERS)

STUDENT MEMBER

Student Building Manager

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

brovbarn@vols.utk.edu

What has been your favorite ACUI Memory?

"My favorite ACUI memory comes from the 2022 ACUI Annual Conference held in Chicago. I was able to participate in I-Lead where I enhanced my leadership skills and gained friendships with other students from all over the country!"

2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE REVIEW

The ACUI community was able to gather in person again in Boston from February 26 - March 1. We had the opportunity to gather as a region for dinner and networking on Sunday. The opening activity provided an additional opportunity to enjoy community with Boston-themed desserts, student performances, large games, caricature artists, psychics, and personalized magnets.

A unique feature of this year ' s conference was the opportunity to choose your adventure on Monday morning, with a variety of options to tour local universities and attractions.

The conference featured many wonderful educational sessions and an All-Conference Session line-up that included Porsha Olayiwola (writer, performer, and educator), Dr. Kristin Lee (behavioral science clinician, researcher, educator, and comedian), a Chief Diversity Officers Panel, and Jason Masden, a designer, educator and entrepreneur

The conference ended with a closing banquet highlighting all the wonderful bonds that were made throughout the week, as well as honoring this year ' s award winners and those community members who have passed. Dana London, a student at Kennesaw State University, completed her term as a member of the ACUI Board of Trustees. Deepti Chadee, pictured top left concluded her term as ACUI President and Neela Patel, pictured bottom left began her term as ACUI President.

Brett Heckman serves as senator of the Student Government Association, where he was involved in writing legislation and bylaws as well as revisions to the university’s student handbook. As chair of the Campus Safety and Improvement Committee, he led initiatives that helped restore lighting on campus and enhance handicap accessibility, as well as collaborated with the university’s police department and the Title IX Oce. Heckman is honored to attend the ACUI Annual Conference to continue learning about the workings of a college union and to learn from the experiences of others in attendance.

The Manny Cunard Scholarship supports the development of a student who is aspiring to enter the profession with the opportunity to attend the Annual Conference. The scholarship covers the cost of registration to the ACUI event.

The review process includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of the criteria listed below. The applicant must:

Have demonstrated leadership experience and involvement in their campus community Articulate an interest in entering the college union/student activities profession.

Demonstrate potential benefit from professional development as an attendee at the Annual Conference Be supported through a nomination letter from a college union/student activities professional that is a member of ACUI.

Be on the lookout for future opportunities to nominate students and colleagues for other ACUI Awards and Scholarships!

REGIONAL CONFERENCE UPDATE

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY

GREENSBORO, NC: NOVEMBER 10-12, 2023

The 2023 Regional Conference will be hosted by an HBCU for the first time in Region III. This year ' s Conference Planning Team (CPT) is planning a great event for everyone to gather, share knowledge, and advance our community. Student attendees will be a focus of the regional conference and we hope your students will attend. NC A &T is a great site, as their student center is only a few years old. This conference is one you do not want to miss!

2023 Conference Coordinator: Kyle McAlear, UT -Knoxville

2024 Conference Coordinator: James Contratto, College of Charleston

Conference Engagement: Desmond Dunklin, University of South Alabama

Registration & Hospitality: Erin McFee, USF-St. Petersburg

Site Host: Rachel Whitsett, North Carolina A&T

Communications Coordinator: Jace Pesina, UNC-Charlotte

Corporate Sponsors: Dean Smith, East Carolina University

Ed Sessions: Robert Edmiston, USF-St. Petersburg,

Fundraising & Pre-Conferences: Sammie Kunz, East Carolina University

Volunteers & Pre-Conferences: Michael Avery, UNC-Charlotte

Central Office Liaison: Victoria Moulterie (ACUI)

2023 Region III Conference Planning Team

North Carolina A&T Student Center

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!

The Region III Leadership Team is looking for your input and ideas to guide our planning for the 2023 Regional Conference as well as other programs and services that you would like to see from Region III. Our region is as strong as the participation of our members. We are fortunate to be one of the few regions to have a full conference planning team as well as Regional Leadership Team.

Please check your email and complete the survey that has been sent to the Region IIII membership via email from the Central Office.

Jim Green Educational Program Coordinator