OCTOBER 2026
The Welcomer | CIVSA’s Official Newsletter
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT WELCOME TO A NEW CIVSA YEAR!
By BJ Heidlebaugh - Ohio University
As campuses across the country welcome students and families back for a new academic year, I find myself reflecting on just how grateful I am to be part of this incredible community. One of the greatest gifts of CIVSA has always been the people. Throughout my career, CIVSA has given me friends, trusted colleagues, and countless opportunities to learn and grow. Many of you have helped shape not only my professional journey, but also who I am as a person. For that, I am truly thankful.
As we begin the 2026–2027 Association year, I am excited about what lies ahead. Our campuses may differ in size, structure and mission, but we share a common purpose: creating welcoming experiences that help students and families feel seen, supported, and connected. We know how important those first moments can be. This year, I hope we continue to build on what makes CIVSA special. Let’s share ideas, celebrate each other’s successes, and support one another through the challenges we face. Let’s stay curious, keep learning, and be willing to try new things as our work continues to change. Most importantly, let’s continue building a community where everyone feels welcomed and encouraged to be part of the conversation. I also encourage each of you to find a way to engage with CIVSA this year. Attend a conference or webinar, volunteer for a committee, present a program, mentor a colleague, or reach out to someone new. Some of the best ideas, opportunities, and friendships in CIVSA start with a simple conversation. Serving as your President is both an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given so much to me, and I look forward to working alongside all of you in the year ahead. Thank you for all that you do for your students, your institutions, your colleagues, and CIVSA. I am excited to see what we accomplish together. I hope to see many of you in person in Anaheim or Philadelphia, or online via a regional chat or webinar. Here’s to a year of connection, growth, and shared success.
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MEET YOUR 2026 - 2027 EXECUTIVE BOARD BJ Heidlebaugh Ohio University, Director for Visits and Events CIVSA Position: President Fun Fact: Long before his time with CIVSA, BJ was on the air as a radio DJ!
Owen Posey Western Kentucky University, Assistant Director of Admissions, Orientation & Events CIVSA Position: President-Elect Fun Fact: Owen is a certified Pilates & yoga instructor!
Ilana Ciccone St. John’s University, Assistant Director of Admission CIVSA Position: Immediate Past President Fun Fact: Ilana loves puzzles, and has completed a 1,000-piece puzzle in a single day!
Emily C. Stanley Bristol Community College, Director of Admissions & Recruitment CIVSA Position: Secretary Fun Fact: An avid gardener, Emily tries to enjoy something fresh from her garden at least once each day. APRIL 2026
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MEET YOUR 2026 - 2027 EXECUTIVE BOARD Continued
Paul Hovey Fairfield University, Director of Admission CIVSA Position: Treasurer Fun Fact: Paul plays the trombone!
Keisha Jordan Valencia College, Assistant Director, Outreach & Recruitment CIVSA Position: Director of Communications Fun Fact: Keisha's nails are so iconic, they have their own Instagram page!
Rob Patterson Middle Tennessee State University, Associate Director – Orientation, Tours, and Events CIVSA Position: Council of Past Presidents Co-Chair Fun Fact: If you visit Rob's office, you'll find more than 70 plants thriving alongside him!
Julee Mitsler Lindenwood University, Assistant Vice President, Communications, University Spokesperson CIVSA Position: Council of Past Presidents Co-Chair Fun Fact: Julee's name is a combination of her grandmothers' names—Judith and Lee
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STUDENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE HEADS TO PHILADELPHIA IN 2027 The Student Development Institute (SDI) is just around the corner! Now is the time to secure your spot for the 2027 Student Development Institute, hosted in Philadelphia from January 7-9, 2027.
Register Now This professional development for your and your student staff is a unique studentdriven experience with educational sessions, networking opportunities, campus visits, a keynote speaker, and so much more! The deadline to apply for a scholarship to attend SDI is October 9! The Association will award scholarship packages to selected institutions covering the value of two registration fees (one student and one advisor) and two conference hotel rooms for two nights. The professional staff member from the applicant institution is responsible for completing the scholarship application, providing the institutional support letter, and selecting the student who will submit the supplemental essay. Apply for a scholarship and learn more about eligibility, the application timeline, and the application process.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS: ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2027 IN ANAHEIM Registration is now open for the Annual CIVSA Conference, June 1-4, 2027 in Anaheim! Early bird registration rates are available through October 31.
Register Now
Get ready for an experience packed with diverse learning opportunities for everyone from first-time attendees to seasoned professionals. Our schedule includes educational sessions, plenary sessions, group discussions and informal programming events, all designed to help you develop new ideas, share experiences, discover best practices, and make connections with others in your field.
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COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHTS By Gracyn Malcolm & Katie Holdgreve-Resendez | Co-Chairs
The CIVSA Scholarship Committee is excited to share that applications for Student Development Institute (SDI) Scholarships are live! These scholarships provide an opportunity for CIVSA members and their students to participate in SDI and invest in professional development, learning, and connection with colleagues across the field. Important Dates: Friday, October 9: Scholarship applications are due End of October: Scholarship recipients will be notified We encourage CIVSA members and students interested in attending SDI to take advantage of this opportunity to support continued learning and professional growth. By Sarah Splinter & Brylee Groskreutz | Co-Chairs
The CIVSA Educational Resources Committee is excited to announce our inaugural book club selection! We are happy to announce, the CIVSA Book Club selection is… Creativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition): Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace Creativity, Inc. tells the story of Pixar’s rise as a force for creative storytelling and those who made it an industry leader. Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace share how Ed and other leaders at Pixar have created an environment to support all employees in taking risks and solving problems to bring about creative solutions. Whether you are an avid reader or are simply looking for new ways to connect with colleagues and learn more about different leadership styles, we hope you will join us for our virtual guided discussion on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 1 PM (EST). We look forward to seeing you there! OCTOBER 2026
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WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING
CIVSA is more than an association—it’s a community shaped by the people who make it special. In this issue of The Welcomer, we're highlighting members who shared their CIVSA experiences, from the connections they've made to the ways the Association has supported their professional growth. Over the next few pages, you'll hear directly from members about what CIVSA means to them, why they got involved, and why they encourage others to do the same. And there’s more to come! We're also bringing these stories to the CIVSA website, where you'll soon be able to learn more about the members who make up our community.
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SHARE YOUR CIVSA STORY: BRANDON G. Name: Brandon Gross Institution: The Johns Hopkins University Title: Assistant Director of Events What inspired you to join CIVSA? I first joined CIVSA shortly after graduating from college. I was stepping into a role supervising student staff, and a colleague encouraged me to join because she felt the organization could be a valuable resource as I navigated being a new professional and first-time student staff supervisor. What started as an opportunity to learn from others doing similar work quickly became a professional community that has played a significant role in my career. How has CIVSA supported you in your professional growth? CIVSA has played an important role in helping me grow both professionally and personally. Through the Association, I have had opportunities to present, facilitate conversations, serve in leadership roles, and learn from colleagues across the country. Those experiences have helped me become more confident in my own ideas and more intentional about how I approach campus visitation and event planning. Why would you encourage others to become involved? I would encourage others to become involved because CIVSA becomes so much more valuable when you move beyond simply attending a conference and begin participating in the community. There are opportunities for people at every career stage to ask questions, share ideas, serve on committees, present, find mentors, and build relationships with professionals who genuinely understand this work. You do not have to be an expert or have years of experience before you get involved. Some of my most meaningful CIVSA experiences have come from raising my hand, trying something new, and learning alongside others. The more I have invested in this community, the more it has given back to me. OCTOBER 2026 OCTOBER 2026
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SHARE YOUR CIVSA STORY: AKILAH K. Name: Akilah King Institution: Georgia Southern University Title: Director of Events and Visitation What inspired you to join CIVSA? I was inspired to join CIVSA because I wanted to connect with other professionals who understand the important role that events and campus visitation play in shaping a student’s experience. I have always believed that a student’s first interaction with a university can make a lasting impression, and I wanted to learn from others who are passionate about creating meaningful experiences for prospective students and their supporters. How has CIVSA supported you in your professional growth? CIVSA has given me the opportunity to grow professionally, build relationships, share ideas, and learn best practices from colleagues across the country. What started as a desire to connect with others in my field has grown into a community that has challenged and encouraged me to become a better leader. I am especially grateful for the opportunities CIVSA has given me to serve, collaborate, and contribute to our profession while continuing to grow both personally and professionally. What opportunities, relationships, or experiences have had the greatest impact? Serving in leadership, particularly as a Region V Director, was incredibly meaningful. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone and gave me opportunities to connect with colleagues, facilitate conversations, share ideas, and contribute to the growth of our region. I have learned that leadership is not just about having the answers, it is about creating opportunities for others and being willing to learn from the people around you. Why would you encourage others to become involved? I would encourage anyone in our profession to become involved with CIVSA because of the incredible opportunity to grow, connect, and learn from others who truly understand the work we do. CIVSA is more than a professional organization it is a community of people who are willing to share their experiences, offer support, and celebrate each other’s successes. OCTOBER 2026 OCTOBER 2026
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SHARE YOUR CIVSA STORY: MORGAN C. Name: Morgan Clonts Institution: University of Central Missouri Title: Enrollment Communications Specialist What inspired you to join CIVSA? I joined CIVSA hoping to meet a few people who understood the unique, and sometimes complex, world of campus visits and enrollment. What I didn’t expect was to find a community. I’ve found people who pick each other up, open doors for one another, offer honest advice, celebrate each other’s wins, and make space for mentorship and friendship. How has CIVSA supported you in your professional growth? CIVSA has helped me see possibilities for my career and myself that I had not seen on my own. Every time I’ve brought a question to this community, I’ve been met with openness and a genuine willingness to share. That generosity has helped me grow more confident in my own ideas and reminded me that I have experiences worth sharing, too. This year, I had the opportunity to present to CIVSA, which was a meaningful milestone for me professionally.
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SHARE YOUR CIVSA STORY: CASEY H. Name: Casey Hamlin Institution: University of South Carolina Title: Senior Assistant Director for Visitor Services What inspired you to join CIVSA? When I was brand new to the visitor services field, I felt like everyone but myself already had a playbook and I was still learning the basic rules. CIVSA immediately felt like it leveled the playing field for me. The idea of connecting with peers across the profession, through conferences, regional events, the Discourse, and connections groups, felt like a way to stop feeling like an outsider and actually start building a professional identity in this field. How has CIVSA supported you in your professional growth? CIVSA has given me a real sense of community outside of my institution. Between conferences, regional events, and the Discourse, I've had the chance to learn from people doing this work all over the country, and to bring those ideas back to my own institution. It's pushed me to grow professionally in ways I don't think I would have on my own. What opportunities, relationships, or experiences have had the greatest impact? My first presentation at Annual Conference grew me in ways I never could have imagined. What stuck with me most wasn't the presenting itself, it was what happened after. Attendees reached out with their own approaches to the ideas I laid out, and those conversations turned into some of the most fascinating exchanges I've had in this field, many of which I've brought back and applied at my own institution. Why would you encourage others to become involved? If you're newer to this field, CIVSA is where you find your people. That sense of belonging I talked about earlier is exactly what I'd want someone new to experience too. And once you're in, the opportunities to get involved and grow professionally are honestly too many to count, whether that's presenting for the first time, joining a connections group, or just showing up to a regional event and meeting people who get it. You don't have to wait until you feel like an expert to belong here. OCTOBER 2026 OCTOBER 2026
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SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING EVENTS
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STUDENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Thursday - Saturday, January 7 - 9, 2027 Philadelphia, PA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Tuesday - Friday, June 1 - 4, 2027 Anaheim, CA For more upcoming events visit civsa.org/events
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