About

Staff Development Committee

On this page:

Purpose and Mission

Purpose: The Staff Development Committee creates professional development opportunities and programs for Student Affairs staff.

Mission: The Student Affairs Staff Development Committee:

  • Encourages team building and collaboration throughout Student Affairs’ departments
  • Provides funding to support participation in professional development opportunities
  • Creates opportunities for educational, social, and recreational engagement
  • Welcomes and orientates new Student Affairs employees
     

Committee Membership and Meetings

The committee consists of one representative from each unit within the division. Representatives are appointed by each department Director. Representatives serve two-year terms with half of the committee rotating off each year.

The current members are:

 Please contact Susan Howard at susan.howard@wright.edu if you are interested in joining.
 

Current Programs

Staff Development Committee Programs

  • Working with Students on the Autism Spectrum, a seminar presented by Heather Rando, Associate Director, Office of Disability Services—Thursday, September 19, at 10 a.m. in the Discovery Room, 163 Student Union

Social Opportunities

  • Book Club: Contact Ciara Newsome at ciara.newsome@wright.edu if you are interested in reading a book and meeting one evening every other month for a discussion over appetizers.
  • Lunches on Bow Tie Tuesdays: Meet for lunch every other Tuesday in the Union Market with Student Affairs colleagues (bow or bow tie is optional). Email Christopher Hogan at christopher.hogan@wright.edu if you have questions.
  • Trivia Nights: Join fellow Student Affairs staff in weekly outings to play trivia at local establishments. Email Christopher Hogan at christopher.hogan@wright.edu if interested.

Email Twila Murray (twila.murray@wright.edu) for more information about any current Staff Development Committee events.
 

Divisional Awards

Katie Deedrick Above and Beyond Award

The Division of Student Affairs' successes are made possible because of its hardworking and caring staff. Help us to recognize these dedicated staff members that exemplify going above and beyond for the division by nominating them for the Katie Deedrick Above and Beyond Award.

The Katie Deedrick Above & Beyond Award celebrates a staff member who always goes the extra mile by giving their time, support, or excellent service to our students, colleagues, and/or the Wright State community. Staff members are invited to nominate someone by writing a paragraph about why a particular staff member is deserving of this award and email it to susan.howard@wright.edu, or you may use the nomination form on Engage.

Past Recipients

  • June 2019: Jill Rarick, Administrative Support Coordinator, Residence Life and Housing
  • May 2019: Allison Newlin, Staff Therapist, Counseling and Wellness Services
  • April 2019: Stephanie Allen, Managing Attorney, Student Legal Services
  • March 2019: Julie Bertsos, Special Event Support Coordinator, Student Union Administrative Office
  • February 2019: Billy Willis, Assistant Director, Competitive Sports
  • January 2019: Eric Corbitt, Director, Student Union, Campus Recreation and Student Activities
  • December 2018: Gina Keucher, Program Director, Student Activities
  • November 2018: Mark Queen and Lisa Eizenga (Not Pictured), Community Director, Residence Life & Housing
  • September 2018: Gary Dickstein, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
  • May 2018: Mia Honaker, Administrative Support Coordinator, LANA
  • March 2018: Amanda Watkins, Associate Director, Veteran and Military Center
  • January 2018: Julia Acosta, Director, Latino, Asian, and Native American Center
  • December 2017: Destinee Biesemeyer, Coordinator for Health Promotion, Counseling and Wellness Services
  • November 2017: Petey Peterson, Director, LGBTQA Affairs
  • October 2017: Lisa Burke, Accounting Clerk, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
  • September 2017: Jennifer Turpin, Assistant Director, Fitness and Wellness, Campus Recreation
  • June 2017: Katie Deedrick, Director, Student Support Services

The Wright Stuff Award

The Wright Stuff Award is designed to acknowledge a department within or external to the Division of Student Affairs that has:

  • Gone out of their way to help another department
  • Gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist students
  • Consistently done more with less
  • Been innovative with programming and collaboration
  • Done an amazing job with a specific program or initiative

Staff is invited to give a department a pat on the back by writing a paragraph about why that unit is deserving of this award and email it to christopher.hogan@wright.edu.

*In the spirit of the award, please nominate a department other than your own*

The Staff Development Committee will review nominations and will recognize a department each semester at a division-wide activity. 

We look forward to reviewing your submissions!

Past Recipients

  • Spring 2019: Counseling and Wellness Services
  • Fall 2018: Residence Life and Housing
  • Spring 2018: Women's Center
  • Summer 2017: Office of LGBTQA Affairs
     

Past Programs

2018-2019

  • Ice Cream Social
  • Grant Writing Workshop
  • Student Union Trick or Treat for Students
  • Student Affairs Thanksgiving Luncheon
  • Working with Students on the Autism Spectrum
  • Dessert Wars
  • Wandering Griffin Event
  • Women's Basketball Game
  • Fuzz Therapy with 4Paws
  • Office Yoga
  • Student Union 2nd Floor Open House
  • Seminar on Happiness
  • Student Affairs Cookout

2017-2018

  • Floats and Fine Arts
  • Webinar: "How Student Affairs Professionals Can Support Trans Students in Today's Political Landscape
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Title IX Updates with Lindsay Wight"
  • Student Affairs Happy Hour
  • Webinar: "Onboarding Student Workers: How To Create a Sustainable & Effective Training Program"
  • Careers in Student Affairs Panel
  • Student Union Trick-Or-Treat for Students
  • Fall Harvest Party
  • Student Affairs Thanksgiving Potluck
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Bias Incident Report Team"
  • Dessert Wars
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Student Affairs Retention Roundtable"
  • Grant Writing Workshop with Brenda Dewberry
  • Student Affairs Baseball Cookout

2016-2017

  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Effectively Supervising Student Employees"
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Generation Z Goes to College"
  • Trick-Or-Treat for Students
  • A.L.I.C.E. Training
  • Student Affairs Thanksgiving Potluck
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Invisible Disabilities"
  • Dessert Wars
  • Student Affairs Painting
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Assisting Students with Mental Health Concerns"
  • Webinar: "Safe Spaces - Helping or Hurting?"

2015-2016

  • Student Affairs Ice Cream Social
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Effective Use of Social Media to Engage Students"
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Supporting Transgender Students"
  • Student Affairs Basketball Outing
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "First Amendment Panel Discussion"
  • Student Affairs Thanksgiving Potluck
  • Student Union Trick-or-Treat and Halloween Celebration for Wright State Students
  • Careers in Student Affairs Presentation with Christopher Hogan
  • Careers in Student Affairs Month Professional Headshots for SAHE Students & Student Affairs Graduate Assistants
  • 1st Annual October Walk: 1-Mile Outdoor Walk led by Trish from Fitness and Wellness
  • Dessert Wars: Student Affairs Dessert Contest
  • Student Affairs Kick-Off Breakfast

2014-2015

  • Brown Bag Lunch: “Working with Students on the Autism Spectrum” with Heather Rando & Dr. Erendira Lopez-Garcia
  • Brown Bag Lunch: Q & A with Dr. Dan Abrahamowicz, Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Student Affairs Basketball Outing
  • Brown Bag Lunch: “Your Legal Liability” with Dr. Gary Dickstein
  • Brown Bag Lunch: "Toward Defining a Curriculum in Student Affairs" Presentation on Student Affairs assessment with Dr. Dwayne Todd & Nicholas LaTorre
  • Student Affairs Baseball Cookout
  • Brown Bag: "Understanding Your Wellness Program" with Peggy Bloom