Division News
Counseling and Mental Health Center
- Our clinical team has adopted a new platform, Therapy Assistance Online, to improve the care we are able to deliver to our students. Our counselors can use the program to assign students online modules to complete between counseling sessions.
- Our team will host Sexual Violence Prevention Month to raise awareness and support survivors. Check out the events.
- Our staff will host the fourth annual Mental Health Promotion Week April 8-12. This series of events promotes positive well-being, giving students the ability to explore topics like mindfulness, community, diversity, self-care and resilience.
- Our office launched Off-Campus Living Resources to assist UT Austin students by providing tools and resources for off-campus living. Paige Muehlenkamp has joined our team as the off campus and outreach coordinator. She will help address the specific needs of students who do not live on campus, including nontraditional and commuter students.
Shannon Price and Kayleigh Damphousse at the Association for Orientation Transition Retention in Higher Education (NODA) Annual Conference
- We offered a professional development opportunity to six orientation advisors by bringing them to the Association for Orientation Transition Retention in Higher Education (NODA) Annual Conference. Shannon Price and Kayleigh Damphousse accompanied them on the trip to Arkansas.
- Graduate Assistants Noemi Madera and Ozden Bennett led Horns Helping Horns students on their spring service project, “It’s My Park Day.” They worked with volunteers to clean up the Adams-Hemphill Park near campus.
Office of the Dean of Students
- Our Student Activities team is reminding our campus partners that annual registration for all student organizations, including registered and sponsored organizations, must be completed by April 22 on HornsLink.
- Our Sorority and Fraternity Life staff are hosting Horns Against Hazing: The Invisible Side April 10, 7 p.m., Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom, Texas Union. The event focuses on the emotional and psychological harm that can occur in hazing. Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.
- Our Leadership and Ethics Institute staff are holding free, leadership development workshops. These workshops are open and free to all students. Full workshop descriptions and required RSVP link are available on our website.
- Their team is also accepting applications for ProjectLEAD for the 2019-20120 academic year. This project management and community empowerment program gives students a hands-on experience through leadership development. They engage with the local community by participating in weekly instructive workshops to learn how to manage a project for an Austin nonprofit. Applications available on HornsLink until April 4.
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Gustavo Molinar (The Ohio State University), Ali Raza (Florida State University), Justin Samuel (University Housing and Dining) and Claudia García Louis (The University of Texas at San Antonio)
- We cohosted the UT Austin Friends & Alumni Reception during the 2019 NASPA Annual Conference with the College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. Check out the photos from the reception as well as conference presentations.
- The Division of Student Affairs Internship Program launched on March 25. Summer internships through this pilot program will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills to support a successful transition from college to career. Several Division units and departments will provide interns experiences that promote professional and personal development. Encourage students to apply by April 15.
- Save the date for the university’s annual fundraising event, 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, April 3-4.
- On April 12 we'll host Evening of the Stars in partnership with Student Activities in the Office of the Dean of Students. This event celebrates our student leaders with alumni and friends.
- Our staff is partnering with the Office of the President and Human Resources to recognize the President’s Student Employee of the Year winner and finalists. We will host the annual luncheon on April 15.
- Dr. Lilly and Division leadership will host New Staff Welcome April 30, 9-11 a.m., Texas Union Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom. Staff who have joined the Division since October 2018 can register on UT Learn.
- Our team will also host True Colors®: Keys to Personal Success May 1, 9-11 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m., and May 2, 10 a.m.-noon, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Texas Union Quadrangle Room. Staff new to the Division since April 2018 can register on UT Learn.
Texas THON in Gregory Gymnasium
- We co-sponsored the student-run Texas THON fundraiser to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The year-long fundraising campaign raised $216,491.75. See the photos.
- Our staff is supporting the efforts of our Sports Clubs, which are running a campaign for 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, the university’s annual fundraising event. Our development team is also seeking donations for upkeep of our Intramural Wall of Fame.
- On April 25 our development team is working on the 2019 Hall of Honor Awards. If you’re interested in attending, please register by April 24. They will also recognize student employee scholarship recipients at the Student Endowed Scholarship awards event on April 26.
- Darci Doll and Joe Wise participated in the NIRSA Championship Series Regional Basketball Championship tournament in College Station. As members of the Officials Development Committee, they shared their expertise with students during officiating clinics. They also chaperoned two of our students selected to officiate at the tournament.
- We are recruiting approximately 30 Family Orientation Student Leaders to help our team welcome incoming parents and families to the university during summer orientation sessions. Applications are due April 16.
- Our team is busy preparing to introduce new parents and families to the university during Family Orientation. Check out the schedules for freshman and transfer families.
- We are hosting our 2019 Spring Ambassadors Council meeting on April 5. We’ll recognize council members who are retiring after the completion of their two-year term and board members’ students who are graduating in May. We’ll also announce the recipients and finalists of the Outstanding Student Award.
- Texas Parents Association memberships for the 2019-20 academic year are open! All parents and families of enrolled undergraduate students are complimentary members of the Texas Parents Association (the university’s official association of parents and families), but they must sign up to start receiving benefits.
The Center for Students in Recovery
- We are celebrating our 15th anniversary milestone at our annual luncheon April 6, noon–2 p.m., AT&T Hotel and Conference Center’s Tejas Room. Read more.
- As a follow-up to our new Recovery Ally Training program, we will start offering Recovery Ally Training of Trainers, April 27, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Recovery Ally Training equips students, faculty and staff with skills to interact with students in recovery or who have a substance abuse disorder. This new program will prepare students, faculty and staff to lead a Recovery Ally Training workshop with their teams. Email or visit this page to learn more.
- Brittany O’Malley, along with the Brittany Boyer and Matthew Olson, Counseling and Mental Health Center, and Sierra Castedo, The Center for Students in Recovery, visited UT Permian Basin to provide consultation on a variety of new programs they are hoping to launch on their campus. UT Austin is serving as the model for collegiate recovery programs, bystander education, and Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) program.
- The University of Texas at Austin purchased the 16-story residential building at 2400 Nueces St. late last month. The property will be used for future campus expansion, including student housing and the UT Austin International Office. We will provide oversight of the property, and Greystar, the current property manager, will manage day-to-day operations.
- We are working to increase capacity in graduate student housing by 190 students at the University Apartments. After an internal analysis and meetings with campus partners, we are making changes to the contract’s terms and conditions.
Sotear Kuy at the Cook-Wise Cooking Class
- Our nutrition team hosted five pop-up events and one cooking class for National Nutrition Month. Their goal was to feature recipes that students can prepare where they live, using basic ingredients and equipment.
- Campus Events + Entertainment hosted the annual César Chávez Legacy Dinner featuring Andrés Chávez, grandson of the civil right activist. Check out the photos.
- The Campus Events + Entertainment team is also getting ready for the Student Endowed Centennial Lectureship on April 16. They have partnered with The Center for Sports Leadership & Innovation to host An Evening with Aly Raisman, featuring the Olympic gold medalist and Arthur Ashe Courage Award Winner. Entry is free, with seating priority given to UT Austin students with UT ID, then to other UT ID holders, and finally to the general public.
Letter from Gov. Greg Abbott
- Governor Greg Abbott recognized the Cactus Café’s 40th anniversary and its influence on the Texas music scene with a signed letter. We partnered with KUT to host anniversary shows in Hogg Memorial Auditorium, Texas Union Theatre and Cactus Café.
Standouts
Emily Bouck-West (Higher Learning Advocates), Emily Wilkins (Bloomberg Government) and Soncia Reagins-Lilly at SXSW Edu
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly participated in the SXSW Edu panel discussion, “How Do Today’s Students Shape Campus Culture?” Learn what she shared in this video.
Kate Czar, Counseling and Mental Health Center, presented “Cultural Considerations in Offering Mindfulness-Based Groups” at the American Group Psychotherapy Association conference.
Kayleigh Damphousse, New Student Services, presented “Too Blessed to be Stressed: Navigating High Stress Situations” at the Association for Orientation Transition Retention in Higher Education (NODA) Annual Conference.
Edna Domínguez and Dr. Audrey Sorrells
Edna Domínguez, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and Dr. Audrey Sorrells, Office of the Dean of Students, presented “IDI Group Profile Report Presentation” to Educational Psychology (354L).
Faith Miller (University Housing and Dining)
Faith Miller, University Housing and Dining, received the 2019 Ohio State Emerging Professional Award from the Student Personnel Assistantship Program. The Emerging Professional Award honors an alum of the Ohio State Higher Education and Student Affairs master’s program.
Justin Samuel, University Housing and Dining, presented “Respectful Communication: Discourse Across Backgrounds and Beliefs” to 25 students in the Cockrell School of Engineering.
Gerard Smithwrick, Howard Thrasher and Justin Samuel (University Housing and Dining)
Howard Thrasher, University Housing and Dining, received the Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers (SWACUHO) Bob Huss Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
Jennifer Zamora, University Unions, was inducted as President of the Association of College Unions International (ACUI).
Division presenters at the Office of Admission’s LEAD (Longhorn Excellence and Discovery) Texas event on March 9:
- Dr. Celena Mondie-Milner, New Student Services: “First-Generation Longhorns”
- Melissa Porch, New Student Services: “Next Steps to Enrollment”
National recognitions during the 2019 Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Annual Conference:
Justin Samuel (University Housing and Dining)
Justin Samuel, University Housing and Dining, received the Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award presented by NASPA’s Asian Pacific Islanders Knowledge Community. This national honor recognizes commitment to programs that address the needs of students, student learning and personal development, and the advancement of Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi Americans in higher education.
Division presenters at the 2019 Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Annual Conference:
Justin Jaskowiak, University Housing and Dining: “Uncovering and Mitigating Bias: Designing Student Staff Selection to Ensure All Students Have Opportunities to Participate”
Justin Jaskowiak, Shauna Sobers, Mylon Kirsky and Tiana Lindberg (University Housing and Dining)
Justin Jaskowiak, Mylon Kirksy, Tiana Lindberg and Shauna Sobers, University Housing and Dining: “Improving Students’ Intercultural Competency Skills”
Justin Samuel and Justin Jaskowiak (University Housing and Dining)
Justin Jaskowiak and Justin Samuel, University Housing and Dining: “Preparing the Next Gen: Designing Inclusive and Innovative Professional Development Plans for Graduate Assistants”
Ashley Jones (Office of the Dean of Students)
Ashley Jones, Office of the Dean of Students: “Wearing Different Hats: How LGBQ+ Undergraduates Navigate Their Spiritual and Sexual Orientation Identities”
Mylon Kirksy (University Housing and Dining), Khristian Kemp-Delisser (Syracuse University), Jeff Perkins (The Ohio State University), Kahan Sablo (George Mason University) and Stephan Moore (Louisiana State University at Alexandria)
Mylon Kirksy, University Housing and Dining, with Khristian Kemp-Delisser, Syracuse University, Stephan Moore, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Jeff Perkins, The Ohio State University, and Kahan Sablo, George Mason University: “Quaring Black Masculinity: Black Queer Male Student Affairs Professionals”
Virginia Luehrsen (Office of the Dean of Students)
Virginia Luehrsen, Office of the Dean of Students: “Transitioning to the Vice Presidency: View from the Individual and the Institution”
Justin Samuel (University Housing and Dining), Benji Jensen (San Diego State University), Nathaniel Palmer (Northeastern State University), Too Hiremath (Florida State University) and Chelsea Whitaker (The Ohio State University)
Justin Samuel, University Housing and Dining, with Roo Hiremath, Florida State University, Benji Jensen, San Diego State University, Nathaniel Palmer, Northeastern State University, and Chelsea Whitaker, The Ohio State University: “Student Affairs Journey”
Hemlata Jhaveri (University of California, San Diego), Marilyn Tyus and Shauna Sobers (University Housing and Dining)
Shauna Sobers and Marilyn Tyus, University Housing and Dining, with Hemlata Jhaveri, University of California, San Diego: “Sharing and Learning the Common Themes of Women of Color: Resiliency and Self-Care”
Aaron Voyles, University Housing and Dining: “Adaptive Leadership in the Era of Accountability: Strategies for Developing Meaningful Shared Values that Transform Institutions”
Aaron Voyles, University Housing and Dining: “Uncovering and Mitigating Bias: Designing Student Staff Selection to Ensure All Students Have Opportunities to Participate”
