CSL Connect Conference 2025

Agenda

The day will begin with an all-CSL meeting and an opportunity to hear from the CSL Culture & Community Workgroup and the CSL Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workgroup. The day will then transition to opportunities for us to tell the story of our work across Campus and Student Life, build bridges in our work, and engage in peer-to-peer learning from your colleagues.

Registration

Registration for CSL Connect is now open and closes on May 23. You will be asked to pre-select which breakout sessions you would like to attend, please see the schedule below for session descriptions. Register here. 

Schedule

• 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration (Coffee and Tea Service Available) & Headshots (Limited Time Slots Available, Register Here) 

• 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Opening Session

  • Welcome and introduction by Mike Hayes, Dean of Students in the University

  • Updates from the CSL Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group and the CSL Culture & Community Working Group

• 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM: Breakout Session 1

  • Financial Systems Transformation (FST) Roundtable 
    Presenter: Akari Rokumoto, Assistant Director of Business Operations, Center for Leadership and Involvement

    • ​This roundtable discussion invites CSL financial administrators to share their experiences and challenges in processing payments and transfers since the implementation of FST.

  • Navigating Difficult Conversations: Tools, Mindsets, and Strategies for Impactful Dialogue
    Presenter: Christopher Burpee, Director, Student Centers

    • This presentation equips staff with tools and strategies to navigate challenging conversations with students, colleagues, supervisors, and campus partners. Through real-life examples and practical communication frameworks, participants will learn to approach sensitive topics with empathy, clarity, and confidence to foster trust, accountability, and professional growth.

  • Recent Alumni in CSL: Leveraging Institutional Knowledge and Community Connections
    Presenters: Angelike Koniaris, Campus Inclusion Fellow, Center for Identity + Inclusion & Trinity Rodgers, Campus Inclusion Fellow, Center for Identity + Inclusion

    • This panel discussion features recent UChicago alumni now working in Campus and Student Life. The panelists will discuss how their experiences as students informed their work in CSL, with an emphasis on institutional knowledge and community building. They will also provide advice to offices looking to create positions for recent graduates.

  • QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer: A Suicide Prevention Model
    Presenter: Amy Bevins, Associate Director of Residential Care & Community, Housing & Residence Life

    • This session will include a presentation, discussion, and practice scenarios around suicide prevention. Participants will increase their awareness of stigma and understand suicide as a public health issue, and learn how to recognize warning signs, apply the Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) method, and access local and national referral resources. 

• 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM: Coffee Break

• 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM: Breakout Session 2

  • Intro to Group Work and Group Dynamics (Presentation/Workshop Format)
    Presenter: Kenji Kuramitsu, Associate Dean for Community Life, Rockefeller Chapel

    • This presentation will provide an overview of group work in affinity, therapeutic, and task-based groups, drawing from both clinical and organizational frameworks. Topics will include stages of group development, common member roles, and practical strategies for group leaders and facilitators. The session will conclude with a Q&A and discussion to support participants in applying insights to their specific contexts.

  • ServiceNow for Managing Customer Service (Presentation Format)
    Presenter: Kevin Shalla, Director of Technology, Bursar; Dan Rusnak, Internal Systems and Service Automation Manager, Information Technology Services (ITS) 

    • This presentation will highlight how the Bursar’s Office has used ServiceNow to manage inquiries efficiently across multiple audiences, improving response and resolution times. Participants will learn about the platform’s benefits, potential pitfalls, and how it can be used to support their units needs. There will also be an opportunity to ask ITS technical questions about the platform.

  • Dean on Call: A Week in the Life (Panel Format)
    Presenters: Belinda Cortez Vazquez, Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs and Director, UChicago HELP; Cassie Kramer, Assistant Director of Operations, Campus & Student Life; Lynda Daher, Assistant Dean of Students in the University & Associate Director, UChicago HELP

    • This panel discussion offers an inside look at the Dean-on-Call role, featuring DoCs sharing real-life experiences supporting students through crises. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of emergency response protocols and opportunities to get more involved in student support. The panel will feature UChicago HELP staff, Belinda Vazquez, Lynda Daher, and Cassie Kramer. 

  • Shaping the Future of the CSL Student Staff Training Program (Roundtable Format)
    Presenters: Aliya Syed, Assistant Director of training and Development, Housing & Residence Life; Elizabeth Webb, Director of Health Promotion, Student Wellness; Michael Kulma, Associate Director of Programs and Communications, International House

    • This round table discussion will focus on elevating the impact and effectiveness of our CSL student staff through a shared and collaborative Student Staff Training. This interactive session is designed to gather your valuable insights and experiences to inform the development of a comprehensive and impactful all-CSL student staff training initiative. Together we’ll explore, essential training areas, collaboration for efficiency, addressing key challenges, and supporting the whole student. Come prepared to share your ideas, challenges, and aspirations for a more robust and impactful CSL experience for everyone involved.

• 12:00 PM: Transition to Unit Celebrations for the Afternoon

CSL Connect Magazine

As part of this year’s CSL Connect Conference, we will be featuring some of your inspiring stories and impactful work in the CSL Connect Magazine. Submissions are closed. Questions may be directed to Ian Young, Communications Manager at CSL Central, at ianyoung@uchicago.edu. 

Conference Planning Team

• Cara Bolek, Nurse Practitioner, Student Wellness
• Derek Bundy, Associate Director of Operations, Campus and Student Life
• Angelica Cazares, International Student Adviser, Office of International Affairs
• Amie Clark, Student Involvement Advisor, Center for Leadership and Involvement
• Emmy Drover, Communications Manager, Office of the Bursar
• Jessica Herron, Assistant Director of Operations, Woodlawn Residential Commons, Housing & Residence Life
• Cassie Kramer, Assistant Director of Operations, Campus and Student Life
• Francesca Schroeder, Curriculum Management Coordinator, Office of the Registrar
• Shoshi Spurlock, Associate Director of Building Services, Student Centers
• Aliya Syed, Assistant Director of Training and Development, Housing & Residence Life
• Ian Young, Communications Manager, Campus and Student Life