The Way Up Conference 2024: Knowledge, Growth, and Perseverance on The Way Up: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

7:30am CST

Registration Open

Friday November 8, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST

Friday November 8, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST
Prefunction Area Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

7:30am CST

Continental Breakfast

Friday November 8, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST

General Session: Coral Ballroom ABC

Friday November 8, 2024 7:30am - 8:30am CST
General Session: Coral Ballroom ABC Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, Coralville, IA 52241

General Session

8:30am CST

Welcome & Announcements

Friday November 8, 2024 8:30am - 8:45am CST

General Session: Coral Ballroom ABC

Friday November 8, 2024 8:30am - 8:45am CST
General Session: Coral Ballroom ABC Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, Coralville, IA 52241

General Session

8:45am CST

Empowering Learners: A Multimodal Approach to Universal Design

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST

Coral Ballroom D

Explore the transformative power of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in fostering student agency. This session unveils a pioneering anti-anxiety course design, showcasing strategies that shift the traditional educational dynamic to a collaborative partnership, empowering students to tailor their learning experiences. Please bring your device to this session.

Speakers

Adriana Ojeda

Instructional Designer, University of Iowa

Adriana is an instructional designer and advocate for equitable learning, helping guide faculty to put Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into practice. Her commitment to fostering inclusive education environments extends to promoting inclusive learning through innovative teaching... Read More →

Joanna M. T. Krajewski, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Associate Director, Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, University of Iowa

Joanna is the director of and primary instructor for the University of Iowa’s online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication program. As an educator, she hopes to inspire students to create communication that is effective and helps make a positive difference in the world. Joanna... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST
Coral Ballroom D Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions IV

8:45am CST

Empowering Personal Growth: The Importance of Self-Care for Staff and Faculty in Higher Education

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST

Coral Ballroom E

Do you find your cup of self-care and personal well-being full, half full, half empty, or empty? This interactive presentation will discuss the theoretical framework of compassion fatigue while providing self-care tools to enhance your personal and professional growth that leads to compassion satisfaction. Additionally, participants will be able to engage with colleagues experiencing similar challenges and share effective (and ineffective) strategies for maintaining their physical, emotional, and mental health.

Speakers

Ann Smith

Assistant Dean of Student Success & Director of Disability Services, Luther College

Ann Smith, Ed.D., is an Assistant Dean of Student Success and Director of Disability Services at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Dr. Smith earned her bachelor's degree from Luther College and a Master of Science in Education from Western Illinois University (WIU). Dr. Smith's career... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST
Coral Ballroom E Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions IV

8:45am CST

Navigating the Path to Professional Excellence: Strategies for Advancing Your Career

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST

Oakdale Ballroom III, IV, V

In this engaging and informative work session, we'll delve into practical strategies and insights that will empower you to propel your career forward confidently and purposefully. From mastering the daunting task of writing a resume and cover letter to exploring networking techniques and honing your leadership skills, we'll equip you with the essential tools and skills necessary to thrive as women leaders in higher education. Come prepared to engage in enriching discussions, share experiences, and create an accomplishment-based resume. This workshop will inspire you to chart your path to professional excellence, instilling a sense of empowerment. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting in higher education, join us as we navigate the path to excellence and unlock new opportunities.

Speakers

Rachael Koehler

Associate Director of Financial Aid, Iowa Valley Community College District

Rachael Koehler is the Associate Director of Financial Aid at Iowa Valley Community College District. With a robust career in higher education, Rachael’s journey began as a Student Accounts Clerk in 2012. Her commitment to furthering her expertise led her to complete an MBA in Accounting... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST
Oakdale Ballroom III, IV, V Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions IV

8:45am CST

The Pathway Planner: Promoting Holistic Student Development in Higher Education

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST

Oakdale Ballroom I, II

College students’ transcripts tell the story of their academic journey, but their experiences often reach far beyond the classroom. This interactive session will offer rich discussions around holistic student development approaches and implications of using a skill-building tool in student mentoring, advising, and career planning. The Pathway Planner is a supplemental tool to the traditional degree plan and helps students identify skills, opportunities, and benefits for participating in high-impact learning opportunities. The presenters will walk the audience through the process of developing, implementing, and assessing the tool and provide opportunities to apply it to various college environments and contexts.

Speakers

Sarah Wehner

Assistant Director for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Innovation Programs, Iowa State University

Sarah Wehner (she/her), MS, serves the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Office for Academic Innovation and Student Success. As director of the CALS Pathways to Innovation and Leadership program, she and her team help connect students' experiential learning... Read More →

Amarjargal (Amy) Mendee

PhD Candidate in Higher Education and Graduate Assistant for College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University

Amarjargal (Amy) Mendee is a doctoral candidate in the Higher Education program at Iowa State University. Her research interests are student motivation, high-impact practices, scholarship of teaching and learning, assessment and evaluation, and micro-credentialing in higher education... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 8:45am - 10:00am CST
Oakdale Ballroom I, II Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions IV

10:15am CST

Better FAFSA: Exploring the Changes, Challenges, & Impacts of the New FAFSA

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST

Oakdale Ballroom I, II

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the highest indicator of postsecondary enrollment. Last year, the US Department of Education launched its brand new, overhauled FAFSA form. In this session, participants will get an overview of the new FAFSA including major changes and challenges, which had a major effect on the number of college-intending students completing a FAFSA, as well as an impact on postsecondary enrollment. We bring together state officials, college access professionals, and financial aid officers to discuss these impacts and how Iowa has been successful in overcoming the most glaring challenges. We’ll share data and completion strategies that continue to help our students complete a FAFSA and achieve postsecondary enrollment.

Speakers

Tracie Pavon

Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Financial Aid, Simpson College

Tracie Pavon is the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Financial Aid at Simpson College. She has worked in higher education for 35 years in both admission and financial aid. Tracie has served both the Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling and the Iowa Association... Read More →

Elizabeth Yaddof

Community Engagement Consultant, Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Iowa College Aid

Elizabeth Yaddof is a Community Engagement Consultant with the Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Iowa College Aid. She serves as the program manager for the Virtual College Coach Program that connects high school and college students with college coaches as they navigate... Read More →

Erick Danielson

Vice President of Programs, Iowa College Access Network

Erick Danielson started with the ICAN at its inception in 1998. He supervises the day-to-day operations of ICAN locations throughout the state. Prior to working at ICAN, Erick was the Assistant Director of Admissions at William Penn College. He has served or currently... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST
Oakdale Ballroom I, II Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions V

10:15am CST

Building Balanced Boundaries for the Busy Professional Woman

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST

Coral Ballroom D

Uncover the pivotal role of psychological safety in enhancing team performance, reducing turnover, and driving innovation. Join this session to master the art of cultivating and guiding psychologically safe teams within your organization. Gain practical insights and resources to implement four actionable strategies for nurturing a culture of psychological safety.

Speakers

Molly J. Mackey, MBA, CPTD

Chief Learning Officer, LEAdeRNship Institute

Molly J. Mackey is an author, speaker and trainer of leaders. She believes that by intentionally intersecting the ongoing journeys of leadership and learning we can create better leaders and Better Leaders = Better Lives ™.Molly is the founder and chief learning officer of the LEAdeRNship... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST
Coral Ballroom D Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions V

10:15am CST

Career Decisions: Knowing When To Move On In Order To Move Up

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST

Coral Ballroom E

This presentation is intended to explore how attendees can take more control over their career journey rather than putting it on autopilot. The framework of the presentation will follow my career path from non-tenure track to tenure track faculty to administrator. I will then cover in some detail my last two moves, how they were planned, how I dealt with things that could not be controlled, like a boss getting fired, when I let chance play a role, and how I knew for sure when it was time to go on the job market.

Speakers

Deborah Kepple-Mamros

Executive Director, Planning, Assessment and Data, Des Moines Area Community College

Dr. Debbie Kepple-Mamros currently serves as the Executive Director for Planning, Assessment and Data at Des Moines Area Community College. Prior to this position she was the Director for Assessment, Accreditation and Strategic Planning at Western Illinois University. In the past... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST
Coral Ballroom E Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions V

10:15am CST

Navigating Tomorrow: Exploring the Interplay of Digital Citizenship and AI Innovation

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST

Oakdale Ballroom III, IV, V

This is a fun, thought-provoking, collaborative brainstorming session that will challenge you to consider issues at the intersection of digital citizenship and artificial intelligence. We will examine interesting scenarios, from fostering the responsible use of technology to harnessing AI's potential for innovation. Hopefully, it will spark a conversation on what type of knowledge, skills, and dispositions will be most needed in a global market and how to equip ourselves and future generations for success in jobs that are yet to emerge.

Speakers

Magda Galloway

Associate Professor of Instruction, University of Northern Iowa

Magdalena (Magda) Galloway is an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Education. Passionate about preparing future teachers, she integrates teaching and learning technologies, computational thinking, and generative AI (GenAI) concepts... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:30am CST
Oakdale Ballroom III, IV, V Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E 9th St, Coralville, IA 52241

Contributed and Invited Sessions V

11:30am CST

Lunch with Closing Speaker - Person-First Leadership: Women as Organizational Change Agents

Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 1:30pm CST

General Session: Coral Ballroom ABC

When leaders focus first on people, they become agents of change who challenge an institution’s tendencies to maintain the status quo. Dr. Yazedjian will leave attendees with actionable strategies (knowledge) that will build their skill sets (growth) and give them the confidence (perseverance) to transform the communities in which they work.

Speakers

Dr. Ani Yazedjian

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Illinois State University

Yazedjian is an accomplished scholar, with 60 publications and 170 invited and peer-reviewed presentations. Her primary research areas have focused on relationship education, adolescent ethnic identity development, college student adjustment and achievement, and evidence-based practice... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 1:30pm CST
General Session: Coral Ballroom ABC Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, Coralville, IA 52241

General Session