A stylized compass logo with the words "OACADA Spring '25 Virtual Conference" over the center and "Guiding with Joy & Purpose" along the bottom.

Spring 2025 Virtual Webinar Series

The OACADA Spring 2025 Virtual Webinar Series ran from January 27, 2025 through January 31, 2025. This free webinar series was open to all members and non-members of the organization at no charge. 

We want to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who registered, attended, and presented. With 322 registrants from six states, including Oklahoma, this event was a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. We know how valuable your time is, and we truly enjoyed engaging with you in discussions that support our students.

If you have not already, we encourage you to formally join the organization to ensure you can access recordings of sessions, which will be made available in the membership library in the coming weeks.

Monday, January 27, 2025

9:00 – 10:00 am

Online

Opening Session and Business Meeting

Meet your OACADA Steering Committee, attend the first 2025 business meeting, and hear about how you can serve the advising community of Oklahoma

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Online

S1. Reelin’ in the Generations: Academic Advising in a Multi-generational World

Sarah Chabinak

Oklahoma State University

Much research has been done about the seven generations born since 1900 and stereotypes (and nostalgia!) abound. This session will focus on the four generations currently populating our higher education institutions (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z) as well as a preview of the next generation coming soon to a campus near you (Gen Alpha). Let’s examine some of the stereotypes and focus on how we can use the strengths and preferences of each generation for pleasant and productive advising relationships to inspire student success in current and future generations as we stow away the time!

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Online

S2. The Prime Directive of Advising: Fostering Multicultural Communication in the Spirit of Star Trek

Twambi Kerstetter

Oklahoma State University

To boldly go where no academic advisor has gone before! This presentation explores how Communication Accommodation Theory (Giles et al., 1991), combined with the Appreciative Advising Model (Bloom et al., 2013), can equip advisors with tools to continue breaking down barriers while keeping multiculturalism in mind. Star Trek will help illustrate cultural barriers and the importance of cultural awareness.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

9:00 – 10:00 am

Online

S3. Creating a Data Collection Plan to Assess Progress Toward Your Organization’s Goals and Objectives

Sarah Connelly and Natalie Dickson

University of Oklahoma

How do you know you are making progress toward your academic advising unit’s goals and objectives? It is essential to create a data collection plan that will allow your organization to collect the data necessary to assess progress. In this session, you will learn how to craft measurable goals and objectives and how to create a data collection plan to track your organization’s progress. This will be an interactive presentation with examples and templates provided.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Online

S4. State Regents Policy Update

Stephanie Beauchamp

Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education

Join us for updates on the latest Oklahoma State Regents policies impacting college transfer students. This session will cover recent changes, upcoming initiatives, and how these policies aim to improve the transfer process across Oklahoma’s higher education institutions.

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Online

S5. Invisible Disability and Higher Education: Being Sick Is a Lot of Work

Joey Cannon

University of Oklahoma

An intrinsic case study of my own experiences in higher education as someone with invisible disabilities. An exploration of both internal and external perplexity of invisible disability, through the lens of my background as an undergraduate student, graduate student, staff member, and faculty member. A testament to empowering others through empowering the self. A demand for radical compassion.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

9:00 – 10:00 am

Online

S6. Make It Make Sense: How to Use Metaphors and Scaffolding to Help Students Understand the Why

Sarah Olinghouse-Rockwell

University of Oklahoma

This workshop will illustrate the importance of using metaphors to help students understand WHY they should do something- not just what they should do. This workshop will also teach strategies for creating metaphors and comparisons to best connect with students. This workshop will use an example for how I explain the importance of medical experience to pre-health students to create buy in from students and allow them to craft their experiences to their own personalities.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Online

S7. Equipping Students to Ethically Engage with AI in Higher Education

Ashleigh Snell

Oklahoma State University

As AI-driven tools like ChatGPT become increasingly prevalent in higher education, students have gained access to new opportunities for assistance with academic tasks. However, the use of such tools raises significant questions about academic integrity, ethical responsibility, and the proper boundaries for AI assistance. This session will provide academic advisors and educators with strategies to guide students on how to use AI-driven tools effectively and ethically without compromising their learning or violating institutional policies.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Online

S8. Burnt out from the beginning: Navigating the seasons of advising as a neurodivergent advisor

Brie Bradshaw

Oklahoma State University

Professionals within higher education face a large workload throughout the academic year. Professional staff with neurodivergence (disclosed or not) can face additional workload in their daily tasks that is masked and not often noticed. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the lack of research focused on neurodivergent professionals rather than students. How can research directed to Neurodivergent staff members provide benefits across all employees? This presentation aims to inform participants of the hidden workload and how supporting staff can positively impact student advising experiences.

Friday, January 31, 2025

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Online

S9. Spring 2025 OACADA Book Club: The Lightmaker’s Manifesto

Calon-Nicole Gunter-Cox

OACADA Steering Committee

Join us for the inaugural meeting of the Spring 2025 OACADA Book Club as we dive into The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond. This inspiring and thought-provoking book invites readers to reflect on how they can create meaningful change while maintaining balance and joy in their lives.

In this session, we will explore Part I: Clearing, where Walrond introduces the concept of “lightmaking” and encourages us to identify our personal sources of joy and purpose. Through discussion, we’ll consider how these ideas resonate with our work as academic advisors and how they can empower us to approach challenges with optimism and authenticity.

Come ready to share your insights, connect with colleagues, and uncover ways to sustain joy in your professional and personal lives. All attendees are welcome, whether you’ve read the entire section or just a few pages. We look forward to a rich and engaging conversation!  To be informed of future meetings, receive the reading schedule, and get access to book club kit materials, be sure to register for the club!