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Monday, August 6, 2012

Innovative Educators Webinar: Inspired To Be First: Increasing The Success Rate Of African American & Latino/a First-Generation College Students


    
Inspired To Be First: Increasing The Success Rate Of

Thursday, September 13 ~ 1:00-2:30pm EDT


  
Free Resources

Webinar Overview
As educators at all levels seek to increase accessibility to higher education for students whose parents did not attend college, it is essential to seek out the strengths and assets first-generation students bring to the table. But institutions must not stop there. It is the responsibility of the educator, once these strengths are identified, to help students use them to their advantage. It is the social responsibility of the institution to design programs and initiatives around new understandings of the students they seek to serve.

The objective of this webinar does not rest at providing information. Rather, it challenges participants to answer the question "now what?" Armed with successful new strategies, participants will be encouraged to explore what can be done at their own institutions to make a difference for students who have become the first in the family to attend college.

"Understanding the complex nature of first-generation students and the entities that work together to aid in their success is an important first step toward increasing college enrollment and graduation rates for this student population. While a deficit model would indeed tell us what they do not receive and what they do not do, understanding what has worked for first-generation students places educators in a much better position to develop solutions, rather than overemphasize challenges."

Webinar Objectives
Participants will:
  • Examine the pre-college experiences, strengths, and success strategies of first-generation students
  • Discuss the unique experiences of African American and Latino/a first-generation students, including similarities, differences, and special circumstances
  • Explore the ways in which university professionals can nurture the unique strengths of first-generation students to enhance student success through college
  • Identify strategies for how participants can best serve first-generation students who struggle in their transition to college

Webinar Speaker
Dr. Pamela Larde has ten years of professional experience in the field of higher education and holds professional memberships with the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Higher Education Consultants Association, the American College Personnel Association, and the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a master's degree in College Student Affairs, and a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service. Her research examines self-determination, service member-reintegration, intimate relationships, and access to higher education for underrepresented populations, particularly first-generation students. She has presented her research at numerous national conferences over the past several years and has contributed a chapter to a book on first-generation students (2012), entitled Research Studies in Higher Education: Educating Multicultural Students. She is also releasing a motivational book entitled Letters to the Broken-Hearted during summer of 2012. Currently, she is an assistant professor of qualitative research and higher education at Mercer University.

Educational Journey
Through her own experience as a young single mom who struggled to craft an educational plan for herself, Dr. Pamela discovered that there are many others who also desire a college education, but fall short simply because they do not know where to begin. While in pursuit of her undergraduate degree in journalism, she remained an active leader in no less than four student organizations. Through aggressive conversations and extensive research at the age of 20, she uncovered widely unknown resources such as free childcare and full financial support for single parents in pursuit of a college education. When she graduated, her son was only three years old and she became the first in her family to earn a college degree. Upon graduation, Pamela knew that her calling was to empower others by helping them also pursue a college education.

After receiving her bachelor's degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Dr. Pamela worked as a public relations coordinator for a major media company, but soon felt a strong calling to the field of education. She responded to the call by accepting a recruiting position in the admissions office of a college with alternative education degree programs and simultaneously enrolled in the College Student Affairs masters degree program at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. The two years to follow truly honed not only her motivational speaking, counseling, and interpersonal skills, but also her understanding of the world of higher education.

As a graduate student, Dr. Pamela conducted several research studies about college access and integration, and presented the findings to one of her studies at her first national conference in 2003. After graduation, she continued her work in student affairs, and took positions that focused on leadership and student development at the Claremont Colleges in Southern California and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. After three years and an award for Outstanding New Professional in Student Affairs, she was promoted to Assistant Dean for Intercultural Programs at Marquette University where she had the opportunity to work closely with a variety of underrepresented student populations to ensure a positive college experience.
She decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University to better position herself to help develop leadership skills in others, particularly with the purpose of helping them live fulfilling lives.

While still a student in the doctoral program, she launched, EmpowerMe! CollegePrep!, a personal consulting company dedicated to assisting individuals and their families with the pursuit of a college degree. She also earned certification as a life and relationship coach. Dr. Pamela has received numerous awards for her efforts, including:
  • Journalism Department Head Award for Leadership in Journalism (2000)
  • Jesuit Association of Student Personnel Administrators - Ignatian Medal for an Outstanding New Professional (2005)
  • Marquette University Business Plan Competition (EmpowerMe! CollegePrep) - Best Service Plan (2008)
  • Marquette University Business Plan Competition (EmpowerMe! CollegePrep) - Best Live Presentation (2008)
  • Wisconsin College Personnel Association - Awarded "Best in Show" for presentation at WCPA regional conference (2009)
  • American College Personnel Association - Featured as Showcase Presenter at ACPA national conference (2010)

Free Offerings



Upcoming Webinars
August 7 -Creating A Successful First-Year Transition Program For Transfer Students

August 7 -Appreciative Education & Supplemental Instruction: Optimizing The Experience For Leaders & Participants

August 8 -Enhancing Part-Time Instructor Performance Through Inclusion And Meaningful Mentoring Practices

August 8 -Best Practices In Providing Exceptional Customer Service In Higher Education Organizations

August 15 -The New "At-Risk" Student Seminar: Increasing Retention, Success & Institutional Support

August 22 -Best Practices In College Teaching: Designing Effective Rubrics

August 23 (Flex Date 1) -Danger In The Workplace: Helping Student Employees Manage Aggressive & Threatening Behaviors

August 24 (Free) -Ending Campus Violence: New Approaches To Prevention

September 11 (Part 1) -Using Disruptive Innovation To Enhance Student Motivation

September 12 -Developing A Campus Honor Code: A Unifying Force Of Civility

September 12 -Best Practices In College Teaching: Creating An Active Learning Environment

September 13 -Inspired To Be First: Increasing The Success Rate Of African American & Latino/a First-Generation College Students

September 19 -Privacy Rights: How Faculty Can Navigate The FERPA Maze

September 20 -Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect, & Deter Dishonesty

September 21 -Student Retention & Success In Community Colleges: Cognitive Development Theory For Faculty

September 25 (Flex Date 2) -Danger In The Workplace: Helping Student Employees Manage Aggressive & Threatening Behaviors

September 27  -Supporting ADA Accommodations: Manageable Solutions For Faculty

September 28 -How Faculty Can Recognize & Manage Mental Health Issues In The Classroom


Innovative Educators

3277 Carbon PL
Boulder, CO 80301
303-955-0415
Kristen@ieinfo.org 

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IE | 13635 Clermont Court | Thornton | CO | 80602

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