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Empowering Every Voice
University Life Webinar Series

Focusing on inclusive support for diverse higher education populations

This webinar series is dedicated to enhancing the academic and personal development of students through a collaborative effort of faculty, staff, and the broader educational community. This series aims to provide a platform for continuous learning and professional development, focusing on various aspects of supporting diverse student populations.  Sessions will feature experts, practitioners, and coordinators in each field to share real-world insights.  Throughout the series we will encourage collaboration between different departments to foster a supportive campus community and provide strategies and resources for implementation in educational settings. 

Our goals include:  

  • Foster dialogue and collaboration between academic and student support services. 
  • Provide resources and share best practices for creating inclusive environments for all students. 
  • Facilitate networking opportunities for attendees to share experiences and best practices within and across institutions. 
  • Identify strategies that can be employed on SUNY campuses to better understand and serve the unique needs of diverse student populations. 

Join us in this impactful journey to create a more supportive and inclusive educational environment. Together, let’s empower our students to thrive academically and personally. 

Register

2026 – 2027 Webinar Schedule

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Meeting Adult Learners Where They Are: Innovative Strategies to Support SUNY Reconnect Students

October 15, 2026 1:30pm-2:30pm
Presenters: 

  • Ronalyn Wilson, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Community Colleges
  • Lauren McCabe, Senior Director for Administration –  Community Colleges and Education Pipeline
  • SUNY Broome and Genesee Community College staff and students

As SUNY Reconnect expands opportunities for adult learners to return to higher education, campuses are reimagining how they design services, spaces, and academic experiences to better meet the needs of non-traditional students. This session will highlight promising practices from across the SUNY system that are creating more welcoming, accessible, and student-centered environments for adult learners. Here from practitioners, as well as students benefiting from these services.

Participants will explore strategies such as utilizing student feedback and survey data to drive continuous improvement, developing Adult Learner Specialist and Navigator roles to provide personalized support, creating dedicated spaces and lounges that foster community and belonging, reconfiguring course schedules to include evening and weekend options, and establishing tailored student service locations that make navigating campus easier for working adults and students with family responsibilities.

Supporting Registered Apprentices

November 18th, 2026 1:30pm-2:30pm
Presenters: 

  • Denise Zieske, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development
  • Mary Kohan, Project Manager Apprenticeship Programs at SUNY
  • SUNY Students supported by apprentice programs

Join us to learn more about Registered Apprentices on your campus. Apprenticeships serve as an alternative pathway to higher education. These non-traditional students work full time while completing training tied to their job. Current SUNY funded students who were supported by Apprenticeship Programs, who have completed one apprenticeship trade and are now working on a second. Their stories highlight how apprenticeship and higher education work together to create accessible, career-focused opportunities for lifelong learning and degree attainment.

Neuro-Inclusive Messaging: Strategies for Improving Mutual Understanding When Communicating with Neurodiverse Students

December 9, 2026 1:30pm-2:30pm
Presenter: 

  • Natasha Newman, MS/CAS, Learning Specialist in the Student Accessibility Services Office at SUNY Brockport

Navigating academic expectations, social relationships, and new routines can be challenging for many college students. For neurodivergent students, these challenges are often compounded by environments and communication norms that were not designed with their needs in mind. This webinar explores how communication breakdowns between individuals of different neurotypes are often the result of differing communication styles rather than a lack of understanding or effort. While many neurodivergent students spend years learning to navigate neurotypical communication norms, neurotypical individuals may have had fewer opportunities to learn about and understand neurodivergent communication styles. Participants will gain insight into the ways neurodiversity influences communication and learn practical, neuro-inclusive strategies that foster greater clarity, connection, and mutual understanding. Through concrete examples and actionable techniques, attendees will be better equipped to communicate effectively with students across a range of neurotypes and create more inclusive college environments.

Pathways to Purpose: Supporting and Empowering Students in Recovery

February 25, 2027 1:30pm-2:30pm
Presenters:

  • Julie Lindh, Assistant Professor of Human and Addiction Services, Social Science Division Chair at SUNY Fulton Montgomery Community College 
  • Empire State Service Corp Members 

The need for recovery-supportive environments on college campuses has never been greater. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (SAMHSA), 27.1% of young adults ages 18–25 meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, and many more are impacted through family members, friends, or other important relationships. As colleges work to support student well-being, creating a culture that fosters recovery, belonging, and connection is essential.

Join colleagues from SUNY Fulton-Montgomery Community College as they share how they have intentionally built recovery capital through innovative, student-centered initiatives that promote wellness, connection, and community engagement. Participants will learn about FMCC’s evolving campus network of recovery supports, including the Action in Recovery Club, the annual All Recovery Day celebration, the Pathways Room, and the Pathways to Prevention wellness course. Presenters will include members of the SUNY Empire State Service Corp, who will also discuss how strong partnerships with community organizations have expanded resources and strengthened support for students in recovery navigating higher education.

This session will highlight practical strategies for developing recovery-friendly campuses where students feel connected, supported, and empowered to thrive—demonstrating that recovery truly happens in the community.

Beyond the Classroom: How SUNY Campuses Are Advancing Basic Needs Support for Student Success

March 24, 2027 1:30pm-2:30pm
Presenters:

  • Courtney Braun, Basic Needs Manager; Lourdes Thebaud, Director of Student Development
  • Campus Partners

College students’ ability to succeed is deeply connected to their ability to access essential resources such as food, housing, transportation, childcare, financial support, and wellness services. Across SUNY, campuses are developing innovative approaches to identify and address basic needs challenges while creating more equitable and supportive environments for all students.

This session will highlight promising practices and campus-based solutions that help students overcome barriers and remain engaged in their educational journeys. Presenters will share strategies for building cross-campus partnerships, leveraging data to identify student needs, connecting students with resources, and creating sustainable systems of support. Participants will explore how SUNY campuses are moving beyond crisis in response to develop proactive, student-centered approaches that promote belonging, persistence, and success.

Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging: Empowering First-Generation Students

April 22, 2027 1:30pm-2:30pm
Presenters:

  • SUNY First Generation Ambassadors

Join SUNY’s First-Generation Student Ambassadors for an engaging conversation about their experiences as first-generation college students and leaders across SUNY campuses. During this webinar, ambassadors will share their personal journeys, discuss the impact of the SUNY First-Generation Student Ambassador Program, and highlight how the initiative fosters belonging, leadership, advocacy, and student success. Participants will gain valuable insights into the first-generation student experience while learning about the resources, connections, and opportunities that help students thrive throughout their college journey.

This session will highlight promising practices and campus-based solutions that help students overcome barriers and remain engaged in their educational journeys. Presenters will share strategies for building cross-campus partnerships, leveraging data to identify student needs, connecting students with resources, and creating sustainable systems of support. Participants will explore how SUNY campuses are moving beyond crisis in response to develop proactive, student-centered approaches that promote belonging, persistence, and success.

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Contact Us

The SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) supports a wide range of professional development opportunities for the academic, technical, and leadership communities across the SUNY System.

Phone: 315-214-2440

Email: cpdinfo@suny.edu

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