Connect with colleagues from across the university over a light breakfast and begin the day in a collaborative, welcoming environment.

Senior leadership will welcome attendees, recognize the power of community, highlight the impact of our work, and help set the tone for the day.

Participants will be assigned a themed working session group and engage in facilitated discussions, guided by campus experts, to explore opportunities to strengthen student success across the student experience.

During this panel, experts from across campus will share perspectives on how we can foster a stronger culture of care to help minimize burnout, demoralization, and disengagement among employees. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A.

Panel Moderator: 

Fany DeJesus Hannon, Dean of Students, Dean of Students Office, Division of Student Life & Enrollment

Panelists:

David Ouimette, Senior Executive Director, Institute for Student Success

Angela Rola, Senior Director for Inclusion and Cultural Engagement, Division of Student Life & Enrollment

Maureen Armstrong, Associate Dean of Students, Dean of Students Office, Division of Student Life & Enrollment

Jim Lowe, Associate Vice President for Operations and Workforce Strategy, Division of Student Life & Enrollment

Laura Tropp, Director of Academic Affairs & Associate Campus Director of UConn Stamford

Melanie Sinche, Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Success, The Graduate School

Cyndi Costanzo, Associate Vice President for Student Life, Division of Student Life & Enrollment

Enjoy a networking, community-building lunch and continue conversations with colleagues from across the university.

Choose from a range of optional sessions focused on connection, mindfulness, creativity, and innovation, intentionally designed to help you recharge and refocus.

Attendees will choose 1 session to participate in.

• Chair Yoga and Stretch, hosted by UConn Rec (Capacity: Up to 40 Seats)
  • In this session, participants will engage in gentle movement and guided stretching techniques designed to improve mobility, reduce tension, and support overall wellbeing. All exercises can be easily incorporated into the workday and performed right from your desk.

• Innovating Wellness: The Bored Game, hosted by the Innovation Zone (Capacity: Up to 40 Seats) 
  • In this session, participants will be guided through an engaging, hands-on activity focusing on the exploration of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial mindset, and showcase how those themes can apply to self-care and wellness through play and gamification.

• Coping with Stress: Mindfulness & Breathing, hosted by SHAW (Capacity: Up to 30 Seats) 
  • In this session, participants can take a moment to slow down, reset, and recharge through guided mindfulness and breathing activities designed to support relaxation and overall wellbeing. This session offers a calm and supportive space for reflection, balance, and personal renewal.

• Board Game Room (No host. Capacity: Up to 40 Seats)
  • Take a break, recharge, and connect with colleagues in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of board games designed to encourage conversation, collaboration, creativity, and lighthearted fun.

• Meditation & Wellness, hosted by Student Activities (Capacity: Up to 40 Seats)
  • Take time to pause and recharge through guided mindfulness and meditation activities focused on supporting overall wellness and balance. This session offers a calming space for reflection, relaxation, and intentional self-care throughout the day.

• Coloring & Connection (No host. Capacity: Up to 200 Seats)
  • Participants will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of coloring pages while engaging in informal conversation with colleagues across campus. This session offers a low-pressure environment to relax, recharge, and build community through creativity and shared dialogue.

• Take a walk (No host. Capacity: Unlimited)
  • Step away from the conference space and enjoy time outdoors with a walk around campus. This session provides an opportunity to recharge, get fresh air, reflect on the day’s conversations, and connect informally with colleagues in a more relaxed setting.

• Free time for Personal Renewal (No host. Capacity: Unlimited)
  • Use this time in whatever way best supports your personal and professional wellbeing. Whether you choose to relax, catch up on emails, continue conversations with colleagues, or simply take a quiet moment for yourself, this flexible session is intended to provide space for rest and renewal throughout the day.

Attendees will return to their assigned room from the morning session to build on earlier discussions and focus on translating ideas into actionable approaches to strengthen student success.

The conference will conclude with a collective debrief, highlighting key ideas and insights to help inform what comes next for student success at UConn.