June 10, 2025 | Provo Library
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8:15-9:00am |
Registration and Breakfast |
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9:00-9:55am |
Welcome and Keynote |
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10:00-10:50am |
Session 1 |
Provo Library - See Breakout Sessions Below |
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10:55-11:45pm |
Session 2 |
Provo Library - See Breakout Sessions Below |
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11:50-12:40pm |
Lunch |
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12:45-1:35pm |
Session 3 |
Provo Library - See Breakout Sessions Below |
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1:40-2:30pm |
Session 4 |
Provo Library - See Breakout Sessions Below |
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2:35-3:45pm |
Raffle prizes, Awards, Conclusion |
*Parking Information can be found here.
Dr. Leandra H. Hernández
Dr. Hernández's 's Bio:
Dr. Leandra H. Hernández (PhD, Texas A&M University) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah. She is a queer critical/feminist health and media studies scholar with applied praxis contributions to teaching, research, and service. She enjoys teaching health communication, gender studies, and media studies courses. She utilizes Chicana feminist & qualitative approaches to explore Latina/o/x cultural health experiences, Latina/o/x journalism and media representations, and reproductive justice and gendered violence contexts. Her teaching philosophy is informed by social justice approaches, and she is passionate about mentoring students through diverse and inclusive research projects. She is the co-author of one monograph and co-editor of six co-edited volumes. Her most recent co-edited volume, Feminist Mentoring in Academia (with Drs. Jessica Pauly and Stevie Munz), explores the promises and impacts of feminist mentorship in higher education. Further, her research is published in the journals Health Communication, Frontiers in Communication, Women's Studies in Communication, Journal of Media and Religion, Communication Research, QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking, and Departures in Critical Qualitative Research. Most recently, she is the recipient of the 2024 National Communication Association Women's Caucus Francine Merritt award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the lives of women in communication, particularly through mentorship, service, advocacy, pedagogy, and scholarship
Presenters: Shalece Nuttall, Chance Felker
Location: Young Card Room 308
Competency:
(ORANGE) Advisors employ a variety of advising approaches and methods to impact the success of students.
Shaking up the way advising is done for excluded programs from the FAC. With the rise of online education, larger cohorts, and more complex student needs, we must explore new methods to support students efficiently while ensuring compliance with privacy laws and preserving connections with students. By using group advising to help new students to get all the information they need while also meeting other students in their program and lightening the amount of first year appointments.
Speaker Bio:
Shalece Nuttall is the Director of Advising in the College of Health and Public Service (CHPS) at UVU. She has been at UVU since 2005, working in many roles supporting students and advisors. She was an academic advisor in the Woodbury School of Business, Criminal Justice and Emergency Services departments, as well as the Advisor Trainer in the former Advisor Training and Development department. She received her associate and bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies from UVU, and a master’s degree in educational psychology (with an Instructional Design and Educational Technology emphasis) from the University of Utah. Shalece is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in education administration at the University of Oklahoma, where she is focusing on interventions for online students to increase persistence at UVU. Outside of working at the best university in the state, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, and two precious grandsons, camping, four-wheeling, watching college football, and reading.
Speaker Bio:
Chance is the Peer Advisor for the College of Health and Public Service. Her goal is to help alleviate busy schedules and cut down the amount of time advisors spend on first year appointments while still proving excellent care, support, and resources for students.
Presenter: Natalie Hawes
Location: Bullock Room 309
Competency:
(GREEN) Advisors model professional behavior.
Brains in Collaboration: Supporting Autistic Coworkers in Higher Education Come learn about the unique strengths and challenges of your coworkers on the autism spectrum and gain practical strategies for fostering collaboration and effective communication in higher education. This session will explore key topics such as sensory sensitivities, accommodations, and creating accessible workspaces. Through these discussions, you’ll discover ways to better support colleagues, how different brain types can leverage each others’ strengths, and how autistic individuals can affect their work environments in positive ways. All insights will be shared from the perspective of an autistic advisor, highlighting how individuals on the spectrum can contribute and thrive in professional settings.
Speaker Bio:
Presenters: Geoff Goffe, Grace Bauman, Gracie Awerkamp,
Location: Brimhall Room 302
Competency:
(YELLOW) Advisors provide information to their students using a variety of communication methods and soft skills.
"Your Radical Student Success Sidekicks: How Advisors can Utilize Student Success Specialists” explores the collaborative potential between academic advisors and Student Success Specialists to enhance student support. The session will highlight how specialists can assist in navigating systems, connecting students to resources, and following up on action items, allowing advisors to focus on academic planning and alleviating caseload pressure. By using the expertise of specialists, advisors can provide essential academic guidance while ensuring that students receive the comprehensive support they need to succeed. Through collaboration, advisors and specialists can create a more seamless, supportive, and efficient student experience.
Speaker Bio:
Geoff is a Student Success Program Manager in the Student Success Center. Geoff is also a current graduate student at UVU in the Higher Education Leadership program. Geoff’s favorite 80’s movie is Airplane.
Speaker Bio:
Grace is a Student Success Specialist in the Student Success Center. Grace is also a current student at UVU in the Elementary Education program. Grace's favorite 80's movie is The Princess Bride.
Speaker Bio:
Gracie is a Student Success Specialist in the Student Success Center. Gracie is also a current graduate student at UVU in the Higher Education Leadership program. Gracie’s favorite 80’s movie is Footloose.
Presenters: Cissy Rasmussen
Location: Young Special Events Room 201
Competency:
(RED) Advisors thoroughly understand program requirements, and resources and services available to students at UVU.
Students may feel like they’re on another planet when they come to college. It can be strange and unfamiliar, yet their curiosity and connections can help them fit right in. At UVU, we know that students thrive when they have a strong support system, and for many, that support comes from their families. Parents and family members want to help, but they might not know the best way to do so. College is often a strange new world for them as well! This class will explore how UVU’s Parent & Family Programs provides resources and outreach to benefit families as they help their students. We’ll discuss practical and creative ways that UVU employees can build relationships with parents and family members, fostering a collaborative environment that supports students now and into their next adventures.
Speaker Bio:
Presenters: Ezra Mintz-Fernandez, Joanah, Candace
Location: Ballroom
Competency:
(BLUE) Advisors effectively operate necessary technologies, and use data and assessment to guide and inform their work.
The transition to college life can be daunting for first-year students. Advisors play a crucial role in ensuring these students feel supported, engaged, and equipped to navigate their new academic environment. This presentation discusses methods and rationale behind targeted outreach to first-year students. Effective outreach includes personalized communication, registration assistance, resource sharing, and class planning. Targeted outreach is essential, as students often overlook emails, necessitating multiple emails and texts. Utilizing tools like Excel, Civitas, Mongoose, SPM, PPAA, and queue reports, advisors can deliver the right message to the right student at the right time. We believe implementing these strategies can ensure first-year students receive the support they need to thrive.
Speaker Bio:
Ezra is passionate about embracing the numerical in higher education. As he says, "In our context, percentages equal people." Outside of work you can find him spending time with his wife, daughter, and fantasy football.
Speaker Bio:
Speaker Bio:
Presenter: Kameron Barkle
Location: Young Card Room 308
Competency:
(ORANGE) Advisors employ a variety of advising approaches and methods to impact the success of students.
What good could possibly ever come from video games? Is it even plausible that video games could actually help students do well in college? Come find out in this fun, unique presentation! We’ll take a brief look at recent research on video games, discuss what students themselves say about video games and college, and I’ll share some things I’ve learned from playing games for over 30 years. Three lucky participants will even get a shot at competing in a video game for a prize!
Speaker Bio:
Kameron Barkle has worked at UVU for 11 years and is passionate about helping students succeed. He also loves video games and believes they have potential to teach kids and adults valuable lessons that can ultimately help them succeed in college. If you haven’t seen his office decorations yet, swing by sometime to say hi!
Presenters: Rachel Messenger
Location: Ballroom
Competency:
(ORANGE) Advisors employ a variety of advising approaches and methods to impact the success of students.
This presentation will explore the concept of humanistic advising, emphasizing its importance in fostering holistic student development. Attendees will gain insights into the principles of humanistic advising, understand its benefits, and learn practical strategies for implementation. "Come on" and join the discussion! "At this moment, [it] mean[s] everythiiiing."♪ ♫ ♬
Speaker Bio:
Rachel is from Vancouver, WA and has been working at UVU for the past 13 years. She has been an adjunct instructor for the ESL and Marketing Departments at UVU, and she is currently an academic advisor in the First-year Advising Center.
Presenters: Kris Swanger, Melissa Eiche, Kinzie Greer, Melissa Braithwaite
Location: Bullock Room 309
Competency:
(PURPLE) Advisors are inclusive in nature and care about the individual needs and circumstances of every student.
Academic advisors are often the backbone of student success, but who supports the supporters? Advisors wear many hats—counselors, mentors, navigators, and motivators—but in the daily hustle of academic advising, fun and creativity can often take a backseat. From small moments of joy in everyday interactions to team-building activities, this session will explore how incorporating fun into your advising office can enhance team morale and strengthen bonds with students. Expect practical strategies, fresh ideas, laughter, and a renewed sense of purpose as we explore how having fun isn’t just a luxury—it's a necessity for a thriving advising culture. After all, a happier team means a better experience for the students we serve!
Speaker Bio:
Kris has been at UVU for 27 years, currently jamming as the administrative assistant in the Pre-Professional Advisement Center. She is the rad mom of two kids and one totally tubular dog (who's the real boss at home), Kris's passions include cruising on epic road trips, hitting up Disneyland like a true Mouseketeer, diving into books, catching live theater, and throwing the raddest parties that would make Ferris Bueller proud.
Speaker Bio:
Melissa is married and has three totally awesome kids, two cool cats, and a gnarly Djungarian hamster. For over 12 years, she has been an advisor at UVU where she currently advises for the Pre-Nursing and Pre-Respiratory Therapy programs. Melissa's life is like an 80’s mixtape! She loves rocking leg warmers, neon scrunchies, and big hair styled with Aqua Net! Things that fill her heart are playing games, crafting like a pro, solving jigsaw puzzles, munching on delicious food, and watching reality TV and football. What heals her soul? Spending time with her favorite people, gardening, traveling, discovering new things, and cruising through canyons with the windows down and the tunes cranked up to eleven like a true 80’s fan.
Speaker Bio:
Kinzie is the Earth Science and Biology Education advisor in the College of Science, where she helps students dig deep, weather academic storms, and evolve into rock-solid scholars. When she’s not guiding future scientists, she’s soaking up sunshine, taking luxurious naps and enjoying life with her husband—whom she met at UVU and has been happily married to for four years.
Speaker Bio:
Melissa has been rocking the work scene at UVU since 2014 and has been crushing it!
She thinks the advising scene here is like totally dope. When your homegirl isn’t
working, she’s living her chocoholic dreams, watching bogus reality tv shows, or finding
the next bombdiggity restaurant.
Presenters: Taylor Calhoun
Location: Brimhall Room 302
Competency:
(RED) Advisors thoroughly understand program requirements, and resources and services available to students at UVU.
Much like the characters in The Breakfast Club, students who take leave from UVU each semester have unique challenges, but their story isn’t over. This session will explore the data behind common leave reasons and how the leave of absence process helps them return. Advisors play a key role in ensuring students don’t feel forgotten and have a clear pathway back. Attendees will learn what a leave of absence is, how it benefits students and the university, and what the process looks like from start to finish. Join the discussion to gain insights, ask questions, and seize the opportunity to crush your fellow advisors in a game of Kahoot.
Speaker Bio:
Taylor currently serves as the Student Leave of Absence Program Coordinator at Utah Valley University, supporting students as they navigate time away from their studies. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), bringing over four years of experience in the public sector to her work. She is passionate about helping students feel empowered and connected throughout their academic journey.
Presenters: Sherry Page, Adrie Green, Emily Wells-Longshore
Location: Young Special Events Room 201
Competency:
(YELLOW) Advisors provide information to their students using a variety of communication methods and soft skills.
Ghostbusting Barriers for Students with Disabilities: Don your proton packs and join us in our ultimate mission to eradicate barriers for students with disabilities! Did you know that 33% of UVU students identify as having a disability, yet only 7% are utilizing Accessibility Services? Learn practical strategies and tools to become a true Ghostbuster, equipped to support students in overcoming access barriers. In this session, you will engage in interactive activities to learn the history of ADA, how the college journey for students with disabilities has changed since the 1980s, and what you can do to help students get connected with support and services. Don't miss out on this chance to make a real difference—become a Ghostbuster for students with disabilities!
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Sherry Page is the Senior Director of Accessibility Services at Utah Valley University, where she spearheads initiatives to ensure equal access and support for students, maintaining compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments, and other federal and state regulations. Since joining UVU in January 2020, Sherry has been a passionate advocate for accessibility, drawing on her extensive experience in the disability field including higher education, employee accommodations, and special education in k-12.
In 2023, Sherry was honored with the UVU Student Affairs Award of Excellence, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the university community. She holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership, a master's degree in Instructional Technology, and a bachelor's degree in history. Sherry is a certified principal, special education teacher, and technology educator in both Texas and Utah.
In her time outside of UVU, Sherry enjoys gardening, yoga, and going for hikes with her family.
Speaker Bio:
Adrie Green is the Program Director for Support Services within UVU's Accessibility Services office. In this capacity, she oversees Accessibility Services’ Learning Specialist and Peer Mentoring programs, which equip students with essential skills for success in higher education. Additionally, Adrie manages events, outreach initiatives, and marketing efforts for the office.
Adrie holds a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and has ten years of experience in disability services. She is an advocate for individuals with disabilities, focusing on reducing stigma and promoting understanding and acceptance among students, faculty, and staff at UVU. Adrie’s goal is to ensure that all students needing accommodations and disability supports feel comfortable accessing services without hesitation.
Speaker Bio:
Emily is the Director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student Services department within Accessibility Services at Utah Valley University. A proud alumna of UVU, she has spent over 15 years working in education, with a deep-rooted passion for communication equity and inclusive access. Emily holds professional certification in American Sign Language interpreting from the State of Utah, along with top scores on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) for both Elementary and Secondary levels—credentials recognized statewide.
Emily’s work centers on ensuring that all individuals—regardless of background or ability—have the tools and opportunities to participate fully in conversations that shape their communities. Committed to breaking down barriers in education, media, and technology, she brings a thoughtful and informed perspective to her presentations, fostering dialogue that is both inclusive and action-oriented.
While educational interpreting remains her core passion, Emily also enjoys the artistry of theatrical interpreting in her free time. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys kayaking, sailing, quilting, and treasures her role as an aunt to many beloved nieces and nephews.
Presenter: Christina Fife
Location: Young Card Room 308
Competency:
(RED) Advisors thoroughly understand program requirements, and resources and services available to students at UVU.
As academic advisors, many of our students are utilizing military education benefits. These benefits can range from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill, Utah State Tuition Waiver or Tuition Assistance, and ROTC benefits. UVU is fortunate to house M.A.S.H., the Military-Affiliated Student Hub where benefits are processed, however, advisors often receive questions from students about utilizing benefits. You don’t need to be an expert to help assist your students with utilizing their full education benefits while advising for classes. This session will focus on general GI Bill education program rules, how to advise for Joint Service Transcripts (JST), ROTC Form 48 and the 104R, and how you can best support your military-affiliated students.
Speaker Bio:
Christina Fife started working at UVU in 2015 as a VA School Certifying Official (SCO) before moving into advising in 2019. She has a great love for the military-connected student and loves to share tips for helping military-connected students utilize their education benefits to the fullest.
Presenters: Kirsten Paustenbaugh, JoAnna Johnson
Location: Ballroom
Competency:
(BLUE) Advisors effectively operate necessary technologies, and us data and assessment to guide and inform their work.
Career advising can be daunting, especially when advisors are asked about fields outside their expertise. However, by developing Career Pathway Sheets and leveraging AI tools, advisors can confidently guide students toward their goals while making data-driven recommendations to their departments.
Speaker Bio:
Kirsten graduated from UVU in 2018. She worked in the Financial Aid and Scholarships office for two years before becoming and advisor for College of Science in February of 2022. Kirsten enjoys reading, walking, watching baseball and spoiling her Corgi Pickles in her free time.
Speaker Bio:
JoAnna graduated from the University of Florida in 1997. She was a middle/high school teacher and counselor for 26 years before starting as an academic advisor at UVU in September 2023. JoAnna enjoys playing golf, gardening and hanging out with her family and their dog.
Presenters: McKade Christensen, Dominique Nelson
Location: Brimhall Room 302
Competency:
(ORANGE) Advisors employ a variety of advising approaches and methods to impact the success of students.
Calling all Brene Brown fans: Get ready to dive into the world of Brene Brown's 'Daring Greatly' and discover how its principles can elevate your advising to new heights! This presentation will demonstrate how embracing vulnerability, building resilience to shame, and promoting wholehearted living can foster a more supportive, empathetic, and authentic advising environment. We'll cover fun and practical strategies for fostering trust, cultivating genuine connections, overcoming perfectionism, living wholeheartedly, and aligning academic goals with personal values. By applying these principles, advisors can empower students to navigate their educational journeys confidently and authentically, leading to greater success and overall well-being. Join us for an engaging session that will transform your advising approach and impact your students' lives!
Speaker Bio:
McKade is an Academic Counselor at UVU’s First-Year Advising Center, where he supports new students as they begin their college journey. He also shares his enthusiasm for student development in the classroom as an adjunct instructor for SLSS 2100: Major & Career Exploration. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Utah Tech University and then completed a Master’s degree in Professional Communication at Southern Utah University. Born and raised in sunny St. George, McKade is always up for an outdoor adventure—whether it's hiking a new trail, hitting the pickleball courts, or exploring new places.
Speaker Bio:
Dominique is an Academic Counselor at UVU’s First-Year Advising Center, who works with the College of Science and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She earned her Master's of Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction at Western Governor University. She was born in San Diego, CA but hails to us from Hopewell, VA, where she called home during her upbringing before moving to Utah 10 years ago. She enjoys listening to Audiobooks, binge watching TV, and farming on Stardew Valley. She also has a 224 lbs. dog that she is happy to share pictures of.
Presenters: Polly Clauson, Kim Wright
Location: Young Special Events Room 201
Competency:
(PURPLE) Advisors are inclusive in nature and care about the individual needs and circumstances of ever student.
Emergencies can happen anytime, often without warning. If you were at work and needed to get home with no phone, no car, and no easy way back, would you be prepared? A Get Home Bag (GHB) is a critical tool designed to help you safely navigate unexpected situations and make your way home. This presentation will provide practical guidance on building a personalized GHB tailored to individual needs, location, and potential emergency scenarios. Attendees will gain valuable insights into essential supplies, strategic planning, and mindset preparation to enhance their ability to respond confidently in uncertain situations. By fostering proactive preparedness, this session aims to reduce anxiety during emergencies and empower individuals to take control of their safety.
Speaker Bio:
Polly has had the privilege of leading the advising team for the Woodbury School of Business. She’s passionate about helping both students and advisors grow and believes that preparation is key to success — both inside and outside the classroom.
Speaker Bio:
Kim has been an academic advisor in the Woodbury School of Business for about 17 years. She’s developed a real passion for research and for making sure she's ready for anything — including emergencies! She's excited to walk you through what she has learned and updated over the past few years.
Presenters: Chad Brown
Location: Bullock Room 309
Competency:
(RED) Advisors thoroughly understand program requirements, and resources and services available to students at UVU.
Let’s go back to the 1880’s! come throw metaphorical tomatoes at the guy who has your students demanding a locked and complete plan from you, days(if you are lucky) before they think it is required! The Returning Wolverine and Wolverine Completion tuition waivers are a part of a completion program designed to help guide students toward graduation as well as to push students toward healthy college habits, like meeting with and mapping out their education with their Advisor! Come and learn what these programs are and how to use them to help your students while hopefully making it less stressful for you!
Speaker Bio:
Chad Brown is a dedicated and committed believer in UVU and it’s mission, having graduated here, worked over twelve years professionally here, with five in his current position helping students. In his current role as program manager of degree completion, Chad has helped guide hundreds of students to graduation through access to financial resources, 1:1 support, and advocating on their behalf.
Presenter: Vanessa Alton, Ashley Graham
Location: Young Card Room 308
Competency:
(GREEN) Advisors model professional behavior.
Unwind, connect, and let your creativity sparkle in this hands-on session designed for advisors seeking balance and community. Dive into the therapeutic world of diamond art as a way to recharge your mental wellness while fostering meaningful connections with colleagues. Set against a backdrop of retro 80s vibes, this session blends fun, relaxation, and networking opportunities for an unforgettable experience. Whether you're creating your masterpiece or sharing stories over a craft table, you'll leave refreshed, inspired, and ready to shine brighter than ever. Come chill, create, and recover—because gems just wanna have fun!
Speaker Bio:
Vanessa Alton is the Academic Advisor for Technology Management and Transportation Technologies at UVU, dedicated to helping students navigate their academic journeys and university systems. She holds a BA in Communication with a focus on conflict resolution. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys watercolor painting, reading, walking her dogs, and has recently taken up oil pastels and diamond art. An ambivert, she balances her social and personal time like a tight rope walker. Her future goals include returning to China, Italy, and vacationing in Hawaii.
Speaker Bio:
Ashley Graham is the Director of the First Year Advising Center, where she is committed to supporting students in their academic journeys. With a master's degree in communication and years helping advise undecided and returning students, she deeply values interpersonal connection and the role it plays in student success. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys playing pickleball, cheering on the Dodgers, and crafting with friends.
Presenters: Rachel Gonzalez, Kelly Prue, Polly Clauson, Lily Day
Location: Bullock Room 309
Competency:
(YELLOW) Advisors provide information to their students using a variety of communication methods and soft skills
Does keeping your peer advisors busy seem overwhelming? In this presentation geared toward those managing peer advisors, participants will discuss obstacles they’ve encountered with peer advising, learn how the WSB structures their peer advising team, contribute to and receive a list of tasks given to peer advisors, and learn about the training protocols peers undergo after being hired. In this Pac-Man inspired presentation, participants will learn how to turn the tables on issues that may be lurking right around the corner.
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Polly has had the privilege of leading the advising team for the Woodbury School of Business. She’s passionate about helping both students and advisors grow and believes that preparation is key to success — both inside and outside the classroom.
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Presenters: Shalece Nuttall
Location: Brimhall Room 302
Competency:
(GREEN) Advisors model professional behavior.
Alan Keith stated, “Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen.” In their book, The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes and Posner (2023) identify Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. This session will introduce advising administrators to these practices as well as share some actionable takeaways that they can implement into their leadership practice.
Speaker Bio:
Shalece Nuttall is the Director of Advising in the College of Health and Public Service (CHPS) at UVU. She has been at UVU since 2005, working in many roles supporting students and advisors. She was an academic advisor in the Woodbury School of Business, Criminal Justice and Emergency Services departments, as well as the Advisor Trainer in the former Advisor Training and Development department. She received her associate and bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies from UVU, and a master’s degree in educational psychology (with an Instructional Design and Educational Technology emphasis) from the University of Utah. Shalece is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in education administration at the University of Oklahoma, where she is focusing on interventions for online students to increase persistence at UVU. Outside of working at the best university in the state, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, and two precious grandsons, camping, four-wheeling, watching college football, and reading.
Presenters: Denise Fullmer
Location: Young Special Events Room 201
Competency:
(ORANGE) Advisors employ a variety of advising approaches and methods to impact the success of students.
“Life isn't about being strong; it's about being resilient”. In the dynamic landscape of education, the ability to adapt and demonstrate resilience is crucial for both students and educators. This proposal aims to explore strategies for fostering these skills, drawing inspiration from the innovative spirit of the 1980s—a decade marked by significant cultural and technological advancements. The aim is to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in today's ever-evolving educational landscape.
Speaker Bio:
Denise graduated from BYU in 1985 and is a big fan of the eighties and her family is her life. She loves the feeling of going fast and has been a pre-professional advisor since July 1, 2007. She began as adjunct faculty at UVU in 1997 teaching psychology, and quit after 20 years primarily teaching infancy and childhood development. Denise has advised in preparing for: nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, chiropractic, Physician Assistant, and Medical school. Denise has a great deal of experience helping students handle the answer of no or not yet.
Presenters: Dianna Bunker
Location: Ballroom
Competency:
(PURPLE) Advisors are inclusive in nature and care about the individual needs and circumstances of every student.
This will be a slow paced gentle easy yoga class. Learn to gently move your body while learning to breathe while you move. You will learn a few basic postures that you can do at your desk or at home. Wear comfortable clothing.
Speaker Bio:
I am an academic advisor in aviation and have worked at UVU for over 13 years. I started practicing yoga because of the mental and physical benefits. After working as a personal trainer for several years and practicing yoga, I decided to continue my personal journey and became a certified yoga teacher. I am a certified personal trainer of 20 years and certified yoga instructor for over 15 years. I love anatomy and learning about the body. I have been in the health industry for all my adult life and love sharing my knowledge with others. I enjoy variety in my own practice and learning from others. I believe the body should move with breath, love, and gratitude. I have practiced many disciplines of yoga, and have come to love Anusara, Yin, and restorative yoga. My favorite saying is “we spend all our day moving ourselves out of alignment and separating ourselves from our breath, yoga is what brings us back to our breath, alignment, and present within ourselves.
A special shout-out to the 2025 Advisement Conference Planning Committee who worked hard to create an awesome experience for attendees:
| Chair |
|---|
| Melissa Braithwaite - Program Manager - Office of University Advising |
| Committee Members |
|---|
| Carrie Peterson - Academic Advisor - College of Health & Public Service |
| Christina Fife - Academic Advisor - College of Health & Public Service |
| Clark Slater - Academic Advisor - School of the Arts |
| Elizabeth Beesley - Academic Advisor - Smith College of Engineering & Technology |
| Kinzie Greer - Academic Advisor - College of Science |
| Kris Swanger - Admin Support III - Pre-Professional Center |
| Lindsay Bishop - Academic Advisor - Concurrent Enrollment |
| Lisa Draper- Academic Advisor - Pre-Professional Center |
| Melissa Uriarte - Academic Advisor - College of Humanities & Social Science |
| McKade Christensen - Academic Advisor - First Year Advising Center |
| Rachel Gonzales - Academic Advisor - Woodbury School of Business |
| Rachel Johnson - Academic Advisor - School of Education |
| Katherine Brickey - Program Manager - Office of University Advising |
| Paula Nishitani - Admin Support III - Office of University Advising |
