Past Conference Chats - Information and Recordings

We were thrilled to offer Conference Chats as a part of the conference programming at FIU, an initiative that started in 2018. In 2023, conference attendees had the opportunity to see six of their colleagues give a "TED-Style" talk during lunch on Wednesday and Thursday. An entirely different approach from the standard conference education sessions, Conference Chats are a mixture of informative and inspirational, big picture concepts and specific examples, that all come together to form a narrative. These individuals are making a profound impact in our profession; their presentations will be personal and concise, allowing you to gain an entirely new perspective on issues and ideas. Below you will find Chat recordings, along with Chat descriptions and presenter information.

Cultural, Religious, or Both? Worldview Diversity in International College & Career Counseling

Presenter: Renee Bowling, Graduate Student - The Ohio State University

Renee will share her story exploring religious, secular, and spiritual worldview diversity on both sides of the desk. Attendees will be invited to consider students' communities of belonging, the role of spirituality in our work, and the importance of equity and inclusion in this area. Renee will brief the community on her original research of worldview diversity at global liberal arts campuses and at U.S. universities and share a tool for students and families.

(video)

I'm Ready, Maestro! Approaching Presentations Through an Opera Singer's Lens

Presenter: Rebecca McIntosh, The College of Wooster

All the world is a stage! As education professionals we have so many opportunities to speak and present - whether it's in front of students, university administrators, or our peers at International ACAC. With so much pressure to make an impression, finding the best approach is crucial. In this chat, we explore how classically trained singers approach the stage, learning from their poise and unforgettable presence to inform our own presentation style.

(video)

The Power of the ACAC Access Network

Presenter: Greg Manne, Rise

Greg has served on the International ACAC Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee for the last four years and is amazed by the people he has met because of it. At Rise, he is working with an extensive list of access oriented professionals, most all of whom he met through ACAC Conferences or through his work on the committee. This Chat will highlight Rise partnerships with Kensap, Bridge2Rwanda, Amala, Bilim Education, Jakarta Intercultural School, and others that were forged through connections made at ACAC Conferences.

(video)

We're All Wrong

Presenter: Joe Serdar, Loyola University Chicago

Admitting we can be wrong is incredibly hard; biologically, intellectually, socially. It is also one of the most important skills we can develop as a person. The concept of Intellectual Humility, work from journalist/wrongness expert Kathryn Schulz, and the Loss of Confidence Project examine this problem - why is it so hard, and how tackling it can improve decision making, tolerance for difference and more.

(video)

Whose Culture Has Capital? Building a Healthy & Sustainable International Education Ecosystem

Presenter: Yanjie (Ruby) Cheng, Brown University

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically transformed the landscape of international education, presenting new challenges and opportunities for student success. As institutions adapt to the "new normal," it is crucial to recognize the importance of international identity and intersectionality in preparing students for future endeavors. This session aims to explore the significance of these concepts and highlight the essential components needed to support students' holistic development and overall success in the post-COVID-19 era.

(video)

Work Hard, Play Hard: Living Your Best Life During Work Travel

Presenter: Ashley Swengler, University of California - Riverside

If the last three plus years have taught us anything, it is that we need to live life with no regrets. In this Conference Chat, participants will be encouraged to not only plan for wherever work takes them, but truly plan and enjoy some well deserved adventure on the road. Whether it is a full day excursion before your red-eye out of town, or a brief, serendipitous moment in between engagements - we all should feel empowered to find ways to get the most out of our trips both professionally, and personally. Take a moment together to bring this topic out into the open, and make it acceptable and accessible to mix in a bit of fun with work travel. Let's make some #FamilyStyle memories in this conference and wherever travel takes us next!

(video)

Following the success of the 2018 initiative, we were thrilled for the return of Conference Chats. In 2019, Conference attendees had the opportunity to see seven of their colleagues give a "TED-Style" talk during lunch on Wednesday and Thursday. An entirely different approach from the standard Conference education sessions, Conference Chats are a mixture of informative and inspirational, big picture concepts and specific examples, that all come together to form a narrative. These individuals are making a profound impact in our profession; their presentations will be personal and concise, allowing you to gain an entirely new perspective on issues and ideas. Below you will find Chat recordings, along with Chat descriptions and presenter information.

Admissions Offices of the World - You Can Tame Your Applications Queue!

Carolyn Ford
Director, International Undergraduate Recruitment       
Western University

Every year, many universities face the challenge of processing a high volume of applications in a timely manner. Their admissions offices are in essence a factory, one whose output is decisions, but with a critical difference: where a factory controls the timing, quality and volume of inputs, an admissions office has less control over the timing, quality and volume of applications received. This chat offers a brief introduction to the use of queuing analysis for admissions offices to better understand their measures of performance (waiting times, service rates, length of queue) and their operational domain (quality, quality and efficiency, or efficiency only). Guidance counsellors and applicants are also very interested in the timeline to application complete and evaluation. With the help of queuing champions on campus, these techniques can provide better work-life balance for admissions staff and less application period stress for guidance counsellors and applicants.

(video)

Don't Get Burned: Lessons From Surgery Residency

Shannon O’Hagan
Assistant Director of International Recruitment
University of Missouri

Burnout is a hot topic with medical residency programs across the U.S. with significant resources devoted to researching, treating, and preventing it as if it were a disease. Although professionals in international education face different challenges than physicians, we are also susceptible to burnout. As a former burnout victim, I will share personal experiences as well as research-based lessons learned from leaving international education, working with a surgery residency program, and returning to international recruitment. The International ACAC conference presents a great opportunity to reflect on your well-being and develop burnout prevention strategies.

(video)

How the Bus Tour Changed My Life

Cory Miller
University Counseling Coordinator
Branksome Hall

"As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person." This is a story about how our professional and personal lives can converge. It is an example of how individual relationships can be transformational. It is about the importance of walking the talk about doing our utmost to provide access to opportunity for students.

(video)

Imposter Syndrome: Why is it So Hard to Believe We're Good Enough?

Marco Dinovelli
Senior Associate Director
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

You are doing great in your job. You continue to excel professionally and consistently receive praise for the work that you do. Your peers are always telling you what a difference you are making and how important you are to the field. . . . So why can't you shake this feeling that you just aren't good enough and one day everyone will figure out what you already know, "You are a fraud!"

(video)

Mapping Futures: Locating Potential and Maximizing It 

Katrina Edmunds
Associate Director of Guidance
Institut Le Rosey

Who are you and how good do you want to be? What are you going to need to get there? What ought you pick up along the way? With the world of careers in flux, this little counsellor believes it has never been more important to understand who you are and where you want to go. With AI coming right up into the university counseling space, we add value by helping people find the answers to these questions. Through incorporating Floyd Woodrow's (the youngest British soldier ever recruited to the SAS) North Star into the mapping process, I have found a useful tool to use in the counseling process.

(video)

To Go Deeper, Go Wider

Kim Zwitserloot
Director International Recruitment
University College Utrecht