Snapshots Announcements Spotlight UTSA Athletics

February 2014, Issue 2

Rave Reviews

UTSA Students Attend 2014 Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference

The UTSA Student Leadership Center hosted 30 students at the 2014 Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference (SBSLC) at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Among the group of 30 students were five SBSLC alumni who were accepted to return as part of the Advanced Leadership Institute within the conference.

Read the rest of the UTSA Today article.

Southwestern Leadership Attendees dressed up for dinner

Submitted by —
Jana Schwartz
Program Coordinator
Student Leadership Center



Residence Education Team Conducts Successful RA Interviews

The fabulous Residence Education Team put in MANY hours (including a Saturday) to conduct very successful RA Individual and Group Interviews! A big thank you to our incredible professional staff of Pesha Mabrie, Derek Bell, Vanessa Leyva, and Susanna Knouse, and our terrific associates — Khian Antwi (CA), Kaelie Gonzales (CA), Teia Herrera (RA), Ediri Nesiama (RA), and Feyi Osifuwa (RA) — what a great team!

Southwestern Leadership Attendees dressed up for dinner

Submitted by —
Marietta Em de la Rosa
Associate Director of Residence
Housing & Residence Life



9th Annual Leadership NOW! a Big Success

The 9th Annual Leadership NOW! Conference — Finding Your Voice. Sharing Your Vision — was held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 and featured inspirational keynote speaker, Hoan Do, Hoan Do keynote speaker for Leadership NOW!who revealed to UTSA students the essential elements that separate marginal leaders from outstanding ones and provided practical strategies to help students become a stand out leader that makes those around them better.

Utilizing the Student Affairs REACH Model, twenty-six different educational sessions were presented by UTSA staff, faculty, graduate students and alumni. Highlighting a few, the VPSA’s own Andra Kiser, engaged students with her, Students & staff with seeds planted in cups of dirt.“Planting the Seed of Leadership”; Campus Recreation’s Associate Director Victoria Lopez-Herrera, challenged members of fraternities and sororities to declare, “Yes, I Buy My Friends!” and examine how each member directly impacts the ROI of fraternal membership; and COLFA Department of English Senior Lecturer Karen Dodwell and Assistant Professor Crystal Colombini introduced students to the “Prepare for Success” model designed to help undergraduate English majors stand out in the job or graduate school application process.

Leadership NOW! Conference is sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, Student Leadership Center, Student Organization Council and Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society.

Submitted by —
Michelle Rocha
Assistant Director of Student Activities
UTSA Downtown Campus



Tony Daniels Elected to NIRSA Board

Tony Daniels, CRSS, Associate Director, Campus Recreation, was elected as an At-Large Director to the NIRSA Board of Directors!

NIRSA is a leader in higher education and the advocate for the advancement of recreation, sport, and wellness by providing educational and developmental opportunities, generating and sharing knowledge, and promoting networking and growth for our members.

Congratulations, Tony!



Training & Fun at Resident Assistant Development Day

The last Sunday of every month is Resident Assistant Development Day, which is used to help strengthen the RAs professionally and personally. The Residential Education team uses the development day as an opportunity to provide presentations about networking, business etiquette, law and policy related to housing and higher education. There are times when we also provide teambuilding and bonding opportunities to help continue to nourish and nurture the relationships our RAs have established since Fall and Spring training.

It was a day with an important purpose, but sprinkled with fun and lots of Roadrunner Pride!

RAs mugging for camera at meeting RA basketball team photo

Submitted by —
Derek Bell
Complex Coordinator - Chaparral Village
Office of Housing & Residence Life



Clarissa Johnson — Roadrunner of the Month   (December 2013 - January 2014)

The UTSA Student Leadership Center announces Clarissa Johnson as Roadrunner of the Month for December 2013 – January 2014. Clarissa was nominated by her work-study supervisor, Ruth Coates the Administrative Service Officer I for the Associate Dean of Students Office.

Clarissa is from Freeport, Texas where she graduated from Brazosport High School. She is currently a senior studying Accounting and Finance. With her degree, Clarissa would like to continue her education pursuing a MBA or a Masters of Accountancy.

Clarissa Johnson, Roadrunner of the MonthWhile pursuing her master’s degree she would also like to work with first generation students and look for ways to remove barriers, such as funding and lack of resources, which keep them from attending college. According to Clarissa, “I feel my path would have been easier if I would have had this type of resource at my disposal and would like to pass on anything I can to make someone else’s journey a little better.”

As a member of the Business Scholars Program, Clarissa has been an excellent example of leadership at UTSA by serving as a peer mentor in her organization. Through her membership in the Business Scholars Program, Clarissa has mentored several students and supported them academically, personally, and professionally. She is there to provide them with various resources so they can excel and reach their goals.

According to Ruth Coates, “Throughout Clarissa's college career and in order to make ends meet for her and her family, she worked two jobs, sometimes three at the same time as a full time student going for a double major in accounting and finance. During all of this, she still took time to mentor others, and also attend leadership and career development opportunities for her own development.” Additionally, Clarissa is a part of Beta Alpha Si, has represented UTSA by serving as a student host for the Center for Student Professional Development Business Career Week, and a member of the Student Services Fees Committee.

When asked what leadership meant to her, Clarissa stated, “To me leadership means, to be a delegator. To have the ability to take charge of a group and keep them on track without taking control of the individuals and losing their unique ideas. To guide them on a shared goal or vision without taking away their voices because with their support you are a leader but without them you are just one single person.”

The Roadrunner of the Month award is sponsored by the Student Leadership Center to recognize outstanding UTSA student leadership contributions.

Nominees must meet these criteria to be considered for the award:

  • Must be a full-time UTSA undergraduate or graduate student
  • Must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher at the time of nomination
  • Must have demonstrated excellence in leadership above and beyond typical expectations
  • Nominations should be for actions that positively impact the UTSA community

Submit nominations at the UTSA Student Leadership Center Website. www.utsa.edu/slc/



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