Welcome Session
McKay Student Center, Walmart/Regions Room

Kick off the ArSAA Annual Conference with an opening session that introduces ArSAA’s evolving mission and highlights new and expanded programming designed to strengthen impact and engagement across the community. Attendees will also receive a concise overview of conference operations, including how to navigate the virtual platform, session formats, and key opportunities to connect, ensuring everyone is prepared to make the most of the conference experience.

Speaker(s):
Robert Moore, ArSAA President
NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Mary Margaret Debow, ArSAA President-Elect
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College

Resource(s):
Welcome Session Slidedeck

Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Success as a New Professional in Higher Education .
McKay Student Center, Stephens Room

Starting a career in higher education can be exciting, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. This inspirational session equips new professionals with practical strategies for building relationships, embracing professional growth, leading from any position, managing challenges, and prioritizing well-being. Through reflection and interactive activities, participants will explore what success means beyond a job title and create an actionable plan for their professional journey. Attendees will leave encouraged, connected, and confident in their ability to make a meaningful impact on students, colleagues, and their institutions.

Speaker(s):
Mary Margaret Debow, Assistant Director of Advising
University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College
(email)

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Engagement of Black Women on Campus through Enrichment Opportunities.
McKay Student Center, Walmart/Regions Room

This session will explore the role of Black Women Professionals on Campus and how their presence and involvement can contribute to the growth and development of Black Women Students on Campus. Discover ways to build mentorship connections, cultivate leadership pathways, and provide professional resources to contribute to a successful student experience. We will also explore enrichment opportunities that can impact the quality of their experience on campus while also giving them the space to feel heard, seen, and valued. Attendees will be able to share experiences, programs, and ideas that will allow them to connect, create, and hopefully, collaborate in the future.

Speaker(s):
Nechele McClinton-Gates, Associate Director of Residence Life
University of Central Arkansas
(email)

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They Know What to Do—So Why Aren’t They Doing It?.
McKay Student Center, John Deere Room

The student received the email, knows the deadline, and understands the expectation—yet the task remains unfinished. What gets in the way between knowing and doing? This session explores how executive functioning demands and campus processes can affect students’ ability to get started, navigate requirements, and follow through. Through practical examples from student affairs, attendees will examine how unclear instructions, hidden steps, and overwhelming expectations can create barriers for neurodivergent students and others experiencing overload. The presentation will highlight strategies for making communications and services easier to navigate, providing support without taking over, and maintaining accountability while building student independence. Attendees will leave with practical approaches they can apply in their daily work.

Speaker(s):
Sandra Martin, Dean of Housing
Southern Arkansas University
(email)

Dr. Jessica Samples, Chair, Counseling & Professional Studies
Southern Arkansas University
(email)

Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAO) Roundtable.
McKay Student Center, Stephens Room

Join fellow senior student affairs leaders for an open discussion on the evolving challenges, opportunities, and priorities facing higher education. Participants will share perspectives, exchange ideas, and explore strategies for effective leadership, institutional collaboration, and advancing student success in an ever-changing higher education landscape.

Speaker(s):
Dr. Amber Black, Vice Chancellor for Student Services
Arkansas State University-Beebe
(email)

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Recharge Required: The Introvert’s Guide to Collaborative Power in Student Affairs.
McKay Student Center, John Deere Room

Student Affairs often equates successful collaboration with high-energy, real-time extroversion, leaving introverted professionals navigating an exhausting "always-on" campus culture. This session flips the script. Instead of merely surviving, discover how to leverage introverted processing styles of deep listening, strategic synthesis, and one-on-one relationship building as critical collaborative assets. Attendees will learn to apply boundary theory and digital communication tools to protect their cognitive energy and build highly effective, cross-functional partnerships across campus.

Speaker(s):
Ricky Harris, Associate Director of Residence Life
University of Central Arkansas
(email)

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Workplace Belonging: Finding Your Place.
McKay Student Center, Walmart/Regions Room

Finding your place at work is about feeling valued, connected, and confident in what you contribute. This session explores how everyday interactions, workplace relationships, and organizational culture shape our sense of belonging. Join us to reflect on your own experience and discover practical ways to help yourself and others feel like a meaningful part of the team..

Speaker(s):
Dr. Reginald Lambert, Dean of Students
Shorter College
(email)

Business Meeting

During lunch, the ArSAA will host its Annual Membership Business Meeting. Member will participate in the election of the association’s slate of officers, hear important updates from the Board of Directors, and learn more about the association’s priorities and work for the coming year. This is an opportunity for members to stay informed, engage in the direction of ArSAA, and help shape the future of student affairs in Arkansas.

Speaker(s):
Robert Moore, ArSAA President
NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Mary Margaret Debow, ArSAA President-Elect
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College

Resource(s):
Business Meeting Agenda

Advising Roundtable.
McKay Student Center, Walmart/ Regions Room

Academic advising is most effective when it is viewed not as the responsibility of an individual advisor, but as a collaborative practice supported by colleagues, campus partners, and shared institutional knowledge. This interactive roundtable will bring academic advisors from both two-year and four-year institutions together to exchange strategies, identify best practices, and explore how collaboration can strengthen advising across programs, departments, and institutions.

Speaker(s):
Mary Margaret Debow, Assistant Director of Advising
University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College
(email)

Robert Moore, Academic Advisor & Internship Coordinator
NorthWest Arkansas Community College
(email)

Dr. Catherine Burton, Director of Advising & Learning
Arkansas State Univeristy-Beebe
(email)

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AI in Student Affairs Work
McKay Student Center, John Deere Room

Artificial intelligence offers student affairs professionals new opportunities to streamline administrative tasks, enhance communication, develop programs, and strengthen student engagement. This session will explore practical applications of generative AI in everyday student affairs work, highlighting tools and strategies that improve efficiency, encourage innovation, and support student success. Participants will also consider ethical use, data privacy, and the importance of maintaining the human connections at the heart of student affairs.

Speaker(s):
Zackery Tucker, Dean of Students
Arkansas State University-Beebe
(email)

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Attendance, Support, and Collaboration among RSO.
McKay Student Center, Stephens Room

Discussing the differences between attending an event, supporting a specific group, and meaningful collaboration among RSOs. This session is geared towards identifying the difference between these actions and how we can engage the students that we interact with to create a more cohesive campus environment.

Speaker(s):
Tyler Jones, Assistant Director of Student Involvement & Leadership
University of Central Arkansas
(email)

Sydnye Ewing, Assistant Director of Student Involvement & Leadership
University of Central Arkansas
(email)

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Closing Session

Conclude the ArSAA Annual Conference with a reflective and forward-looking closing session that brings together key takeaways, highlights, and shared insights from across the event. This session will celebrate the collective learning and engagement of our community, revisit standout moments, and recognize contributions from attendees and partners. We’ll also look ahead to what’s next for ArSAA, including upcoming opportunities to stay involved and continue the momentum beyond the conference.

Speaker(s):
Robert Moore, ArSAA President
NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Mary Margaret Debow, ArSAA President-Elect
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College

Resource(s):
Closing Session Slidedeck