Geeky Office Décor Series: Kristen Abell

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This week we're featuring the awesome office of Kristen Abell, Web Coordinator at University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Here's what Kristen had to say about her space:

"Over the course of my career, I have moved offices several times and managed to accumulate my fair share of decorations. Admittedly, if you had come by one of my first couple of offices, you would have seen mostly bare walls with a few things here and there on the desk. My current cube is easily the most decorated one in our office.

One of the things I keep at work is my Wonder Woman collection. I do this for two reasons. The first is that I find it gives me personality. I’m an introvert by nature, so I am sometimes not the most talkative office mate. This gives my co-workers a glimpse into something I love and a topic we can easily discuss. I have a few Doctor Who items thrown in here, as well as some trinkets I’ve collected at previous universities or in my work with organizations. The second reason I keep this collection at work is because I simply have no idea where I would put it at home.

This cabinet and wall are a mishmash of geekery and family. You’ll see some of my son’s artwork and pictures of him and my husband, but you’ll also see Wonder Woman featured prominently there, as well as my Rosie the Riveter poster - because what feminist doesn’t need one of these? I also have the front of the book I edited - Committed - front and center because it is such an important piece of who I am. Finally, just in case you weren’t sure if I was into tech or anything as a web developer, I have an award presented to me by my NASPA regional advisory board claiming me as a “Techno Goddess.” One of the best awards, ever.

A lot of people neglect the space that is behind them when they decorate, but I find this to be almost as important as the space in front of me. When I do hangouts or video meetings, this is my backdrop. And without fail, it tends to impress people. I mean, who wouldn’t want Buffy fighting a demon behind them? Or Wonder Woman in many artistic forms? (By the way, if you look closely at the Wonder Woman image with the blue sky, you’ll recognize it from my blog header). There’s also a couple more pieces of art from my son in here proclaiming that his mom loves salad (he is so wrong about that) and is as pretty as a butterfly.

So welcome to my little corner of geekdom. I hope you've enjoyed your visit."

What I really enjoy about this space is that even with a cubicle, Kristen really fully decorates what she has and makes it her own. A lot of people might get discouraged by the lack of an actual office, but a cubicle can work just as well! Another neat point of interest is how Kristen intentionally covers her back wall since it is always going to be showcased during video calls (smart move!). I'm also a big fan of her plethora of Wonder Woman stuff. She is such a great, iconic character and I appreciate all the different little trinkets Kristen has embodying and representing the character.

Many thanks to Kristen for sharing her story and space with us!

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 10/16/15

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Geek-and-proud

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

Over my long weekend break back in NJ (the reason for no posts on this past Monday or Friday), I sat with my partner and watched the entire first season (only six episodes) of Fear the Walking Dead (FTWD), the new companion series to hit show, The Walking Dead (TWD). My partner and I are big fans of TWD so we wanted to check out FTWD to see how it holds up. The answer is that FTWD is both similar and different to it's counterpart, in good ways and bad (I'm a very relative person). It's slower moving and smaller scale but also leads nicely to a different focus than our badass survivors in TWD. These people are still figuring everything out and aren't as hardened yet but are becoming acquainted with their new normal in terms of what kind of things they'll have to do to get by. I'm intrigued to see where the show goes, and I hope it doesn't just become The Walking Dead: Los Angeles since they have an opportunity here to tell a very different kind of story with FTWD.

After what many deemed (myself included) to be a rocky third season, this new season of Arrow is hopefully going to right the ship a bit. I like the bit of a lighter tone the show has been taking, as well as getting deeper into the relationship Oliver has with his team. I'm still a big fan of this show and have been for a while since I think it has some of the best action sequences on TV and builds up in its own way to the expanded, shared universe with The Flash. I look forward to it helping to expand the universe even further as it works to set up the new mid-season series, Legends of Tomorrow.

The first two episodes of season 2 have aired so far and this show is keeping the positive momentum going from their debut season. They're still going all in on pulling from their awesome comic book lore, introducing the multi-verse, the original Flash Jay Garrick, and continuing to maintain the expanded, shared universe of the show. I can't wait to see threads from season 1 picked back up as well as fun uses of the multiverse such as seeing different versions of our core cast in Earth 2 for example. If you haven't watched this show yet, get on Netflix and watch the whole first season, you'll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Dan McDowell

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This week we're featuring the office of Dan McDowell, Residence Director at Stonehill College.12053125_10205323796474555_105078933_n Here's what Dan had to say about his office:

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"I recently moved to my new office in June and slowly but surely I’ve been adding my own personal nerdy touch to it. It started with bringing a growing collection of Funko POPs from a variety of fandoms like Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and (my largest collection) The Avengers, including my recent additions of Miles Morales and the new Thor. Since they are the first thing students usually see when they walk into my office they are quick to ask questions about them or my interests. It’s been especially helpful during conduct hearings- particularly with students I haven’t sat with before. In one meeting I was able to spend a good 5 to 10 minutes discussing the upcoming Deadpool film with a student which I think humanized me and allowed the student to feel more comfortable and open throughout the remainder of the hearing.

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They have also been a great tool connecting to RAs. It isn’t unusual for RAs from other areas to stop by and say hello when visiting friends or coworkers in the area. On one occasion an RA and I were able to chat about the comics we were both reading which led to a variety of other conversations involving shared interests and a stronger relationship. Finally, the latest additions to my office are my Star Wars Lego sets and decor. I had bought them over the summer just before moving and had intended to keep them in my apartment, but quickly discovered after moving I just didn’t have anywhere where they would be a good fit and so they came to my office. They have been a great conversation piece and allowed for me to share a bit more of my interest in science fiction with my residents and RAs as well.

Showing off my geekier interests in my office has been an incredible way to connect with students. Even something as small as my Game of Thrones-themed “Where’s the RD?” sign (not pictured) has residents stopping by to discuss their excitement over a shared interest and is able to jumpstart a conversation about any communities they’ve found on campus- whether friends or a club- that tie into these interests. It provides incredible leverage in breaking the ice with residents and helping them find new ways to get involved.

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Now that I’ve started showing off my geeky side, I don’t think I’ll ever go back!"

What I really like about Dan's office (besides the Star Wars Legos and Marvel Funko POP! toys) is the simple, positive effect some small tweaks in his office had to change his interactions with students. I've had a similar experience, even with some staff members who pass by my office. I feel like there is no downside to bringing some of our authentic selves into our work spaces, it always gives the benefit of genuine connections to those around us.

Many thanks to Dan for sharing his story and space with us!

Stay tuned for more awesome offices in the coming weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!

Geeky Office Décor Series: Jon Bartlett

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This week we're featuring the office of Jon Bartlett, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life at Texas Wesleyan University.

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Here's what Jon has to say about his office:

"My Funko POP! collection started with a single Thor figure that my RA staff gave me for my birthday three years ago. Since then, it has become something of an obsession. I only buy ones that are in my geek wheelhouse, so to look at my collection is to get a quick glimpse into my interests. One look at my shelf will tell you that I obviously prefer Marvel over DC and am a huge fan of the Walking Dead. It tends to immediately put students at ease, especially when they are in my office for less-than-exciting reasons like a conduct meeting. All the geek decor also opens up points of connection with students, so conversations can begin naturally with something we both like rather than the difficult thing we are there to discuss. I really believe that everyone "geeks out" about something, so it's just a matter of figuring out what it is. Like the poster of the Wil Wheaton quote says, "It's not about what you love, it's about how you love it." It brings me a lot of joy to discover what students love and hear their passion come out in our conversation. All the geek stuff in my office definitely helps facilitate that. My boss is a geek too, so I'm thankful he lets me keep my office this way!"

I'm a huge fan of the Funko POP! figures myself, and I'm sure you saw many of mine from my office photos (I have more in my apartment). They're a fun way to showcase some of my favorite characters from my favorite shows, movies, and comics. I like how Jon makes a point of stating how we all geek out about something, which I've written about before and wholeheartedly agree with. It is so great to be able to help support and nourish our students' (and our own) hobbies and interests. It leads to such genuine connections which can lead to deep conversations and learning about ourselves as well as the world.

Appreciate Jon sharing his space with us!

Stay tuned for more offices in the coming weeks!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 10/02/15

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Geek-and-proud

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

I just finished watching this whole animated web series this week (the final episode premiered on Tuesday) and I really enjoyed this quick, six episode companion to the highly entertaining DC TV universe of Arrow and The Flash. It introduces a compelling new character (Vixen) who has a mystical amulet that gives her the power to mimic the characteristics of any animal who has ever lived (the strength of an elephant, the speed of a cheetah, etc.). I hope that she can come into the live-action shows at some point, since her introduction brings in an entirely different mystical & magical element to this already expansive and awesome comic book TV universe. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of Arrow and The Flash so that you're in the loop when both of those shows come back soon.

The complicated history of the television show Heroes is back in the limelight as the "reboot" mini-series Heroes Reborn premiered last week (second episode aired last night). I checked out the premiere online after it aired, and it isn't perfect, but it isn't horrible either. It is definitely very different from the first (and best) season of the original show's run. I am intrigued enough to keep with it for a little bit, but I am worried it is not going to pay off since it has been so uneven out of the gate.

The third season of this show premiered this week, with a further re-invigoration as it continues to find its identity. We now have Inhumans front and center for most of the proceedings, and the show is getting more comfortable and confident with accepting it's comic book roots as a result. I am really enjoying Daisy/Skye ("Quake") taking a bigger role in the show, since her character was sort of underdeveloped in the first season. She is a much better character now and the show is setting up some neat threads for Civil War ahead of that film's release in May 2016. SHIELD definitely isn't the best comic book TV show on the air right now, (I put it behind Flash and sort of tied with Arrow), but it is still an entertaining romp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that continues to grow in fun new ways (I can't wait for Jessica Jones on Netflix soon!).

Thanks for stopping by!

How to Help Students Engage with Academic Courses

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* This post was originally featured on The Student Affairs Hub.

Classes are beginning at many colleges across the country. Students are buying their books, gathering their supplies, and trying to figure out what's the best professor to take a certain course with. The academic aspect of campus life is why students come to institutions of higher learning in the first place. They're working towards their specialized credential which will get them towards where they want to go in their life. This means that we, as student affairs folks, are poised to help our students better engage in their academics and position themselves for career success after they graduate. There are a few simple things that we can all do to aid in their engagement with their coursework.

1. Help Them Choose Stuff They're Into

The first, and perhaps most important step in this process, is helping students figure out what they want to do with themselves! While granted, college is about finding yourself, even figuring out a general direction for your student is more helpful than them just wandering aimlessly through their coursework. The pitfall they can get into if they don't know what they want to do with themselves is that they may waste valuable time (and money) on classes they don't need. This is understandably frustrating for students, and can play a big part in students just giving up, since they'll feel behind and can't surmount the high costs they're facing. We can help students through various tools to find out what they're into or would be good at, with things such as Strengths Finder, MBTI, True Colors, or the Holland assessment tool.

2. Maximize Their Schedule

Students often get frustrated when they have to take classes that don't align with their chosen majors, the dreaded "gen ed"(or general education, liberal arts, breadth requirement) courses. A smart way to get around this is to maximize the choice of each class your students take. We obviously know better that we are working towards making more well-rounded citizens of the world, but we can meet our students halfway by helping our students choose classes or involvements that satisfy multiple requirements at once. This could even help them graduate early if they're lucky! Also, a simple but useful point here is helping students figure out how they would work best in terms of scheduling their classes during each week. Do they prefer night classes? Classes that meet once a week? Having all their classes on as few days as possible? More (or less) credits? All of these help students be empowered to manage their academics, and have it work with their life and schedule.

3. Apply Their Learning to the "Real World"

Student affairs folks can help synthesize the learning our students are gaining in their courses by inquiring and applying what they're talking about in their courses to the "real world". I don't like the use of that terminology, by the way, (air quotes included) since college is the real world, it isn't outside of it. Nevertheless, we can figure out how to transfer the concepts and theory to their day to day lives. Say for example, we're working with a Resident Assistant student staff member, and they're learning about communication theory. Those concepts directly apply to their interactions with their residents and we could even task them with working in the theory into future conversations and see how it goes. I know I have regular meetings with my RAs, probably just as often, if not more than their professors so I can continue to engage my students in learning outside the classroom, that only further provides relevance to what they're reading about and getting lectures on.

These concepts will help you guide your students towards being as engaged in the classroom, as they are outside of it. Certainly direct them towards their academic advisors if you ever don't know the exact answer to anything, but these simple tips should be able to help most students no matter where they are or what they're studying.

Here's to another great academic year!

Higher Ed Geek 2.0

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Higher Ed Geek started in April of 2013 as an effort to allow for me to nourish a creative outlet in my life. I wrote a few blog posts when I could, but I wasn't consistent and often forgot about it. I committed in January of 2014 to put more effort into the blog. I invested in the site and I found that the more I put in, the more I got out. I was able to reach a wider audience, make more connections with people about the stuff I cared about, and was able to spread a message that had a positive impact on others.

I'm excited to commit to put even more energy into the site now.

I have some big ideas of where Higher Ed Geek can go but I need help to get there. Any donations people can give helps get the site towards the next stage in it's life. I'm hoping to at least refresh the design of the site, commission a new logo, maximize the back end of the site, and get more people writing on a regular basis. (If donating isn't your thing, check out my book of collected blog posts. Proceeds from that helps fund the site as well.)

Depending on how far this crowdfunding campaign goes, I could do even more (trust me, I have plenty of ideas!).

I appreciate anyone and everyone's support. Either donating, sharing, or giving feedback is all helpful in reaching the goals I'm setting for this effort and the site as a whole. I'll be keeping up the page until the end of the month of October so make sure to help get the word out and show your support!

Stay geeky, weird, and proud, everyone!