Hi everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today we have another grad student bonus episode, featuring a great chat with Dustin Ramsdell, who is finishing up his first year in the Student Affairs program at Rutgers University. Dustin was in the audience for the LIVE LIFE WORK BALANCES at ACPA, and reached out to me a few weeks ago to do his own episode. We had a great time chatting about nerdy stuff, student involvement and student leadership positions, deciding on a career and a grad school, and acting intentionally. We also talked about TV shows with good character development, exercising, eating healthily, listening to podcasts,

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode, or have any feedback about the show, feel free to send an email to lifeworkbalacnes [at] gmail

Enjoy!

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi Everyone, and welcome to antoher Wednesday and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I sat down with Amjad Abdo, who is a program coordinator at the Texas A&M Campus in Qatar. We caught up at this years ACPA convention in Las Vegas, and once we got home and settled back in we made some time to chat, and it was a lot of fun. We talked about moving at a child and expereincing new places, school, trying to find a job post graduation, learning a lot from the choices we make, and how sometimes great opportunities come along when we least expect them. We also talked about starting a family (Amjad’s daughter makes a guest appearance in our chat), and staying close to family, traveling, watching movies, and figuring out what to do living in new places.

NOTE: At about 18 minutes there is a pause in the conversation, which I put some audio over to explain.

If you want to reach out with feedback or to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES send an email to lifeworkbalacnes [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I sat down with Heather Lou, who works at Smith College as an Area Coordinator. It was a lot of fun to sit with Heather, who I met for the first time at this year’s ACPA convention, and to get to learn more about someone that I really look up to as a professional. We talked about growing up in CA, community, racism, preparing for college, moving across the country, mentoring, and finding a good fit. We also talked about pets, making art, and staying connected to creativity, playing the ukulele, the dynamic nature of work, internal processing, and efforts toward leading a balanced life.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback about the show, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I had the chance to chat with Daisy Rodriguez Pitel, who is a program manager for student services at Pima Community College. Daisy and I have been working on having this conversation for a little while now, missing each other here and there, but we finally had the chance to sit down at ACPA in Las Vegas, and it was really awesome. We talked about the advantages a moving to different place, being open to new professional experiences, working through a PhD, and having a family along the way. We also talked about book clubs, a supportive working environment, family life, not working nights or weekends, setting time boundaries, counseling, respect in relationships, and the benefit of having good conversations.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I had the chance to sit down with Erik Colon, who is an Academic Counselor at Binghamton University in the State of New York. Erik and got to chat at ACPA (where we also had a lot of fun adventuring to get In-n-Out Burger) and I really had a great time getting to know him better. We talked about growing up in New York City, and taking a very long subway ride to get to school every day, the importance of mentors, giving back to one’s community, staying connected to family, getting involved in ACPA, and helping others navigate the student affairs grad school process. We also talked about dancing, holding into gifts from students, setting up a mellow office environment, music, jigsaw puzzles, the joys of finding love, and the energy that pets can bring.

A note about the audio: Erik and I couldn’t find a private space to have our conversation, so we had it in a corner of a hallway. You won’t have a hard time hearing our conversation, but there is some background noise that isn’t usually there.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, feel free to send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hello, and welcome to another Wednesday morning and another great episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.

Today I had the chance to chat with Jennifer Ferrell, Director of Student Involvement at Keene State College. Jennifer and I got connected through a mutual friend at this years ACPA conference, and it was a great opportunity for us to get to know each other and hang out. We talked about moving, evolving through a re-org, the weirdness of Las Vegas, involvement in the Standing Committee for Women, working at a public liberal arts college, and the things that keep us in our positions. We also talked about music (new wave, 80′s, electronic), taking time off, spotify, getting other people into things we are into, the importance of having an opinion, and the fun of traveling.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Matthew Kurz, the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at University of Idaho. Matt and I got connected through a friend of a friend that helped me out during ACPA and circulated my info in the hopes of getting a few folks to do interviews. SUCESS! We had a great time, and it was really cool to get to know someone that I had never met until they knocked on my door. We talked about seeking out new opportunities as a student, and the founding of an organization, mentoring, seeing behind the curtain as a new professional, and taking on new opportunities. We also talked about photography, bed and breakfasts, taking trips, turning off email, and really enjoying taking time away to reflect and recharge.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode, or is you have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalacnes at gmail

ENJOY!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi Everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today’s episode features Moses Davis, Assistant Director of Residence Life at Penn State University. Moses and I got a chance to catch up during ACPA’s national convention in Las Vegas, and we recorded a great chat before heading off to see Melissa Harris-Perry give an amazing opening key note. We talked about growing up in a rural area, community coming together in the face of some terrible incidents that occurred, moving closer to family, getting involved in the arts, transferring colleges, Americorp, and deciding when to look for a new job. We also talked about faith, and balancing the conflict between faith and religion, staying connected to friends across long distances, Moses theory of Reasons Seasons and Lifetimes, all of the facinating aspects of Las Vegas!

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback about the podcast, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I had the chance to sit down with Dan Ocampo, who is the Associate Director of Residential Life at University of the Pacific. Dan has had an amazing career in student affairs, and had some incredible experiences along the way, and I really enjoyed getting to chat with him, especially since we had been trying to connect for a good long time to make this happen. We talked about growing up Napa County CA, being the youngest in his family, military family staying close to family and home in the process of going to college, Dan’s involvement in NACURH and NRHH, and the various experiences that involvement has offered Dan over the years. We also talked about listening to music, long commutes, exploring different routes to the same destination, the joys of having a dog, dreaming up possibilities and big ideas, and getting over feeling stifled.

If you want to interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES or have any questions or feedback, send a message to lifeworkbalacnes [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today is the first every LIVE episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, recorded at the ACPA-College Student Educators International conference in Las Vegas. I sat down with past guests Dafina Lazarus Stewart and Glenn DeGuzzman as well as Rachel Luna and Adam Rockman (both soon to be guests in their own episodes) to talk about involvement in ACPA, the different forms of leadership folks can take on in the organization, and the ways that each of them like to recharge (literally and figuratively) during the hectic time that is a major national student affairs conference. We also took a few questions from audience members about balance and involvement! Thanks so much to everyone that attended, and hopefully LIFE WORK BALANCES will be back next year for another great chat at ACPA in Indianapolis!

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES on this lovely Wednesday morning.

Today I had the chance to talk to Kathleen Kerr, who is the Director of Residence Life at the University of Delaware, and also the Vice President of ACPA. Since I am at ACPA’s national convention right now, it seemed appropriate that this would be todays episode! Kathleen and I talked about growing up in an academic family and being around college students, coming to a career in student affairs, balancing partner career paths with personal career paths, finding a supportive work environment in which to grow and develop, and how ACPA leadership experience can sometimes be of similar benefit to taking jobs all over the country. We also talked about the joys of cooking, never using the same receipt twice, sharing love over meals, family, children, and giving back to the profession in a meaningful way.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or if you have any feedback about the show, send an email to lifeworkbalances {at} gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I sat down with Mayte Perez-Franco, Director of the United Front Multicultural Center at the University of San Diego. Mayte and I have known each other for a while, and it was really awesome to connect on a deeper level, get to know more about her, and hear about her amazing journey to her current position. We had a great talk about growing up in Puerto Rico, shifts in socio-economic status based on location, moving to the continental US, deciding to pursue a PhD after being a practitioner, and how San Diego became an option. We also talked about exercise, food, motorcycles, HGTV, travel, baking, staying connected to family when you have moved all over the country and the world.

If you want to be interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, or if you have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I sat down with Khristian Kemp-Delisser, who is the Retention and Assessment Coordinator for the ALANA Student Center at the University of Vermont. Khristian contacted me a few weeks ago about being interviewed for the podcast, and it was a ton of fun to get to have a conversation again with someone that I had never met before. We got to know each other pretty well, talked about dissertation topics and research, and also had a bit of fun. We talked about being a part of the Boy Scouts, getting involved in school, finding community, coming out, and the fun that can be had in the local library. We also talked about replacing fiction with research reading, remaining active in camping and outdoor activities, pet ownership, and exercising!

If you want to interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I sat down with Kenrick Ali. Kenrick was the Assistant Director of Residence Life at San Jose State University at the time that we did this interview, but since then he has accepted a new position as the Associate Director of Residence Life at California State University East Bay. It was really awesome to catch up with Kenrick. We had been talked about doing an interview for a while now, but since Kenrick was hosting a regional conference, it took a while to find times that worked. When we did get to chat, we talked about going to school as a way to get out of the town that he grew up in, and how that played into which colleges he was looking at, introduction to leadership as a student, and when to decide that its time to do a search and when a current job becomes stagnant. We also discussed travel, and the benefit of taveling with friends, the fun of exploring new places and just being able to relax and turn off for a bit, pets (dogs specifically), and how wonderful a companion they really can be!

Audio Note: We couldn’t get skype to work for us, so we had to record a phone call. It still is audible and should be fine, but it will sound a bit different than you might be used to.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi there, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Kenyon Whitman, who is a Graduate Assistant with the Center for Awareness, Service, and Action at the University of San Diego. Kenyon and I are in the same PhD program, and it was really great to get the chance to sit down and talk about how he got to be where he is, and some of what has influenced his journey. We talked about family and the importance of staying connected, maintaining a relationship with mentors, and his experiences as a student athlete. We also talked about Kenyon’s love for salsa dancing, taking time for phone calls and skype with family, spoken word poetry, and the importance of knowing one’s self and the perspective that it provides.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Can you believe its been a whole year of LIFE WORK BALANCES? I know, its hard to imagine. Every Wednesday for the past year I have given you a new story of a person that works with college students, and hopefully with them have been able to offer so new insights into how they each work on finding balance and recharging themselves.

After a year of these conversations, I thought it would be nice to go back to the beginning. I sat down with Nick Franco, and Nick asked me all about how I got to where I am, and we also talked about the year of hosting the podcast, what it has meant for me, and where I see it going from here. I had a great time talking to Nick (I always do), and I look forward to another year of all of the fun that is LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Enjoy!

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I talked to Sherry Mallory, who is the Dean of Students of Revelle College at UC San Diego. We talked during the first week of Sherry’s second quarter at UCSD, and so on top of getting to know a bit more about her it was great to see how she was settling in at her new home on campus. We talked about growing up a band geek, music, changing career paths mid-degree, and the necessity of good fit. We also talked about bowling and finding people to bowl with, searching out other musicians in a new place, reconnecting with music after taking some time off, enjoying the beautiful sights that new places have to offer, and how recommendations from friends can open up a world of fun things in a new city!

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi Everyone and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

This morning I got to sit down with Dan Tillapaugh, who is a post doctoral fellow at the University of Maine! Dan is also a graduate of the University of San Diego’s PhD program in Leadership Studies, and a great professional who is starting his life as a faculty member! It was really great to chat with Dan again! We talked about music, choosing a college, the fun mishaps that can happen when growing up on a farm, and the fun ways that jobs sometimes fall into our laps. We also talked about the fun of taking in the beautiful scenery around you, candy, dance parties in your office, and the greatness of shaking things up!

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances -at] gmail

Enjoy

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Today I sat down with Kat Matic, Director of Student Rights and Respncibility at Elizabethtown College of Pennsylvania and CEO of InCheck! Kat and I went went to grad school together, and have staying in pretty close touch since then, so it was great to be able to chat, hear some new things about her and in general have fun. We talked about finding direction and the way that direction can change, the fun of playing outside, and the importance of staying connected with students, mentees, and faculty once one enters the professional world. We also talked about cooking, a macrobiotic diet, parenting and creating learning moments for children, and the benefit of story telling.

If you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances {at} gmail

Enjoy!

Episode Archived

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi there, and welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I sat down with Julie Schell, who is an educational researcher for the Mazur Group at Harvard University. Julie was also my internship class instructor when I was a graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University. We hadn’t caught up in a while, and it was certainly a lot of fun to hear about all the great things Julie has been doing in the past few years! We talked about physics, computer science, growing up in Las Vegas, playing sports, being an early adopter for technology, internet bulletin boards and community building, as well as having a teacher or professor make a significant change in one’s life. We also talked about karate, dogs, photography, music, taking breaks, the benefits and hurtles of having a home office, travel, and turning off the iPhone.

Make sure you check out Julie’s BLOG.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi Everyone, and welcome to a new year of episodes of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down and chat with Erin Lovette-Colyer, Director of the Women’s Center at the University of San Diego. It was a lot of fun to talk to Erin, and to hear more about how she got to where she is currently! We talked about growing up in Orange County, living in Seattle in the early ninties, music, moving, finding a connection on a campus that is very different than ones home, and the way that life events impact the choices we make in our careers. We also talked about parenting as a feminist, the joy that comes with having work that energizes and empowers us, the shifting nature, the value of sharing space with allies on campus, the benefits of open campus spaces, the complexity of gender-neutral baby names, and how gender impacts the evolving experiences of both children and their parents.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Welcome to another Wednesday morning with another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Vernon Wall, who is the Director of Business Development with Leadershape, an independent consultant, and a founding faculty member of the Social Justice Training Institute. We had a great time catching up, and it was wonderful of Vernon to make time to have this conversation (it took us about 4 tries to get a time, but it was totally worth it)! We talked about growing up in North Carolina, in a household of educators, choosing a college, the complicated paths of professional journeys, and making the decision to leave a PhD program. We also talked about finding new music music, and going to see live music, Uber (as a side note, please check out this service, its one of the more amazing things to come out in the last few years), traveling with friends and the different ways that personalities can make trips more interesting, Vernon’s favorite foods, and RuPaul.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances -at- gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I sat down with Jenna Antoniewicz, Director of Community Standards and Student Conduct at Susquahana University! Jenna and I know each other through our work at InCheck.org, and she has been a frequent guest on Checking In With Conor, the podcast that I host over at InCheck. It was really fun to sit down with Jenna and hear a bit more about how she got to where she is, and all of the fun that she has doing her work. We talked about finding student affairs, how you can’t get a job you don’t apply for, the benefits of having a supportive supervisor and a department that believes in you, and how Jenna sees her offer growing in the future. We also talked about the fun of world travel, microbreweries, the Napa Valley and wine country, rescuing Boston Terriers, and taking road trips!

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi Everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Joseph Allen Ruant-Ramirez, Fiscal Manager at UC San Diego’s Cross Cultural Center. We talked about Joseph’s experience being connected to UCSD since he was in grade school, how he first got introduced to the CCC, student activism, being a full time employee and graduate student, and Joseph’s ever evolving position. We also talked about living a life of contradiction, sneakers, Once Upon A Time, Disney movies, and the joys of staying at home and watching Netflix.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today, I sat down with John Loggins, Associate Director for The Center for Community Service Learning at the University of San Diego. It was awesome to sit down and learn more about John, since most of our interactions had been around a class that I am taking for which John is a TA. John and I talked about his experiences moving as a child, how the Peace Corps. gets his foot in so many doors, working on a Disney Cruise, and choosing to do his own assignments in a doctoral program, and the connections between work and identity. We also talked about helping students find connections, world traveling, So You Think You Can Dance, politics, transforming and creating new spaces, understanding one’s purpose, and the curiosity that drives people to grow, learn, and explore.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK // TWITTER

Hi everyone, welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I sat down with Malik Ismail, Resident Dean of Revelle College at UC San Diego. Malik and I had talked about sitting down for an interview for a while, and it just nice to get a little bit of time with him for any reason. It was great to hear about Malik’s story, and I know that it will be fun for you all as well. We talked about Malik’s background in engineering, going away to college, board games with friends, finding a community in a new place. We also talked about cooking grilled cheese sandwiches, massive multiplayer online gaming, seeing movies, and maintaining a healthy and fun relationship.

Remember that if you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, email lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

This week I had the chance to sit down with Adriana Di Bartolo, Director of the Queer Resource Center at the Claremont Colleges. I had been talking to Adriana about doing this for a bit, and it was awesome to get time to really connect with her.  Adriana and I had a great chat about her growing up in The Valley, finding a career in hotel and restaurant management, coming out, finding higher education, dissertation writing, spirituality, activism, allyship, feminism, and understanding femme identity. We also talked about community building, having a great partner, creating boundaries, yoga, Real Housewives, and trashy TV in general, family, and spirituality.

Just as a quick note, there is an obvious change in audio quality about 15 minutes into the interview, because Skype crashed on us and we couldn’t get it to work again, so we had to switch to the phone for the rest of the interview.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Happy Wednesday everyone, and welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I sat down with Victor Betts, Marketing and Operations Coordinator for the Cross Cultural Center at UC San Diego. We had a great time chatting about Victor’s like, career, and experiences, and laughing about some fun stories and bonding over our love of a lot of things. We talked about his experience growing up in Japan, what it was like moving to the US, and the differences that Victor experienced between the two. We also talked about decisions to move away to college, getting connected on campus, being an RA, and how Victor decided to come back to San Diego to work at UCSD. We also talked about The Walking Dead, Dr. Who, trashy TV shows, outdoor activities, and regaining energy as an introvert.

SPOILER ALERT: We talk about some key events in Season 2 of The Walking Dead, and the most recent series of Dr. Who, so be warned that if you are not completely up to date.

If you would like to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello, and happy Wednesday. Its time for another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Cat Thompson, psychologist with Counseling and Psychological Services and Liasan to the Campus Community Centers for UC San Diego. Cat and I had a great time catching up, and talking about Cat’s experiences that continue to inform her work. We talked about growing up in San Diego, and the very interesting realizations that brought, tracked education, agency of children in education, and how Cat chose a college. We also talked about TV, particularly Cat’s love of General Hospital, alone time, and setting a schedule that works for one’s own ability to be present and energetic in the work day.

Remember that if you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances at gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Today’s episode features a great interview with Aeriel Anderson, Assistant Dean and Pan Asian/Asian American Advisor at Dartmouth College. It was awesome to catch up with Aeriel, and I really enjoyed getting to hear her story and also reconnect with her. We talked about her experiences growing up in Minnesota as a trans-racial adoptee, figuring out early how rules still apply to leaders, and how family finances impact college choices. We also talked about food (both eating and preparing), travelling the world, some of the places Aeriel wants to visit next, online shopping, and utilizing technology to stay connected with family and friends around the world.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Happy Wednesday everyone! Welcome to another morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES.

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Raja Bhattar, Director of the LGBT Campus Resource Center at UC Los Angeles. Raja and I had been wanting to do this for awhile, and it was really great to have the chance to chat, catch up, and learn more about how Raja got to where he is, as well as all of the great things he is doing to maintain his awesome energy. We talked about his experiences moving as a child, and the specific things that inform why he calls a place home, finding a community in different places and how those connections happen, and being your whole self. We also talked about art, dancing, working out, the privilege of choosing public transportation, and how having a good group of co-workers to just get what you are going through can be a really wonderful way to decompress.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to this weeks episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today is going to be the first in a semi-regular series of bonus episodes, focusing on graduate students that are in some way connected to the field of student affairs, and how they find balance. One of the things that comes up a lot on LIFE WORK BALANCES is mentoring and role modeling, and it seems only fitting that we talk with the folks on the receiving end of some of that to see how it is landing.

This week, I sat down with Sy Simms, who is a grad student in the MFA Theater Design program at UCSD, and also the Graduate Connections Coordinator with the LGBT Resource Center. We had a great time talking about fashion, taking time away from school, cookies, figuring out what makes us happy, different coming out experiences, sports, liberal arts colleges, and mentors to name just a few!

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail !

ENJOY!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello there, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to catch up with Bernie Liang, Director of Student Activities at Seattle University. Bernie and I had a great time chatting, and it was a lot of fun to learn more about how Bernie got to where he is and hear his story. We talked about moving, both of us growing up in New Jersey, getting involved in playing music, finding community, and what you do when you realize that you entered the wrong graduate program. We also had a lot of fun talking about video games, ipad games, tech stuff, online music, commuting, making relationships work, yoga, being a home body and so much more.

Remember that if you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN //  DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hi there, and welcome to another Wednesday morning episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to site down with Hermen Diaz, Assistant Director of Involvement at Colorado State University. It was great to catch up with Hermen, since its been awhile. We had a great time talking about bike culture, growing up in Michigan, feeling connected (or not) on college campuses, and how sometimes we are able to get our foot in the door because someone sees something in us. We also talked about tattoos, as well as their acceptability in higher ed, biking to work, vegan food, local breweries, Hermen’s participation in the Tour De Fat, and the joy and excitement that comes with being a parent!

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, feel free to email lifeworkbalances [at] gmail.

Enjoy

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Its another awesome Wednesday morning, and that means another great conversation on LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today is a follow up to last week’s episode with Edwina Welch, and this week we get into all of the things that Edwina does in her free time to relax, relieve stress, and regain perspective in the world. We had a great time talking about photography, and then an amazing sub-conversation about permission and consent of people having their pictures taken, as well as the greatness of having phones with cameras just as good as most point-and-shoots. We also talked about Tumblr, blogging in general, and the different ways in which our perceptions of property and content have changes with the evolution of the internet and internet culture. And we had a great chat about Comic-Con, our love for it, and the importance of maintaining a critical lens on the things that you love.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN  // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello there, and welcome to another fantastic Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I am really excited for a LIFE WORK BALANCES first. Today’s episode is the first part of an episode that was so extensive and in depth it took two separate sittings to complete. I sat down with Edwina Welch, Campus Diversity Officer and Director of the Cross Cultural Center at UC San Diego. Today’s episode was recorded a few weeks ago, and after chatting for just under 2 hours we realized that we had other meetings to attend, and had not even gotten to what Edwina does to find balance and relieve stress. That conversation happened a bit later, and will make up next week’s episode. In total, Edwina and I sat for over 3 hours, and during this conversation we talked about social justice work, evolving job responsibilities, deciding on student affairs as a career path, community engagement, and the ways in which campus culture shifts can continue to make our work interesting.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Today I had the chance to sit down with Jonathon Hyde, Associate Director of Residential Education at LSU. It was really great to catch up with Jonathon, as its been a few years since we last got to really talk, and we had an awesome conversation! We talked about his recently becoming a father, listening to podcasts, playing video games, and Jonathon’s music blog,  as well as making poor choices in school, greek life, exposure to diversity, feeling inadequate or unworthy in graduate school, and all of the great things that there are to do living near New Orleans. And of course, we did mention Morrissey!

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, feel free to email lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello There! Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kathy Obear, consultant, educator, and founding faculty member of the Social Justice Training Institute. It was really wonderful to catch up with Kathy, and it was also really great to hear her tell her own story. We talked about growing up in Maryland, and the beginnings of Kathy’s love of being outdoors and camping. We also talked about her experiences as a student affairs professional, the importance of gaining a diversity of experiences as a professional, how she made the transition into being a full time consultant, her first experience with civil disobedience, and all of the wonderful things there are to explore living in New York City.

Check out Kathy’s BLOG on her WEB SITE.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello! Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to chat with Adam Bernot, who is an Area Coordinator at Spring Hill College. I met Adam when he moved to San Diego to attend grad school, and also while he was serving as the PACURH Director, a national student leadership position. Adam and I had a great conversation about being a new professional and what that means about learning how to find balance, the different challenges of living in a new place in a new part of the country, and also the different things one finds when they least expect it. We also talked about being prepared for college, as well as the different perspectives that you can gain from trying on a bunch of different positions and functional areas. It was really fun to talk to Adam, and to get his take on his own balance going into his second year as a full time professional.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello Everyone! Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Violetta Gonzalez, Assistant Director at the Cross Cultural Center at UC San Diego. We had been trying to get this conversation scheduled for a while now, and it was really awesome to get to sit down and talk to Violetta about her life, hear her story, and really connect on some things. We talked about moving around as a kid, the affects that moving can have on friendships and relationships, the importance of staying connected to family, and how some of us just are not people who want to have room mates. We also talked about Violetta’s interest in Swing Dancing and Lindy Hop, fitness, tattoos, the different things that influence where we will search for jobs and graduate programs, and the reasons that Violetta never wants to leave San Diego.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Ahoy Hoy! Welcome to another Wednesday morning and another great episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Nancy Tubbs, who is the Director of the LGBT Resource Center at the University of California, Riverside. We had a great time catching up, and we got to talk about some really great things. We talked about podcasts, including the various NPR ones, Cocktail Hour, and LIFE WORK BALANCES, as well as fan fic at the Academy of Bards, the lack of representations of queer women in media, Nancy’s experience growing up in Texas and getting energy from sitting in silence and reading. We also had a really fun conversation about intellectual property, talked about independent publishing, the ethical use of office copy supplies, and we dove into a critique of 50 Shades of Grey.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, feel free to send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail.

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hey Hey! Welcome to another wonderful Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down and talk with Sara Furr. Sara is an Assistant Director in the office of Multicultural and Student Success at Depaul Univeristy, a Doctoral Student at Loyola University Chicago, and also the current Co-Chair of ACPA’s Asian Pacific American Network. It was a lot of fun to catch up with Sara, to hear her amazing story, and to share a few very nice laughs. We talked about moving around the country, how some people know where they want to go to school even when they are very young, finding a good fit, and also running, food, and finding time to be healthy in our sometimes crazy schedules.

If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hi! Welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I sat down with Marquis Bennett. Marquis is an Assistant Director of Student Engagement at Penn State Hazleton, and also the Past Chair of ACPA’s Standing Committee for Multicultural Affairs. Its been about a year since Marquis and I sat down to chat, and it was really great to catch up with him. We talked about mentoring, having a family, staying involved and engaged as a commuter student, and navigating financial aid as a first generation student. We also had a great chat about professional wrestling, catching up on TV shows with an erratic work schedule, maintaining relationships with other people as an introvert, finishing up a doctorate, and how some of us really can be too old to live in the res halls.

If you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hi Everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had a chance to sit down with Z Nicolazzo. Z is a PhD student at Miami University. Z and I connected through my partner, who thought a conversation between the two of us would be fun, and it was indeed. Z talked about hir dog, and by extension the way in which being able to have a dog influenced Z’s job searches and applications, the different routes that a doctoral degree can take a student affairs professional, bike riding, baking and cooking, and socializing through food. We also talked about the different things that have taken Z all around the country.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Today, I sat down with Matt Peterson, who is the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement at Naropa University. Matt and I met during the Social Justice Training Institute (we were going to be roommates) and it was really fun to catch up with Matt since his move to Colorado! We had a great time talking about the different ways we reevaluate our career paths, what attracts us to the jobs we choose, and creating a safe, healthy environment in which to thrive as a professional. We also chatted about reading, taking time to center one’s self at the beginning of the work day, swimming competitively, and drawing a line at the end of the day and saying “time to go home.”

As always, if you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, email lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hi! Welcome to another beautiful Wednesday morning, with a brand new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Emil Cunningham, who is a doctoral student at Penn State University, and a graduate assistant in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Emil and I had a really fun time catching up and reconnecting! We talked about food, and more specifically the fun that goes into cooking and learning new receipts, and Emil’s love of video games that stretches as far back as he can remember in his life, as well as his love for Vassar College and the great opportunities that he received as an undergraduate there. Emil’s story is a fantastic one, and I hope everyone who listens is able to take something wonderful away from it. I know that I always appreciate the time I get to spend with Emil.

If you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, please email lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello everyone! Welcome to another beautiful Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES, the podcast for, by, and about student affairs professionals!

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Diana (Di) Wong, who works as an Employment and Training Advisor for the San Diego Metro Career Center. I actually met Di over Twitter, and after we had tweeted back and forth for a while I asked her to be interviewed, and we had a great time talking about food, twitter, community building, and Tahitian & Hula Dancing. We also had a very interesting diversion into the differences in working within a for profit university from those in a not-for-profit system, and the different ways in which students can be impacted by those systems. We probably would have talked for hours and hours, but we had to stop since a mutual friend was waiting very patiently for us to finish so that we could have dinner together.

Make sure to check out Di’s twitter hashtag #NASPAEATS for all sorts of information about finding good food at NASPA conferences.

If you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, please send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello! Its another beautiful Wednesday morning, which means another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES is here!

Today I had the chance to sit down with David Surratt, Dean of Students at Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA. David and I met a few years back at an ACPA conference, and finally found some time to catch up after reconnecting over twitter about a month ago. We talked about David’s career and his many moves around the country, the benefits of visibility as an administrator at a small college, and strategic searches for specific jobs that help increase someone’s marketability.We also talked about David’s love of softball, staying connected to his doctoral program cohort at George Washington in DC, the importance of having a supportive and understanding working environment, and maintaining a healthy relationship across distance. David certainly has a lot of great energy, and it was very fun to get to chat with him about how he maintains it.  You can connect with David on twitter @DeanSurratt

If you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hi Everyone! Welcome to another Wednesday morning on LIFE WORK BALANCES!

Today I had the chance to sit down with Michelle Murray, Resident Director for Gwynedd Mercy College! Michelle and I met my very first day of undergrad at Cabrini College, worked as Orientation Leaders together, and eventually, reconnected at the 2007 Joint Conference as we searched for our first jobs. It was really great to catch up with her. We had a great talk about the importance of networking and staying in touch, as well as how job searches and needs change in professionals. We also had a great time talking about staying grounded with family and friends, mentoring, and staying motivated by the students with whom we all work.

If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send and email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK

Hello everyone! Its Wednesday morning, and that means that a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES is here!

Today, I had a great chat with Yvonne Hernandez. Yvonne is an Associate Director of Student Life & Leadership at San Diego State University, working specifically with Greek Life. Yvonne and I spent a while working together in Res Life at SDSU, at it was great to get time to catch up with her, hear all about her first year in her new position, and learn more about how she got to that place. We talked about the various challenges that face first generation college students, getting ones act together, working in the non-profit sector, as well as self-care for introverts, the joy and difficulties of running a marathon, and the fun of having crazy pets!

As always, if you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail

Enjoy!

EPISODE ARCHIVED

LISTEN // DOWNLOAD

ITUNES // FACEBOOK