Manicur Symposium...a reflection

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." Rosalynn Carter 

For several years, my supervisor, Dr. Tisa Mason, has talked about the Manicur Symposium and encouraged me to attend.  It’s only offered every two years, and I would get busy, or put off the application…..but not this year.  On the last day applications would be accepted, I put together my materials and submitted them just minutes before the deadline.  For all my procrastination and stalling—she was correct—Manicur was where I was supposed to be.

The experience began Pre-Symposium with an interview assignment to learn about administrators in senior positions’ leadership journeys.  The assignment intends to inform the interviewer about “lessons to learn, suggestions to consider and challenges to anticipate.”  Along with this assignment, participants were asked to look at their strengths through completing the StrengthsQuest assessment, as well as read “Exceptional Senior Student Affairs Administrators’ Leadership:  Strategies and Competencies for Success,” edited by Gwendolyn Dungy and Shannon Ellis. 

To hear female leaders’ stories and read the keys to success for senior student affairs leadership success was, frankly, overwhelming.  Yet when paired with a review of my strengths, I could begin to see a plan, or a way in which I might achieve success by using my key strengths to create Student Affairs strategies.  I was ready to learn more at the Symposium, and filled with questions.

Held in gorgeous Coconut Grove, Florida, the Symposium was four-jam packed days of sessions, mentor group meetings, and discussions.  One of the biggest benefits of the conference was meeting 67 other female leaders from all over the country, at different places in our careers—yet all chasing after the same end goal.  There were Directors, Associate Vice Presidents, Counselors—virtually any mid-level title you can imagine from all over the country and abroad.  Most participants were trying to navigate balance, checking email, calling back to the office, or texting home to check on partners or children.    Yet once the sessions began, all focus was on the amazing female faculty who would be our guides for the next four days.

Charlotte Tullos, Interim Associate Provost for Student Success at the University of North Texas at Dallas was the program director, who kept the schedule on track.  Faculty were Doris Ching, Emeritus Vice President for Student Affairs, University of Hawaii System;  Gwen Dungy, Executive Director, NASPA;  Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President of Student Affairs, Northwestern University; Pat Whitely, Vice President for Student Affairs, the University of Miami; Karen Whitney, President, Clarion University; and Jan Winniford, Vice President for Student Affairs at Weber State University.

Threaded throughout the Symposium were plenty of opportunities for participants to engage by asking questions.  The support and encouragement offered by the faculty in truly transparent, honest sessions was a refreshing view of the sometimes challenging, sometimes rewarding field of Student Affairs.  It was wonderful to see the women’s very different backgrounds, career ladders, and personalities—and to know that for all their differences, they had all “made it.”  Some of my favorite moments of the Symposium were the light-hearted ones when the faculty would laugh together, commiserate, or bring a sense of humor to the topic at hand.

Sessions presented included Contemporary Issues in Higher Education;  Understanding the Challenges of Conflict and Politics;  Strategic Thinking;  Crisis Management:  Legal Issues and Media;  Managing Resources:  Resource Efficiency;  Emotional Intelligence and Cultural  Competencies;  Preparing for Your Next Career Move;  and Balance:  You and the SSAO Position.  Additionally, Teri Bump, Vice President of University Relations and Student Development for American Campus Communities presented on Technology and Your Brand, and Ellen Heffernan, Partner with the Spelman and Johnson Group coached participants through an etiquette luncheon.  The topics themselves were nothing new—but the female insight offered, along with the participants’ questions that revealed frustration, fear, and excitement lent itself to a fresh way of viewing the topics. 

Bringing it all together and to help us create a plan for reaching our leadership goals, participants were placed into groups, with “seasoned” Student Affairs professionals to mentor and guide our questions and thoughts.  Part cheerleader, part presenter, part guide, the mentors were inspirational examples of the female leadership in Student Affairs. 

Post-Manicur I’ve been excited to see participants are continuing the connections through LinkedIn and Twitter.  The support the group has received from others following the group and contributing their own thoughts has created an even larger network of supporters. 

I would highly recommend attending the Alice Manicur Symposium to any female in Student Affairs.  For me, it was motivational and helped me define my future goals.  While you may not (yet) have aspirations of climbing the ladder all the way to the top, Student Affairs NEEDS you and your leadership.  The Symposium is an amazing opportunity to channel your passion for the field into a workable leadership plan.

To learn more about the Symposium, visit the NASPA webpage at http://www.naspa.org/divctr/women/manicur/faculty.cfm or follow the Twitter backchannel at #manicur

Shana Meyer

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

Fort Hays State University

Twitter: @warkent