Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month’s episode is with Grace Bagunu. Grace is a Doctoral Candidate in the University of San Diego, and also has a host of other responsibilities across a variety of fields. We get into those things and a lot more in this episode.
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month’s episode features an interview I did with Erica Kirk. Erica is a graduate student at USC, and works in the LGBT Resource Center there. We met when Erica was an undergrad at UCSD, and it was really great to get to hear about all that Erica is doing in the field!
If you have questions comments or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances at gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month I got to chat with Lan Yang, who is a graduate student in the Higher Education Leadership program at The University of San Diego and a Graduate Assistant in the Center for Inclusion and Diversity. We had a great time talking about sports, social justice, hiking, and a lot more!
If you have questions, comments or feedback send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month’s episode is a revisiting episode that I did with Jessica Williams. Be sure to check out the first interview I did with Jessica on episode 105.
This time, we talk about the things Jessica has been doing in a few new roles, defending her dissertation, graduating, and how all of those things and many more have impacted how she thinks about balance and how it shows up in her life.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month we have the first part of an interview I did with Myra McPhee. We’ve been planning this for a while now, and it was great to finally sit down with Myra to talk about her experiences growing up in the Bahamas, going to college, leaving, and going back, high touch schools, getting into student affairs, leaving the field, and then returning again. This is a really great interview, and the second part next month will be just as awesome as well.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback feel free to send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month I had a chat with Sarah Molitoris, who is a graduate student at UCLA. We met each other at USD, where Sarah worked as a Community Director. We talked about growing up in Michigan, finding student affairs through forestry, and going back to school to round out the formal dimensions of learning about student affairs. We also talk about mindfulness, yoga, Meet Up (and my one very odd experience with it) and making friends outside of work among many other things.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback about the podcast, send email email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
This months episode is going to take a slightly different format. I didn’t have the chance to conduct an interview this month, so I decided that I was going to do my own check in about what has been going on in my life lately, as well as talking about my own work on balance. The second half of the podcast is the presentation I did at this year’s ACPA International Conference on Montreal, where I talked about creating a podcast.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month’s episode features a great chat that I had with Kyle C. Ashlee. Kyle is a PhD student, social justice consultant, author, and much more. We had a great time talking about mentorship, involvement, passion, cooking, music, and much much more!
If you have questions, comments, or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES! This months episode features an interview that I did with Robert Brown, who works at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rob and I met while we were serving as faculty members for the Social Justice Training Institute Student Experience, and this was a great chance to catch up with him, hear more about his story, and get his take on how balance has been a part of his experiences throughout his life.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback to offer feel free to send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail.
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month’s episode features an interview with Viraj Patel. Viraj works at The University of Pennsylvania as the Associate Director of the Pan-Asian American Community House. We had a great time talking about experiences growing up, family, the inspiration for getting involved in different activities, and finding a career. We also talked about running, passion, making friends outside of student affairs, community involvement, and TV among many other things.
If you have questions, comments or feedback, you can send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month is the second part of the interview I did with Dr. Susan Komives. This month we talk about moving into a faculty role, retirement, and balance.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This month I got to chat with Dr. Susan Komives, who is one of the most prominent scholars in the topics of leadership and college students there is. Dr. Komives and I spent a good long time talking about her story, so this will be the first part of our conversation, and next month will be the second part. This episode covers the story of Dr. Komives from birth through transitioning from administrative roles to a faculty position. Next month we will cover the rest.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
Today I got to catch up with Alfred Day, who was on the podcast a little over a year ago. In that time Al has taken on a new role as a Care Manager at UC Berkeley, moved, and had a whole lot change for him. We had a great time talking about how Al’s life has been different, new things he has learned about himself, and the new ways he has thought about balance. We also go off on a tangent about student staff training and role modeling that I found to be really energizing and inspiring.
If you have questions, comments, or feedback about the podcast, send an email to lifeworkbalances -at- gmail
Enjoy
Welcome back to LIFE WORK BALANCES. It was nice to take a break, and it is really fantastic to be back and having more of these fantastic conversations!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Reeba Monochan, who works for the Gates Millennium Scholars Alumni program. Reeba and I have known each other for a few years, and it has been really fantastic to hear about how she got to where she is now, and what her journey into student affairs and into her work at GMS has been.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to chat with Ryan Jasen Anders Henne, who is the Director of Residence Life at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Ryan Jasen and I caught up while at ACPA this year, and it was really great to get to talk with him and learn more about how it got to where he is now. We had a great time talking about military family, faith, community, spending time outside, exploring new places, moving, sports, and a whole lot more!
If you have questions, comments, or feedback about the episode, or would like to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to chat with Emily Roh, Program Coordinator for the LGBT Campus Resource Center at University of California, Los Angeles. Emily and I have gotten to know each other over the past few years and it has been really great! I was really excited to get to know more about Emily’s story and journey, the work she is doing and how she has gotten to be where she is now. We talked about growing up in the greater Los Angeles area, family, support, traveling, healing, learning, loving, social justice, food, art, and much more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down and chat with Juan Carlos (JC) Rivas Espinosa, Assistant Director for the Changemaker Hub at the University of San Diego. We have known each other for a few years and have gotten to work together for a while, and it was really great to get to know more about JC, how he got to where he is, his amazing story, and so much more. We had a great time talking about family, travel, social justice, language, school, non-profits, partners, and a lot more.
If you have questions, comments, feedback, or would like to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Ivy Smith. Ivy is a grad student at Binghamton University in New York, and we had the chance to meet up at this years ACPA Convention in Indianapolis. We had been planning to do this for a while and it was really awesome to finally get the chance to sit down and chat with Ivy. Also, we did this in a Starbucks, so if you think you hear background music the entire time and maybe the sounds of an espresso machine, that is why. Ivy and I had a great time, talking about Teach for America, leaving school, support, family, teaching, student populations, and a whole lot more!
If you have any questions, comments, or want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances {at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES
Today I had the chance to talk with Taj Smith, who is the Assistant Director of the Davis Center at Williams College. We got connected at this years ACPA Conference, and after getting to know Taj over lunch and hitting it off really well I thought he would be a great person to interview for this podcast. I know I had a great time getting to know him and hearing about his story. We talked about sports, college counseling, reading, identity, ethnic studies, theater, video games, phallacies (a leadership development group that Taj helped start) and a lot more!
If you want to interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES
Today I had the chance to interview Susan Taylor-Johnson. We met at this years ACPA national conference in Indianapolis, and had a great time getting to know one another and talking about how she got to where she is. We talked about reading, photography, finding connections on campus, building bridges and community, SJTI, counseling, supporting students, and much more.
If you have any questions or feedback about the podcast, or want to be interviewed, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday and a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to interview Keith Humphrey, Vice President of Student Affairs at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Past President of ACPA. Keith and I had a very good time getting to know each other, and I am very excited for you all to get to hear the conversation we had. We talked about getting prepared for college, sports, greek life, family, children, reference checks, running, and a lot more.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES
Today I had the chance to revisit with the very first guest on LIFE WORK BALANCES, Nick Franco. While Nick still holds the same position that he did 2 years ago, we had a lot to talk about in terms of what have changed, evolved, and grown in his life since the time that we sat down to record that very first interview. It was a really fantastic chat, and I am very excited for you all to hear it. One quick audio note: we recorded this conversation over lunch in a common area of campus, so there is a bit of background noise, but you should be able to hear Nick and I just fine. We talked about blogging, different platforms for expression, breathing, intention setting, research, multiracial identity, expanding responsibilities, finding passion, auto-ethnography, travel, tennis, exercise, and a whole lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES
Today I had the chance to talk to Stacey Pearson-Wharton, who is the Assistant Vice President of Wellness at the University of South Florida. We had a great time connecting and getting to know one another, and I am very excited for you all to hear our conversation. We had a great time talking about dance, greek life, faith, mentors, normalizing college and graduate school, family, student involvement, growing up, and connecting passion and work. We also talked about music, books, reading, community building, friends, relationships, social media, partners, groupon, and much more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES
Today I had the chance to talk to Jessica Williams, who is a PhD student at the University of San Diego, and works in the Admissions and Outreach office for the School of Leadership and Educations Sciences, as well as being an Adjunct Faculty for the Counseling Program there.We had a really fun time talking and connecting, and I am really excited for you all to learn more about her. We talked about growing up in a diverse area, school, moving, culture shock, choosing a college based on feel, negotiating with parents, feeling at home, and new adventures. We also talked about writing, blogging, friends, work, offices, boundaries, expectations, and a lot more! Also make sure you check out Jessica’s blog: The World in My Words
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about the podcast, or would like to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Trying something new this week. Because my computer ate the episode I had planned, I had a conversation with a previous guest on the podcast about what things have been like since we recorded our episode. I got to chat with Heather Lou about her life since our interview just under a year ago. She is now a Resident Director at UC Berkeley, and we talked about moving cross country, art, nature, hiking, outdoors, animals, health, growing, tattoos, food, culture, friends, family, and much more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Malinda Daniel, who is the Director of Academic Advising at South Piedmont Community College. We met a few years ago while attending the Social Justice Training Institute in Long Beach CA, and it was really great to catch up with her, hear about the things she has been doing for the past few years, and the things she is doing to work toward balance. We talked about reading, playing outside, riding horses, nature, family, travel, law school, Africana Studies, making meaning, family support, and stress. We also talked about Jeopardy, partners, relaxing, pets, food, TV, trivia, technology, reading, commuting, and a whole lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback or questions, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
CM
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES.
Today I got to talk to Micahel Catanzaro, Director of Sustainability at the University of San Diego. Michael and I had a great time talking, and I am really excited to share this interview. I had wanted to interview someone working with sustainability on a college campus, and to talk to that person about how their work impacts the work and lives of students for some time now, and I am so happy to have that chance now. Michael and I talked about Arizona, heat, choosing a college, getting involved, networking, comedy, and exploring new opportunities. We also talked about getting outside, cars, energy, teaching, work, fun, people, relationships, being alone, and much more.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES
This week I sat down with Michael Lovette-Colyer, Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry, and Director of University Ministry for the University of San Diego. Michael and I have worked together for a bit on a few committees, and it was really great to get to hear about his journey to doing ministry. We talked about choosing a college, getting connected, student leadership, service, traveling, changing course midway through grad school, and sports. We also talked about children, adjusting work schedules, zoos, spending time outside, reading, television, faith, new ways to engage with students, compassion, and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WOKR BALANCES, or have questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This week I got to talk to Marcela Ramirez, who got connected to me through former guest and friend Sy Simms. We then ran into each other at the ASHE conference, and solidified plans to have a chat. It was a really great chat, and I am really excited for you all to hear it. We talked about growing up, playing inside, animals, moving, school, family, commuting, and studying abroad. We also talked about reading groups, critical thinking, voicing needs, friends, career planning, job transitions, student activism, and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode, have questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES
This week we wrap up our conversation with Windi Sasaki, Residence Life Liaison in the department of Housing Dining Hospitality for UC San Diego. Last week we talked about how Windi got to where she is now, and this week we were able to finish the conversation about how she recharges, the things that keep her connected and passionate about her work, and a lot more. We talked about ACPA, professional involvement, mentoring, connections, television, competition, music, and art. We also talked about podcasts, crafts, Pintrest, children, football, and a lot more.
If you have any questions, feedback, or comments about the podcast, or would like to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This week I had the chance to sit down and talk to Windi Sasaki, who is the Residence Life Liason for Housing Dining Hospitality at the University of California San Diego. This week we will cover how Windi got to where she currently is, and in next week’s episode we will talk about the things that she does to recharge and re-energize. This week we had a great time talking about gifted programs, music, moving schools, science olympics, math-letes, egg drops, student government, affirmative action, gender, leadership, and a lot more!
If you have any questions about this episode, feedback, or want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I got to sit down with Diana Victa, who works as a Coordinator for the Cross Cultural Centers at CSU Los Angeles. We were introduced through mutual friend and former guest on the podcast Heather Lou, and it was really fantastic to get to know Diana, and to hear her story. We had a great time talking about growing up in the Bay Area, community college, student activism, transferring, sports, and choosing a graduate program. We also talked about cooking, running, music, CACCHE, mutual friends, receipts, the food network, and a lot more.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to interview Lizzy Gomez, who is a graduate student at the University of Vermont in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program. Lizzy and I worked together at UC San Diego, and it was really great to catch up with her, hear about how grad school has been going, and to hear about how she is growing and learning about herself through the process. We talked about growing up, the tension of wanting to leave and feeling connected to a place where we grew up, identity, helping, empowering, and loving students. We also talked about reading, classes, creativity, crafting, alone time, energy, music, and navigating more tension.
If you have any questions, feedback, or want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I got to interview Dr. Esteban del Rio, who is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of San Diego and also serves as the Associate Provost for Inclusion and Diversity and the Director for the Center for Inclusion and Diversity (which means he is my boss). We got to talk over an afternoon snack about his experience growing up in San Diego, creativity, meeting his partner, kids, growing into being an academic, getting involved, investing in what other people think, and peanut butter and jelly tortias. We also talked about authenticity, caring, bicycling, accessibility, safety, political advocacy, and much much more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
Today I had the chance to interview Ryan Miller. Ryan and I used to work together, and it was really great to catch up with him and hear about what he had been up to in the past few years. We talked about family, friends, creativity, finding a passion, making connections, what informs a decision to move, and making a home. We also talked about trains, kids, running, partners, finding something enjoyable outside of work, museums, free opportunities for fun and learning.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Hi, and welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This week you all can hear the LIVE LIFE WORK BALANCES that was recorded as a roundtable at the Association for the Student of Higher Education Annual Conference in St. Louis. We had a great group of people show up to the conversation, and while we did not have a lot of time to talk about it, I feel like we began a really important conversation that I hope everyone can carry with them into their work after the conference. We talked about family, balancing work and school, institutions of oppression, research, time boundaries, and saying no. We also talked about building relationships, staying connected with students, fitness, pursuing passion, the culture of higher education, and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This week I had the chance to finish up the conversation from last week with Oiyan Poon. We reconnected at the ASHE conference and got to talk about what she had been up to in the last year. We talked about living in Chicago, getting engaged, finding a faith community, staying connected to family that it spread out across the country, learning to cook family receipts, teaching, learning, being asked to speak at a national conference, engaging in conversations about how we honor and value people rather than co-opt their work, and a great deal more.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Oiyan Poon, who is currently a faculty member at Loyola University Chicago. This is the first part of a conversation we had almost a year ago. When I went to put the episode together, my computer ate half of it when I tried to split it between two episodes. So it took some time to be able to sit down with Oiyan again, but I was finally able to do it recently, so now you can hear it this week and next week. This week we talked about growing up in New England, family, sports, school, dropping out of grad school, deciding to pursue a PhD, being political, culture shock, dissertations, and a lot more! This week’s conversation covers up to when Oiyan was getting ready to move to Chicago, and next week we will cover from Chicago to now, and some of the things that she tries to do to find balance and regain energy.
If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode, have feedback or questions, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Christopher Newmann, Assistant Professor at the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership & Education Sciences. It was really great to learn more about how he got to where he is and what lead to his path to the tenure track and faculty. We talked about growing up, sports, siblings, running, visiting colleges, children, and writing. We also talked about comic books, quality time, the San Diego Zoo, office space, office culture, setting boundaries, scheduling time to write, and accountability.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode, or have questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I got the chance to sit down with Rosina McAlpine, who is a visit scholar at the University of San Diego. Someone had actually mentioned that we should chat, because Rosina is currently doing research on work life balance, and we were able to have a really great conversation about research, growing up on a farm, making career decisions, changing those paths, family, kids, and finding new opportunities. We also talked about gender roles, education, negotiating within a relationship, learning, and a lot more!
If you have questions about the podcast, feedback, or want to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat dow with Onar Primitivo, Coordinator for Social Justice Initiatives at UC Merced. We had been planning this for a while, and it was an amazing chat to have. We had a great time catching up, talking about moving to the US, finding community, art, theater, design, feeling pulled between two paths, social justice, creating new opportunities and taking up new roles. We also talked about health, taking care of ourselves, dancing, vulnerability, contributing to our communities and leaving our places a little bit better.
If you have questions about LIFE WORK BALANCES, feedback, or want to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to talk with Eugene Frier, who works in Residence Life at the University of North Texas. We met this year at San Diego Comic-Con, where Eugene was presenting as part of the Geek Ed Panel that also featured some past LIFE WORK BALANCES guests. We had a great time getting to know each other and catching up. We talked about growing up on a military base, immersing yourself in the environment around you, movies, finding and building a social circle, how we choose colleges, and maintaining those relationships. We also talked about board games, video games, gaming in general, comic con, geek week, movies, office culture, supportive mentors, and moving up in an organization!
If you have questions, feedback, or would like to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
CM
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with AJa Holmes, who is a PhD student at Iowa State University. We got connected through a mutual friend, and it was great o hear Aja’s story and get to know someone that I hadn’t met before we set up time to do this interview. We talked about choosing a PhD program, research, “fit” coded language, leadership practices, goal setting, finding new opportunities. We also talked about shaping curricula, finding new way to impact the field of student affairs through course work, better understanding supervision, travel, books on tape, the World Cup, social justice, and a lot more!
If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode, or have any feedback or questions, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Lisa Slavid. Lisa works at UC Santa Barbara, and we met a few years ago when we both attended the Social Justice Training Institute. It was really great to catch up with Lisa, to hear about what she has been doing over the past few years, and to reconnect in a few different ways. We talked about growing up, family, identity, choosing a college, working at the campus radio station, DJing parties, moving across the country, and holding several positions at one university over a number of years and the changes one can see in that position. We also talked about travel, PEA DOODLES (Lisa’s web comic), art, music, the joys of living in California, and a lot more.
If you have any questions or feedback, or would like to be intereviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifework balances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down to chat with Shaun Simon. We met each other a few years ago while attending the Social Justice Training Institute, and it was great to catch up with her and see how her career has been going in those last few years for her. We had a great time talking about growing up, moving, finding a college, securing scholarships, the practicality of Residence Life work, finding a good fit in a working environment, and feeling called to social justice work. We also talked about leaving work at work, social media, pintrest, the inspiration of students, mom & pop video stores, getting recommendations from people are movie stores, interactions, and a lot more!
If you have any questions or feedback about the podcast, send an email to lifework balances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I got to chat with Finn Schneider. Finn works and Cal State East Bay in Residence Life, and we had a great time catching up! We met through a mutual friend a few months ago, and this was a great opportunity to learn more about Finn, hear their story, and to have a few really good laughs. We talked about growing up and exploring nature, living near water, quiz bowl (and my rediculous idea of what that actually is) feeling called to a new adventure, and camping. We also talked about farmers markets, exploring, meditation, practicing yoga, food, seeking out new places to take up hobbies, getting to know a new place, and working to find balance in a new position.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode, or if you have questions or feedback, send an email to lifework balances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Carl Steidel, Assistant Dean of the Sophomore Class at Bates College. Carl and I knew each other from our work together at Cornell University, and it was great to catch up with him and see where his career has taken him in the few years since we had worked together. It was great o hear about all the great things he has been doing. We talked about family, music, raising children, new interesting opportunities, building community outside of work, and moving. We also talked about board games and card games, staying active in a community, randomly connecting to people, starting a band, and making time for hobbies, interests, children, family, and work all in a week and so much more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any questions or feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
ENJOY!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Jody Kunk-Czaplicki, Associate Judicial Administrator at Cornell University. Jody and I worked together at Cornell a few years ago, and we saw each other this summer and had a great time reconnecting. This conversation was really great and a wonderful time for the two of us. We talked about finding a voice, social messages, figuring out college, moving, family, mentoring, and building a home. We also talked about gardening, being present, parenting, building a strong relationship with a partner, pets, and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode, have any feedback, or questions, send an email to lifework balances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Mitchelle Greenlee, who is an Assistant Resident Dean at Thurgood Marshall College at UC San Diego. Mitchelle and I have known each other for a good number of years, and it was really great to get to spend some time with her and chat about some things that we don’t always talk about when we are hanging out. We spent some time talking about growing up in the Midwest, student activism, figuring out college as a first generation student, moving with a partner, exploring new parts of the country, changing graduate programs, and the changes that happen when you stay in a position for a long time. We also talked about being an involved parent, and how that can open up a lot of fun new opportunities, volleyball, the beach, girl scouts, music, supporting local businesses, and a lot more!
If you have any questions about the podcast, want to give feedback, or would like to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalacnes [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sit down with Brian McDonald, Director of New Student Orientation and Parent Programs as Rutgers University. Brian and I met up at San Diego Comic Con, where he was presenting a panel with past guest Alfred Day, and he was really excited about doing an episode of the podcast. I know Brian was coming off of orientation and gearing up for the start of the year, so it was really awesome of him to take the time to chat! We talked about music, tattoos, rebelliousness, leadership mishaps, mentoring, family, and healing. We also talked about martial arts, comics, movies, rejuvenating, masculinity, and a lot more!
If you have any feedback about the podcast, questions, or want to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Samantha Golden, who works at Western Washington in residence life, and we had a great time catching up. We met a few years ago at the Social Justice Training Institute, and its been a lot of fun to chat about Sam’s various work and positions. We also talked about values, music, involvement, curriosity, moving, finding a new place to call home, One Class At A Time, and family. In addition, we talked about Dr. Who, TV, music, coffee, adventures, traveling, friends, and much much more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Todays guest is Alfred Day, Director of Residential Experiences at Saint Mary’s College of California. Alfred and I met at San Diego Comic Con, where Alfred was presenting a GeekEd Panel. We talked about the podcast and a few other things, and I am really excited about the conversation we got to have. We talked about growing up in a small town, seeing movies, comic books, Semester at Sea, mentors, support networks, acting, and taking time off. We also talked about comedy (we talked A LOT about comedy) improv, stand up, movies, Comic Con, GeekEd, bystander training, race, taboos in student affairs, vulnerability, and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES or have questions or feedback about the podcast, send an email to lifeworkbalacnes [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
Today I had the chance to chat with Lorena Marquez, the coordinator for the Cesar E. Chavez Center for Higher Education at Cal Poly Pamona. Lorena and I have been talking about doing an interview for the podcast since before the podcast began, so it was great to finally be able to get our schedules to line up and have a chat! We talked about familial expectations, commuting, Lorena’s triangle of work, mentoring, new opportunities, moving, social justice, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone. We also talked about running, yoga, pets, music, vulnerability, connection, friends, and a great deal more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have questions of feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, the podcast for, by, and about student affairs!
Today I had the chance to chat with Eric Felix, who is an admissions counselor at the University of San Diego, and also a Doctoral Student at the University of Southern California. Eric and I have actually recorded two other full length interviews, but they were both lost to computer issues, and Eric was gracious enough to keep letting me come back to his office and asking him about his life again. I really appreciate his patience. We had a great time talking about growing up in Anaheim, building community at the local library, reading, incentives, choosing a college, living on campus, greek life, falling into a career in student affairs, and mentors. We also talked about running, being married, decision making and its changes with relationships, commuting between school and work, getting back into homework and school, thinking, and a whole lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode or have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Rachel Luna, who is the Assistant Director for the Center for Student Involvement at University of the Pacific. Rachel was a guest on the LIVE LIFE WORK BALANCES episode recorded at ACPA this year, and it was really awesome to get to spend some time with her by herself and get to learn a bit more about the great work she is doing. We talked about trying new things, tee ball, learning and diving in deep to new subjects, multiracial identity, journalism, story telling, leadership positions, picking a graduate school, and mentors. We also talked about caring for introverts, pets and specifically dogs, CAL football, social media, working out, pushing comfort zones, setting boundaries, softball and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Ardith Feroglia, who is an academic advisor at Clark College. We connected over twitter, where Ardith is rather active, and had a great time chatting and getting to know each other. We talked about playing music, and taking it up as a major, dancing, finance, changing careers, finding fit, fielding offers for positions, and finishing a degree while working. We also talked about cross-fit, fitness in general, building community, weather, reading, relationships, travel, crowd sourcing, and a lot more!
If you want to be interviewed for an episode, or have any feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
EPISODE ARCHIVED
Welcome to another great episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, the podcast for, by, and about student affairs professionals.
Today I sat down to chat with RJ Holmes-Leopold. RJ is the director of the career engagement center at Cornell College, and we had a great time learning a bit more about each other since, although we know a lot of similar people, we had never had the chance to meet. We talked about sports, gifted and talented programs, ESL, being involved in student government, small colleges, connecting with administrators, and working toward values. We also talked about pets, partners, taking a break, writing a dissertation, running, exercising, being a visible staff members, reality television, and the changes in priorities that happen over the course of a year on a college campus.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode, or if you have feedback, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
Welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the chance to sit down with Craig Elliot, who is the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at Samuel Merritt University. I was lucky enough to meet Craig through past guest and friend becky martinez at this year’s ACPA conference, and it was really awesome to learn more about him and hear his awesome story. We had a great time talking about kids, growing up in California, sports, working in residence life, moving across the country, returning to one’s alma matter, office culture, and deciding on careers around raising a family. We also talked about coaching kids teams, staying involved in playing sports, community involvement, making nights in a family process, mornings, story time, the value of life and family, and a whole lot more.
NOTE: We had a bunch of different tech issues over the course of recording this interview. The first 20 minutes have a bit of static, and there are a few awkward pauses where skype hung up on us. I still think the conversation was great, but the quality of the recording is not at the normal standard. I think its still worth listening to, so please bare with me.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode or have any feedback send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy
Episode Archived
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
Today I had the chance to interview Wimer Alberto. Wimer works at Binghamton University in residence life, and is pretty darn popular on social media. We met (in person) at ACPA in Las Vegas, and we were able to make some time to have a nice chat. We talked about music, family, how we choose to spend our financial aid money, sustaining relationships, social media presence, learning how to be a good professional, values, and MOOC’s. We also talked about communication, making long drives to see family, friends, and partners, making connections, utilizing social media as a community building tool, Zite, and a whole lot more.
If you are interested in being interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any feedback, send a message to lifeworkbalacnes [at] gmail
Enjoy!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I had the opportunity to chat with Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, who is the president of the Washington Consulting Group, a founding faculty of the Social Justice Training Institute, and Assistant Pastor at Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore. It was really wonderful to chat with Jamie, and I love every time that I get to spend chatting with Jamie. We talked about growing up in Philadelphia, where Jamie started his journey into music, faith, community, tailoring, consulting, and moving up through student affairs. We also talked about taking what Jamie calls sabbath weeks, taking walks and exercising, staying connected to family and friends, taking time off of work, things that look like work that are also re-energizing, grilling, working to live authentically, and walking our own talk.
If you have any feedback on the podcast, or want to be interviewed for an episode, send an email to lifeworkbalances {at] gmail
Enjoy!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Jess Pettit, a consultant doing social justice education at colleges and universities. Jess and I connected this year at ACPA, and we were able to get together to chat about how Jess got to where she is now. We have a lot of conversations about visual things, which I try my best to describe as we talk about them, but I will link a few of them for pictures when more appropriate. We talked about growing up in Texas, obsession, being a black sheep, telling jokes, politics, getting fired, the Peace Corps, and branching out to consulting. We also talked about pets, shoe shopping, making scarfs, writing, editing, music, sleeping, the complexities of owning ones own business, and watching The Voice.
The shoes we talk about are HERE, and HERE is Jess wearing them.
Also make sure to check out Jess’ WEBSITE
If you are interested in being 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
Welcome to another Wednesday morning and a new episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
Today I sat down with Jonathan Poullard, who is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of California at Berkeley. We connected at ACPA in Las Vegas, and after a few schedule changes, colds, and technology hang ups we were able to have a fantastic conversation, so it was worth the wait. We talked about involvement, sports, funding college, being in a military family, student government, building a campus culture, and changing perspectives in campus culture. We also talked about separating identity from job title, spirituality and its connecting us to others, traveling, maintaining a long distance partner relationship, yoga, dancing, and the importance of family.
If you are interested in being interviewed for LIFE WORK BALANCES, or if you have any feedback about the podcast, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
Welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
This week I sat down with Maura Cullen, who is an educational consultant focusing on diversity and social justice at colleges, universities, and businesses. Maura is also one of the founding faculty members of the Social Justice Training Institute with past guests Kathy Obear, Vernon Wall as well as Jamie Washington, and the author of the book 35 Dumb Things Well Intended People Say. We connected at ACPA, and it was great to chat with Maura about her work and her passions. We talked about designing board games, coming out, writing books, working through a PhD, moving into the consulting world, and founding SJTI. We also talked about staying fit, eating healthy, writing projects, the joys of doing nothing with a day off, and the importance of a supportive partner relationship.
If you want to be interviewed for an episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES, or have any questions or feedback about the podcast, send an email to lifeworkbalances [at] gmail
Enjoy!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
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!
EPISODE ARCHIVED
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
Hi there, and welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
Hi Everyone, and welcome to another great Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
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
Hi everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALACNES!
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
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
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
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
Hi Everyone, welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES
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
Hi everyone, and welcome to a very special episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES on this wonderful Wednesday morning!
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
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
Hi Everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
Hi Everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
Welcome to another Wednesday, and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES.
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
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
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!
Hi Everyone, and welcome to another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
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
Welcome to another Wednesday morning, and another episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Hi there, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
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
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
Hi everybody, and welcome to another Wednesday morning with LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
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
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
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 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 and tech stuff, online music, commuting, making relationships work, 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!
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
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
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
Hello there! Welcome to another Wednesday morning episode of LIFE WORK BALANCES!
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
FEED