Name: Shannon Hardester  
Institution Name & Role: Salisbury University-Assistant Registrar, Veterans & Special Populations
Number of Years at your institution: 4.5

Photo retrieved from https://smapse.com/doctoral-degree/

Pursuit of the Doctoral Degree: Creating Your Network

Should you pursue it? 
Is it the right time?
What's your dissertation topic?
What institution should you enroll?
Does the advanced degree meet your goals?
If only you could just finish writing.
What do you wish you knew before.

Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM): Career Planning and Professional Development for Success

Professional Development Calendar

October is Careers In Student Affairs Month. Click here to learn more. 

The last 18 months have been a roller coaster for many of us: ups, downs, and lots of unexpected loops. At some point, many of us have thought, “I can’t wait for things to get back to “normal.” Well that time is upon us. Higher education institutions around the country are well into the fall semester and many schools have opted to return to primarily in-person classes this fall. This means an increasing number of faculty and staff are in the office, in both hybrid and full-week capacities. If you have seen my last two write-ups in this series, you know feelings regarding the return to the office run the gamete; and even those who were enthusiastic about being in the office again, have needed time to adjust. This means office morale may not be at its highest. To help you boost your team (or your own) mood I have compiled a list of tips and activities that are sure to lessen the stress and boost confidence and enthusiasm in the office while we’re getting back in the swing of things.

Looking for career development opportunities? Consider joining our executive board!

Positions Available: Vice President of Membership & Technology

Dual Enrollment Word Cloud made using https://wordart.com/. 

In preparation for our 4th Dual Enrollment Special Interest Group Meeting on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 3:00 PM, we wanted to say hello and provide some updates.

CAPACRAO Legislative Report

Enrollment Roundtable 

In the midst of COVID-19 protocols, mandatory or recommended vaccinations requirements, ambitious enrollment goals, and returning to campus (hybrid or in-person) - find out what really happened once the dust settled after the ADD/DROP period. Come hear insights from representatives at some local colleges as well as share what happened at your institution. 

Johns Hopkins September Professional Development + Discount

We appreciate the opportunity to support the work of our CAPACRAO colleagues! Former CAPACRAO President and continued active member, Aaron Urbanski, has shared a dynamic professional development opportunity he is managing at Johns Hopkins University. This month, the Carey Business School is facilitating two virtual workshops:

Professional Development Calendar

Update Your Professional Brand

Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided many challenges but also many opportunities. Specifically, being away from our students, stakeholders, colleagues, and desks and I mean physically away from them pushed our institutions, departments and each of us into creativity overdrive. The opportunities presented new and unique ways that transformed how we executed our outputs and considered our inputs.

Did you miss the June Legislative Report? Click here to view

Picture retrieved from RGX 

Congratulations! 2020 was definitely a worldwind experience and unexpected in so many ways. However, what a way to truly pivot an association that was planning an in-person meeting at Towson University for June 2020. We took some time on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 1:00 PM to share our reflection as an association with our members. Thank you to all of the attendees who registered and joined us to not just learn of the business side of CAPACRAO but reflect on the dynamic work that we've done over the past year.

What an amazing year for CAPACRAO and our members. Kudos to the dynamic team of volunteers - who serve on the executive board, committees, those who contribute as guest speakers, writers and various contributers. This year is dedicated to you. Because while we were balancing the work of our evolving roles during the pandemic, we still connected, contributed and cared about our personal and professional development. Most importantly, we did it together. From the Chat & Chews in March and April, to the Summer Leadership Series that replaced our Summer Meeting, to the monthly virtual Happy Hours, to our CAPACRAO Supports Local Initiative, around to the modification of our newsletter, increased engagement within our social media plaforms, our Member Spotlight Series, the launching of our Special Interest Group for Dual Enrollment, and continous webinars, we truly did not miss a beat. For our collective efforts, we were recognized by AACRAO at the 2021 Annual Conference.

Meet The New Executive Board 

It's a new year for CAPACRAO. We are so excited to share our new executive team with you. 

Past-Present: Sheena Luaehu-Lyons, Towson University
President: Johnika Dreher, Prince George's Community College 
President-Elect: Shari Christie, Bowie State University
Vice President of Programming: Reginald Garson, Washington Adventist University
Vice President of Communications: Danielle Worsham, Towson University
Treasurer: Rebecca Fowler, Towson University
Treasurer-Elect: Otu Obot, II, Prince George's Community College

Connect with us. To register, click here.

We are meeting soon. Click here to register.

President's Welcome

Hello Members, Sponsors and Colleagues:

On June 30, 2021, many of our distinguished Executive Board members’ term came to an end, and a new Executive Board transitioned in. I am honored to be your incoming President and I want to acknowledge the leadership provided by Sheena Luaehu-Lyons as President, Seth Kamen as Past-President, last year's board and standing committee members. Many thanks for the work that they have done to cultivate the Association. I also want to thank our Sponsors because our achievement would not have been possible without their continued support and dedication to excellence.

I am excited to welcome my colleagues, some new but many who are returning members, into their new roles. I am humble and grateful for this opportunity serve as your President but I have to be honest, we need our members in a mighty way this year. My favorite quote is actually an African Proverb and it is "many hands make for light work." As President, I would greatly appreciate you, our members, joining us this year in whatever capacity enhances your strengths, provides you value and allows you to share your talents. Some ideas, but in one way do we want to limit you, are: