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Member Spotlight: Nanci Beier



Name: Nanci Beier
Role: Registrar
Institution: Anne Arundel Community College

What do you do at Anne Arundel Community College?



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Member Spotlight: Otu Obot II



Name: Otu A. Obot II
Role: Creating Opportunities for Academic Success and Transfer (COAST) Coordinator 
Institution Name: Prince George's Community College.
What are your three favorite Podcasts/Books?
What are your credentials/experience, for working in your position?
I have over 9 years of non-for-profit experience in various community organizations and ministries in Buffalo, N.Y.  I have been a short-term missionary and lived on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for six months.  I have over 6 years of Higher Education experience.  I have worked for Canisius College which is the premier private institution in Western New York for their TRiO Program as an Academic Talent Search Counselor for 2.5 years.  Currently, I have worked at Prince George's Community College for the past 4 years as a COAST Coordinator.  I am placed in two of the 21 high schools in the county where I am the direct liaison between the high school and college regarding Dual Enrollment, Senior Recruitment, and College Outreach.
 
I have earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a Minor in Business Administration with a concentration in advertising and sales from Baldwin-Wallace University (formerly called Baldwin-Wallace College) in Berea, Ohio.  I have earned my Master of Arts in Higher Education at Morgan State University in May of 2020. 
 
Although I love education and I know that credentials are needed to do the work, I firmly believe that you should have a passion, calling, or desire to be an educator.  You need to see people beyond where they are now and empower them to learn the skills, to get them to their goals in life.  I believe that you must have the attitude and disposition to serve and lead by example.  Lastly, I am in the business of setting people up for success with knowledge and wisdom that I share with them daily.  I must always remember that without the students there is no institution, therefore, customer service, cultural, gender, and race sensitivity, awareness, and the systematic foundation of intersectionality, are vital to have an impact on the students that I serve daily.  
I aspire to move onto Senior leadership as my goal is to be a VPSA, however, I plan to take all my daily lessons I have learned along the journey, so I can always be a servant first and a leader second.  
What are the values that drive you?
  • Empowerment
  • Faith
  • Knowledge
  • Loyalty
  • Servant Leadership
  • Transparency
  • Wisdom
If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
Motivational/Inspirational Speaker.
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Frederick Douglass
Survey Feedback Requested
Nanci, Otu, and Danielle created a brief four-question survey to understand CAPACRAO member needs.
Please take 5 minutes or less to complete the survey with your professional development thoughts. The survey will close on Thursday, April 22, 2021.
Say hello to Otu. Feel free to comment below.

CAPACRAO Chat & Chew: Spring Commencement



In November 2020, a news article by the Baltimore Sun announced Morgan State University was planning for an in-person Spring 2021 Commencement. I'm sure we were all a bit skeptical considering the wave of the pandemic was still high. Nonetheless, let's fast forward to April 14, 2021. Did you read what we did? The University of Maryland College Park has solidifed their plans and in-person isn't something they are thinking about but it's official. Learn about the details here. Will more CAPACRAO be hosting in-person commencement activities for the Spring? 

Join CAPACRAO for a Spring Commencement Chat and Chew on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 3 pm to share some updates in our open forum. There is no agenda, just a space for any institution, department or colleague to dialogue about spring commencement. Feel free to share this link with your institutional colleagues so they can RSVP.

CAPACRAO membership isn't required but you do need to register for an account (if you don't have one) and RSVP for access to the Zoom link.

Give ideas.
Get ideas.
RSVP here.

Is your institution planning to host an in-person or virtual commencement for Spring? Dialouge with your thoughts below to start an online conversation. Need help? Email [email protected] for assistance.

April 2021 Professional Development

Professional Development Calendar

Radical Brainstorming Workshop | Virtual | April 2, 2021 | 12:00 PM

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Spring Forward with CAPACRAO

Hello March 2021! Hard to believe what transpired and has continued to unfold started a year ago. Wow! How everything it feels has changed. While the effects of the COVID pandemic are still present, many colleagues are getting vaccinated, businesses and educational facilities are re-opening, and we are all doing continual reflection and trying to balance mental, physical and emotional health. As best we can. I commend you for doing your part in the global, collective efforts to stay safe.

If the pandemic has taught me anything, it is the power in slowing down and enjoying little moments. Little moments can create big memories especially for our overall health and wellbeing. It can expand compassion and spark a thought when we let go of hurried thoughts. I am an early riser and ode I give to my grandmother, may she rest in power, who never believed in wasting a moment of daylight. During the pandemic, I've gained an affinity for walking. It was the only thing I was willing to do at one point. My best walking record was in July when I walked almost 97 miles. I digressed. My apologies. Anyhoo, I love watching the sun rise in the spring during my early morning walks. I enjoy watching the sun change the landscape from darkness as it peaks over the trees to light the earth with golden tones. Around me I can feel the briskness of the cool, morning air. I breathe. I take in my ability to walk, and the iphone which plays the audiobook I am listening too (currently, 400 Souls). I've immersed myself in so many good books on my walks. On a recent trek, I stopped listening to my audiobook for a moment to gain a new moment. A new perspective. The sounds of birds chirping overpowered my audiobook volume. The birds reminded me that they, and nature, wanted and craved some of my attention. In that moment, I expanded my appreciation for walking and nature. 

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Member Spotlight: Carol Harrison



Name: Carol Harrison

Title: Interim Dean of Enrollment Services/Registrar
Institution: College of Southern Maryland

What are your credentials/experience, for working in your position? I have spent the last 32 years working in higher education. My experience includes Financial Aid, Admissions, and Registrar functions.  I believe the key credentials needed to work in this role are strong technical skills, critical thinking to solve problems and implementing these types of solutions that bridge Records, Admissions and Academic Affairs.




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2021 Call for Board Nominations



CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
2021 Executive Board

Serving as a member of the CAPACRAO Board helps develop leadership skills, provides an opportunity to get involved in local, regional and national issues, and is a great opportunity to push the organization to the next level. Please consider either a self-nomination or identifying a current member who is ready to take the next step in CAPACRAO leadership. We're looking for dedicated individuals who can bring a new perspective and voice for our members.


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CAPACRAO Spring Workshop: FERPA

Have you registered for our April Workshop?

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CAPACRAO Spring Workshop: Resume Building



Have you registered for the CAPACRAO Spring Workshop: Resume Building? Dust off your resume and join us.
RSVP via: https://www.capacrao.org/events

March 2021 Professional Development Events

Professional Development Calendar

ACPA 2021 Conference | Virtual | March 1-17, 2021 

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AACRAO February 2021 Eye On Research

Eye on Research: February 2021

The COVID-19 mental health impact, community college transfer, and credentials

I hoped that 2021 would start well and stay smooth, and it has for AACRAO Research. But it is off to a bumpy start for many of our members in parts of the country impacted by extreme weather. Even with the disruption many are facing, our members have been generous with their time by continuing to respond to our research requests – almost 1,000 responded to the training needs survey! I have said it many times, our research, and the practice and policy recommendations that are gleaned from the data, would not be possible without your participation; thank you.

Information obtained from AACRAO. To view more, click here.

Do you find this information helpful? Let us know. Give us a comment today.

CAPACRAO Shops Local: February Brews

We love our local businesses! 

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What Is Re-Boarding?


Picture retrieved from https://appical.net/en/product/reboarding/

The release of the coronavirus vaccinations has undoubtedly increased the frequency and depth of conversations surrounding businesses reopening. And while reopening procedures vary geographically and between companies, there is at least one consistent that companies and supervisors should consider: reboarding. Reboarding is a modified version of onboarding that seeks to refamiliarize employees who have been off or teleworking with general office procedures while encouraging managers to relearn their employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed the way people and organizations function, their priorities, and in some instances, what they value. Below are a few tips to make bringing your employees back into the office a smoother process.

  1. Be prepared to reorient your employees and retrain them on office basics. After all, some people have been working from home for nearly a year.
  2. Recognize that your employees and coworkers have changed and grown. People’s mindsets and circumstances have changed, which has changed their wants and needs. Additionally, your employees may have gained self-awareness and undergone a professional growth spurt.1
  3. Know which employees are more productive in the office versus who works best at home?1
  4.  “Guard against ‘Prove-it’ Burnout.” Encourage employees to take breaks; likewise, discourage those teleworking from working more than they work in the office.1
  5. Communication is key. Frequent and honest communication helps people feel more comfortable and less anxious about change.2,3
  6. Be empathic: consider that not everyone’s feelings are the same regarding the pandemic or about returning to the office.2

To conclude, for many of us, much has changed both personally and professionally. Thus, it is advantageous for employers to be conscious of how these changes have manifested in their employees and respond accordingly. 


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CAPACRAO Supports Local


Picture retrieved from Amplified Digital Agency

Celebrations are the punctuation marks that make sense of the passage of time; without them, there are no beginnings and endings. Life becomes an endless series of Wednesdays.” -
James Kouzes & Barry Posner

CAPACRAO members take great pride in the work we do and the students we serve: but we like to have fun too! We have created an initiative that will surely provoke nostalgia and generate conversation about the places and things we love, have discovered and re-discovered and things we miss. Our local businesses need our support. Let's promote our local gems among one another. Join us all year as we #CAPACRAOShopsLocal!

Each month we will introduce a theme via our social media accounts and ask that you share your recommendations/memories associated with the theme for that month. Each suggestion gives you an entry into our quarterly raffle drawing!




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CAPACRAO Launches a Dual Enrollment SIG


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

CAPACRAO Launches a Dual Enrollment SIG for Chesapeake and Potomac Area Colleagues

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Spring 2021 Greetings from CAPACRAO President


My name is Sheena Luaehu-Lyons and I am the President of CAPACRAO. Last year brought a whirlwind of changes for all our institutions. As we adapted to the ever-changing environment, our organization made a quick pivot to discover new ways to connect with its members and corporate partners in a virtual setting. I was happy to connect with many of you through our virtual programming in 2020 which included webinars, happy hours, and a summer lunch-and-learn series.

I am proud to announce that CAPACRAO was awarded the Elbert W. Ockerman State and Regional Professional Activity Award by AACRAO. This accolade was accomplished through the collaboration of our Executive Board and Standing Committee members, our Corporate Partners, and each of the members from our Member Institutions. Thank you for sharing this success with us!

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