DSA Team, we want to celebrate your success!
Honors and Awards
Xavien Johns
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Xavien Johns was named the NASPA Region III 2025 winner of the Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
Ella Windlan
representing the Center for Leadership and Service
Ella Windlan (UGS Academic Engagement Grad Student) was recognized with the "2025 Best Student Research Award" by the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education.
Career Center's Experience Recognition Program
FSU Career Center’s Experience Recognition Program was honored by the Cooperative Education & Internship Association with the 2025 Best Practices Award. Pictured in photo: Jessica O'Neill.
Li Pon
Li Pon was recognized as a 2025 Cooperative Education & Internship Association fellow at the International Work-integrated Learning Conference held in April in Tucson, AZ.
Katie Redd
Student Union, Campus Event Services
Katie Redd was honored by the Young Actors Theatre Board of Directors at the Tallahassee Leading Ladies Breakfast in March for her contributions to the performing arts.
Amy Magnuson, Ph.D., RD, LD/N
Amy Magnuson, Ph.D., RD, LD/N received the Charles F. Bohmann Award from the Southern College Health Association in March for her dedication to college health and service to SCHA.
Trinity Davis
New Student and Family Programs
Trinity Davis was named the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education’s (NODA) Region VI Outstanding Graduate Student Leader.
Rachel Blakesley
University Housing and Childcare
Rachel Blakesley received an Outstanding Contributions to Research Award by the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers in March for contributing to the advancement of knowledge of the housing profession.
Bylines and Publications
Gary Peterson,Ph.D. and Stephen Leierer, Ph.D.
Drs. Gary Peterson, Stephen Leierer, Debra Osborn, and Robert Reardon wrote an article, "Using the Career State Inventory to Evaluate Career Interventions" which was published in the May 2025 National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal.
Alice Maxwell, Alycia Malicz, Suzan Kurdak and Emma Massaglia
Division of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications
Alice Maxwell, Suzan Kurdak, Emma Massaglia and Alycia Malicz co-authored the journal article “Creating connection through collaborative, integrated communications to boost student engagement journey,” published in the international 2025 Journal of Educational Advancement & Marketing and will be included in The Business and Management Collection online database.
Alice Maxwell
Division of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications
Alice Maxwell wrote the peer-reviewed article "Exploring a model for student success communications that welcomes collaboration across higher education divisions." The case study is published in the journal Perspectives: Policy & Practice in Higher Education published by Taylor & Francis, United Kingdom.
Tracey Dowling and Anissa Ford
Tracey Dowling, Anissa Ford and FSU students Jaydn Delgado and Addison Ricca were interviewed for an article featuring the FSUshadow program, "Where Experiential Learning Doesn't Break the Bank," in the Chronicle of Higher Education Special Report: Hands-On Career Preparation.
Bryant E. Harden, Ph.D.
Bryant Harden, Ph.D. coauthored “Teaching Feminist Theories” in The Palgrave Handbook on the Pedagogy of International Relations Theory. He also published “Review of Enlightenment and the Gasping City: Mongolian Buddhism at a Time of Environmental Disarray" in Mongolian Studies: The Journal of the Mongolia Society, and “Becoming a Global Citizen: The Transformative Power of Study Abroad” within How Studying Abroad Changed My Life: Tips and Strategies for a Transformative Experience.
Presentations and Conferences
Christy Mantzanas and Li Pon
Christy Mantzanas and Li Pon presented: “Summer Career Readiness: Engaging Students in Their Hometowns” at the National Association of Colleges & Employers Conference in Philadelphia.
Brittney Pieper
Brittney Pieper presented two roundtables, "The Game Plan: Career Readiness for Student-Athletes" and "Resumes that Win: Application Material for Student-Athletes" at the Florida Association of Colleges and Employers Annual Conference in Orlando in June.
Cassidy Shaw and Alice Maxwell
DSA Marketing and Communications Office
Alice Maxwell and Cassidy Shaw presented “Say “Hello” to Collaborative Student Marketing, Engagement and Retention,” at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Annual Conference for Marketing and Branding Professionals 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Li Pon and Tracey Dowling, Ph.D.
Tracey Dowling, Ph.D. and Li Pon presented "Internships 101: A Toolkit on Increasing Reach of Employer Training" at the Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) Annual Conference in Arizona in April. Dowling is also the CEIA vice president for Professional Development.
Li Pon
Li Pon presented "CEIA Fellow Presentation: Creating an Oasis of Opportunities for International Students" at the Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) Annual Conference in Arizona in April. Dowling is also the CEIA vice president for Professional Development.
Tracey Dowling, Ph.D.
Tracey Dowling, Ph.D. co-presented the sessions "Breaking Into Work-Integrated Learning: The Essentials Toolkit for New Practitioners" and "Cultivating Talent: The Role of Competencies in Work-Integrated Learning Programs" at the Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) Annual Conference in Arizona in April. Dowling is also the CEIA vice president for Professional Development.
Kaylee Vasquez and Ella Windlan
Center for Leadership and Service
Kaylee Vasquez (University Housing) and Ella Windlan (UGS Academic Engagement) presented posters: "Service and Sustainable Futures in Morocco and Beyond" and "Algorithmic Law Enforcement: The Community Impact of Predictive Policing" (respectively) at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education held in Tennessee in March.
Bridgid P. Shannon, MFA, Katelyn Palmer and Paige Rentz
Center for Leadership and Service
Bridgid Shannon, Katelyn Palmer, and Paige Rentz presented “Chords & Contexts: Community Embedded Learning & Communities of Practice” at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education held in Tennessee in March.
Bridgid P. Shannon, MFA and Hillary Harbauer
Center for Leadership and Service and University Housing
Bridgid Shannon (Center for Leadership & Service), Hillary Harbauer (University Housing), and other community partners presented “PeaceJamming: Youth-Centric Coalitions for Positive Peace & Healing-Centered Praxis” at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education held in Tennessee in March.
Bridgid P. Shannon, MFA
Center for Leadership and Service
Bridgid Shannon presented "Pathways to Peace: Storytelling tools and global models to lead with curiosity, boost collaboration, and sustain engagement" at the 19th Florida International Leadership Conference, hosted by the Florida Association of International Educators.
Shannon presented a seminar on community entry and critical community engagement for FAMU-FSU PURPOSE Research Fellows. Brie has provided community engagement framing for PURPOSE Fellows' research since 2019.
Shannon also presented "Healing Harmonies: Using Music to Inspire and Empower Through Life's Challenges" and "Place-Based Frameworks for University-Community Engagement" with community partners and at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education held in Tennessee in March.
Grace Fennema, M.Ed. and Brittany Stover
Grace Fennema, M.Ed. and Brittany Stover presented “Illustrating the Past, Designing the Future: Art as a Tool for Student Empowerment” at the March 2025 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Annual Conference held in New Orleans.
Tyrone "TJ" Johnson, Cheyenne Egstad, Jessica O'Neill and Kaylee Webb
Tyrone "TJ" Johnson chaired the technology committee for the annual Cooperative Education International Conference in April held in Tucson, AZ. He coordinated audio visual technology for all aspects of the conference with the assistance of Career Center staff: Cheyenne Egstad, Jessica O'Neill and Kaylee Webb.
Bryant E. Harden, Ph.D.
Bryant Harden, Ph.D. presented his chapter on “Teaching Feminist Theories” from the recently published The Palgrave Handbook on the Pedagogy of International Relations Theory at the International Studies Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Amy Hecht and Dr. Brittany Devies
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Fraternity and Sorority Life
Amy Hecht, Ed.D. (Vice President for Student Affairs) and Brittany Devies, Ph.D. (Fraternity and Sorority Life) with Angela Chong (University of Oregon), Kelly Hennessy (The College of New Jersey) and Tina Tormey (The College of New Jersey) co-presented, 'Telling Time: Time Management of Women in Senior Student Affairs Roles" at a pre-conference presentation at the 2025 NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Freddy Juarez, Jarred Pernier, Dr. Brittany Devies, Dr. Zduy Chu
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Fraternity and Sorority Life
Freddy Juarez, Jarred Pernier, Brittany Devies and Zduy Chu presented "Foundational Leadership and Organizational Wellness (FLOW) Model: Designing Leadership Learning for Individuals and Organizations" at the NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Alice Maxwell, MA
DSA Marketing and Communications Office
Alice Maxwell co-presented alongside Josie Ahlquist (Association of Higher Education Consulting and Coaching) and Erin Carroll (Washington State University), “Growing Pains: Is Your Division's Marketing Strategy and Structure Stuck in the Past?" at the 2025 NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Suzan Kurdak
DSA Marketing and Communications Office
Suzan Kurdak was a panelist presenter on "Memoir Writing: Processes and Pitfalls" at the Tallahassee Writers Association general meeting in March.
Alycia Malicz, Alice Maxwell, Allison Peters and Dave Peters
DSA Marketing and Communications Office, Division of Undergraduate Studies and Campus Recreation
Alycia Malicz and Alice Maxwell (Division of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications), Allison B. Peters, Ph.D. (Division of Undergraduate Studies), and David Peters (Campus Recreation) presented “Cutting Through the Noise: Collaborative Approaches to Student Communication, Engagement, and Retention” at the 2025 NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Trinity Davis
New Student and Family Programs
Trinity Davis presented at the Region VI NODA conference on “OL 2 HE: Starting Your Journey to Graduate School” and “Supporting Our Families of First-Generation Students” in March in New Orleans.
Service
Hannah Cronic
Department of Student Support and Transitions
Hannah Cronic was selected to serve on the Alcohol, Other Drug, and Campus Violence Prevention Planning Committee for the 2026 NASPA Strategies Planning Conference.
Alice Maxwell
DSA Marketing and Communications Office
Additionally Maxwell served as faculty for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Annual Conference for Marketing and Branding Professionals 2025 in Los Angeles, California, helping with planning, on-sight session hosting as well as serving with fellow faculty members on the panel discussion: "From the Front Lines: Crisis Communication Lessons."
Suzan Kurdak
DSA Marketing and Communications Office
Suzan Kurdak was elected to serve on the Consulting Together Community Outreach Board as director of communications.
Darryl Lovett, Ed.D.
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Darryl Lovett, Ed.D. was selected to serve as the NASPA Chair of the Centering the Student Affairs Workforce Workgroup to help ensure Student Affairs professionals are empowered, supported and equipped to deliver meaningful experiences for students.
Brigid Shannon, MFA
Center for Leadership and Service
Bridgid Shannon, MFA served a second year on the Executive Committee for the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education.
Bryant E. Harden, Ph.D.
Bryant Harden, Ph.D. was elected to serve another year on the executive committee for Theory for the International Studies Association.
Other Accolades
Carol Burns
Carol Burns passed the National Certification Exam and is now a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant.