Session 1 | Wednesday | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 

• The Journey to Shared Student Support Services: Enhancing the Student Experience through Inter-Institutional Collaboration|Surf Room
  Abby Asgaralli, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Union Theological Seminary
  David Gastwirth, Vice President of Learning Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, Union Theological Seminary
  Jacqueline Fowler Nelson, Director of Student Support Services, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
  The Academic and Student Experience Collaborative (ASEC) seeks to improve student outcomes through shared services by bringing together Union Theological Seminary and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School—two institutions with distinct cultures, student populations, and operating structures. Now in its second academic year, ASEC provides learners at both institutions with accessibility services, writing support, career services and professional development, and student health and wellness services. This workshop will walk through our process for determining the most urgent needs facing our institutions and the activities underway to address those needs. Join us to learn how ASEC is collaboratively defining job descriptions, developing coordinated interviews, and hiring, onboarding, and managing new shared service staff together.

• Discerning Vocational Futures with Joy|Lagoon Room
  Aizaiah Yong, Associate Dean of Students, Claremont School of Theology
  Jonathan Dumas, Founder, Common Culture Consulting
  Rooted in the contemplative tradition, this interactive session presents practical strategies for discerning vocational paths within and beyond religious institutions through the lens of joy. Specifically, the workshop will address the unique and multi-faceted vocational discernment challenges and opportunities faced by BIPOC, first-generation, and second-career students in theological education. Participants will learn of current research that demonstrates how joy transforms career satisfaction, and engage in activities that foster self-awareness, playfulness, and community-building through reflective and dialogical contemplative exercises, including career coaching techniques that address contemporary challenges in a changing workforce. The workshop is founded on experiential, holistic, relational, and liberative praxis and will be facilitated in collaboration with Jonathan Dumas, an associate certified coach with specialization in organizational psychology.
  

• Theoverse Legacy: Revolutionizing Theological Education through VR and AI|Terrace Room
  Carlos Robles Carrero, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning, and Distance Education, Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary
  Zoami Sepulveda, Administrative Assistant of Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning, and Distance Education, Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary
  The field of theological education is experiencing an era in which there are many rapid technological advances, and the integration of innovative tools such as virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) is essential to enhance educational experiences. The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary has developed “Theoverse Legacy,” which uses these technologies to provide immersive and interactive learning environments for theological studies. This workshop will demonstrate how “Theoverse Legacy” combines VR and AI to present complex theological concepts, facilitating deeper understanding for both students and educators. Participants will experience how VR can transform traditional learning modalities, making theological education more engaging, interactive, and accessible. This session will explore practical applications and strategies for implementing this technology in the context of theological education, with an emphasis on improving student learning and academic outcomes.
  

• Reaching Across: The Ministry of Tabling|Beach Room
  Madeline Main, Global Recruitment Manager, Fuller Theological Seminary
  This workshop highlights the ministry of hospitality by curating a space of trust, safety, and warmth while tabling. Tabling is still utilized as a form of recruitment for many institutions (at conferences, colleges, etc.) by admissions representatives and recruiters, though its effectiveness is not as potent as it used to be, particularly with Gen Z, who values authenticity. This workshop teaches that the tabling experience does not have to feel transactional; one can learn how to transform a table into a threshold, regardless of budget size or levels of creativity. Some learning points include the science of aesthetics, color theory, engaging the five senses, and more. This workshop is also informative for any person who curates hospitality spaces.
  

• Value-Grounded Technology Implementation|Harbor Room
  Michael Hemenway, Director of Design and Data Science, The Association of Theological Schools
  With the emerging ubiquity of new AI technologies, it is as important as ever to have a robust and responsive process for researching, evaluating, and selecting technological solutions that are grounded in the core values of your team and your institution. We will share our collective wisdom on value-grounded processes for technological implementation and discuss some of the important questions teams need to ask when considering new technologies.

Session 2 | Wednesday | 3:30–4:30 p.m. 

• Story Circles: Integrating Formation with the Broader Curriculum for Student Thriving and Preparation for Contextual Education|Surf Room
  Lisl Heymans Paul, Director of Contextual Education, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  At Garrett Seminary, intentionally designed Story Circles are formational cohorts offered to first-year master’s-level students and designed to accompany and prepare them for spiritual thriving, deep listening, and self-reflection. These academically aligned cohorts, facilitated by a staff and faculty duo, offer students the relational and formational foundation they need to thrive in the broad range of ministry practice contexts in which they will serve. Additionally, Story Circles are part of a larger program of student services collaborating to provide layered care for student thriving. Details of designing, planning, and implementing all aspects of the Story Circles program will be shared.
  
  
• Per My Last Email...|Harbor Room
  Qhamora Kimbrough, Registrar and Senior Recruitment Officer, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
  In the world of theological education, streamlining processes is critical for success. This workshop introduces Scribe, a powerful AI-driven tool designed to automate the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This workshop will demonstrate how Scribe can revolutionize workflows in student services by saving time, enhancing accuracy, and improving documentation consistency. Participants will: learn how Scribe captures workflows and converts them into comprehensive SOPs automatically; explore real-life applications of Scribe in student services and beyond; and gain practical insights into integrating Scribe into their institution’s operations. Discover how AI can elevate your team’s efficiency and empower your institution to meet its goals more effectively.
  

• Integrating Spiritual Formation into Hybrid Theological Education|Ocean Room
  J. Matthew Barnes, Vice President of Formation, Asbury Theological Seminary
  As theological education increasingly embraces hybrid and online models, fostering spiritual formation and a sense of belonging among dispersed students presents unique challenges and opportunities. This workshop explores best practices for integrating spiritual formation into student services to enhance holistic development and support. Leveraging insights from Asbury Theological Seminary’s innovative Formation Team initiatives, participants will learn how to use technology, including mobile apps, online learning environments, and in-person hybrid intensives, to create spiritually formative spaces for hybrid and online students. Additionally, we will explore the role of emerging technologies in enhancing pastoral care and engagement, ensuring students feel seen and supported regardless of location. The session will include interactive case studies and discussions to help participants design community-building strategies that align with their institutional missions and values.
  

• Advocating for Equity: The Role of Student Personnel in Support of Title IX Compliance in Online Classrooms|Beach Room
  Marilyn Harris, Director of Human Resources and Title IX Services, AdminWise
  As online education expands, student personnel must adapt to ensure compliance with Title IX while advocating for and supporting students in virtual learning environments. This presentation highlights the critical role of student affairs professionals in addressing biases and online discrimination in synchronous and asynchronous classrooms. We will examine strategies for recognizing and mitigating discriminatory behaviors, promoting equity, and fostering an inclusive digital environment where all students feel safe and respected. Through case studies and practical frameworks, participants will learn how to advocate for students impacted by bias and harassment, collaborate with faculty to promote inclusive practices, and provide resources for those navigating virtual challenges. Emphasizing the importance of awareness, empathy, and proactive engagement, this session empowers student personnel to be champions for equity, ensuring Title IX protections extend effectively into the online learning landscape.
  

• Does It Have to be One or the Other? Navigating Legacy and Change in Advising and Curriculum|Lagoon Room
  Mason Lee, Associate Dean, Abilene Christian University Graduate School of Theology
  This workshop recounts one embedded seminary’s journey to a new advising and curriculum model and reflects on the challenges and opportunities discovered along the way. It explores how the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University, in its mission to serve a diverse student body well, navigated the tension between a historic, faculty-centered model of mentoring and advising, and an increasing need for more efficient student services. By developing inter-university partnerships and re-imagining a traditional curriculum, this seminary was able to provide more robust student services without sacrificing faculty engagement. At a time when institutional efficiency and tenured faculty are easily pitted against one another, this workshop draws on one administrator’s experiences to outline strategies and principles for navigating that tension in ways that allow an institution to serve students well while also empowering faculty to engage in professionally recognizable seminary work.
  

Session 3 | Thursday | 1:30–2:30 p.m. 

• The Influencer Generation: Building a Web of Connection for Recruitment|Surf Room
  Katie Fahey, Senior Director of Enrollment Management, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  Grant Showalter-Swanson, Assistant Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  As institutions and admissions offices are increasingly stretched thin for staff and resources, recruitment of new students has become increasingly challenging. It can be difficult to find prospective students in traditional places like campus ministries or religious studies programs as they shift in size and makeup. It’s even less likely for individuals to pursue seminary and divinity school, even as programming becomes more innovative and responsive to the needs of students. We will show how building relationships with influencers (influencer marketing) will increase reach to new audiences without stretching financial and personnel resources. We will discuss building up a base of nano-influencers, such as alumni, faculty, and current students, as well as connecting with more macro-level influencers, such as third-party placements and social media influencers. Participants will learn how to map possible institutional networks, generate ideas for potential influencers, and narrate key audiences.

• How Partnering with a Larger University Enhances a Small Theological Institution’s Educational Mission|Harbor Room
  Joe Lonergan, Director of Student Services and Spiritual Formation, Franciscan School of Theology
  Louis Cruz, Director of Enrollment Management, Franciscan School of Theology
  Diana Hannasch-Haag, Director of Retentional Programs, Professional and Continuing Education, University of San Diego
  Four years ago, the Franciscan School of Theology (FST) partnered with the University of San Diego to create an online theology degree. This collaboration allows the degree to flourish by providing resources from each institution. We will explore how FST’s combined in-person and online student population has maintained a high retention and persistence rates by creating a lived experience of community despite obstacles presented by distance. This community was formed through the implementation of hybrid social and spiritual offerings, which cultivate a supportive and engaged environment. Presenters from both institutions will shed light on how institutions can pool resources like funding, facilities, and expertise and what we are learning along the way.
  

• Diversification of Student Services for Student Thriving|Lagoon Room
  Thehil Russelliah Singh, Dean of Students, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  Melanie Baffes, Director of Academic Support and Student Thriving, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  Lisl Heymans Paul, Director of Contextual Education, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  This panel discussion will focus on the importance of reflective and intentional integration in student affairs functions from three different perspectives. We will discuss the eight aspects of a student’s holistic wellness, the integration of spirituality and identity formation through reflective advising, and the incorporation of formation in academics to prepare students for contextual education.
  
  
• AI-Assisted Approaches to Using the ATS Student Questionnaire|Beach Room
  Christopher The, Director of Student Research and Initiative Management, The Association of Theological Schools
  ATS Student Data Services staff present this institutional-focused workshop on approaches to designing, deploying, and interpreting the ATS Student Questionnaires. Featuring the use of AI-assisted tools, this interactive workshop will prompt participants to explore tools like Julius.ai (an AI-powered tool for analyzing large datasets) and NotebookLM (an AI research tool for organizing and understanding information). As these two examples suggest, machine-assisted approaches can help curious student personnel and institutional leaders take notice of hidden trends and patterns in their own student data. They can even assist in future questionnaire design and sketch follow-up ideas to enhance student support services and institutional strategy. If time and interest allow, further data visualization and analysis techniques will focus on practical applications relevant to putting the data collected by the ATS Student Questionnaires to work for participating member schools.