GWI: Equity in Action Seminar Series 2024

A major Supreme Court decision, a rise in Asian hate and violence, COVID-19 stress, and racial trauma: These have all contributed to the mental health challenges faced by young people today, especially those who are marginalized. Rather than ignore these trends, let’s ensure that we take care of the basics and address the mental health crisis of the often unseen and underserved Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander adolescents. Even when AAPI students look like they are doing well academically, they can mask underlying issues of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. This session will explore specific mental health stressors, review compelling data, and offer practical resources and actionable tools that secondary schools, CBOs, and colleges can use to better support and advocate for the mental health of AAPI students. In addition, this session will address the particular needs of AAPI LGBTQ+ youth, including suicidal ideation and risk of suicide. There’s important work each of us can do to improve the mental health of AAPI and marginalized teens, and this seminar will help equip participants for that work.

The basics: 

• Intended audience: Secondary counseling and postsecondary admission professionals. 
• Cost: $75 for NACAC members, $125 for nonmembers. 
• Estimated completion time: 90 minutes. 
• Upon completion: A completion certificate. 

Presenters: 

• Li Hsiang (Lisa) Chung, M.A.Ed., College and Career Counselor/Specialist, La Canada High School 
• Chris Loo, LMSW, Co-Director of College Counseling Diversity, Unity and Belonging, NACAC Board of Directors 
• Kimberly Tsai Cawkwell, M.A.Ed., Director of Programs, Challenge Success 

Students with physical or sensory disabilities (including mobility, hearing, and vision) have a unique set of considerations when they are considering college. From understanding the college accommodation process and preparing for independent living, to going on college tours and engaging in the admission process, there is a lot for students, school counselors, and admission professionals to know. This webinar is designed to give all college admission professionals (including school counselors, IECs, and college admission teams) a greater understanding of the needs of students with physical disabilities. A panel that includes a student, a parent, and an admission professional with physical/sensory disabilities will also share their experiences. 

This webinar will cover: 

• The legal landscape under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 
• Differences between high school and college accommodations. 
• Defining disability in the college context. 
• Tools for students in the college search process. 
• Thinking beyond compliance to understand universal design of college admission and tours. 
• Understanding disability as an identity group and an aspect of diversity on campus. 
• Real life experiences and perspectives on campus accessibility, tours, admission, and more

The basics: 

• Intended audience: Secondary counseling and postsecondary admission professionals. 
• Cost: $30 for NACAC members, $60 for nonmembers. 
• Estimated completion time: 90 minutes. 
• Upon completion: A completion certificate. 

Presenters: 

• Annie Tulkin, MS, Accessible College 
• Leslie Thatcher, Ed.M., Perkins School for the Blind 

Panelists: 

• Craig Dionne, Director of Recruitment/Northeast Regional Director, Undergraduate Admission, University of Denver 
• Luna Fera, Student, University of Oregon 
• Elizabeth Ralston, Parent and Accessibility Consultant, Elizabeth Ralston Consulting 

Letters of Recommendation can provide important context of who a student is. We want letters to capture students accurately but in a way that also honors their full humanity. How do we do that in a current landscape that wants us to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion? Join us for a session to discuss recommendation letters from an equity perspective. We will examine how counselors can represent their students’ full humanity and how college admissions professionals might utilize these letters to instill humanity and equity into their processes and institutions. Finally, we will provide practical advice and resources.

Presenters:

Presented By: 

Alyson Tom has worked in education for over 20 years. She is the Director of College Counseling & Academic Advising at Pinewood School (CA). Previously, she was the Associate Director of College Counseling at Castilleja School (CA), a College Counselor at Episcopal High School (TX), and a Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Rice University. She is Co-Leader of the NACAC Asian American & Pacific Islander SIG and has served as faculty at NACAC Guiding the Way to Inclusion. Alyson often presents on topics focused on equity, inclusion, and support for marginalized students. In recognition of her contributions to DEI initiatives beyond the institutional level, Alyson was honored as the 2023 recipient of the DEIB Champion Award by the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools.

Brandon Mack is the founder/owner of B.Mack Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to unapologetic equity in college admissions, equity/inclusion/diversity training & education, and dialogue/meeting facilitation services. He is also the Director of College Programs at To The Top Education Group. He has been in the field of higher education for the past 15 years. He was an Associate Director of Admission at Rice University where he headed up international recruitment and chaired admission committees. He was the Interim Director of Operations for the International Association for College Admission Counseling. He is currently in his second year as a faculty lead for the NACAC Guiding the Way to Inclusion conference and he was a faculty member of NACAC’s Anti-Racism Institute.