SYCORA A. WILSON-JAMES EDUCATION Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership for Change, 2016 Concentration in Leadership of Higher Education Systems Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA Dissertation title: The Impact of Appreciative Education on the Retention of Latina Students in the First Year of Higher Education. Master of Education, College Student Affairs, 1999 Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA Bachelor of Arts, Social Science, 1993 Concentration in Anthropology, Ethnic Studies, Sociology Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Peer Leader Manager Entering Student Program The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) January 2018-present Vital member of Entering Student Program Administrative team. Recruit, supervise, and train 100+ undergraduate students on teaching strategies and classroom management for the Entering Student Program. Aid in the professional development of two Peer Leader trainers. Manage the UTEP Prep summer bridge program. Work closely with various offices and departments in academic affairs and student affairs in the planning and implementation of UTEP Prep. Manage a budget of $50,000. Lecture two first-year seminar courses each fall and spring semester. Coordinator (UTEP) Office of Undergraduate Studies March 2016-August 2016 Managed the UTEP Prep summer bridge program. Worked closely with various offices and departments in academic affairs, student affairs, business affairs and undergraduate studies in the planning and implementation of UTEP Prep. Organized four planning meetings with various university departments and offices. Oversaw marketing and recruitment efforts. Visited eight area high schools to promote summer enrollment for accepted students. Attended three school district meetings to promote the program and consider feedback for improvements. Organized the Family Orientation and Closing Ceremony. Assisted in the planning of the Opening Ceremony. Trained on the use of CRM. Co-managed six peer educators. Executed disciplinary action on program participants when necessary. Solved conflict between students, parents and various offices on-campus.
Resolved salary issues for faculty. Managed a budget of $86,000. Peer Leader Coordinator (UTEP) Entering Student Program July 2006-July 2008 Vital member of Entering Student Program Administrative team. Recruited, supervised, and trained 100+ undergraduate students on teaching strategies and classroom management for the Entering Student Program. Monitored peer educator work hours outside of the classroom. Conducted workshops for faculty on working effectively with peer educators. Co-supervised the training and leadership development of 60+ students in the Student Leadership Institute. Collaborated with the Office of New Student Orientation in the selection, training, and leadership development of 60 orientation leaders. Coordinated orientation sessions for new students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Supervised 12 orientation leaders for the College of Science and the College of Engineering. Counseled orientation leaders on their academic and personal life. Lectured two first-year seminar courses each semester. Program Advisor (UTEP) Academic Advising Center August 2004-July 2006 Academically advised 150 undergraduate students. Advised students on the correct courses to take which met their career goals. Interpreted assessment scores. Advised students on the appropriate developmental course sequence based on their assessment scores. Counseled students in academic peril. Advised students on issues unrelated to academic advising such as relationships and personal values. Produced PowerPoint presentations for the Academic Advising Center staff to use during New Student Orientation. Lectured two first-year seminar courses each fall and spring semester for the Entering Student Program. Program Coordinator (UTEP) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) April 2000-November 2004 Managed a $5.1 million National Science Foundation grant for the University of Texas System. Planned and coordinated the annual undergraduate research conference for the UT System LSAMP program. Gathered and organized statistical data for the annual Government Performance and Results Act Review sent to the National Science Foundation. Prepared and made presentations on program assessment at national LSAMP meetings in Washington, DC. Maintained a database of all current and former students in the UT System LSAMP program. Created recruitment brochures and flyers for the state-wide Summer Research Academy and Bridge to the Doctorate.
Interviewed and selected students for the summer research program at the University of Texas at El Paso. Coordinated with research faculty and staff at UTEP to further program objectives. Coordinated with faculty at El Paso Community College in the selection of students for the summer bridge program. Collaborated with regional program coordinators and faculty in the selection of students and mentors at alliance institutions. Coordinated bi-weekly graduate school preparation workshops for research students. Adjunct faculty for the Entering Student Program. Director Academic Advising Center Sul Ross State University (SRSU) June 1995 July 1999 Administratively responsible for undeclared/undecided advising, new student orientation, student disability services and developmental education. Implemented a developmental advising program for students on academic probation. Initiated and managed a campus-wide mid-semester grade warning system. Provided input into University policies and procedures that impacted the academic advising process. Provided academic, career, financial and personal guidance to college students. Coordinated testing services with Career Services and Testing Center. Advised students on the appropriate developmental course sequence needed to satisfy state requirements. Secured new funding for New Student Orientation. Planned, organized and implemented all activities and assessment of New Student Orientation. Created the training manual for orientation leaders. Developed an office procedures manual for the Academic Advising Center. Updated and distributed the university s Handbook on Academic Advising and annual Student Handbook. Collaborated with faculty to provide accommodations for students with disabilities. Facilitated professional development workshops for faculty, staff and student employees. Assisted in the planning of the university s recruitment plan with the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Implemented the first annual Freshmen Convocation. Coordinated the second annual SRSU Heritage Festival. Compiled regular weekly, monthly, and semester reports. Compiled data for two federally funded grants. Prepared and managed a budget of $80,000 Community Impact/Resident Program Advisor Dean of Students Scripps College August 1994 May 1995 Coordinated community service programs and opportunities for resident students. Served as spokesperson for the Women s Collective/Career Center on various committees of the Claremont Colleges. Collaborated with service learning offices of the Claremont Colleges to produce a 5-college Women s History Month activities calendar.
Produced awareness handouts and facilitated discussions on breast cancer, volunteerism, cultural awareness, safety, and other topics related to women. Involved in the residence life staff selection. Extensively trained on crisis intervention and prevention. Counseled and advised first-year women students on their personal and academic life. Supervised 2 resident advisors. Mediated in roommate conflicts. TEACHING EXPERIENCE Lecturer Entering Student Program The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Fall 2004-present UNIV 1301: A discipline-based, theme-driven course designed to engage students in the University community. The course places strong emphasis on academic, career, life, and leadership skills necessary to succeed at the college level. UNIV 2350: Students in this course are introduced to approaches to technology assessment and examine social, cultural, and environmental consequences of technology. The course includes problem solving in small groups assigned to research, analyze, discuss, and arrive at possible solutions for a broad range of topics related to technology and society. PRESENTATIONS C.R.E.A.T.E. a model for teaching a first-year seminar, 29 th annual Teaching Academic Survival & Success (TASS) Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. April 8-11, 2018. A positive revolution in change, UTEP Leadership Conference, El Paso, TX. March 3, 2018. Hello! My name is, UTEP Leadership Conference, El Paso, TX. February 24, 2017. CREATE: An appreciative model for teaching first-year students, 34 th annual First-Year Experience and Students in Transition Conference, Dallas, TX. February 8, 2015. Addressing Ethics in Leadership, UTEP Leadership Conference, El Paso, TX. February 21, 2014. Conference Proposals 101: The basics of writing a conference proposal, ESP Peer Leader training, El Paso, TX. February 14, 2014. My word is bond: Using learning contracts to set academic and personal goals, Teaching Academic Survival & Success Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. March 20, 2012. Conflict Management, UTEP Leadership Conference, El Paso, TX. February 24, 2012. Gone FISHing, Student Leadership Institute, El Paso, TX. April 2011. Going in Circles: A fresh approach to training orientation leaders in Science and Engineering, National Orientation Directors Association Region 4 Conference, El Paso, TX. February 2007.
University of Texas System LSAMP tracking of former students, National Science Foundation Human Resource Development Joint Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., March 2002. Poster presentation, UT System LSAMP program assessment at the National Science Foundation Human Resource Development Joint Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., March 2001 & 2004. CURRENT ACADEMIC SERVICE (UTEP) Facilitator, Academic Success Strategies Committee Reviewer, UNIV 1301 Proposal Acceptance/Syllabi Committee PAST ACADEMIC SERVICE Coordinator, State Employee Charitable Campaign, Entering Student Program (ESP), UTEP (2013 & 2014) Co-instructor, Website & Faculty/Peer Leader Blackboard site, ESP, UTEP (2012-2014) Mentor, IMPACT Project, Student Engagement and Leadership Center, UTEP (Spring 2014) Committee member, Academic Technologies sub-committee, ESP, UTEP (2011-2013) Committee member, UNIV 2350 Committee, ESP, UTEP (2009-2013) Manager, Entering Student Program Administrative team, UTEP (2006-2008) Advisor/Lecturer liaison, Entering Student Program Assessment committee, UTEP (2004-2006) Chair, Advising Trends/Professional Development Work Group, Academic Advising Center (AAC), UTEP (2005-2006) Member, Council of Undergraduate Advisors, AAC, UTEP (2004-2006) Staff advisor, Women s Resource Center Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee, Student Development Center, UTEP (2002-2004) Undergraduate Admissions & Retention Committee, Sul Ross State University Access & Equity Committee, Sul Ross State University Cultural Diversity Task Force, Sul Ross State University Leadership Retreat Committee, Sul Ross State University CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) National Resource Center on the First Year Experience and Students in Transition (FYE) Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) Women s Network for Gender Empowerment (WNGE) SERVICE TO NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Conference proposal reviewer, NASPA (2013-present), ASHE (2014)