Dr. Denzil J. Suite elected as NASPA board chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2018
Seattle, WA

Dr. Denzil J. Suite, Vice President for Student Life at the 91探花, has been elected as the next Board Chair of , the world鈥檚 leading association for student affairs professionals. Dr. Suite, who previously served as a Member-at-Large on the NASPA Board of Directors, began his term as Chair-Elect on March 7, 2018, following the organization鈥檚 annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pa. He will serve as Board Chair-Elect until March 2019 at which time he will serve as Board Chair until March 2020. He said of his appointment,聽鈥淚 am honored to continue my service to the Association and am thankful for the opportunity.鈥�

Established in 1918 and founded in 1919,聽NASPA聽is comprised of over 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories.聽 It is dedicated to the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession.

For over 25 years, Dr. Suite has been an active member of NASPA, volunteering, presenting workshops and planning regional and national conferences; he has also served on both the NASPA Foundation Board. In recognition of his service to the organization and its membership, he has been awarded several of its highest honors, including the Outstanding New Professional Award, the Region V Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean/Vice President; and has recently been named a Pillar of the Profession.

鈥淏eing elected to serve as Board Chair is deeply meaningful to me,鈥� commented Suite. 鈥淎t each step of my career, NASPA has been there to support me, and I view this as my opportunity to give back to the profession through service to our members.鈥�

During his term as Board Chair, Dr. Suite鈥檚 primary goals include:

Supporting NASPA’s public policy efforts, creating avenues for members to register concerns with their representative lawmakers, and ensuring the membership is quickly informed about pending legislation.
Encouraging the expansion and strengthening of global collaborations, and bringing NASPA鈥檚 commitment to social justice to scale on a global level through these partnerships.
Addressing the challenges of a shrinking resource pool by enhancing and expanding resource sharing and trainings on such topics as fundraising strategy and grant writing to enable members to ensure their critical programs and services remain strong, impactful, and responsive to the needs of our changing student populations.
Leading a thoughtful and engaged assessment of undergraduate and graduate students entering the field of student affairs in order to support institutional course correction when it comes to meeting the evolving needs of younger professionals who are entering the field.

Dr. Suite joined the 91探花 in July 2013, and currently leads a dedicated team of professionals in the Division of Student Life in creating and maintaining a healthy campus environment through services, programs and collaborative learning experiences beyond the classroom. Prior to joining the UW, he served as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Southern California, and during his 25+ years working in student affairs, also has held positions of responsibility at UC Berkeley, Cal State L.A. and UC Santa Cruz. Suite has been the recipient of numerous awards from national, local and student organizations. In addition to his professional responsibilities and leadership roles at the 91探花 and at NASPA, he also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Lingnan Foundation which is dedicated to enhancing liberal learning through teaching, research, and engagement between China and the United States.

More information about NASPA can be found at www.naspa.org.

Reflections on gratitude from your fellow Huskies

November can be tough. Between the early darkness of Daylight Savings Time, seemingly endless midterms, and Seattle鈥檚 ever-present rain, it鈥檚 a point in Fall Quarter when it鈥檚 easy to get stressed out, overwhelmed, or just a little down, so it seemed like time for a little positivity. With Thanksgiving coming up, I decided it was the perfect chance to ask some Huskies just what they were grateful for this year. The answer? Mostly, their fellow Huskies.

Read on to hear what your classmates and peers are thankful for this fall鈥攊t might just brighten your day.

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鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful to have friends that support me; they鈥檙e family in their own right. Don鈥檛 get me wrong, I鈥檓 really excited to see my family/extended family over the Thanksgiving weekend, but my friends are the ones who support me on a daily basis, and I鈥檓 not sure where I鈥檇 be without them.鈥�

– Annie G., Computer Science, Class of 2019

鈥淚’m thankful for all of the amazing opportunities the 91探花 has provided me, and the opportunity to be receiving a college education.鈥�

– Chandler S., Communications and Sales, Class of 2018

鈥淭his Thanksgiving I鈥檓 thankful for the time and opportunities I have to be surrounded by friends who support me and make me feel taken care of even when I鈥檓 away from home.鈥�

– Andrea V., Biochem, Class of 2019

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for being blessed with such an amazing family and friends, and overall support system. I am also grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by people and an institution that celebrate diversity, promote social activism, and embody what it means to be a Husky: we鈥檙e boundless.鈥�

– LJ C., Public Health, Class of 2019

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful that I am surrounded by people who constantly support and push me to be my best self.鈥�

– Catherine P., Biochem, Class of 2020

鈥淚’m thankful that I’m able to go to such a great university. I know that this is a rare opportunity for most people in the world, and I’m so grateful that I get to receive a higher education. Also, I’m thankful for my friends for accepting me into their hearts so quickly, and making this place (and my sorority) feel like home.鈥�

– Sasha G., Business Administration, Class of 2021

鈥淚 think I’m most thankful for parents that care about me so much that they are willing to do as much as they can to put me through the college that wasn’t the least expensive, but will be the best in helping me in the future.鈥�

– Jack N., Business Administration, Class of 2021

鈥淭here are so many things to be grateful for today. I鈥檓 grateful I get to wake up every day and pursue a dream I鈥檝e always wanted to. I鈥檓 grateful I have such a loving family and amazing friends. But above all I鈥檓 grateful for my Dixon Ticonderoga Number 2 pencil which has always supported me without fail through thick and thin.鈥�

–聽Cody B., Political Science, Class of 2019

鈥淢y bae.鈥�

– Steven F., Community, Environment, and Planning, Class of 2018

鈥淚’m thankful for the love and support from my family and friends! I’m also grateful for the community that I am surrounded here at UW, which continues to motivate, challenge, and inspire me to live my best life. There’s something sweet about life in our early twenties specifically in university, the ability to have freedom and independence to explore different possibilities. That is something I will forever be grateful for!鈥�

– Teresa C., Business Administration, Class of 2018

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of things I鈥檓 grateful for, like my loving family,聽 supportive friends, and wool socks. But above all, this year I am most grateful for the state of mind I am currently in. I preach the importance of self-love all the time, but it hasn鈥檛 been until recently that I truly felt my own self confidence. I don鈥檛 know what tomorrow has in store for me, but right now, I feel pretty darn good.鈥�

– Honie M., Informatics, Class of 2019

鈥淚 am thankful for Chem 142, because if I passed it I would’ve never been able to get a chance to experience all the electives in the bachelor of arts of public health. I鈥檓 also thankful for Costco because it gave me family time and hot dogs.鈥�

– Erin H., Public Health, Class of 2020

鈥淚 am thankful for many things and many people but I am truly thankful for the relationships I have built at 91探花and in the Seattle community. They are the most supportive and welcoming people and I am forever thankful for their generosity and kindness. They have pushed me to be the best version of myself and when I get there, they push me to be better and do better and I couldn鈥檛 be more thankful for their encouragement.鈥�

– Alyssa E., Education, Communities, and Organizations, Class of 2019

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for my family and all the support they have given me throughout my life. They鈥檝e been there to comfort me when I鈥檓 down and congratulate me when they鈥檙e proud of the things I鈥檝e done. I wouldn鈥檛 be the person I am today without my family being there for me.鈥�

– Evan E., Electrical Engineering, 2021

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Amid a million deadlines and finals looming next month, don鈥檛 forget to take a moment to remember everything you appreciate in life. After all, sometimes it鈥檚 the little things that matter most.

Student Life blogger Hannah M. is a 91探花senior studying Marketing and English聽who聽is also involved with the American Marketing Association and . When not pitching, writing or editing blog posts for UWSL, you’re likely to聽find her聽making PowerPoint presentations for a case competition or ordering a vanilla latte on the Ave. To suggest a topic for the UWSL blog, email dawglife@uw.edu.

21 Tips for making the most of your first year at UW

Check out the first in a series from student blogger Hannah,聽a 91探花junior studying Marketing and English聽who聽is also involved with the American Marketing Association and . When not pitching, writing or editing UWSL blog posts, she’s probably making PowerPoint presentations for a case competition or ordering a vanilla latte on the Ave.

Hey there, Class of 2021! Congratulations on becoming the next generation of Huskies. You鈥檝e written your admissions essays, finally got your acceptance letter, attended your A&O聽and聽celebrated the start of fall quarter with Freshman聽Convocation and聽Dawg Daze. However, despite that excitement, you might be feeling just a little bit of nerves or butterflies鈥攖otally normal. Don鈥檛 worry, we鈥檝e all been there. Everyone鈥檚 time at 91探花is different, but here are 21 tips and tricks to help you make the most of your first year at UW.

Get to know your campus. No one wants to be 鈥渢hat freshman鈥� wandering around with a map, so if you鈥檙e a little disoriented at first, just use the All the building names鈥攁nd directions鈥攁re right at your fingertips (plus no one can tell you鈥檙e checking the route to Bagley, not the latest Insta stories). When not headed to class, take the time to explore 91探花using : hunt for the best views, quietest study spots, or comfiest chairs. Check out the 91探花Farm, newly renovated Denny Hall, or the driving range by North Campus. Being comfortable and confident in your surroundings can go a long way towards feeling more comfortable and confident in college.
Take advantage of your UPASS. One of the best things about being a Husky is our wonderful city鈥攁nd the unlimited bus and light-rail rides we get to use to explore it. Whether you鈥檝e been born and raised in Seattle or are from across the country (or from another country!) there鈥檚 so much to still discover and explore. Each neighborhood has its own unique atmosphere and hidden treasures, so go find them! Search your phone鈥檚 app store for One Bus Away and the Metro KC Trip Planner to help plan your trips and stay up to date on bus schedules.
Speak up in class or quiz section. It鈥檒l challenge you to engage more in the material and help you understand the concepts, which will be super helpful when you鈥檙e faced with your first midterm. It can be nervewracking to volunteer in front of the whole class or ask a clarifying question, but it can really set you apart to your professor or TA. If you鈥檙e feeling self-conscious, you can just raise your hand for answers you know are right to help boost your confidence and build up to speaking in class more often. Joining into discussions in classes like ENGL 111 are even easier鈥攋ust share your thoughts! Whether participation is part of your grade or not, contributing can make a huge difference in your GPA.
Form study groups. If you鈥檙e in a FIG, you already know a bunch of people taking some (or all) of your classes! If you鈥檙e not, strike up conversation with people around you in class and see if they鈥檇 be interested in studying together. Chances are, they will be.
And sit in the front of the classroom to help you pay attention.
Be yourself! Yes, this is the cheesiest advice ever, but it鈥檚 clich茅 for a reason: it鈥檚 true. Toning down your personality can actually make it harder to connect with people鈥攕o wear your favorite concert tee or mention you were a high school volleyball champ. You never know who might want to see a show or spike a few balls at the IMA with you.
Build relationships with your professors. They’re here to help you learn, encourage you, and make sure you’re really understanding the class. If you’re in a 600-person lecture and talking to the prof is too intimidating, try getting to know your TA instead.
Find a balance. There鈥檚 so much to do, but remember to take time for yourself. Try to get a good night鈥檚 sleep and schedule time for a little R&R, like taking a or picking up a novel you鈥檝e been meaning to read. It鈥檚 okay to turn down an invite every now and then or skip an event.
Use your unlimited Google Drive storage space!聽Not only will it help keep your hard drive from filling up, your files will be available anywhere, meaning you don鈥檛 need add your laptop to your overstuffed backpack just to print something at Ode. You鈥檒l even be able to easily access them on your phone! If the worst happens and your computer crashes or battery needs to be replaced, you won鈥檛 lose any important files鈥攐r time. Just log in to your 91探花email account, then use the menu in the upper right hand corner to navigate to Google Drive. through 91探花IT Connect.
Try to resolve conflict with your roommate instead of just 鈥減owering through it鈥� and complaining to your friends in private. Roommate agreements exist for a reason, but if something pops up that鈥檚 been bugging you, speak up about it! Learning how to handle these kinds of situations now will help you deal with conflict later in life.
Get to know your RA. They went through freshman year already so their perspective can be really valuable, and you should feel comfortable stopping by their room with questions or concerns! If you鈥檙e not living on campus, remember that your advisers and staff in the Commuter Commons are also great resources to turn to.
Attend campus events. AS 91探花is constantly hosting events, UW鈥檚 900+ student clubs and organizations bring in speakers and host other events weekly, and definitely keep an eye out for spring quarter鈥檚 TEDx 91探花conference for a serious dose of inspiration. If you live in the dorms, make sure you take advantage of all the events hosted by Housing & Food Services on campus, even if they鈥檙e not in your particular building. Try out movie nights in Alder Auditorium, DIY craft sessions for succulent terrariums or tassel banners, or cooking tutorials at Local Point.
Cheer for the Huskies! While you have to buy Dawg Pack (or individual) tickets for Football and Men鈥檚 Basketball, you can attend ALL other sporting events for free, like Volleyball, Gymnastics, Tennis, Rowing, Soccer, Women鈥檚 Basketball鈥� Going to a game, race, or meet together is a great way to hang out with people during the first few weeks of school or a fun escape from wind, rain, and studying come winter quarter.
Ask for help. The (CLUE), your professors and TA鈥檚, and the exist to support you.聽For help more specific to your majors or classes, there鈥檚 also the , the 鈥he list goes on and on. Do some research to make sure you鈥檙e aware of all the resources you have available.
Have backup classes ready when you go to register and make sure you write down their SLNs beforehand in case you have to make a quick adjustment to your schedule. (SLNs, or 鈥淪tudent Line Numbers鈥� are the 5 digit codes for each class on UW鈥檚 MyPlan or Time Schedule. Each lecture has a slightly different SLN, so be careful!) 聽Some classes are harder to get into than others, and having a plan B will save you so much stress if you don鈥檛 get into the lectures you want at 6 am on registration day.
Take photos. Even if it鈥檚 just changing your Snapchat setting to save your story to camera roll automatically or taking a random pic of your friends at dinner, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Write it down. Jot down memories and quotes in a blog, a journal, or even in the notes app on your phone. You鈥檒l be grateful later that these moments are saved.
Make healthy choices. It鈥檚 easy to default to grabbing Pagliacci鈥檚 or the alfredo pasta from Orin鈥檚 for dinner every night, but don鈥檛 forget to pick up a salad or smoothie every once in a while. Stop by the dorm gyms or IMA, or try jogging and biking on the beautiful Burke-Gilman trail. Make sure you鈥檙e drinking water, too! There are refilling stations for your water bottle all around campus.
Don鈥檛 stress if you lose touch with some of your high school best friends. It鈥檚 totally normal. That said, try to make time for the relationships you want to hold on to, even if it鈥檚 just a quick 鈥渢hinking of you!鈥� text or sending a care package right before finals week. A little can go a long way.
And don鈥檛 worry if you don鈥檛 find your college best friends right away either.
Fail forward. This is a catchphrase at 91探花for a reason. No matter how well you prepare, how hard you try, or how carefully you follow the last 19 tips, you will most likely experience failure at some point here before you graduate. Don鈥檛 be afraid of mistakes! Learn from them, grow from them, and you will be better because of them. Learn strategies to move forward from failures in and out of the classroom, find helpful resources, and check out stories of others鈥� biggest face plants 鈥� including from some of UW鈥檚 most renowned faculty, staff and your fellow students 鈥� by visiting the .

Have a聽question, comment or an聽idea for a future blog? Email us at聽dawglife@uw.edu.

How are you feeling?

As we start spring quarter and celebrate the change in season, it is also important to acknowledge that some within our campus community are facing challenges from a range of stressors: from a polarized political environment to academic and personal difficulties.聽 Such challenges can add stress to what are already demanding times.聽 The time is therefore right to remind you of the resources we have on campus to support your academic engagement and well-being.聽 Our goal as a university is to help create and environment conducive to growth and learning while giving you proactive ways to manage emotions, make meaning of current events, and connect with others to engage in community building.

Here are some tips to help manage your stress level this quarter:

搁别蹿耻别濒.听 Restore yourself.聽 Eat well, regulate your sleep pattern, drink water, exercise, laugh, be creative, etc.聽 Incorporate activities that are rejuvenating.
颁辞苍苍别肠迟.听 Engage with supportive friends, talk with loved ones and/or spend time in comforting environments.聽 Critically engage with your own and others鈥� reactions but also communicate your boundaries when necessary.
Unplug.聽 Limit your consumption of news and social media.聽 Monitor your reactions.聽 Reflect.聽 Set time limits for how long you spend on social media.
Volunteer.聽 Channel what you feel into positive, rewarding and meaningful activity.聽 Join a 91探花or聽Seattle organization.

Students who are struggling or in distress may benefit from seeking help from additional supportive resources:

On Campus
: Free and open to all registered students offering counseling and consultation services
206-543-1240

: Primary care, consulting nurse and mental health counseling.聽 Initial visits are free and most student insurance is accepted for ongoing care.
206-685-1011

: Offering outreach, consultation, referrals. Programs include Suicide Intervention, Sexual Assault, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Advocacy, and Alcohol and Other Drug Consultation and Education.
206-543-6085

: Serves students with temporary and permanent disabilities, providing academic and other accommodations (including injuries and mental health issues).
206-543-8924 (voice and relay)

: UW鈥檚 central reporting office for violence prevention and response. If you have safety concerns, call for a聽consultation, connection to聽resources, and/or implementation of safety measures.
206-685-SAFE

Other resources:

: Text 鈥淪tart鈥� to 741-741 (24hr, confidential, free, crisis intervention- via text)
: Skills and support for coping with suicidal thoughts
: Online resources for college mental health.
: 800.273.8255(TALK)聽For Hearing and Speech Impaired: 800.799.4TTY (4889)

If you need help or are concerned about a friend, we strongly encourage you to reach out to one of the resources listed above. Take care of yourselves and each other.