Dennis H. May Diversity Conference on Mental Health and Higher Education
Welcome to the Dennis H. May Diversity Conference on Mental Health and Higher Education!
The theme of this year's conference is Cultivating a Sense of Belonging: Going Beyond Inclusion on Campus, and we are thrilled to have Dr. Patricia Arredondo as our keynote speaker.
Our conference has a long history at the University of Illinois Counseling Center. Over the past several decades, the focus of the conference has been to educate those who directly work with college students on issues related to diversity, mental health, and the college experience.
The needs and demographics of college students are changing, and we need to evolve as well. change, so must the scope of our conference. As we continue to grow, we have expanded the conference to include all student affairs professionals. Some of the benefits of attending this conference are learning about the issues that can impact young adults, connecting with other professionals in the field, and engaging in robust training related to diversity.
We welcome presenters and attendees who work in counseling centers, student affairs, DEI, and community teachers and administrators who are interested in preparing their students for their time at college
Details
Date:
- Sun, 10/1/2023 - 3:00pm to Mon, 10/2/2023 - 5:00pm
Contact:
- Emily Barnum
elbarnum@illinois.edu
2173333704
- Kamau Grantham
grantham@illinois.edu
2173333704
Lodging:
Register
Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals
We would love to have a variety of presentations from a diverse group of presenters! Please consider submitting a proposal. This year's conference theme is Cultivating a Sense of Belonging: Going Beyond Inclusion on Campus. In the spirit of this year's theme, we welcome proposals from our colleagues at all stages of their careers. Training directors, we understand that the timing of our conference doesn't allow for incoming interns to submit a proposal. If you would like your 2023-2024 cohort to have the experience of leading a roundtable discussion, please provide us with some general information now, and then once interns start, we'll reach out for specific details for the program.
Proposals could focus on recognizing and addressing microaggressions, examining power and privilege, offering resources, and developing multiculturally-competent outreach and interventions. Program proposals that address this year’s conference theme will be given priority consideration. Please submit an electronic copy of your proposed program via this form.
When submitting a proposal, please note that we are looking for a brief content overview of the area you’ll be exploring followed by action-oriented steps to promote change. If your proposal is accepted, the presentation title, presenter information, and abstract you provide will be included in the conference program—please be sure the information you submit is accurate. More than one proposal may be submitted; however, multiple acceptances will be reviewed with consideration for conference schedule limitations. Proposals are due by midnight central time on June 30, 2023. You will have 60 minutes total to hold your discussion. Notification of selection will take place no later than July 14, 2023. To allow as many to participate as possible, we may ask you to consider collaborating with others if similar proposals are submitted.
Please be advised:
Should your proposal be admitted and you plan to attend the conference, you will be required to pay the registration fee for the conference.
Registration and CEUs
Registration and CEUs
Conference Registration
Registration fees for the Dennis H. May Conference on Diversity Issues and the Role of Counseling Centers are as follows. Registration includes a banquet dinner on Sunday evening, a continental breakfast, and lunch on Monday. 2023 registration fees are listed below. Registration will close on September 22.
| Interns/Students | UIUC Employees | Non-UIUC Employees |
|---|---|---|
| $80 | $160 | $220 |
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Up to seven Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered at the conference for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC), and Psychologists. If you are interested in earning CEUs, please make sure to designate this when you register.
Lodging
Illini Union Hotel
(Same building as the conference venue)
217-333-1241
Rates are $129 for a full bed or $134 for a queen bed. Tax is additional, but there is no additional charge for a second guest. If three or more quests are staying in a room, there is $5-10 additional charge. Parking is covered in the cost of the room. The group rate is good until August 15. To get the group rate, please use code DHM23 when registering online or mention the conference when calling to make reservations.
Travel Information
Champaign is located near two major interstates—I-74 and I-57. We are approximately 150 miles south of Chicago, 100 miles west of Indianapolis, and 175 miles northeast of Saint Louis.
If you need to park on campus, the University’s Parking Department offers several options.
Willard Airport (Airport Code: CMI) is approximately 5 miles from campus and is easily accessible by cab and bus.
AMTRAK offers service between downtown Chicago and Champaign.
Our Keynote Speaker
Dr. Patricia Arredondo
President, Arredondo Advisory Group
Dr. Patricia Arredondo has dedicated her career to addressing multiculturalism and social justice in higher education and multiple workplaces domestically and globally. Her academic and consultation agendas always position cultural competency development and strategies for inclusion and belonging as essential to mental well-being. Dr. Arredondo is president of the Arredondo Advisory Group specializing in organization change through diversity management leadership strategy. Dr. Arredondo consults to a range of organizations seeking to become more inclusive and equitable and as also provides executive coaching primarily to administrators from underrepresented groups. She is a licensed psychologist and Faculty Fellow with Fielding Graduate University.
Throughout her career, Dr. Arredondo has held multiple higher education leadership roles. She served as President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago campus, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM), and Senior Vice-President for Student Initiatives, Arizona State University (ASU). She was a full professor in Counseling and Counseling Psychology with both ASU and UWM.
Cultural competency development is central to Patricia’s organizational change consultation and research. She is the author of major cultural competency documents for the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). She is the author of 8 books and more than 100 scholarly publications and videos in the areas of immigrant journeys, Latinx mental health, women’s leadership, DEIB strategy, and cultural competency development. Her co-authored book, Women and the Challenge of Stem Professions: Thriving in the Chilly Climate (2022) addresses the perseverance of women in graduate school and academic units. She is in the process of completing a co-authored book on Counseling with Immigrants and Refugees.
A long-time servant leader, Patricia was president of the American Counseling Association, Founding present of the National Latinx Psychological Association, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. She recently served as co-editor of Diversity Business Review. Currently she is on the boards of Gay Sons & Mothers and the Marie Fielder Center for Social Justice, and BECOME, a social justice agency in Chicago.
Patricia is the recipient of multiple awards and holds Fellow status with both ACA and APA, and an honorary degree from the University of San Diego. Her doctorate in Counseling Psychology is from Boston University. She describes herself as a Mujerista, a feminist identity. Patricia is bilingual in English and Spanish and resides in Phoenix and Mexico City. She attributes her mindset for inclusion and belonging to her pre-college years in Lorain, OH and to her risk-taking Oaxacan abuela, family-centered mother, and feminist father.