NIRSA Region VI Virtual Conference

10:00am- 10:50am, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Move to Improve: How to Make Your Department an Impactful Mental Health Outlet for Students: The program will outline what mental health struggles look like for college students and how recreation facilities can impact them. From exploring research in the area to identifying practical ways to make change, the program will highlight how recreation managers can promote all aspects of well-being through exercise. The presentation will outline what mental health and mental illness are, and how exercise can be used to combat mental illness and poor mental health. The presentation will then offer ways that attendees can connect with students on these topics and allow for discussion to think of their own. The session format will primarily be presentation-style, with opportunities for discussion integrated throughout.

Jacob Bruetsch – Memberships Coordinator, Montana State University

10:00am- 10:50am , 50-Minute General Ed Session
From Task Manager to People Developer: The move from entry-level to supervising full-time staff often happens faster than the opportunity to intentionally practice leadership skills. Many professionals either aspire to advance or find themselves stepping into roles supervising professional staff before having meaningful experience managing and developing others. In today’s collegiate recreation environment, advancement rarely comes with the luxury of shedding operational responsibilities. This session focuses on addressing that reality by bridging the gap between task execution and people development. Designed for those stepping into or preparing for roles with expanded supervision, participants will leave with practical approaches for leading professional staff effectively, even while remaining deeply engaged in operational work.

Al Diaz – Associate Director for Business and Operations, University of Oregon

11:00am-11:50am, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Building stronger Teams in Collegiate Recreation: Effective Leadership is more than technical skills – it’s about understanding, managing, and responding to emotions – both your own and those on your team. This session aims to explore emotional intelligence as a key skill for professionals and student leaders. Participants will learn about the core components of emotional intelligence, assess their strengths, and practice applying strategies in various scenarios. The goal is to leave with tools to lead with empathy, build trust/ and foster inclusive & resilient teams.

Janel Kittle – Assistant Director of Satellite Facilities, University of Arizona

11:00am-11:50am, 50-Minute Roundtable
The Lights Won’t Work, The Showers Are Cold, And The Pool Is Green – Facility Roundtable: This interactive discussion allows facilities professionals to discuss topics and trends in facilities, risk management, maintenance, and technology in collegiate recreation. Attendees are also welcome to propose their own topics for discussion.

Brandon Deroshia – Associate Director of Facilities, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

12:00pm- 12:50pm
Lunch Break

1:00pm- 1:50pm, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Student Development: Come hear some of the student development opportunities at Sonoma State!

Mike Dominguez – Lead Recreation Programs and Wellbeing Coordinator, Sonoma State University

1:00pm- 1:50pm, 50-Minute Roundtable
Impacts on Well-Being: Creating a Culture of Thriving: This presentation will involve participants in a discussion about how using a Well-Being framework allows them to assess their departments. Through this approach, participants will learn how to systematically evaluate their departments to identify and eliminate barriers that inhibit individuals from thriving in the campus recreation setting

Wellbeing / Mid-Level Natalie O’Farrell – Associate Director for Programs and Well-Being Initiatives, University of Arizona

Drake Belt – Associate Director for Facility and Safety Operations, University of Arizona

2:00pm- 2:50pm, 50-Minute General Ed Session
7 Ways to Improve Your Professionalism for the Aspiring (or Young) Professional: This session will examine 7 helpful hints to students and young professionals alike that will help them in their everyday jobs, their communication, decision-making, thinking abilities, and everyday marketing of themselves. It is a great opportunity to discuss a wide-array of professionalism matters that we all are forced to reckon with in 2026 and beyond.

Troy Vaughn – Executive Director, Campus Recreation, University of Arizona

2:00pm- 2:50pm, 50-Minute Roundtable
Regional Conference Roundtable: It’s no secret that the cost of conferences has continued to rise, and the ability for students and professionals to travel has become more difficult. This is challenging, specifically in Region VI as we are one of the more expensive regions and lengthy travel is often involved. To combat this we are looking to host the 2026 at a university campus. This could be your Recreation Center, Union, Conference Center, or anywhere you recommend. We are aiming to be able to create a similar conference experience and lower the associated cost. In doing so, we hope we can offer the conference at a lower rate to both students and professionals. Join this roundtable as we want our regional members to be part of the process!

Ryan Kirchner, Acting Director, Campus Recreation, The University of Utah

10:00am-10:50am, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Ready…Set…HIRED!: This professional development opportunity is designed to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market! We will cover the job search process from resumes and cover letters to evaluating offers and negotiating!

Janel Kittle – Assistant Director of Satellite Facilities, University of Arizona

Liz Melendrez – GA Special Events & Facilities, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

10:00am-10:50am, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Launching Unified Sports on Campus: A Quick-Start Guide to Inclusive and Sustainable Programs: Unified Sports bring students with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same teams, strengthening campus inclusion, leadership, and community engagement. This session provides a practical roadmap for launching and sustaining a Unified Sports program within higher education and campus rec. Participants will explore key partnerships, recruitment strategies, and proven methods for building long-term stability. The session includes short interactive exercises to support real-time application.

Blaine Spencer – Assistant Director, Sports, The University of Utah

Rachel Vermeltfoort, Manager of Sports, The University of Utah

Tainui Watene, Sports Supervisor The University of Utah

11:00am-11:50am, 50-Minute Roundtable
Membership Services Roundtable: Join campus recreation professionals from across the region for an engaging roundtable discussion focused on all things Membership Services. This session is designed for staff who oversee or support membership operations, including customer service, sales, access control, software management, and member engagement strategies. We’ll dive into shared challenges and innovative solutions around: Streamlining membership sales and renewals Managing access and facility entry Training and supporting front-line staff Utilizing data to drive decision-making Enhancing member experience and retention Whether you’re a seasoned manager or new to the field, this roundtable offers a valuable space to exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain practical takeaways to strengthen your campus recreation membership operations. Bring your questions, success stories, and challenges—we’re all here to learn from one another.

Miggy Mendoza – Recreation and Wellness Coordinator, Stanford University

11:00am-11:50am, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Level Up Leadership, Shaping Tomorrow’s Campus Rec Leaders: This interactive roundtable brings together campus recreation professionals to share strategies, challenges, and success stories in cultivating leadership, communication, and career readiness among student employees. Participants will explore practical tools and frameworks to mentor and empower student staff, while also discussing innovative approaches to foster transferable skills that prepare students for life beyond campus. Whether you’re looking to enhance training programs, build stronger connections, or create a culture of growth, this session offers actionable insights and collaborative problem-solving to elevate both student and professional development.

David Grassi – Associate Director, Facilities & Operations, University of Montana

Olivia Morse – University of Montana

12:00pm-12:50pm
Lunch Break

1:00pm-1:50pm, 50-Minute Roundtable
Can We Buff This Out – Custodial Roundtable: This interactive discussion will lead attendees through the challenges/successes/questions that custodial operations managers are facing. Topics include custodial operation formats, best practices when determining custodial staff hiring, cleaning equipment, and leading/developing a custodial staff team. Attendees are also welcome to propose their own topics.

Brandon Deroshia – Associate Director of Facilities, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

1:00pm-1:50pm, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Empowering Student Success through NACE Career Readiness Competencies:
As higher education continues to evolve, Campus Recreation professionals are uniquely positioned to foster holistic student development beyond the classroom. This interactive presentation invites practitioners to explore the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies as a strategic framework for advancing student learning and development across campus recreation. Whether you’re new to the NACE framework or seeking to deepen its integration, this session offers a dynamic space to exchange ideas and re-imagine how your department or area can champion career readiness in transformative ways at your institution.

Jonathan Stahl – Associate Director, University Recreation, Washington State University

Paula Kimmerling – Outdoor Adventures Coordinator, Washington State University

2:00pm-2:50pm, 50-Minute General Ed Session
Dealing with Difficult: The goal of this training is to acknowledge uncomfortable/difficult situations/conversations that students may face and provide foundational tools to help them navigate them. The focus of this presentation is on building rapport, recognizing emotions, effective communication, de-escalation & conflict resolution, and professionally providing feedback. This idea was generated when I noticed a gap in understanding of early career professionals within my department not having the foundational tools or understanding of how to appropriately navigate these situations and adapting that training to start at the student level. The foundation of this training is based on different professional development opportunities I have attended & best practices to navigate situations that cause high levels of emotion.

Janel Kittle – Assistant Director of Satellite Facilities, University of Arizona

2:00pm-2:50pm, 50-Minute Roundtable
Fitness Roundtable: All things fitness. Support a facilitation around all topics within Fitness and Wellness.

Ryan Samuels – Assistant General Manager, Stanford University

3:00pm-3:30pm, 30-Minute General Ed Session
Closing Session

Ryan Kirchner, Acting Director, Campus Recreation, The University of Utah