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Giving Thanks…and the Wisdom of Women
Posted on November 20, 2012 by gwendungy |
It’s wonderful that some of us celebrate on a special day to think about all for which wecan be thankful. Attending the NASPA Western
Regional Conference November 7-10 is one of the many experiences for which I’m thankful. The conference planning committee led by Lea
Jarnagin, dean of students at Cal State Fullerton, did a fine job. And if they didn’t, most of us would have thought it was a great conference
because it was in Hawaii.
I’m thankful for more than the time in Hawaii, however. I’m thankful for the opportunity I had to co-present at the conference with Doris Ching,
vicepresident emeritus from the University of Hawaii. Our presentation was something of a retrospective of student affairs and higher
education, and we tracked the decades with our personal career journeys.
I’m also thankful for the opportunity to participate in a panel that Teri Bump, vicepresident for student affairs for American Campus
Communities, organized. The panel’s session was titled Wisdom: Our Inspiration & Opportunities. Hearing these remarkable women share
about their lives in very personal terms was awe-inspiring for me. When it was my turn to speak, I was so full of gratitude for what these women
bring to all of us, that I could hardly find my voice.
Teri Bump, Vice President University Relations & Student Affairs, American Campus Communities
During this season of giving thanks and sharing, let me share some of their comments with you. Teri asked, “What
do we know for sure?” She urged all of us to think about the gifts webring and the choices we make. She shared
that her gift is bringing good people together. I think that she is consistent in sharing this gift and it’s much
appreciated.
Doris Ching, Emeritus Vice President Student Affairs, University of Hawaii
System
Doris urged us as professionals to critically examine and adopt a personal education philosophy; to practice
consistency and integrity; and to keep the ideals of the profession in our hearts, minds and spirit. She told all of us
that wewere already sharing our gifts in ways that strengthen the profession and that our gift in return is self-
discovery and powerful leadership.
Carmen Vazquez, Vice President Student Affairs, University of San Diego
Carmen said that she was a first-generation miracle. She shared examples of faith, spirit, and intuition in her own life and concluded that
sometimes we get what weneed and not what wewant. She stressed the importance of having a sense of presence and being in the here-
and-now in order to absorb and manage chaos and give back calm. She believes that weare here for others and not just for self. In making
decisions, she encouraged us to be open to possibilities and trust our inner voice.
Ann Marie Klotz, Director of Residential Education, Oregon State University
Ann Marie began with “We are the women whocame before us.” She gave a moving narrative about the
characteristics of her great grandmother, her grandmother, and her mother that instilled her values and give her
strength. These three incredible women are role models for her, and she is certain from where she received her
intellect, heart and strength.
Luoluo Hong, Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, University of Hawaii Hilo

Luoluo announced at the beginning of her remarks that she was disruptive and discontent, and she is a social justice
warrior who does not suffer from a lack of courage. She said that what she knows is that in her work and life, she draws
from three pools of knowledge: scholarship, public health, and women’s studies and social justice. These areas help her
understand the value of hard data and systems thinking, all the while not ignoring her heart.
I hope this thumbnail sketch of the stories and words of wisdom of these women will be food for thought for youduring this
Thanksgiving holiday season.
2013 WISDOM: Insight and Possibility through Shared Perspective
In the audience of the first WISDOM panel in Hawaii was Justin Gomez, a new professional fresh out of grad school. The stories
that Gwen writes left a profound impact on Justin, but also sparked curiosity. As a young man, Justin asked himself, “Where are
the men in our profession who can inspire like these women did in such an authentic and vulnerable way?”
In coordination with Teri, the WISDOM panel returned to Salt Lake City featuring a lineup of seven incredible male leaders of the
profession. Maintaining the same elegant simplicity of the session the started it all, the panel was asked to respond to the
prompt: In a word, what is your driving purpose?
As the panel facilitator, Justin opened the session,
sharing his driving purpose of generosity, citing his
desire to always pay it forward in a world where so
much is given to us that we cannot always pay it back.
Justin shared this session was his own effort to pay
forward the impact that the first WISDOM session had
on him by creating another space where seasoned
veterans of our field could give audience members a
rare glimpse in to who they are beyond their titles.
Joining the panel via video, Harry Le Grande (Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs, UC Berkeley) led off
the panelists with his purpose of service and fostering
a culture of care for the students on his campus and the staff members within his division. Henry Gee (Vice-President for
Student Services, Rio Hondo College) shared his purpose of passion, giving audience members insight into his path to higher
education, driven by his desire to want more than just running the family restaurant when we came of age. Paul Bennion (Vice-
President for Student Affairs, College of Idaho) told the audience about the importance of integrity in his role as a
practitioner, but also a father to his children, emphasizing that the little things in life are worth taking time for. Jake Diaz (Visiting
Professor, Seattle University) reminded us of the importance of community and the responsibility we have to create ones that
support people’s dreams. Patrick Day (Vice-President of Student Life, University of the Pacific) called our profession to
action, proclaiming the need to do things now, that we as practitioners spend too much time in meetings and not enough time
taking action for positive change. Integrity was echoed by Greg Sawyer (Vice-President for Student Affairs, CSU Channel
Islands) as he shared stories of his father and his experience as a young black man in America. The panel concluded with Larry
Roper (Vice-Provost for Student Affairs, Oregon State) telling the audience about moments in life where he was filled with
anger, but how those same moments taught him the importance of learning to practice grace, to be gracious and grateful.
One after another these men bared their souls to an audience of people, many of them complete strangers. And much like in
Hawaii, something happened in Salt Lake City. Tears were wiped away and choked back, not only from the audience, but from
these men. Through the vulnerability and authenticity of each unique story, a space for inspiration, reflection and pause was
created at Landscapes. With their words, vast amounts of wisdom were delivered to an audience, creating a conference session
experience that was indescribable and completely unforgettable.

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