Jamestown Community College this week hosted the State University of New York Residence Life and Housing Administrators Conference on its Jamestown Campus. This marks the first time a community college has solely hosted the summer conference that brings together representatives from SUNY colleges across the state. Residence life staff from 19 colleges attended the two-day conference.
The highlight of the conference was a diversity, equity, and inclusion discussion led by Ricardo Nazario y Colón, SUNY's Senior Vice Chancellor for DEI and Chief Diversity Officer. Nazario y Colón spoke of the evolution of higher education and how diversity, equity, and inclusion have always been at the heart of that journey. He reaffirmed SUNY's strong commitment to DEI, no matter what shifts may be happening at the federal level. He also stressed the importance of creating safe, welcoming spaces where all students can feel supported and thrive.
Three JCC staff members presented during the conference, including a keynote address by Academic Affair Vice President Jessica Kubiak that focused on the relationship between academic affairs and residential life programs. JCC Success Center Director Morgan Franchina and Executive Assistant and Project Manager Stephanie Cardone also presented. Additional presentations were delivered by representatives from the University of Albany, Fashion Institute of Technology, and Kayla Crosby from the Jamestown Jackals basketball team. Presentations focused on health and wellness, problem solving, workplace equity, evaluating residence life programs, and student communication.
Tyler Silagyi, JCC Residence Life Director and conference organizer, was confirmed as president-elect of the organization during the conference's business meeting. He will serve a one-year term, followed by a two-year term as president. Silagyi has been JCC's Residence Life Director since 2018 and has worked with the Jamestown Campus student housing program since 2016.
Photos by Jamestown Community College
