Alyson Bodner

Austin, TX

Cell: 805-341-3242

alysonbodner@gmail.com

alysonbodner.wordpress.com

Education
Boston College
Master of Arts Degree, Higher Education Administration
Concentration in Student Affairs
Nominee for Mary Kinnane Award for Excellence in Higher Education

2011 2013

University of California Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Science Degree, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Deans Honors in Fall 2003, Winter 2004, Spring 2004
Recipient of Leadership Certificate Program Award

2003 2007

Work Experience
Associate Academic Advisor
2015 Present
University of Texas at Austin, Center for First Year Advising

Advise Biology, Biochemistry, and undeclared first year and transfer students
o
Coordinate with a caseload of 400 students to provide one-on-one advising, multiple per semester, to
ensure students have accurate information about class registration and how to prepare for future plans
o
Advise on how to complete requirements and post-graduation plans including graduate school, careers
in health professions, and other career paths
o
Explore academic and personal interests with students to help them find the best major, programs,
classes, and volunteer/internship/career opportunities

Provide academic oriented material to large groups of students

o
Guide incoming students and provide them with resources as they transition during student orientation
o
Facilitate workshops for First-Year Interest Groups, a course to help first-year students transition
Program Director, Student Organizations and Leadership
2013 2015
Georgetown University, Center for Social Justice
Supervised the First Year Orientation to Community Involvement (FOCI) pre-orientation program
o Created a year-long leadership training curriculum for 2 leader captains and 14 student leaders
o Facilitated a student-run program that serves as an introduction to community service, volunteer
activism, and social justice issues for 54 first-year (freshmen and transfer) students
o Collaborated with other departments who run pre-orientation programs to run diversity activities
Directed the Advisory Board of Student Organizations and oversaw 55 student-run organizations
o Advised a board of 12 students and 2 faculty/staff members on allocating a budget of over $200,000
o Served as the staff advisor and point person for Georgetown University chapters such as GU Relay for
Life, NAACP, and Best Buddies, as well as many GU-unique student organizations
Managed the Alternative Breaks Program and the over 330 domestic and international spring break participants
o Supervised 2 graduate and 6 undergraduate students to develop a leadership curriculum for 52 leaders
o Facilitated a 30% expansion of the program between 2014 and 2015 by increasing the number of trips
from 18 to 25 and developing a partnership with Campus Ministry and LGBTQ Resource Center
o Increased access by fundraising over $18,000 to partially or fully cover fees for low-income students
o Explored issues such as education, immigration, incarceration and poverty through the programs five
pillars: justice immersion, cultural immersion, service, reflection and substance-free fun
Served as the GU Leadership Director for the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) program
o Created and implemented several leadership summits for 20 students from the Middle East and North
Africa within the framework given by the US State Department
o Quantified learning outcome success through the summer final project (in the US) as well as through
their presentations at the alumni conference six months after the summer (in Morocco)
Expanded role of Center for Social Justice
o Developed professional staff trainings on student development theory and advising best practices
o Created a CSJ-wide leadership retreat for all student leaders to facilitate cross-program collaboration

Alyson Bodner, Page 2

Operations and Project Management Graduate Assistant
2011 2013
Boston College, Center for Student Formation
Acted as Director for Halftime, a retreat for 45 seniors to explore vocational decisions and other life questions
o Trained a group of 8 undergraduate student leaders to present personal stories in front of a group and
facilitate small group discussions with their peers
o Organized 8 faculty and staff members to co-facilitate a small group discussion with student leaders
Served as a Jamaica Summer adult leader for the 2012 JamSum service-immersion trip in Annotto Bay, JM
o Developed a pre- and post-trip retreat and a semester-long curriculum to prepare JamSum participants
o Facilitated 2 weeks in-country with 13 Boston College students and 2 other adult leaders running a
summer school for Jamaican children and attending local presentations
Developed and directed Surface, a retreat for female students facing challenges transitioning to college
o Collaborated with the Womens Resource Center and the Office of Health Promotion to create a
retreat for first- and second-year female students to connect with junior and senior women leaders
o Worked with student leaders to identify points of strength that they could share with younger students
Maintained critical office functions to ensure that all programs operated in an efficient and organized manner
o Managed program applications in FileMaker Pro, an online data system that organizes all BC students
o Supervised 2 students who designed campus-wide advertisements, logos, and other recruitment tools
Assistant Resident Director
2008 2010
University of California Santa Barbara, Office of Residential Life
Co-responsible for a 496-bed first-year hall, and indirectly responsible for all 5,100 residential students
o Utilized crisis management when serving as the on-call Head Staff for the 5,1000 student community
o Trained 90 RAs, supervised 8 RAs and 12 Desk Attendants, and advised a hall council of 35 students
Collaborated with various departments across campus to strengthen holistic student development
o Facilitated challenging conversations as a discussion leader for Education 20, a seminar for first- and
second-year students which assists in the transition from high school to a public research university
o Prepared day-long retreats and weekly seminars as a Multicultural Awareness Chair advisor
Teach for America Corps Member, Biology and Earth Science Teacher
2007 2008
Eastern North Carolina Region, Northern Vance High School
Worked in a low-income, low-performing school district with 180 students who were far behind grade level
o Met goals for number of students achieving high performance scores on the state End of Course Exam
o Counseled first generation and non-traditional high school students on personal issues
o Actively participated in outside of classrooms events to strengthen relationships with community members
Participated in ongoing professional development activities aimed at narrowing the national achievement gap
o Learned to educate students with limited resources and was creative when few supplies were available
2006 2007
Resident Assistant
University of California Santa Barbara, Office of Residential Life
Built a safe and welcoming community of 72 first-year students through programs and personal interactions

Select Presentations

Men and Women for Others: Incorporating Social Justice NASPA National Conference
Case Studies on Orientation and Alternative Breaks MA-DC Campus Compact Conference
Women and Perfection Boston College Surface Participants
Diversity in Education Boston College Jamaica Summer Participants
Inclusive Language Workshop UCSB Adventure Program Leadership Training Course
Crisis Management UCSB Resident Assistant Summer Leadership Development

2015
2014
2013
2012
2009 & 2010
2008 & 2009

Select Volunteer Experience

Boston College Sexual Assault Network (2013), Samaritans, Boston Suicide Hotline (2012-2013), BC
Mentoring, Advocacy, Professional Development and Student Life (2012-2013) Camp Ronald McDonald
for Good Times (2009-2011), University of California Santa Barbara Adventure Programs (2004-2010)

Select Conferences

NASPA National (2013, 2014, 2015), MA-DC Campus Compact Regional (2014), AJCU (2013),
NASPA Region 1 (2012), ACPA National (2009), Central RAP (2008)