Coalition Annual Meeting & Conference

Stony Brook University

August 1-2, 2023

 

About the Conference

 

This annual event is a chance to understand the work the Coalition is doing; to engage with and learn from your fellow Coalition members on a range of college access topics; and to discuss how we can continue to leverage the power of our membership to help achieve our vision: a future where all students have access to a successful, affordable and transformative college experience.

 

 FAQs: travel

  • See information about traveling to Stony Brook’s campus.

  • We have a block of rooms reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn Stony Brook.

    Reserve your room online.

    Reservations can also be made by calling the hotel at 631-941-2980 and referencing the Coalition for College room block or the group code CFC23.

  • If you’re staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Stony Brook, enter campus using the Main Entrance (North) off of Nicolls Road to Shirley Kenney Drive. Stay in the left lane and make a left at the stoplight. The hotel will be on your left. You may enter and park. Parking is free with your stay.

    If you’re not staying at the conference hotel, please enter campus using the Main Entrance (North) off of Nicolls Road to Shirley Kenney Drive. Stay in the center lane and go straight into the Fine Arts Loop at the stoplight. Follow the loop around and enter the Administration Parking Garage. Bring your parking garage ticket to registration, and we will validate your parking so you do not have to pay the fee when exiting the garage.

  • You can take the AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then take the Long Island Rail Road Port Jefferson line to Stony Brook.

    Stony Brook operates a free campus shuttle that stops on the campus-side of the train station. The shuttle runs on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

    If you’re staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, you can also arrange for shuttle pick up/drop off at the campus train station by calling the hotel.

  • We recommend you download the MTA TrainTime app for the most accurate time schedule, in addition to the purchase of train tickets.

    We do not recommend purchasing tickets on the train, as they are much more expensive. So if the app is not used, we recommend purchasing tickets ahead of boarding.

    Guests can look up times using stations (Stony Brook, Jamaica, Penn Station, Grand Central). If guests are coming into JFK, they can take the AirTrain from their terminal to the Jamaica Train Station, and take the LIRR train from Jamaica to Stony Brook. Please pay attention to any transferring requirements, if needed, and transfer as needed at the appropriate train station (likely Huntington or Hicksville).

  • Yes! Here’s a Campus Map.

    POINTS OF INTEREST:

    Main Entrances: on the east side of campus. If you’re driving, enter campus here.

    The Hilton Garden Inn: our conference hotel location near the Main Entrances.

    The Administrative Parking Garage: also near the Main Entrances, and the place to park if you are not staying at the Hilton Garden Inn.

    The LIRR station: on the northwest side of campus. The free campus shuttle picks passengers up on the campus side of the station.

    The Student Activities Center: where we’ll be for most of our program, a five-minute walk from the hotel and the parking garage.

    The Charles B. Wang Center: the location of our reception and dinner Tuesday night.

    Please note: You can use Google Maps for walking directions as well using the destination of "Student Activities Center" in Stony Brook, NY for the Conference and/or "Charles B. Wang Center" in Stony Brook, NY for the Cocktail Hour & Reception as well as the "Hilton Garden Inn" in Stony Brook, NY or the "Administration Parking Garage" in Stony Brook, NY for returning back to your hotel/car.

  • Yes, a free shuttle is available on campus, including the “Railroad Loop” express bus between the on-campus Long Island Rail Road station and the Student Activities Center.

    The Student Activities Center is a short, 5-minute walk to the hotel, but a shuttle is also available, via the Green “Outer Loop” route. Please note that the shuttle does not stop directly at the hotel, but at a nearby bus stop.

    For live transit info, guests can download the "Doublemap Bus Tracker" app or visit stonybrookuniversity.doublemap.com/map/ and select their route.

    Summer shuttle schedule:

    Weekdays: 7:00 AM - 10:30 PM
    Weekends: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

 FAQs: conference

  • The majority of the program will take place in the Student Activities Center at Stony Brook University, in Stony Brook, NY.

    See the full schedule below for room details, and consult the campus map.

  • We recommend business casual. All spaces will be air conditioned, so you may want to dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes for walking throughout the day.

  • Student Activities Center Room 302 will be available on both August 1 & 2 for those needing a quiet space to work during the conference.

    For those bringing laptops, we encourage you to fully charge your computer before the start of the day. The conference will be in ballrooms on campus, and will have limited access to power outlets. However, you can bring your power cables with you and charge in Room 302, if needed.

  • You’ll use the WolfieNet-Guest network. Please follow these instructions to access it.

    Step 1:

    To log in, connect to WolfieNet-Guest and open your web browser. You will be given a choice to register for the first time as a guest, or to enter your login credentials if you already have an existing account. If you already have a WolfieNet-Guest account, skip down to Step 5.

    Step 2:

    If you are registering for WolfieNet-Guest for the first time, you will be directed to the network login screen. Enter your name and email address, accept the terms of use and click Register.

    Step 3:

    A 72-hour guest account will be created for you using your email address. You will receive a confirmation screen sharing these details.

    Step 4:

    Check your email account for your password and login information.

    Step 5:

    Click the sign-in link and enter your email and password to start using the network. You can log in with the same information for the next 72 hours whenever you connect to WolfieNet-Guest.

    Learn more about WolfieNet-Guest. The FAQ section on this page has screen shots of each of these steps.

  • We will provide lunch and dinner on Aug. 1, and a boxed lunch on Aug. 2.

    We will not have breakfast at the conference, only coffee service. If you’re staying in our block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn, breakfast is included in your stay. You will receive breakfast coupons at check in.

    There is a Dunkin’ Donuts in the Student Activities Center, which opens at 8:30 a.m.

  • Yes, filtered water stations are available on campus. Please bring a reusable water bottle with you for refilling throughout the day.

Have a question you don’t see here? Get in touch: info@coalitionforcollege.org.

Schedule

 

Tuesday, August 1

 

9:30 a.m. | Student Activities Center Lobby

Registration opens

 

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Welcome and Annual Business Meeting

CONFERENCE WELCOME

Carl Lejuez, executive vice president and provost, Stony Brook University

ANNUAL MEETING:

Stacey Kostell, Coalition CEO

 

11:00 - 12:00 p.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Partnering with CBOs to Expand College Access

PANELISTS:

  • Emmanuel Moses, associate director of college guidance and transition, Opportunity Network

  • Peggy Jenkins, founder and director, Palouse Pathways

  • Rebecca Wasserman, chief program officer, Matriculate

MODERATOR:

  • Liz Kinsley, director of undergraduate admission, Northwestern University

 

12:15 - 1:15 p.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom B

Lunch and Keynote Speaker

“Existing Pathways for Workforce Diversification with Terminal Degrees”

SPEAKER:

  • Erwin Cabrera, executive director of the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program

 

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Advancing Affordability After the New FAFSA

PANELISTS:

  • Phil Levine, founder and CEO of MyinTuition

  • Mike McGinn, senior associate director of financial aid, University of Chicago

  • Dawn Medley, vice provost for enrollment management and retention, Stony Brook University

MODERATOR:

  • Tori Neason, deputy dean of admissions, Colby College

 

2:45 - 4:00 p.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

After the Decision: Enrollment Management Post SCOTUS Ruling

PANELISTS:

  • Art Coleman, managing partner and co-founder, EducationCounsel LLC

  • James B. Massey, Jr., director of undergraduate admissions, University of Maryland

  • Yvonne Romero Da Silva, vice president for enrollment, Rice University

  • Ashley Pallie, executive director of undergraduate admissions and chief admissions officer, Caltech

MODERATOR:

  • Lee Melvin, vice president for enrollment management, University at Buffalo

 

4:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Discussion & Sharing

 

6-9 p.m. |  Charles B. Wang Center Zodiac Gallery & Theater Lobby

Cocktail Reception & Dinner

 

Wednesday, August 2

 

9 - 9:50 a.m. |  Student Activities Center Ballroom A

A View from the Middle, Retaining and Advancing Talented Staff, featuring Coalition Ambassadors

PANELISTS:

  • Amethyst Black, associate director, access & inclusion, Rice University

  • Jessica Peña, associate director of admissions, recruitment & outreach, Berea College

  • Sherry Vernon, associate director of admissions, director of CBO partnerships & QuestBridge liaison, University of Chicago

MODERATOR:

  • Christina Lofaso, senior admissions counselor, Stony Brook University

 

10 - 11:00 a.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Collaboration for Change: K-12 and Higher Education

PANELISTS:

  • Brennan Barnard, director of college counseling and outreach, Khan Lab School

  • Kristen Harris, executive director, College and Career Planning Team, New York City Department of Education

  • Sara Urquidez, executive director of the Academic Success Program, Texas

MODERATOR:

  • Andrea Felder, vice provost for undergraduate admissions, American University

 

11 - 11:30 a.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Reflections & Conference Closing

A boxed lunch will be available following the conference closing.

 

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Student Activities Center Ballroom A

Partnering with New York City Public Schools

In this post-conference session, continue the conversation about K-12 partnerships and brainstorm about how to partner directly with Kristen and her New York City Public Schools team to ensure postsecondary success for NYCPS students.

  • Kristen Harris, executive director, College and Career Planning Team, New York City Department of Education

 

Register

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