Flip Your GRIT:

Sometimes we paint over problems, patch holes, and surface clean when there is a deeper problem. We put in a lot of time and energy trying to rectify what we think are cosmetic problems, but in reality there may be structural issues. Many people have put in time and effort when it comes to things like weight lost, job searching, relationships, school, and work, but after time realized that the type of GRIT they were using was not working. So, they had to flip their grit.

DIY Grit Kit for the Classroom - Gloria M. Maristany

The DIY Grit Kit includes a PDF Guide full of resources, lessons, and activities to teach grit in the classroom.  During the session, you will get a chance to try a few of them.

I Feel like GRIT! - Dr. Mosadi Porter

Our emotional and mental health is extremely important in order for us to be able to operate properly in every area of our lives. This challenging presentation will help the attendee to look deep by taking a transparent journey with the presenter as she shares how her GRIT saved her life.

Reflect: Repair, Restore, Renew, Replenish, Refuel

Sometimes things are going well, but they could always be better. Presenters in this track will discuss small changes they’ve made in their business, personal finances, classrooms, relationships, and more in an effort to make a positive change.

Getting Down to the Nitty GRITty with SSI! - Student Success Institute Advisors

The Student Success Institute (SSI) is entering its 2nd year with tremendous growth and opportunity for even more success System-wide! With campus advisors now in place, SSI provides a holistic, case manager approach to student success by providing intrusive advising, culturally-responsive faculty and staff mentors and purposeful programming throughout the academic year. Attendees will hear an update on the program as well as how they can be involved.

Resilience & Resurrection: Bouncing back from underemployment - Diane Gavin, Ph.D, Melissa McCartney, Ed.D, and Holly Rick, Ph.D

Many of us struggle to keep pace in the ever changing workforce. In this interactive presentation, attendees will explore highly desired and marketable transferable skills that are transitional not only from position to position, but career to career. In a hands-on activity, participants will self-assess their skills using a Professional Development Inventory. We will also discuss the reasons why an e-portfolio is a great tool to showcase transferable skills and experience that can be used to identify gaps for knowledge and skill development. Finally, we will identify different types of artifacts to include in the e-portfolio and platforms that are easily used to present your work to potential employers. By taking this “do it yourself” approach, you will find that you have the grit and tools to find your next career.

Seizing the GRITTY Moment - Dr. Anne Ginnett

Instructors are well aware of the benefits that come from careful planning, organizing, and preparing materials so that students are exposed to course concepts in a systematic, structured manner. Embedding soft skills, like GRIT, into course content requires the same - it isn’t going to happen by accident! However, when the planning is done and the concepts introduced, the most memorable teaching can happen when we recognize that an unexpected set of circumstances has provided a perfect, spontaneous opportunity to draw attention to GRITTY behavior.

Hammer out the Hard Thing

During last year’s summit, we asked people to commit to the hard thing challenge and tackle a personal challenge.  Whether you were successful or not, we would like for you to share your hard thing challenge experience.

Not Because They Are Easy, But Because They are Hard - Melissa Brega

This presentation focuses on my Hard Thing Challenge of completing a 10K race despite my lack of motivation, ambition, or even a shred of athleticism. Conquering the challenge paved the way for me to develop a habit of jogging even while all the conventional wisdom about the joys of exercise seemed to come up short. I will share the epiphany I had regarding the conveniences of modern society along with some practical tips for participants to tackle their own hard things.

Chase Your Lion - Nicholas Cole

Our natural instinct is to run when a lion is chasing us.

A lion is something that you know deep down in your heart that you should do, but for whatever reason you keep running from the lion.

-The lion of starting your own business.
-The lion of obtaining an advanced degree.

We ALL have our own individual lions that we run from. But I decided to STOP running from my lion. Instead, I started chasing it! I encourage YOU to do the same.

Trekking through Transformation: Climbing a mountain of grief. - Vanessa Gilbert-Cronen Phd, MPH

Many Professors in the Behavioral sciences teach from textbooks that contain a chapter on health and illness and death and dying but the reality of the actual experience of the death of a loved one and the subsequent grief, is so personal, so debilitating that to describe it is nearly impossible to those who haven’t experienced it. How do caretakers who suffer alongside their dying loved one, go on with life afterwards? One frequent metaphor used in literature is that grief is a mountain. In her efforts to make peace with all that she experienced during her late husband’s terminal illness, Dr Gilbert took the “Hard thing Challenge” presented to the faculty by Dr Nutt last fall. She decided to train and climb Kilimanjaro to raise funds for research for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society via their Team in Training event “Climb to Cure”. This session will discuss the transformative journey undertaken during spring break in March this year.

The Ed.D. to the GSC: My Incredible Journey - Dr. Patrick Gilbert

Committing to the Hard Thing Challenge, my goal was to complete my doctoral dissertation. However, this goal was expanded to reviving and hosting the Doctoral Study Group Expo which had not been held for several years. This presentation will discuss my journey of completing my doctoral dissertation while simultaneously organizing and hosting the Graduate Study Conference.

Moving Forward by Sitting Still - Margaret Jelinek-Lewis

When I wasn’t getting anywhere on my personal challenge -- writing my grandparents’ immigration story -- I realized I had to do less in order to get more done. I learned to take time off and focus. I found tools to make myself accountable, unplug and stop multitasking. I also learned that deep focus requires ignoring other things. Having well-defined goals allowed me to focus and to be clear about when I reached my goal. This interactive presentation will introduce attendees to tools for setting goals, focusing, and keeping track of time. We will also discuss the importance of routines and actively taking time off.

When the Dream Won't Die - Stephanie Moss

Sometimes a dream or "hard thing" floats into one's consciousness then flutters there in an endless dance--taunting and teasing over time until the only thing left to do is take action. Come hear tales from my 40-year quest to become a published writer and be inspired to stay the course as you gain strategies for achieving your own long-held dream.