Student Life Coaching Circles

As an approach to working with small groups it is helpful to practice "Calling People In, Not Calling them Out" in an inclusive manner. We will explore practice and pedagogy to inspire participation and vulnerability in an empathetic and authentic way.

In an environment where there are always more projects than there is time, how do we decide what to do, and how to prioritize requests? We will discuss how to create a process that can be transparent and based on objective criteria, and how to communicate across and up to get buy-in and support from leadership

Topic relates to how the budget/finances work both within the Division of Student Life and at the institutional level and informal conversations about budgets in general.

Having worked in many higher education institutions (all public, 2 and 4 year, large, midsize, and small) Martino will share his journey and wisdom about navigating the differences in these various types of colleges and universities.

The conversation will focus on students and our ability to support what they've learned in the classroom, and how to create a learning lab within your office to support and engage. We can talk about offering students jobs/internships and how to solicit large projects (Master's Thesis or MAP work) to colleges like SEAS, Ross School of Business, UMSI, and others. Be prepared to talk about your department's sustainability goals

Supporting neurodiverse staff is more than fulfilling accommodations requests, there is still a need to understand how they will be put into practice and remain responsive to changing needs. We will share strategies we’ve used, lessons learned from missteps, and ways we are continuing to work towards an inclusive environment for all of our staff with regard to physical space, communication norms, and meeting norms. Bring your questions and perspectives as individuals, team members and supervisors. I'm happy to also give a tour so folks can see some of the ways the space has been designed to address varied access needs.

Sensemaking is about slowing down to understand what's really going on in complex or confusing situations. It helps you spot patterns, explore different perspectives, and see how things are shifting or staying the same. By making some sense of the messy stuff, you can make clearer, more confident decisions—even when things feel uncertain.

Career design cannot be separated from other aspects of life and well being. During this session, we will have open conversations about life design, career design and can share helpful frameworks for tackling 'sticky questions' that can drive direction using insights about self, values, strengths, energy and how they intersect with our work and life.

Collaboration is part of what makes U-M such a dynamic place, but we all know it can be tricky at times. This coaching circle is a chance to talk openly about what helps collaboration thrive—and what can get in the way. Bring your questions, challenges, and experiences, and we’ll work together to uncover practical approaches for making collaboration smoother and more effective across our campus.

This coaching circle will focus on strategies for balancing work/life responsibilities throughout the various phases of career, life and parenting, Including elder-care responsibilities and how to effectively seek support for creating the conditions where you can thrive in both of these aspects of your life.

Join me for a conversation about the “unwritten rules” of higher education leadership—the insights you won’t often find in a handbook. We’ll share lived experiences and valuable lessons about what works (and what doesn’t) when navigating the complexities of decision-making. Bring your questions and curiosity to this relaxed, chat-style space.

In this coaching conversation, we’ll explore ways to apply Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering principles to our professional staff interactions. We’ll focus especially on the importance of being a thoughtful host and building a sense of community. Practical strategies from Parker’s framework will guide our discussion, including setting clear purposes, creating inclusivity, and fostering meaningful connections. We’ll reflect on how staff can go beyond logistics to design gatherings that build trust and engagement among colleagues. Bring your own experiences to share, and leave with actionable ideas for strengthening our staff community.