Past Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Previous Student Life: Lunch on a Mission! sessions are shared on this page. Several program descriptions include links to resources that are still available to staff in Student Life.

Pictured above is Tim Bates from RSOP, leading a hike in the Bagley Nature Area on campus.

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2021-2022 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

As we looked to developing the Lunch on a Mission series for 2021-2022, we wanted to be responsive to what we've heard from our staff about the impact the COVID-19 has had on them personally. For 2021-2022, we announced that focusing on staff wellbeing will be the priority for Lunch on a Mission. 

The outstanding curriculum the Student Life Change Team built for Lunch on a Mission in 2020-2021 the Canvas course called Lunch on a Mission: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The modules for those courses are still readily available for those who accept an invitation to participate. If you'd like to be included, please contact Brenna Hucka ([email protected]).

For 2021-2022, we launched a second Canvas course called Lunch on a Mission: Wellbeing. The topics by month are listed in the table below. Student Life staff received an invitation to the course from Canvas.  Participation in the course, like all Lunch on a Mission programs, was voluntary.

Month Topic
October Managing Uncertainty
November Creativity
December Sleep
January Physical Fitness
February Mindfulness
March Happiness
April Eating Well
May Get Outdoors

We also had an in person event during Homecoming 2021! Student Life sponsored a tailgate barbecue.

Photo collage of Student Life staff at the Homecoming tailgating event

2020-2021 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Lunch on a Mission is going virtual for 2020-2021!

The COVID-19 pandemic created the necessity for rethinking Lunch on a Mission. Our goal was to create opportunities to grow and develop professionally, remain physically distant, and minimize Zoom time. Thanks to the Student Life Change Team, we have a chance to engage in a virtual, asynchronous program for 2020-2021. The program focused on Goal 2 of the UMD Strategic Plan ("Advance equity, diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice within the campus community." and Goal Area 2 (Inclusive Excellence) of the Student Life Strategic Plan. Participation in the Lunch on a Mission program helped staff meet the divisional requirement to participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion training annually.

Student Life Staff were encouraged to engage in learning and discussion online through the Lunch on a Mission Canvas course. Each month, a new module was opened. Modules content focused on a variety of topics related to Goal 2 and included videos, articles, podcasts, and other educational materials to take in. Each module featured a discussion board that folks used to engage in reflection and discussion. Thoughtful, respectful, and brave conversations were encouraged in this space.

This was a space for all Student Life staff to engage in expanding their learning and to share their experiences on topics related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The course remains available to Student Life staff, who should log in to Canvas and look for the UMD Student Life - Lunch on a Mission course in their Dashboard. Please contact Brenna Hucka at [email protected] with questions or concerns.

2019-2020 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
Who are our Students? Student Veterans, with Corbin Smyth, Student Life and Andy Kimball, Environmental Health and Safety; Link to slides 1 & 2
Dealing With Aggressive & Overly-Involved Parents: Proactive Strategies For Creating Cooperative Relationships (Innovative Educators Webinar) 1 & 5
Bullet Journaling, with Brenna Hucka, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution; Link to Prezi 5
Relating the Student Life Strategic Plan to Your Work, with Lisa Erwin, Student Life; Link to Prezi, Goal Alignment Worksheet (PDF) 5
Mental Health/Student Affairs Staff Burnout & Emotional Fatigue: Manage Complex & Increased Demands While Supporting Self-Care & Wellbeing (PaperClip Communications Webinar) 5
Leading from the Middle, panel discussion with Ana Hammerschmidt, Housing and Residence Life; Tony Cherro, Transportation & Parking Services; and Jessi Eaton, Kirby Student Center and facilitated Corbin Smyth, Student Life. 5

 

2018-2019 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
Best Practices for Managing Departmental Social Media Accounts (StudentAffairs.com webinar) 4
How to Infuse Social Justice & Equity into Your Work (NASPA webinar) 2
Using Bulldog Mobile to Reach Students, with Corbin Smyth, Student Life and Ellen Hatfield, Career and Internship Services 1 & 4
Who Are Our Students? American Indian/Alaskan Native Students, with Rick Smith,  American Indian Learning Resource Center 2
Cultural Brokering: Insights Into Counseling/Advising Diverse Student Populations, panel discussion with Emily Norenberg, Disability Resources; Anna Gilmore, International Student Services; Cassidy Vena, AILRC; and Cheng Thao, Diversity and Inclusion and facilitated by Sherrill Yeaton, Career and Internship Services 2
Daring Greatly. with Lisa Erwin, Student Life; Dr. Brown's Ted Talks: The power of vulnerability and Listening to shame 5
Tips and Tricks for Hiring and Retaining Student Employees, with Carolyn Anderson, Dining Services; Ellen Hatfield, Career and Internship Services; Gina Pudlick, Kirby Student Center and facilitated by Corbin Smyth, Student Life 4 & 5
From A (alcohol) to ZZZZs - A data driven look at our student's health habits, with Jean Baribeau-Thoennes, Dori Decker, Lauretta Perry, Health Services; presentation slides 3
FMLA Information for Employees, with Kayleigh Karppinen, UMD Human Resources 5
Concepts from Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal, with Katie Jackson, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution 5
Work Life Hacks: Simple, Smart, and Free, with Jonna Korpi, Sustainability; Link to Prezi 5
Resilience Training and Assessment: Cultivating Self-Compassion and Growth Mindset, with Dr. Marilee Bresciani, Professor of Postsecondary Educational Leadership at San Diego State University 1 & 3

 

2017-2018 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
ACPA/ASHE Presidential Symposium on Racism, Recovery, and Social Justice 2
University Housing, Past, Present, and Future, with Jeremy Leiferman and John Schmidt, Housing and Residence Life 4
Busy is the Enemy of the Strategic (studentaffairs.com webinar) 5
The Struggle of Our Time: Free Speech and Inclusive Campus Environments, with Jeni Eltink, Kirby Student Center 2
Adventure on a Mission: UMD Farm!, with Dr. Randy Hanson, UMD Sustainable Agriculture Project 1, 3, & 5
Get Out! Biking in and Around Duluth, with Corbin Smyth, Student Life and Dr. David Worley, Health Services 3
Gen Z, with Sue Darge Lombardo, College of Education and Human Services Professions; Gen Z handout 4

 

2016-2017 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
Hike on a Mission: Bagley Nature Area, with Tim Bates, RSOP 1, 3, and 4
Managing Our Anxiety about Student Anxiety (studentaffairs.com webinar) 3
Come One, Come All to the New Superior Dining Hall, with Claudia Engelmeier, Dining Services 3 & 4
Who Are Our Students? Queer and Trans+ Students, with Roze Brooks, Diversity and Inclusion 2
Who Are Our Students? Students with Disabilities, with Emily Norenberg, Disability Resources 2
History of UMD, with Neil Storch, Professor Emeritus 5
Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard (concepts from the book by Chip Heath and Dan Heath), with Jeremy Leiferman, Housing and Residence Life, and Lisa Erwin, Student Life; online resources 5
UMD Student Alcohol and Marijuana Trends and Usage, with Laruetta Perry, Health Services; Sean Huls, UMDPD; and Katie Jackson, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution; presentation slides 3
Building Names at UMD - Who were Cina, Bohannon, Montague, etc.?, with Jeni Eltink, Kirby Student Center; presentation slides 5

 

2015-2016 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
Work/Life Balance, with Dr. David Worley, Health Services 3 & 5
Who Are Our Students?, with Susana Pelayo Woodward, Diversity and Inclusion 2
Cooking with a Garden Harvest, with Chef Tom Linderholm, Dining Services; recipe 3 & 5
Cooking with Lake Superior Whitefish, with Chef Tom Linderholm, Dining Services; recipe 3 & 5

 

2014-2015 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
The Student Life Experience, with Lisa Erwin, Student Life; link to Prezi; discussion questions; session wrap up  4
Employee Wellbeing, with Jean Rodvold, Dining Services; Pat Trachte, Employee Health; and Trista Vucetich Anderson, RSOP; presentation; wellbeing handout 3
The Neuroscience of Happiness, with Michelle Stronach, Health Services; presentation; YouTube video: The Science of Happiness 3
Sustainability - What Can We Do to Contribute?, with Mindy Granley, Sustainability; presentation; handout 5

 

2013-2014 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
Generation We, with Tim Chambers, Housing and Residence Life; Nathaniel Schultz, Student Conduct; and Lisa Erwin, Student Life; handout; resources 5
Crockpots and Microwaves: Thriving as an Introvert in an Extroverted Profession, with Jenis Eltink and Jessi Eaton, Kirby Student Center; presentation 5
The (Not-So) Secrets to Effective Employee Engagement, with Corbin Smyth, Student Life and Brian Lassiter, Performance Excellence Network 5
Writing Your Assessment Story, with Lisa Erwin, Student Life; handout 6

2012-2013 Lunch on a Mission Sessions

Topic Student Life Goal Area
Dealing with Bullies, with Lisa Erwin, Student Life; link to Prezi; discussion questions; wrap-up notes 5
The Culture of Immediacy, with Lisa Erwin Student Life; link to Prezi; discussion questions; wrap-up notes 5