LCOOU goes to Orlando, FL

(Hayward, WI) – February 19, 2024 – On a usual weekday evening, Todd Van Deslunt, peer mentor advisor and writing lab coordinator, comes home to quality time with his wife and kids, a thrilling fiction book, a writing idea, and, on more ideal weekday nights, a simple Mexican dish of chiles rellenos (“If places get too fancy with it, then I’m like, well… no”). But this week carries an unusual string of weekday nights for Todd. He will likely be enjoying a breezy night’s dinner with his Student Services colleagues at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida.

From February 19 to 22, Todd will be attending Achieving the Dream’s (ATD) 20th anniversary convening of DREAM, where he will deliver his first conference presentation, “Mentor the Next Generation.” How do you establish an appropriately scaled peer mentor program? What are the common challenges of running a peer mentor program, especially for a Tribal University like Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU)? How do you connect with students who no longer physically show up on campus? Those are some of the questions Todd’s 30-minute presentation will tackle.

“My presentation was chosen because of the work we are doing in trying to establish a solid peer mentor program here at LCOOU. I will be sharing what has worked here and what challenges we are facing. Some of the work we have done with ATD since I have been engaged with them is they have helped supplement our emergency aid program. We have used funding to purchase new laptops for our laptop lending program. ATD is also working with us in conjunction with AIHEC and AICF in the development of a solid advising model that will help us in assisting our students in achieving their academic goals,” Todd said.

Additionally, on Wednesday, February 21, Todd will be attending the Recognitions Luncheon as the LCOOU representative to receive the Project Success Partner Award.

In between panels and presentations, Todd plans to enjoy the warm Florida weather, the resort’s golf course, and the Orlando restaurants with the company of other attending Student Services colleagues Clarissa Bressette, Lorraine Gouge, and Roger Mustache Jr. The work that all of them carry out daily culminated in this DREAM conference, which will serve to further improve the University’s ability to retain students and mentor them through their educational journeys.