2024 Recovery Conference
EVENT OVERVIEW
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
8:30AM - 4:30PM
Saint Joseph’s University | Hawk Hill Campus | Mandeville Hall
5600 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
contact: recovery@sju.edu
We are proud to host the 7th annual regional recovery conference at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. This impactful conference will focus on Transforming Student Support and exploring best practices in collegiate recovery. The goal of the conference is to provide a space to connect with others to advance our knowledge, understanding, and approaches to support young people on their path to recovery from substance use and other co-occurring issues.
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By attending this conference, attendees will:
- Explore emerging best practices in collegiate recovery and mental health support.
- Explore the impact of stigma on the development and utilization of mental health and recovery based services on and off campus.
- Examine the role that a University’s mission plays in developing recovery-friendly environments and advocating for holistic support for students in recovery.
- Create a community of professionals seeking to transform student support while exploring best practices for collegiate recovery.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Professionals: $30
All Students: FREE (use code: stu_free)
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Morning Keynote
Kristen Harper, M.Ed.
Public Health Advisor, Office of Recovery, SAMSHA
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Kristen Harper, M.Ed., is a Public Health Advisor in the newly established Office of Recovery at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). As a person living in long-term recovery from mental health and substance use conditions, she works tirelessly to amplify the importance of including lived experience in leadership. Kristen began her SAMSHA career in the Division of Targeted Prevention at the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) where she worked to support the division director in management and division operations while also support the Harm Reduction grant program as a subject matter expert. As the Founding Director for the Center for Addiction Recovery at Georgia Southern University’s JPH College of Public Health in 2008, Kristen established one of the earliest collegiate recovery programs in the U.S. In 2011, Kristen joined Texas Tech University's Collegiate Recovery Community team as a research associate in the College of Human Sciences, where she focused most of her work on supporting the Collegiate Recovery Community Replication project, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Department of Education (DOE). In 2013, Kristen became the Executive Director of the Association of Recovery Schools (ARS) and helped communities create and sustain recovery high schools across the U.S. and Canada. In 2016, Kristen transitioned to a new role as the Executive Director Recovery Communities of North Carolina, a statewide recovery community organization which co-managed the Access to Recovery (ATR) grant in collaboration with the State of North Carolina’s Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. Additionally, during this period, Kristen contracted with Transforming Youth Recovery (TYR), a private foundation, to manage a technical assistance and grant program which supported 120+ collegiate recovery efforts across the country. In 2017, Kristen joined C4 Innovations as a recovery specialist where she had the opportunity to work on several projects, including, the Opioid Response Network (ORN) and SAMHSA's Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale (BRSS TACS). She served on the National Advisory Council (NAC) for SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment from 2016 - 2021. As part of the fall 2021 Innovation to Impact Fellows Program at Yale University, Kristen learned to bring innovations to market while also advocating for policy reform at the federal level. As the former Director of Recovery Innovation at Faces & Voices of Recovery, Kristen enjoyed cultivating her passion, creativity, and subject matter expertise to a diverse group of stakeholders nationally. Her greatest joy in life, however, is being a wife to her brilliant husband and mother to her adorable kids who keep her on her toes constantly!
Afternoon Keynote
Kristina Canfield, Executive Director
Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE)
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Kristina Canfield is the Executive Director for the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE). After entering recovery during her time as an undergraduate student at Christopher Newport University, she sought resources and support that would aid her in continuing her recovery. After transferring during her junior year, Kristina established Ohio University’s Collegiate Recovery Community in order to assist students in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders on campus.
Following graduation, she worked in an inpatient treatment facility where she continued to gain valuable experience in the continuum of care for substance use disorders. Passionate about helping those in higher education, Kristina also served as program coordinator for the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and as the Substance Abuse Prevention & Recovery Coordinator for The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of ARHE, she was Conference Manager for the ARHE/ARS/AAPG Annual Conference, Secretary of the Advisory Council, and Project Lead for two grant projects focused on advancing the field of collegiate recovery.
Kristina’s vision is that one day, every institution of higher education will offer support for students in or seeking recovery so that they feel supported, no matter their chosen path of recovery.
CONFERENCE PRESENTERS
We are grateful for a diverse team of conference presenters who will share their knowledge and expertise through a variety of dynamic break out sessions. Please read more about our conference presenters below.
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Dr. Shamell Brandon (he/him)
Lehigh University Counseling and Psychological Services
Dr. Brandon is a board certified clinical psychologist who works full-time as a staff psychologist and research director at Lehigh University's Counseling and Psychological Services. He provides psychotherapy to university students, leads a team in practice-based research, and supervises the work of new therapists, doctoral interns, and postdoctoral psychology residents. He is a member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and has served on the training committee for that international organization from 2020 to 2023.
Session: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training Approach to Supporting Students Across the Spectrum of Recovery
Drew Davenport, M.Ed. (he/him/his)
Academic Support Coordinator, SOAR Navigator, Rowan University
Drew Davenport graduated from Rowan University in 2018 with a BA in Psychology. Later, he obtained his M. Ed. in School Counseling from Wilmington University and became a certified New Jersey School Counselor. He worked for several years in the public-school setting with students ranging in age from kindergarten to high school. His background in school-based counseling helped him acquire key skills involving social-emotional learning, growth mindset techniques, and group and individual counseling strategies. After making the transition to higher education, Drew returned to Rowan University now working with students to help them move towards their academic and personal goals while aiding in the implementation of various student success programs such as peer tutoring and success coaching. Since adding his new role as a SOAR (Students Organized to Affirm Recovery) Navigator, Drew has worked closely with his colleague, Kristen Miranda, to create and build upon comprehensive and supportive services in the way of alcohol and other drug education, prevention, and recovery on campus. SOAR (Students Organized to Affirm Recovery) collaborates with the substance use clinicians in Rowan’s Wellness Center and aims to continue creating safe spaces for discussion around alcohol and other drugs.
Session: “Aren’t We Here to Talk About My Grades?”: Integrating AOD Prevention and Recovery into an Academic Support Model
Marley Doring
Program Coordinator, Center for Communication and Health Issues, Rutgers University
Currently, I am working at the Center for Communication and Health Issues at Rutgers University under the guidance of faculty member Dr. Lea Stewart. I work with many students in various Communication courses providing them with guidance while they run a social norms campaign on campus that discusses alcohol. Additionally, I manage back-end tasks to keep the campaign and courses afloat. Another part of my job is to work on various projects with members of the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program and the Rutgers Recovery House.
I am very passionate about the job I do. I fully believe what I do has a purpose. Not only am I building relationships with students and teaching them, but I am trying to set them up for successful futures. My goal continues to be to provide students with a safe space to share ideas and make an impact on campus, while having fun at the same time.
Session: Collegiate Recovery in the Classroom
Jessica Estok, LCDP CADC CCTP MA (she/her)
Assistant Director, Collegiate Recovery Support, University of Delaware
Jessica is the Assistant Director of Collegiate Recovery Support at the University of Delaware. She has been working in the field of recovery since 2001. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling from Monmouth University and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor i the state of Delaware. She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Originally from New Jersey, she has worked in a variety of treatment settings in New Jersey prior to entering Higher Ed. She founded the Collegiate Recovery Community at UD in 2014. Jess is co-author of Ethical Considerations for Collegiate Recovery Professionals as endorsed by ARHE.
Session: Ethical Considerations for Collegiate Recovery Professionals
Kristen Harootunian
Mental Health Advocate
As a child, Kristen experienced significant trauma, including her mother attempting and completing suicide. When she reached her preteen years, Kristen didn’t know how to manage what she was feeling and turned to alcohol, drugs, and self-harm to mask the pain that she so desperately wanted to keep locked away. She continued these negative coping skills, including negative self-talk, which drove her down to a very dark place. Quickly, she arrived to a bottom she thought she would never leave. After going to treatment, where she learned how to replace her negative coping skills with positive ones, she worked hard to incorporate those habits into her life. Kristen attended a recovery high school to finish her education and went on to college. Kristen, being a young person in recovery, proves it’s never too late or too early to get the help you need.
Session: Changing Minds: Kristen's Story
Allie Hushen (she/her)
Assistant Director of College Support, Kinney Center, Saint Joseph’s University
Allie Hushen is currently earning her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling with a certificate in addictions counseling from Saint Joseph’s University. Allie completed her bachelors of science in Psychology from University of the Sciences in 2021. Allie has worked as a SCHOLAR, graduate assistant, and now assistant director of college support at the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support. Allie is passionate about advocating for autistic individuals, as well as supporting those in recovery.
Session: The Co-occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Substance Use Disorder
Eric Scott Klein, LSW (He/Him)
Old Dominion University
Eric Scott Klein (He/Him/His) earned his Bachelor of Social Work at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA in 2015, and a Master of Social Science (MSW-equivalent) at the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research of Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA in 2016. He is a licensed social worker with professional collegiate experience as a therapist, college counselor, social worker and professor. Eric co-founded the collegiate recovery program at Northampton Community College and co-designed their Certified Peer Specialist certificate program. Eric has been the clinical director of a residential mental health treatment facility for people with severe and persistent dual diagnoses and previous forensic engagement. He also worked as a therapist in a residential home for people with permanent challenges due to severe traumatic brain injuries. Eric was previously on the board of directors of the Lehigh Valley’s only adolescent after school recovery center. Eric is currently an adjunct professor of psychology at Northampton Community College and a mental health therapist for adolescents and emerging adults with specialization in working with co-occurring disorders, the LGBTQIA+ community, and humanist modalities. Eric was an opera/musical theatre major at Carnegie-Mellon University, and still sings professionally every weekend. Eric prefers the pronouns he, him and his.
Session: "Growing the Collegiate Recovery Movement in Community Colleges: Listening, Adapting, and Building Capital"
Sarah Laurel
Executive Director, Savage Sisters
After recovering from substance use disorder, Sarah sought to offer resources to women like herself. What began organically grew into a program providing housing, street-based outreach and nationwide training. Sarah uses her lived experiences to serve others and stay relatable to those still struggling. She leverages her corporate background to lead the Savage team thoughtfully, productively, and sustainably. Sarah is the recipient of several awards, including a Congressional Medal of Honor. She was featured on two Emmy award-winning episodes of Vice News and CBS News with Jessica Kartalija. Additionally, she created the first Xylazine training, delivering it both locally and nationally. Her advocacy for people who use substances, harm reduction, public health, and social justice has been consistent and groundbreaking.
Session: Xylazine: The New Drug Additive
Alli MacNamara, MS, NCC, LPC (she/her/hers)
Associate Director of College Support, Kinney Center for Autism, Saint Joseph’s University
Alli MacNamara is the Associate Director of College Support at the Kinney Center for Autism at Saint Joseph's University. Through the ASPIRE college support program, Alli supports college students with autism spectrum disorder. Alli is also an adjunct professor in the counselor education department, and has experience teaching practicum, internship, psychopharmacology, and diagnosis and treatment planning. Alli has a bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, is a nationally certified counselor, and a licensed professional counselor in the state of Pennsylvania.
Session: The Co-occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Substance Use Disorder
Kristen Miranda (she/her/hers)
Academic Support Coordinator, SOAR Navigator
Kristen Miranda graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2006 and has since gained extensive professional experience that spans the fields of emotional and behavioral health, education, and wellness. Within these fields she has supported individuals through case management, advocacy, post-secondary counseling, and program development. Kristen cares deeply about the wellbeing of others and this belief has been the guiding principle of her work.
In addition to her roles as an Academic Support Coordinator and SOAR Navigator at Rowan University, Kristen works as a coach with a focus on wellbeing and self-care. She approaches her work with individuals holistically and with an open mind, acknowledging each person’s unique perspective and experiences. Together with her colleague, Drew Davenport, Kristen has had the incredible opportunity to develop a Collegiate Recovery Program at Rowan. While working as advocates to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorder, they strive to create safe spaces for discussion around alcohol and other drugs. Since its establishment in Fall 2023, SOAR (Students Organized to Affirm Recovery) has connected with nearly 2,000 students through classroom presentations, tabling events, and inclusive programs intended to provide opportunities to build community in a substance free environment.
Session: “Aren’t We Here to Talk About My Grades?”: Integrating AOD Prevention and Recovery into an Academic Support Model
Keith Murphy, LPC, LCADC (he/him/his)
Director ADAP Rutgers University
As the Director of the Alcohol and other Drug Assistance Program Keith has been tasked to help the students at Rutgers University understand the impact of their substance use and make the changes THEY believe are necessary to build a life in college and beyond. Keith’s work with Recovery House, the first higher education residential recovery housing in the country, created in 1988, has supported students in maintaining sobriety, becoming fully engaged students and successfully persisting to graduation.
Session: How Serving Free Coffee Can Support Collegiate Recovery
John Rithianos, CPRS (he/him)
Collegiate Recovery Specialist, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
John, the Collegiate Recovery Specialist for Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is a proud alumnus of the Rutgers Recovery House. Having successfully navigated college while on his own recovery journey, John now dedicates himself to supporting and empowering students facing similar challenges. With a compassionate approach, he leverages his personal experience to empower individuals struggling with addiction and life challenges, guiding them toward personal growth and well-being.
Session: Collegiate Recovery in the Classroom
Eric Rodriguez, MSW, LSW, CAADC
Education Director, Caron Treatment Centers
As the Education Resource Director for Caron’s Education Alliance Department, Eric Rodriguez oversees education, training, development, and learning initiatives, focusing primarily on professional and organizational education.
With an enthusiasm for education, extensive experience in clinical, substance use treatment, mental health, and a background in corporate leadership, Eric brings a passion for helping organizations in their health initiatives.
Prior to accepting the education role in 2021, Eric worked as a lead behavioral health therapist, providing individual and family therapy to patients and their families, facilitating groups, offering educational lectures, and helping to set up aftercare plans. He has advanced education in co-occurring disorders, specifically related to anxiety, and is trained in cognitive processing therapy for trauma. He began working at Caron in 2017.
Before joining Caron, he worked with heart and vascular transplant patients and their families, providing social and family evaluations and post-transplant discharge planning. Prior to his career in health care, Eric worked in sales and marketing within the telecommunications industry.
Eric is a licensed social worker in the state of Pennsylvania and has a certification in advanced addiction and drug counseling. He has a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in clinical social work from Millersville University.
Session: Empowering Collegiate Recovery: Nurturing Student Well-being and Success
Zach Runge, M.A. (he/him/his)
Program Specialist & Adjunct Professor at Towson University
Zach Runge is a higher education professional with over 8 years of experience in the field. Having extensive familiarity with loving someone who is living with an addiction, Zach has blended his passion for education and recovery allyship in many areas of his work. Currently working at Towson University in the Department of Communication Studies, Zach is a trained on-campus recovery ally, advocating for students' wellbeing and raising awareness about Tigers in Recovery, the university's collegiate recovery program. Additionally, Zach is a trained opioid overdose and mental health first aid responder while actively volunteering with local organizations such as Rage Against Addiction and Ashley Addiction Treatment. After losing his sister to an overdose in 2020, Zach, along with his mother, established a scholarship in her name at various institutions in the state of Maryland to support the educational journeys of students in recovery or impacted by substance use. Zach has developed and delivered various training sessions focused on creating supportive environments for college students in recovery and is committed to promoting a recovery-friendly approach in all aspects of his work.
Session: Crafting a Classroom Culture of Recovery Allyship
Stephanie Shiffler, Ph.D. (she/her)
Staff Psychologist/AOD Specialist, Drexel University
Stephanie Shiffler, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who runs a private practice and works as a part-time staff member at Drexel University Counseling Center (DUCC). Stephanie completed her M.A. in General Psychology at the New School for Social Research, her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at University of Georgia, and her predoctoral internship at Lehigh University. Stephanie is interested in using the principles of harm reduction and social justice to meet the needs of individuals struggling with substance use issues. As the Alcohol and Other Drug Specialist at DUCC, Stephanie has sought to develop programming that helps students to make decisions about substances that align with their values.
Session: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training Approach to Supporting Students Across the Spectrum of Recovery
Lea P. Stewart, Ph.D (she/her/hers)
Professor, Rutgers University
Lea P. Stewart, Ph.D., is the Richard D. Heffner Professor of Communication and Public Policy and Director of the Center for Communication and Health Issues at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. She also is an associate member of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies. She has been a faculty member at Rutgers for over 40 years, and her current research, teaching, and service focuses on issues of dangerous drinking prevention among college students with a particular interest in the needs of college students in recovery. Her work links interpersonally based prevention strategies with mass mediated campaigns targeting college student drug and alcohol use. This work has won numerous awards including a Model Program award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Safe and Drug-free Schools Program in 2000-01 for development of the RU SURE campaign. Dr. Stewart brings her expertise in experiential learning pedagogy to undergraduate courses such as Advanced Health Communication, Health Message and Campaign Design, and Media, Marketing and Communication. In addition, she has served as PI for almost $5 million in funding from the State of New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to expand and enhance existing programs and services designed to reduce alcohol and other drug use among students at Rutgers and to support the development of healthier lifestyles including recovery from substance use disorders.
Session: Introducing the Vicious Cycle: How Serving Free Coffee Can Support Collegiate Recovery
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT HOURS
The Counseling Program at Saint Joseph's University and the SJU Collegiate Recovery Program are cosponsors of this program. This cosponsorship has been approved by the NBCC. The SJU Counseling Program is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 3091. The ACEP solely is responsible for this program, including the awarding of NBCC credit. Please contact the ACEP for questions regarding the NBCC content in the program. Interested participants are eligible to receive up to six continuing education (CE) NBCC credits for attending.
CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring the 2024 Regional Collegiate Recovery Conference. Below you will find outlined two sponsorship levels.
If you have any questions or would like to explore sponsorship options, please contact:
Liza Mankovskaya, Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at lmankovskaya@sju.edu or 610-660-1539.
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$2,500 - Community Partner (only 1 available)
- Name or company logo featured on website and digital display during conference
- Featured sponsor during Opening and Closing
- Opportunity to address audience during Opening/Welcome session (5 min)
- Opportunity to present an educational ‘Lunch & Learn’ session
- Attendance for 5 included
- Resource table
- This sponsorship includes a $1,000 scholarship for a student in recovery and an opportunity to be featured in promotional materials and media communications as a champion for students in recovery.
$1,000 - Recovery Advocate
- Name or company logo featured on website and digital display during conference
- Featured sponsor during Opening and Closing
- Opportunity to address audience prior to one of the Keynote Sessions (5 min)
- Attendance for 3 included
- Resource table
Parking Information
PARKING INFORMATION
Free parking is available for conference attendees in the Mandeville Hall Parking Lot (number 1 on the campus map).
Mandeville Hall is located on N. 54th Street near City Avenue.
All conference sessions will take place in Mandeville Hall. Check-in will be available starting at 8:30am in the Mandeville Hall lobby.
CONFERENCE PLANNING TEAM
This conference is the collaborative effort of dedicated professionals from the following institutions and organizations:
- Saint Joseph’s University
- Rutgers University
- Ursinus College
- Synergy Houses
SJU COLLEGIATE RECOVERY PROGRAM (CRP)
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![]() | Learn more about the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) and the on-campus Recovery Residence at Saint Joseph's University! |