Resident Assistant Conference

42nd Annual RA Conference | Saturday, November 8th, 2025
“Creating Your Own Masterpiece”

Our Theme

This year’s theme is The Arts “Creating Your Own Masterpiece”. Our theme explores the continuous creation of art which reflects the changing needs of our communities and the residents who make it unique, beautiful, and diverse.

The Resident Assistant Conference is a way for student leaders and entry level professionals to gain knowledge in a collaborative way. The purpose is to enhance their knowledge and experience that promotes engagement in residence life offices and higher education institutions.

Keynote Speaker: Kasha Davis

Mrs. Kasha Davis is a popular drag performer, speaker, and children’s book author. She appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season Seven and All Star Season Eight, and Hulu’s reality series Drag Me To Dinner, and she has written three children’s books drawing from real-life experiences.

In October 2023, Kasha was named as one of Out magazine’s Out100, recognizing her as an artist, trailblazer and storyteller who is making a difference for the LGBTQIA+ community. MKD was also honored in November 2024 by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) New England Chapter, with their Visibility award for her work with promoting Drag Story Hour.

MKD shares her coming out story, sobriety journey & jazzy performance history sprinkled with her highly favored songs and “Dad jokes in a dress”!

MKD’s stories are relatable, and performances intertwine forgiveness, determination, motivation and self-acceptance for audiences of all ages.

MKD aka Ed Popil is grateful for a happy home with husband of 20 years, Steve “Mr Davis” of 20, dog Max, and two hard working, healthy adult stepdaughters and son in law.

MKD travels her cabaret performances, Drag Brunches, college bingos and positivity talks but nothing is more soul satisfying than work with her story hour for children entitled IMAGINATION STATION coming soon to TV!

Featured Speakers: Ruth Childs & Anna Burklin

“Arts Engagement as a Tool for Building Community. Join Anna and Ruth for an interactive talk about using the arts to create connection.”

Ruth has been at SUNY Brockport Department of Theatre and Music Studies since 2001, and is currently department chair. Her teaching specialties include public speaking, acting, voice and speech, improv, and the politics of theatre. Ruth has directed and acted in multiple productions at Brockport and beyond. She often works in voiceover, as well as a public speaking, voice and dialect coach. Ruth served as regional chair of the National Playwriting Program for Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and has been a respondent and reader for national and regional playwriting awards. In 2011 she was awarded the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Gold Medallion.

Anna Burklin, a Tennessee native, is currently the Fine Arts Series Manager at SUNY Brockport, where she is passionate about fostering a vibrant local arts and cultural scene. She earned her M.A. in Arts Management from George Mason University in 2021, serving as a Graduate Assistant for the Arts Management Program and working in the Center for the Arts’ Hospitality and Marketing Departments. Her contributions to the department and the field of arts management were recognized with the Erin Gaffney Memorial Award.

Anna also holds a B.A. in Music from the University of the South, where she was awarded the Gilchrist Award for distinction in performance. Specializing in vocal performance, she participated in a cappella, jazz, and choir ensembles, gaining extensive experience in both solo and collaborative settings.

From 2017 to 2024, Anna worked with the Sewanee Summer Music Festival in multiple roles, culminating in her position as Manager of Marketing & Admissions. Her career reflects a deep commitment to enhancing artistic communities, advancing the performing arts, and creating meaningful connections between artists and audiences.

Overview

You are personally invited to the 42nd Annual Resident Assistant Conference that will be held on Saturday, November 8th, 2025. Registration and presentation submissions are will open on Friday, August 1st! If you are interested in presenting during one of the sessions, you can submit a presentation proposal here: 42nd Annual RA Conference Presentation Proposal.

The Office of Residential Life/Learning Communities at SUNY Brockport encourages you to take this exciting adventure with them with a fun filled day of learning and exploring.

Identify multiple levels of diversity, including the ongoing development of their identity, and ways to create an inclusive community.
Describe ways to educate residents about healthy habits in relation to alcohol/substances, nutrition, stress, fitness, relationships, and conflict resolution.
Create a network of student leaders and professionals
Identify and apply strategies in the areas of customer service, community building, motivation, leadership, conflict management, ethics, boundaries, etc.

Community Building & Programming: These sessions are focused on sharing ideas, experiences, acknowledge that can be utilized to build and maintain a successful, and healthy, community. Programs could include: Passive programming, or active community building ideas.
Wellbeing: This track hosts sessions that are dedicated to sharing information around healthy habits in relation to alcohol/substances, nutrition, stress, fitness, relationships, and conflict resolution.
Social Justice and Diversity: This track hosts sessions that are dedicated to helping attendees identify multiple levels of diversity, help explore their own development and understanding of social justice, and ways to intentionally create an inclusive community through the RA position.
The RA Role: This tracks hosts sessions that are dedicated to learning more about the RA role and what it means to be an RA. This includes all things related to the RA position. Examples may include creating personal balance, confrontation, dealing with difficult students, staying motivated or communication.
Professional Track (Aimed for -and led by- Student Affairs professionals): This track hosts sessions that are decided to current professionals and would look to share best practices and interest areas within the field.

Time	Event
8 - 9am	Check in and Breakfast
9 am - 9:10 am	Welcome
9:10 am - 9:30 am	Featured Speaker
9:45 am - 10:30 am	Session 1
10:45 am - 11:30 am	Session 2
11:45 am - 12:30 pm	Keynote Speaker
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:45 pm - 2:30 pm	Session 3
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm	Session 4
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm	Closing and Social Networking

Registration for our conference is now open! You can register at SUNY Brockport Resident Assistant Conference Registration. Registration closes on or before Oct 31st, dependent on attendance reaching 250 guests. Registration dates and cost per attendee are reflected below.

Sept. 2: Regular registration begins, rate: $75
Oct. 1: Late registration begins, rate: $80
Oct. 29: Last chance registration window opens, rate: $90

Meet our committee members!

Amber Rice – Assistant Director
Heather Southern – Area Coordinator
Alina Staring – Resident Director
Rosie Foote – Resident Director
Carlos Clark – Resident Director

Save the date for our 42nd annual RA Conference: Saturday, November 8th, 2025!

Resident Assistant Conference

Our Theme

Keynote Speaker: Kasha Davis

Featured Speakers: Ruth Childs & Anna Burklin

Overview

RA Conference participants will be able to:

RA Conference participants will be able to attend and learn more from the following tracks:

Conference Schedule

Conference Registration

Meet our committee members!