JENCY THOMAS

jencyannthomas@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education May 2017
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics August 2015

Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

STUDENT AFFAIRS EXPERIENCE

Graduate Assistant June 2016-present
First- and Second-Year Experience, Northern Illinois University
Oversee two clusters of twenty-five residents on the Second-Year Living
Learning Community in the Residence Halls
Plan events based on second-year pillars; service, leadership, academics and
faculty connections for second-year experience
Supervise six undergraduate student staff members and committees
Plan, market, promote and oversee Sophomore Days of Service, with twelve
sites and over two-hundred student volunteers.
Edit monthly newsletter for second-year students to share campus events and
articles related to student success.

Graduate Assistant August 2015-May 2016

Asian American Resource Center, Northern Illinois University
Coordinated all aspects of Cultural Education Program Series (INSIGHT)
Organized to educate NIU students and faculty on issues Asian American
students face (i.e budget development, marketing, assessment, travel etc.)
Worked in a team setting to plan and implement weekly OHANA Retention
Program to support students academic success.
Collaborated with academic departments to advocate for Asian American
students.
Managed student staff tasks related to OHANA and INSIGHT.
Strengthened outreach efforts between the center and affiliated student
organizations by attending monthly meetings.
Assessed programs run through the center to measure effectiveness of learning
outcomes and meeting students needs.

Student Staff August 2013-May 2015

First and Second-Year Experience, Northern Illinois University
Developed a marketing plan to promote department programs and events
through social media, flyers, and posters.
Revamped departmental Facebook page through contests, posts, and images to
engage students.
 JENCY THOMAS
jencyannthomas@gmail.com

Organized student registration for Student Faculty-LINKS, to connect first-year

students to NIU faculty for mentorship throughout the first-year. Plan and create
an open space for students and mentors to engage while helping students
develop professional and leadership skills.
Represented the department at new student orientation to recruit for programs,
and encourage student involvement.
Contacted first-year students by phone through the Retention Effort for All In
Coming Huskies (R.E.A.C.H) program to connect students with resources on and
around campus.

COMMITTEES & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

UNIV Peer Educator Selection Committee, Member- Spring 2017
Y2@NIU Committee, Member- Fall 2016
UNIV 201 (first-year seminar course), Teaching Assistant- Fall 2016
Common Reading Experience Selection Committee, Spring 2015

PRESENTATIONS
Presenter November 2016
NIU JOBS PLUS
The Art of Disagreeing

Presenter September 2016

Mid-West First-Year Conference
Veemu, S., & Thomas, J., (2016) Promoting success in first-year students through
active learning techniques in a science classroom, DeKalb, IL

RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Student Development Theory
U.S College Students
Adult Learning
Assessment Methods in Higher Education
Diversity and Equity
Education As An Agent For Change
Community Leadership and Civic Engagement
Logic and Critical Reasoning