Biography

Gary Conner is a student affairs professional who has invested more than fifteen years in the research and study of cultural, racial and gender specific communication and education.  Mr. Conner has taught courses on ethnocentricity, un-learning oppression and civility at prisons, civic organizations, houses of worship as well as presented workshops at universities, high schools and business institutions.

 Utilizing methods gleaned from research, counseling and stand up comedy, as well as many years of experience teaching, Mr. Conner points a finger at our collective faults and lays blame clearly on the shoulders of those who fail to recognize and admit there is a problem and then act to correct that problem.

 In 1992 Mr. Conner co-founded Cultural Racial Understanding and Exchange (CRUX), an interactive method of learning how to communicate across racial and ethnic lines while simultaneously putting the onus on the individual to both teach and learn.  CRUX has proven to be an effective tool in business, civic and educational settings as well as at churches, synagogues and mosques.  By removing the hierarchy of heredity, CRUX allows directed discussions to be facilitated in safe space environments, giving participants the freedom to ask candid questions and to give and receive frank, honest answers without fear of reprisal.

 Mantra’s such as “I believe most people are basically good, but have learned how to mistrust, mistreat and fear each other for over 400 years” as well as “Never Doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”, are deeply rooted in Mr. Conner’s teaching.  Mr. Conner espouses the belief that any method of teaching centered on any area of diversity (and there are many), should be viewed as a starting point and the goal needs to be introducing a different way to look at things and setting a commitment to act upon those new found beliefs.  He cautions that any real and powerful change takes time and the real key is to remain steadily on the course of change.

 Along with a protégé of his, Mr. Conner assisted in the design and writing of a book on college freshmen and the challenges they face; a sequel is in the works now.  Mr. Conner has also written an on-line column entitled, “Building Bridges”, for student affairs journal on-line.

 Possessing a M.S. from Eastern Kentucky University in Student Personnel and Counseling as well as post graduate work at NCSU, Mr. Conner has proven to be a life long learner as well as teacher, mentor and activist.  He can be reached at garyconner_@hotmail.com

A highly motivated, experienced Student Affairs and Management Professional with skills in multicultural affairs, team building, motivation, process development and supervision

Summary of Qualifications

¨ Over fifteen years experience in student affairs, management and multicultural affairs
¨ Possess experience in judicial affairs, programming and supervision
¨ Skilled at multi-tasking and teaching multi-tasking techniques
¨ Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
¨ Effective problem solver, planner and counselor
¨ Skilled at managing multiple budgets and implementing long and short term fiscal planning
¨ Skilled at research, design and implementation of site operations
 

Work History

Regional Manager
Campus Crest Communities 2005-Current

General Manager
Campus Advantage 2003-2005

Capstone Properties, College Park, Md.
General Manager, South Campus Commons(2001-2003)

¨ Manage all aspects of constantly developing, multi-building project 
¨ Hire, supervise, mentor, assess and discipline all levels of staffing at site
¨ Design and implement staffing patterns
¨ Assist in budget development for operations, including payroll
¨ Designed and implemented 5 and 10 year operating plans
¨ Researched, designed and implemented processes conducive to site operations
¨ Met weekly with Assistant Manager, Office Coordinator, Facilities Director and Receptionist
¨ Generated reports detailing operational paradigms; mandated and reviewed reports from staff detailing operational areas
¨ Monitored budgets
¨ Supervised community assistant staff and 24 hour desk operations in multi-locations
¨ Designed and implemented turnover processes and procedures for 1,200+ bed facilities
¨ Handled judicial processes regarding staff and students
¨ Worked with Residence Life staff to maintain productive relationship with students
¨ Present public-private research data and processes 
¨ Supervised collections process to 100%
¨ Marketed site to 100% capacity
¨ Managed off campus property in accordance with Maryland State and P.G. County law
¨ Attended and presented workshops on management, communications and professionalism
¨ Designed and assigned committees to aid in operation of facilities and strengthen partnership with university
¨ Supervised seasonal change over of building Environmental Control Systems
¨ Represented Capstone Properties at conferences, workshops and community groups
 

Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama
Director of Student Life and Judicial Affairs (2000-2001)
¨ Direct all departmental functions, implement and facilitate departmental directives
¨ Wrote, facilitate and track all aspects of college judicial system
¨ Act as Chief Judicial Officer for the college
¨ Manage all campus organizations including Greek, Student Government and clubs
¨ Implemented Multicultural Affairs Office, organize all aspects of Multicultural life 
¨ Manage Mascot.com for college
¨ Facilitate commencement event planning for senior class
¨ Manage budget for all organizations on campus and for Office Student Life
¨ Develop award criteria for student/club awards at college
¨ Implemented paraprofessional job program for Office of Student Life
¨ Served on several campus wide committees
¨ Co-selected AHANA scholarship recipients for college
 

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Director of First Year Experience Program (1999-2000)
¨ Managed 4 residence halls directly and 7 ancillary on a daily basis
¨ Supervised 16 paraprofessionals and 1 graduate professional
¨ Facilitated programming, discipline and community building for all freshmen area
¨ Facilitated professional in service committee
¨ Designed and implemented programming on issues of diversity
¨ Managed programming budget for area
¨ Served on several campus wide committees including Violence Task Force and University Diversity Committee
¨ Implemented paradigm shift in professional staff training
 

Community Alternatives of Casper, Casper, Wyoming
Case Manager/Gang Unit Facilitator (1998-1999)
¨ Managed cases of 30 convicted prisoners
¨ Implemented staff training program
¨ Implemented staff retention program which improved retention dramatically
¨ Implemented employee to public education program
¨ Designed workshops for educating clients on issues important to reintegration 
¨ Secured book gift program from library which allowed institution to receive donation of over 33,000 books for prison library
¨ Implemented and co-facilitated workshops on diversity, relationship issues for both male and female prisoners
¨ Provided one on one counseling for gang affiliated prisoners
 

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Residence Life Coordinator (1996-1998)
¨ Supervised 3 Residence Hall Directors, 1 Administrative Assistant, 1 Area Desk Supervisor, 1 Housekeeping Supervisor, 1 Security Supervisor and 1 Maintenance Supervisor; also responsible for the staff of each supervisor
¨ Chosen to serve on University Diversity Committee
¨ Negotiated contracts for summer housekeeping, building construction and security
¨ Implemented structural changes in residence halls including rewiring for computer accessibility, ADA conformity and space enhancement
¨ Chaired national search for professional staff
¨ Implemented training for professional and paraprofessional staff
¨ Facilitated training on multicultural issues for university, city and churches in area
¨ Wrote, produced and directed film on residence hall living; used as a training tool for Resident Assistants
¨ Planned and facilitated budgets for office, travel, building maintenance and five and ten year plan
¨ Editor of Wolf’s Den, a University Housing publication
¨ Co-facilitated “Take Back The Night March”
 

Cultural Racial Understanding and Exchange, (C.R.U.X.)
Private consulting company (1986-Present)
¨ Founded consulting company dealing with all aspects of diversity and multicultural education
¨ Development of programs specific to requested areas of diversity
¨ Implemented programming designed to teach open, honest discussion and educative opportunity on issues of diversity
¨ Present(s) workshops, keynotes, training session on all aspects of diversity, communication and collaboration
¨ Advise (s) colleges, universities, churches, and private businesses on issues of managing diversity, setting up safe environments conducive to productivity and communicating across cultural lines
¨ Wrote on-line columns exploring issues of diversity education, cross-cultural communication and gender equity

Education

Bachelor of Science in Police Administration, Eastern Kentucky University
Master of Science in Student Personnel and Counseling, Eastern Kentucky University

Computer Skills
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Windows NT, Novell Groupwise and CalendarMaker
Knowledgeable in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint, Q +E and Adobe Pagemaker

Professional Affiliations
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
American College Personnel Association
 

Presentations and Workshops

“Mentoring and Ally Building”

“Leadership in the New Millennium”

“The Albatross; an interactive drama”

“The Card Party”

“Involvement in Black and white”

“U.N.I.T.Y.”

“Bridging Cultural Gaps, Building Cultural Competencies”

“Developing and Fostering Professional Habits”

“The Cycle of Oppression”

This list is not exhaustive but rather is illustrative

References

"Gary Conner has the unique talent of being able to generate profound 
moments of critical thinking and realization from examples of everyday life. 
Engaging, humorous,and never dull Mr. Conner invites all of us to step outside our 
own boxes and when necessary to give that box a swift kick!  At the same time he is 
quite effective at meeting people where they are in their experience with diversity and 
bringing them along at their own pace with regard to a deeper appreciation of our ever 
changing multicultural world. It is quite the understatement to say that time with Gary 
Conner is time well spent."
                                                                                                                                                                -William C. Briddick, Counselor Educator