Influential experts from UNT Health student affairs make an impact at record-breaking conference
Being influencers and subject matter experts in the student services field is nothing new for UNT Health’s Division of Student Affairs staff, with presentations at regional and national higher education conferences being an annual occurrence.
But in November in Porto, Portugal, at the largest ever European Conference for Student Affairs and Services, Cassie Jo Ardry and Isabella Anzaldua became the first representatives from DSA to share their expertise on an international stage.
Director and assistant director respectively of DSA’s Career Readiness Center, Ardry and Anzaldua presented on “Digital Literacy & AI Fluency: Empowering Students and Staff to Navigate the Future of Work,” as well as CRC’s Microcredential program.
“I am happy to report that we are ahead of the game when it comes to implementing career readiness in innovative ways,” Ardry said. “Our presentation was very well attended!”
And it was well received too.
Ardry emphasized the value of sharing resources with global partners, recounting an interaction with enthusiastic instructional designers from Greece who were excited to apply what they had learned from the UNT Health duo.
Being part of this international knowledge exchange was truly special for Ardry and Anzaldua.
“It was a reminder that we may live different lives, but we are united by the same value: serving others,” Anzaldua said.
“This experience was amazingly rich!” Ardry said. “It was amazing to see similar challenges, but also to see how folks are doing things differently has allowed me to think about new ways of approaching and executing my role.”
The event was also special for Anzaldua because it represented the realization of a professional goal — to gain the confidence to present at a conference. “Presenting for the first time in my career not only helped me achieve my professional goals but also expanded my worldview of student affairs,” said Anzaldua.
ECSAS 2025 was themed “Navigating Societal Trends and Changes: The Evolving Role of Student Affairs in Higher Education.” The conference saw a record-breaking attendance of nearly 300 student affairs professionals from around the world sharing knowledge and ideas while exploring how rapid societal, cultural and technological shifts are reshaping universities and student needs.
ECSAS is based on a longstanding collaboration between European university college Association and the US-based National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, whose shared vision and dedication make this annual gathering possible.
“I encourage anyone in student affairs to try and attend,” Ardry said. “It truly is life-changing!”