Welcome to the BelongingU blog, a space where I explore the power of connection, the joy of learning, and the journey to authentic belonging. Dive into insights on transforming campus culture, hear inspiring student moments, and discover new ways to foster a sense of 'us.' I hope these stories spark ideas, ignite joy, and help you feel truly seen and understood.
Dr. Benny's articles delve deep into the 'Five Rs belonging framework' and Indigenous knowledge, offering practical strategies for college leaders, diversity officers, and student affairs professionals. Explore how relational, research-based consulting can create meaningful impact and transform your campus culture. These insights are designed to empower you with the tools to cultivate environments where everyone thrives.
Recently, I took the Saboteurs assessment, and my top result came back clearly: Restlessness. It wasn’t surprising, but it was clarifying. It gave language to something I’ve felt for a long time but hadn’t fully named. There has always been a part of me that is moving, thinking, creating, and chasing what’s next. Through this lens, I’ve started calling that part of me Surge.
In student affairs, in belonging work, and in storytelling, there has always been a quiet tension. We design programs, we build spaces, we create initiatives, and we measure outcomes. We often separate these efforts into categories so we can manage them, assess them, and improve them. We talk about engagement, retention, access, and success as if they are distinct goals that can be addressed one at a time.
Every year during Week of Welcome, I say something that might feel a little uncomfortable at first: belonging is not something that just happens to you. And I say that knowing full well that institutions have a responsibility to create spaces where students can show up fully as themselves. That responsibility is real. It matters deeply. It is something I have built my career around, thinking about spaces, shaping them, asking who they are for, and who they might still be leaving out. But there’s another truth that sits right alongside it, and it’s one we don’t always say out loud. You have a role in your own belonging.
Aaniin… Boozhoo.
If we’re going to talk about belonging theory, we might as well talk about it through the most unexpectedly profound case study of our time: Schitt's Creek.
Life is hard and lately, it has been especially hard. My husband and I adopted two incredible children this past year. They are bright, loving, and resilient, and they also carry a lot of learning and relearning with them. Our home can feel hectic, emotional, and unpredictable. We have really good days, and we have really tough ones. Often, the tone of the evening depends on how their day went, and when I walk through the door, I need to be present. Parenting requires you to be in it.
Around this time of year, many campuses are deep in planning their First-Year Experience (FYE) programs such as mapping out orientations, Week of Welcome events, and the countless details that shape a student’s earliest moments in college. These efforts are not simply logistical exercises. They are cultural and relational investments that influence how students see themselves, their campus, and their future. KEY POINT: This is the true introduction to a student on what it means to be a college student at your school! Mission, vision, values, tradition, etc.
After a lot of reflection, conversation, and listening to that quiet inner voice that doesn’t let go, I’m sharing that I will be leaving my role as Vice President of Student Affairs, Enrollment, and Belonging at Bellin College at the conclusion of this semester.
