Our keynote speaker this year is Dr. George Thompson from the Northeastern University College Student Development and Counseling Program.

Higher education in general is being held to greater expectations each day and student affairs practice is no exception. Each of us is called to practice in more effective and measurable ways to promote student learning across the co-curriculum. To do this requires student affairs practitioners to embrace change, technology, and assessment. This presentation will discuss effectively managing your career in the new millennium through the understanding of today's most topical issues in higher education.

Dr. Thompson has extensive experience working with college student development and counseling matters as both a practitioner and researcher. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and an M.S. in College Student Personnel Services from Miami University. Dr. Thompson earned his Ph.D. in Counseling and Human Development with a focus in Student Affairs Administration at the University of Georgia in 2004. His scholarly interests include retention of at-risk college students, college major and career indecision, impact of cooperative education on major and career indecision, and community development in college residence halls. Dr. Thompson is currently publishing works in each of these areas. Since arriving at Northeastern University in the fall of 2005, he has taught Vocational, Education, and Career Development as well as Research, Assessment and Data Analysis. Dr. Thompson currently coordinates the clinical administration of practicums and assistantships for the College Student Development and Counseling Program.