Activities – Adam J Kuban

Wakonse Conference on College Teaching

The Wakonse Conference on College Teaching occurs annually in May at Camp Miniwanca, which is located right along Lake Michigan near Shelby, Michigan (and ‘Wakonse’ = to teach, to inspire). This interdisciplinary conference draws faculty, teaching and learning professionals from postsecondary institutions who recognize and are devoted to the inspirational aspect of the teaching and learning process. Conference attendees explore teaching via highly interactive presentations, discussion groups and hands-on experiential sessions. I have attended this conference from 2013-2017, presenting in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Additionally, while professionals engage in their endeavors, a concurrent undergraduate leadership conference occurs, where students from up to six institutions engage in a collaborative exploration of self-knowledge, leadership and effective learning. I was asked to serve as a facilitator for this undergraduate leadership conference, and I have done so from 2014-2017.

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Wakonse is a place where the lines between faculty and students blur to foster crucial dialogues that aim to enhance respect and understanding in collegiate atmospheres. Oh yeah, it’s also very fun.”

Before Wakonse, I didn’t know what to expect. During Wakonse, I discovered more about myself than I ever have in a single week, and I fell in love with Michigan and the friendships I formed. After Wakonse, I know I am different for the better, and I don’t think I will ever be able to completely explain what Wakonse was and how much it impacted me. You have to attend to understand the power of this conference.”

– reflexive statements from undergraduate attendees

BSU At The Games

This program made its debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Conceived and pursued by my colleagues, Ryan Sparrow & Colleen Steffen, BSU At The Games has since given over 80 undergraduates the opportunity to travel to this international competition to produce multimedia feature stories. I joined BSU At The Games for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, contributing as a copy-editor for all written content. While in Russia, I also did some freelance work, composing stories for WorkInSports.com and for the Geneseo Republic, my former local newspaper. I returned to my copy-editor role in 2016 for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In general, I reviewed & edited over 100 drafts of stories for each iteration of the Games.

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