2026 PIRSA

Session Details

11:00 – 11:45 AM — General Session Block 1

Floor 2, Room 203

Turning Hiring into a Higher-Impact Student Experience

Presenters: Gerard Morgan & Stephen Lynam

East Stroudsburg University

Description: Participants will learn how to design a student-led hiring process that builds leadership and accountability while still producing strong hiring outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

• Develop strategies to ensure consistency, fairness, and quality outcomes in a student-run hiring model.
• Identify key components of a successful student-led hiring process, including structure, training, and decision-making.

Intended Audience: Early-Career, Mid-level, Senior-Level Leaders

Floor 8, Room 819/820

I’m Not Special and I’m Still F&#%ing Awesome: Understanding and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Presenter: Rachael Finley

Rachael Finley Coaching and Consulting

Description: Imposter Syndrome is the persistent INABILITY to believe that one’s success is deserving or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. AND, a lot of us struggle with it. Using history, scientific data, and examples from the workplace, participants will learn why we - historically marginalized people - experience it, and how we can - AND WILL - overcome it using science and our own internal resources.

Learning Outcomes:

• By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify when they are experiencing Imposter Syndrome.
• By the end of the session, participants will be able to explain why Imposter Syndrome happens.
• By the end of the session, participants will be able to demonstrate 3 strategies to overcome Imposter Syndrome that will begin to create new or stronger neural pathways.

Intended Audience: Students, Early Career, Mid-level, Senior-Level Leaders

2:30 – 3:15 PM — General Session Block 3

Floor 2, Room 203

Beyond the Shift: Designing Student Employment Experiences that Matter

Presenters: Lynde Metzler & Dylan Scott

Penn State University

Description: Campus recreation student employment is more than operational support—it is a high-impact developmental experience. This interactive workshop explores how intentional lesson planning, experiential learning, reflection, and assessment strategies can transform everyday student employment into meaningful learning opportunities. Participants will engage with practical facilitation tools, student development frameworks, and research findings demonstrating the impact of campus recreation employment on belonging, leadership, communication, and career readiness while leaving with actionable strategies they can immediately implement within their own programs.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify key elements of experiential learning that increase student engagement and development.
• Design intentional student employee learning experiences using lesson-planning and reflection frameworks.
• Connect operational responsibilities to measurable student development outcomes and transferable skills.
• Apply strategies for assessing and communicating the impact of student employment experiences.

Intended Audience: Students, Early Career, Mid-level

Floor 8, Room 819/820

ADHD and Leadership in Campus Recreation

Presenter: Scott Flickinger

SUNY Cortland

Description: ADHD and executive dysfunction can be frustrating and make life, and leadership, seem more difficult. In this presentation, attendee will learn what exactly is ADHD and how it affects function and ultimately leadership. Don't worry; we'll also discuss tips and resources to help manage up and down the leadership ladder.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about and discuss ADHD and its impact on individuals.
• Hear anecdotes about the process of dealing with ADHD.
• Review methods and techniques that may help you lead with or work with ADHD.

Intended Audience: Students, Early Career, Mid-level, Senior-Level Leaders

Thank you to our sponsors!