Matthew J.

Briars
For Contact Information, Visit The Connect with Me
page below.

MJB

Education
State University of New York College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

August 2015 - Present

Masters of Science, Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration

State University of New York College at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

July 2010 - May 2014

Bachelor of Science, Biology

Specialty in Ecology, Minors in Environmental Studies and Geological Sciences
Sigma Gamma Epsilon Geology Honor Society

Student Affairs Experience

State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia NY

August 2015 Present

Graduate Residence Director, Office of Residence Life

August 2015 Present

Responsible for all operations of a suite style residence hall housing 200 upper-class students, including specialized kitchen suites
Supervise a staff of five Resident Assistants, including the facilitation of staff meetings and weekly individual meetings
Hire, train, and supervise twelve Night Desk Attendants, who oversee evening hall intervisitation
Implemented learning outcomes derived from the Fredonia Baccalaureate Goals
Serve as an officer for student judicial reviews
Participate in Residence Director on Duty rotation for a campus of 3000 residential students
Sit on the Green Dot @ Fredonia committee, working to encourage bystander intervention and prevent personal violence

State University of New York College at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

January 2011 May 2015

Residence Director, Office of Residence Life

January 2015 May 2015

Responsible for all operations of a residence hall housing 200 mixed-level students, including a wing housing a substance-free
community and a residential block housing transfer students
Supervised a staff of five Resident Assistants and one Senior Resident Assistant, including the facilitation of staff meetings and
weekly individual meetings
Implemented learning outcomes derived from the SUNY Geneseo Residence Life residential education model
Served as an officer for student conduct reviews
Participated in Residence Director on Duty rotation for a campus of 3000 residential students
Collaborated in the assessment of the sophomore year experience, an initiative to build programs and tools for second-year students
Senior Resident Assistant, Office of Residence Life

Trained and mentored new and returning resident assistants

Implemented hall programming directed towards creative expression and appreciation of fine arts
Assisted in the process of developing Nassau Hall into a fine arts living-learning community
Advised Nassau Hall Council
Projects included Battle of the Artists, an open student art contest and Leading Men Stand Up, an initiative to educate men on
sexual consent

Resident Assistant, Office of Residence Life

August 2013 May 2014

January 2012 May 2013

Facilitated large and small-scale programs centered on the interests of the community
In EcoHouse, responsible for programming focused on sustainability and social justice initiatives
Oversaw and implemented Live Green Day, an all-day event educating students on daily sustainable living
In Suffolk Hall, facilitated programming on ethical citizenship, leadership, and diversity
Only returning RA in Suffolk Hall; took on elevated mentoring and training responsibilities for new RAs
As a Summer RA, Assisted in resident housing placement of 400 new and returning students

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Orientation Advisor, Office of First Year Programs

June 2011-January 2012
Assisted in development and the summer and winter Orientation
Interacted with new and transfer students and their parents to ease transition to life at Geneseo
Collaborated with professional staff and professors to maintain new student registration process
Facilitated small groups of twenty to fifty first year students in discussions on alcohol, transitioning, and involvement in college

Other Experience
Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Greece, NY

November 2014 Present

Bookseller

November 2014 Present

Provided prompt and excellent customer service during the busy holiday season
Engaged and establish a rapport with customers, and respond to their needs and concerns

Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Beta Xi Chapter, Geneseo, NY

April 2011 May 2014

Treasurer

January 2013 December 2013

Planned and organized the 2013 Fiscal Year budget of over $10,000
Oversaw all transactions made by the brotherhood and made purchases and donations in the name of the brotherhood
Collected dues and reimbursed brother expenses.
Assisted with chapter reaffirmation and filed all necessary tax documents.

Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, State University of New York College at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY
Member, Student Conduct Board

April 2012 May 2014

Worked in conjunction with faculty and professional staff to hear conduct cases
Determine possible sanctions against students in possible violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
Ensured restorative measures for both the college community and the students accused.
Sat on advisory committee to oversee adjustments to Student Conduct Board procedure.

Committees

SUNY Fredonia Green Dot @ Fredonia Committee, Spring 2016

SUNY Geneseo Sophomore Year Experience Committee, Spring 2015
SUNY Geneseo Student Conduct Advisory Committee, Board Procedure Subcommittee, Spring 2014
SUNY Geneseo Nassau Hall Arts Living-Learning Community Committee, Fall 2013 Spring 2014
SUNY Geneseo Staff Training and Development Committee, Fall 2013 - Spring
SUNY Geneseo Residence Life and First Year Programs Transfer Student Assessment Committee, Spring 2013
SUNY Geneseo Residence Life Housing Committee, Fall 2012

Professional Affiliations

College Student Personnel Association of New York State (CSPA-NYS), Member, March 2015 Present
Association of College and University Housing Officers International (ACUHO-i), Member, March 2015 Present
American College Personnel Association (ACPA), Member, October 2015 Present

Certifications

SafeZone Trainer, Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Active January 2016 - January 2019
Green Dot Bystander Intervention Trainer Certification, Green Dot Etcetera, Inc., January 2016