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Katherine E. Rufalo
Achiever | Arranger | Restorative | Connectedness | Positivity
(732) 856-3022 // Email: ​kerufalo1@catamount.wcu.edu​ // TPE Candidate ID: 515

EDUCATION
Western Carolina University, College of Education & Allied Professions ​Anticipated May 2021
Master of Education in Higher Education/Student Affairs

Rutgers University - Newark, Newark College of Arts and Sciences ​January 2016 – May 2019
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Minor in Public & Nonprofit Administration

GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Advising Center ​August 2020 - Present
Graduate Assistant •​ ​Western Carolina University
● Demonstrate knowledge of SMART goals and relationship-based advising while working with students
● Co-instruct and advise a section of College Success Seminar for students in unsatisfactory academic standing
● Assist with virtual walk-in hours as per the office team COVID-19 schedule
● Execute degree audits and evaluations
● Collaborate with other advisors within the office to learn about various advising styles and philosophies
● Demonstrate adaptability in working with students virtually during a global pandemic

Office of Assessment ​June 2020 - August 2020

Graduate Intern •​ ​Western Carolina University
● Educated on the purpose of accreditation bodies and bodies such as the Council on Advancement of Standards
● Compiled a report using Continuous Improvement Report data from the previous two assessment cycles
● Learned about the functional area of assessment and its purpose in higher education and student affairs

Student Services ​January 2020 - April 2020

Graduate Student Services Intern ​• ​Haywood Community College
● Handled general student services issues concerning classes, financial aid, student accounts, etc.
● Collaborated with advisors within the office to understand how advising is conducted at a community college
● Assisted in organization of Veteran student benefit files ranging by title
● Learned about financial aid procedures for both the general student population and those with Veteran status

Mentoring and Persistence to Success (MAPS) ​August 2019 - May 2020

Graduate Assistant •​ ​Western Carolina University
● Handled caseload of 31 first-generation & low-income students in the Founders Scholarship program
● Established 3-4 goals with students for the semester which are measured in later student meetings
● Conducted semester meetings with recipients to check in on class progression, study skills, etc.
● Demonstrated knowledge and experience of appreciative advising
● Collaborated with Homebase College Ministry on services for independent students who are facing crises
● Experience working with the Education Advisory Board’s (EAB) Navigate student progress tracking software
● Managed the MAPS and First Generation portions of WCU’s website using OUCampus web editing software
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Office of Residence Life ​ ay 2018 – July 2018
M
ACUHO-I Summer Residence Life Intern •​ ​Wittenberg University
● Coordinated setups for room tours in the residence halls around campus for New Student Orientation days
● Designed rack cards for orientation sessions on campus which included resources such as greater area
transportation, campus phone numbers, incident reporting on campus, etc.
● Served on the search committee for open Area Coordinator positions
● Worked closely with the Associate Dean for Residence Life researching topics such as environmental
sustainability in Residence Life and Residential Curriculum
● Collaborated with the Assistant Director for Residence Life and the Associate Dean for Student Success and
Retention to learn about both campus and student trends, such as mental health

SERVICE & LEADERSHIP

Resilient Independent Student Association ​January 2021 - Present
Graduate Co-Advisor ​• ​Western Carolina University
● Provide support and guidance on matters of programming and other organizational matters
● Collaborate with other executive board members in a programming capacity as a liaison for campus partners

College of Education and Allied Professions ​October 2019 - December 2019

Faculty Search Committee Member ​• ​Western Carolina University
● Worked with faculty from both the B.A. in Parks and Recreation Management and the M.S. in Experiential
Outdoor Education programs
● Served as graduate student representation on a two-month faculty search as a non-voting member
● Assisted in conducting two rigorous rounds of interviews via Zoom

Department of Student Community Ethics ​September 2020 -

Present
Conduct Hearing Officer •​ ​Western Carolina University
● Given training specific to serving on hearing boards for student cases that violate campus policies
● Hear violations regarding residence hall policy violations, general Code of Conduct violations, and off-campus
incidents

Graduate Student Association ​September 2020 - Present

Vice President of Travel & Finance ​• ​Western Carolina University
● Coordinate, organize, and attend Graduate School Association Executive Board meetings
● Maintaining a complete, accurate, and up-to-date record of all expenditures, deposits, and receipts related to travel
grant expenses, as well as financial data regarding the organization’s operating expenses
● Attend Graduate Council meetings (in place of President) throughout the academic year
● Required to plan and implement one program per semester

Higher Education Student Affairs Program ​August 2019 - May 2020

Student Program Ambassador •​ ​Western Carolina University
● Worked with program coordinator on marketing efforts via social media platforms, notably Facebook
● Assisted at open houses and was a point of contact for those with questions about the program and area
● Encouraged current HESA students to support campus events that program members are a part of (i.e. Tunnel of
Oppression, International Fest, etc.)
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UNDERGRADUATE LEADERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT

University Square Apartments Hall Council ​September 2018 - May 2019
Council President •​ ​ Rutgers University - Newark
● Lead weekly meetings about event planning for a diverse student residential population
● Collaborated with other student organizations and Resident Assistants on big-ticket events
● Recruited building residents to work with Hall Council as General Members in regards to programming

Rutgers Newark Honor Council ​April 2018 – May 2019

Student Board Member •​ ​Rutgers University - Newark
● Trained in hearing low-level conduct cases on the University Hearing Board for Student Code of Conduct
violations
● Implemented programming to educate the student body on topics such as ethical behavior on campus and
academic integrity

Office of Academic Services, Newark College of Arts and Sciences ​March 2018 – May 2019
Peer Advisor ​•​ Rutgers University - Newark
● Facilitated relationships through advisement as well as being a resource for new students
● Proctored 500+ incoming students, first-year and transfer with Math and English placement exams
● Assisted Office of Academic Services with the course planning and registration of School of Arts and Sciences
students
● Created programs and workshops on academic expectations and success for students
● Worked orientation days throughout the summer months as part of the itinerary for new students

Rutgers Newark Office of Housing and Residence Life ​August 2017 – May 2018
Resident Assistant ​• ​Rutgers University - Newark
● Built community with a floor of 36 undergraduate first-year students in an all first-year residence hall
● Conducted monthly health inspections to ensure health, wellness, and fire code guidelines are met
● Educated residents on various topics through monthly programming, including Academic & Career Development,
Diversity, Global Learning, Personal Development, Safety Awareness and Rutgers Newark affinity
● Enforced both University and Housing & Residence Life policies
● Facilitated monthly checks and conversations to monitor academic progress, community issues, roommate issues,
and other topics as needed
● Served in 24-hour on-call response for a residential building of over 300 residents, and then the entire residential
campus on extended breaks

New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG), Student Chapters

Rutgers University - Newark
Referendum Coordinator October 2016
Chapter Chair October 2016 - November 2017
New Voters Project Campaign Coordinator September 2016 - November 2017
Campaign Visibility Coordinator April 2016 - May 2016
Registration Volunteer, New Voters Project March 2016
● Registered students on the Rutgers University - Newark campus to vote in the 2016 Presidential election
● Coordinated campaign visibility efforts with campaign staff to ensure campus coverage marketing materials
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● Participated in National Student Forum to assist in delivering the State of the State Report
● Lobbied in defense of Student Financial Aid on Capitol Hill in Washington, District of Columbia
● Coordinated tabling setups and volunteer shifts for our chapter’s student funding Referendum
● Oversaw functionality of all chapter public interest campaigns running during the semester

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Rufalo, ​K., et al. (20​20). G​SA Session Student Travel and Research Awards​. ​North Carolina Council of Graduate Schools
Annual Meeting 2020: Climb the Mountain: Graduate Student & Staff Success.
Rufalo​, K.​ ​(2020). ​First Generation Journeys: Identity Development of First-Generation College students​. ​Graduate
Student Symposium. C ​ ullowhee, NC
Bustos, D., Neilson, K., ​Rufalo​, K. Sameer, S., Tan, K. (2019). ​Personal Wellness: Physical & Mental Exercise​. OAS
POWER Workshop Series. ​Newark, NJ.
Rufalo​, K.​, ​et al. (2017). Student Staff Live-In Experience. ​Rutgers Newark Office of Housing & Residence Life.​ Newark
NJ.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Western Carolina University
COURSE PREFIX COURSE TITLE CREDITS SIZE ​YEAR
LC 101 College Success Seminar 3 6 2020
LC 101 College Success Seminar 3 11 2021

MEDIA FEATURES
MACUHO. (19 February 2019). ​The VIPS Experience - Reflections from Our 2018-2019 Cohort​. MACUHO Magazine,
(Winter 2019 Issue)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) ​2020 - Present
Rutgers Alumnae Women’s Professional Network ​2020 - Present
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) ​2019 - Present
Association of College Personnel Administrators (ACPA) ​2019 - Present

CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
8th Annual Class ActionFirst Generation College Student Summit November 2020
Virtual Conference

Association for College Personnel Affairs (ACPA) ​March 2020

Music City Center Convention Complex - Nashville, Tennessee

Whee Lead: Inclusive Leadership Conference ​February 2020

A.K. Hinds University Center at Western Carolina University - Cullowhee, North Carolina

Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA), NASPA Region III ​November 2019
Hilton Raleigh, North Hills - Raleigh, North Carolina
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Mid-Atlantic Association of College University Housing Officers (MACUHO) Annual Conference ​ ctober 2018
O
Bayfront Convention Center - Erie, Pennsylvania

MACUHO Student Staff Live-In Conference (SSLI) ​November 2017

Ceddia Union Building, Shippensburg University - Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

AWARDS, HONORS, & RECOGNITIONS

Graduate Student Association ​February 2020
Spring 2020 Travel Award

Mid Atlantic Association for College University Housing Officers (MACUH) Annual Conference ​October 2018
Lisa Ann Pierce Volunteer Incentive Program for Students (VIPS)

CERTIFICATIONS, TRAININGS, AND TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

Certifications & Trainings
Student Conduct Hearing Officer Training ​September 2020
First Generation Advocate Training ​November 2019
Safe Zone Trained ​October 2019

Technical Proficiencies
● EAB/Navigate
● Banner ● Microsoft & Apple technologies
● Colleague ● Facebook
● Engage ● Instagram
● Blackboard ● Twitter
● Qualtrics ● LinkedIn
● Microsoft Office ● Procreate
● Google Drive ● Canva