NASPA Online Learning Community

Log In
Changing the Standard: Radically Supervising Student Staff at Michigan State University

Changing the Standard: Radically Supervising Student Staff at Michigan State University

Includes a Live Web Event on 04/30/2025 at 1:00 PM (EDT)

Student staff members volunteer their time and energy to advance the needs of their higher education institutions. This means that in the ever evolving dynamics present on a college campus, student staff supervisors must be capable of providing authentic and emergent supervision for each unique team member. Our presentation offers a supervision model for creating a supervisory ecosystem for each staff member to thrive in that goes beyond relationship building and empowers the supervisor to address barriers to student staff success. 

By utilizing frameworks such as the 4 Is of oppression (Internalized, Interpersonal, Institutional, and Ideological) and Dr. Tamura Lomax’s idea of Radical Black Love we invite participants to reflect on the innate dignity and worth of the students they have the privilege of working with. Through engaging in group conversations and polling, we hope participants challenge existing narratives they hold about what a supervisor is and is not. The goal of this webinar is to help participants begin the self-work necessary for moving supervision beyond being identity conscious and towards becoming actively engaged in dismantling oppression within supervision and work experiences for student staff. 

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Name and describe the 4 I's of Oppression and discuss how they broadly manifest in the student supervisee experience at PWIs. 
  2. Describe the differences between Identity Conscious Supervision and Radical Supervision and will be able to identify specific practices they can take to align their supervision with the principles of Radical Supervision. 
  3. Describe the supervisory ecosystem they dream to build for their student staff members and teams.

Allysa Johnson

Assistant Director for Residence Education

Michigan State University

Allysa Johnson currently serves as an Assistant Director for Residence Education at Michigan State University. Allysa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early and Middle Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs both from The Ohio State University. Allysa has an in-depth housing background, starting as a Resident Assistant and Assistant Community Director during her time as a student before becoming a live-in Community Director at 2 different types of institutions. 

Allysa is passionate about creating inclusive and supportive supervision practices in and beyond university housing. With a wealth of experience supervising resident assistants, graduate staff, and full-time professionals, she has developed a dynamic approach that moves beyond identity-conscious supervision to actively address systems of oppression impacting supervisee experiences. In addition to her supervisory work, Allysa has played a key role on departmental committees focused on staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion curriculum planning, graduate student recruitment, selection, and training, and first-year student success programming. These experiences have shaped her practical, thoughtful approach to leadership and professional development.

Jimmy Hutchful

TRIO Academic Advisor

Michigan State University

Jimmy Hutchful is an experienced academic advisor and student success professional. He currently serves as a TRIO Academic Advisor at Michigan State University, where he supports students with academics and personal goals,  while also overseeing a Peer Mentoring Program of 12 mentors and 58 student participants. His role emphasizes holistic advising, career exploration, and student success initiatives that promote a sense of belonging. 

In addition to his work at Michigan State, Jimmy also served  as a College Success Manager with Thrive Scholars, advising 37 first-year students across multiple institutions. He focuses on academic and socio-emotional support, helping students secure internships and navigate their college journeys. Previously, Jimmy worked as a Residence Director at Michigan State, managing a residence hall and mentoring 12 Resident Assistants. He also served as an Interim Residence Life Coordinator at Eastern Washington University, where he supervised community assistants and led initiatives to improve student retention.

Jimmy's extensive background in higher education includes roles in residential life, academic advising, and student advocacy. He has contributed to various committees and initiatives to enhance student engagement and diversity.

Components visible upon registration.