MSU Community Symposium: Fostering Resilience
MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University Department of Behavioral Sciences and Criminal Justice is sponsoring a Community Symposium: Fostering Resilience on March 21 at the Minot State Student Center Conference Center.
Fostering Resilience: Trauma-Informed Care, Ethics, and the Power of Community begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. with a two-part morning session, a lunch and research poster session, two afternoon sessions, and a panel discussion. All sessions are open to the public with a $60 registration fee (optional lunch for an additional $15). Minot State faculty, staff, and students are free with valid MSU ID. To register for the event or for more information and speaker bios, see the MSU Marketplace Fostering Resilience WEBSITE.
The event is a collaboration between the various disciplines within the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Criminal Justice, including addiction studies, criminal justice, psychology, school psychology, and social work, and will focus on understanding trauma-informed care, ethics, and preventing burnout — topics that are essential to changing how we approach mental health and supporting professionals in high-stress fields in our community.
“This symposium is the result of a shared commitment within the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Criminal Justice to bring awareness to topics that deeply impact our communities,” said Krystal St. Peter, MSU assistant professor in addiction studies, psychology, and social work. “Through the collaboration, we've designed a day focused on trauma-informed care, ethics, and burnout prevention — topics essential for professionals in high-stress roles as well as anyone seeking to better understand these issues. Each discipline offers a unique perspective, but by working together, we've created an event that we hope will not only provide valuable insights but also foster meaningful connections. At the end of the day, while our fields may differ, we rely on one another, and it’s through these connections that we can better support those we serve and each other.”
The morning session will begin with registration and a networking hour from 8-9 a.m. Tamara Waters-Wheeler, MSU professor in school psychology, will deliver part one of the first keynote, Trauma 101 Based on the Neurosequential Model, at 9 a.m. Following a coffee break at 10:15 a.m., Waters-Wheeler will deliver part two. MSU’s Kelly Hendershot, assistant professor in business, will begin the afternoon session with a keynote address, Ethics, at 1:15 p.m. Michael Nason, MSU professor of criminal justice, is the final keynote address, Being There for Each Other After Critical Incidents: A Holistic Approach to Checking Your Six, at 2:30 p.m.
At 3:30 p.m., a panel discussion, Beyond Burnout: Protecting Your Well-Being in High-Stress Professions, will feature Alannah Valenta, school psychology; Vicki Michels, MSU professor of psychology and addiction studies and chair of the Department of Behavioral Science and Criminal Justice; Aaron Moss, law enforcement and veteran outreach; and Dale Plessas from the Minot Police Department.
Along with event committee members Nason, St. Peter, MSU professors Dylan Horner, assistant professor of psychology, Penny Craven, assistant professor and program director of school psychology, and Lacey Corneliusen, assistant professor of psychology; Minot State student groups, Psychology Club and Social Work Club, are playing an active role by assisting with event setup, running the check-in tables, and helping host the event.
“We're also excited to have our student groups involved, as it allows us to collaborate closely with future professionals and strengthen the bridge between education and practice,” St. Peter added.
The event programming is also offered as continuing education, including continuing education units (CEU) approved for anyone seeking ND POST hours. Nason worked to add CEU to the event as a service to law enforcement throughout the state of North Dakota with the event’s virtual option.
“Law enforcement officers and other first responders would benefit from the symposium,” Nason said. “The symposium draws focus on the issue of job-related stress and mental health. Precipitating and insulating factors, resiliency, and the path forward will be addressed.”
More information on CEUs and the rates for these credits can be found at the Fostering Resilience Symposium’s MSU Marketplace WEBSITE.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 02/26/25
