Storytelling for Student Success: South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute Learn the basics of storytelling to find, craft, and tell stories to document student success in this intense 3-day workshop at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona.
Learn the basics of storytelling to find, craft, and tell stories to document student success in this intense 3-day workshop at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona.
You will learn about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, have opportunities to dialogue with storytelling faculty, student services professionals, and students on how we support student success through storytelling.
Most importantly, you will learn storytelling techniques and strategies for how to utilize storytelling in your work with students, whatever your discipline or student service focus may be. You will leave with a skill set to help students find, craft and tell their own stories for scholarships, internships, personal statements, and self-advocacy.
This workshop will be led by Liz Warren, Director of the SMCC Storytelling Institute,
together with Shelly Siegel, retired TRIO director.
Agenda:
Tuesday, February 17: Arrive in Phoenix, AZ
7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Welcome Dinner TBA (Optional)
Wednesday February 18: What is Storytelling and How Do We Use it at SMCC?
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Introduction to Storytelling and the South Mountain Community College
- Welcome and Overview: The SMCC Storytelling Institute created the academic discipline of storytelling and was the first community college in the nation to offer academic certificates in storytelling.
- Introduction to Storytelling: What is it, what is it good for, what will you learn, how will you use it?
- Campus Tour and Dialogue with campus leaders and students on how they use storytelling in their work.
- Beginning the work: Finding Memories for Stories
Thursday February 19: Finding and Crafting Personal Stories
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Finding, Crafting, and Telling Personal Stories
- Finding memories for stories
- Sharing memories and visiting
- Crafting memories into stories
- Enhancing your stories
- Basics of Affirmative Coaching
- Hearing Stories and Supporting Storytellers
Friday, February 20: Telling Your Stories
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Telling Your Stories
- Hearing More Stories and Supporting Storytellers
- Adapting stories for student needs: scholarships, internships, personal statements, self-advocacy
- Closing and Evaluation
6:00 – 8:00 On-Campus evening storytelling event with community partners
Cost: $550, includes:
- Workshop instruction, materials, and swag
- Coffee and lunch on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Admission to evening event
Payment Options:
- The non-refundable registration fee of $550 is due by January 16, 2026
- $500 per person if received by December 19, 2025
- Working on how to pay
Recommended Lodging: SMCC is located at 7050 S. 24th Street, in Phoenix. There are a number of hotels in the area between the airport and the college. Here are a few:
Legacy Golf Resort
6808 S 32nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85042
(602)305-5500
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix Airport by IHG
3401 E University Dr
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602)453-9900
Arizona Grand Resort
8000 South Arizona Grand E
Phoenix, AZ 85044
1(877)800-4888
For more information, contact Liz Warren, Faculty Director, SMCC Storytelling Institute Liz.warren@southmountaincc.edu, 602-243-8026
