Dr. Shené Owens & Dr. Bernadette Poerio | University of Virginia

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Dr. Shené Owens, Director of Student Affairs, and Dr. Bernadette Poerio, Assistant Director of Student Affairs at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development. Together, these dynamic leaders bring a powerful combination of strategic vision, student-centred practice, and deep commitment to fostering belonging in higher education.

With expertise spanning transformational leadership, professional staff development, crisis response, orientation design, and holistic student support, Shené and Bernadette share how their collaborative approach strengthens student experiences from day one. They discuss the importance of embedding equity and student voice into every initiative, using data to drive impact, and creating spaces where students feel empowered to navigate, thrive, and lead.

Tune in for a candid and inspiring conversation on the future of student affairs, the art of balancing operations with empathy, and why believing in your students and your team can change everything.