After attending the 2014 NASPA Annual, I had a stronger understanding of the field of Student Affairs and a strengthened commitment to the missions and goals of the field. My passion has only grown since that conference and I have been thankful to engage in continuous growth opportunities in regards to this profession. One of these experiences includes the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP), which I participated in with my mentor, Melissa Masone.
The end of the NASPA Undergraduate Pre-Conference at the University of New Orleans with my future colleagues.
The NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program, originally the Multicultural Undergraduate Fellows Program (MUFP), is an organization created for underrepresented undergraduate students interested in pursuing a professional career in Student Affairs. Undergraduate students are paired with a professional staff member as their mentor and work through various issues and conversations related to the field. I was thankful to spend the 2014-2015 academic year with Melissa as my mentor. We had weekly one on ones that allowed us to talk through various individual, university, and national issues within Student Affairs. Having a mentor has allowed me to grow in such a unique way as I prepare to apply for graduate schools and eventually enter the field as a professional.
NUFP also provides students with a community of fellows that are all preparing for various experiences within Student Affairs whether it be graduate school, an internship, or a professional position. Getting to know these students has been an integral part of developing my network of fellow professionals and I look forward to continuing my relationships in this field. I look forward to seeing many of them this summer at the Dungy Leadership Institute, a week long undergraduate Student Affairs retreat.
In March 2015, I was provided with the opportunity to attend both the 2015 NASPA Annual Conference and the Undergraduate Pre-Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was the second time I had been provided a scholarship for this conference, this time thanks to Sodexo. The conference, which had more than 7,500 people in attendance, was a great opportunity for networking, brainstorming, and most importantly, learning.
At the undergraduate conference, each attendee got to see the same sessions. These sessions were:
- History of Social Justice Movements in Higher Education
- History of Student Affairs
- Preparing for Interviews and Entering the Field
- My Identity as a Student Affairs Professional
- Assessment and Research in Higher Education
- Current Events in Higher Education
NASPA gave me the chance to see Jamal, a former Mason grad and close mentor that now works at UC Riverside.
Each of these touched on a unique and very important part of Student Affairs as a profession and allowed us to gain a greater understanding of the bigger picture of student affairs.
After the Undergraduate Pre-Conference, I was able to attend that larger Annual conference along with several other Mason community members including Melissa and a fellow NUFP, Ashley. As the opening session got close, the area started filling up with thousands of Student Affairs professionals. We kicked off the conference at the opening session, which featured keynote speaker Dr. Jennifer Arnold. After the session, we prepared for many days of sessions and workshops in the Big Easy.
I attended many different sessions during this conference. Some involved a reflection from past undergraduates on their NUFP experience, some discussed the importance of social justice work in higher education, a few touched on the larger scale of the changing environment in student affairs, etc. These each allowed me to gain a new and unique understanding of Student Affairs and open my eyes to some of the things I had not yet learned about.
I also took advantage of the Exhibit Hall, which features many different organizations that have the goal of reaching out to various campuses to offer their service. I was able to talk to people from LeaderShape, the Social Justice Training Institute, Lead 365, Golden Key, etc. While I personally am not looking to bring these groups to our campus, it was a great opportunity to network with individuals that are connected to these different organizations.
Enjoying the New Orleans weather in front of the Mississippi River during a break with some fellow NUFPs.
One of the most important parts of the conference experience this year was the Grad Prep Fair. Many graduate schools from around the area set up tables and were available to talk to students about their programs. This was one of my favorite opportunities, as it allowed me to see what made me excited about a graduate program and what I really wanted from the two year experience. After talking to many of these schools, I was able to figure out how I may narrow my search and what programs I intend to apply to, and I really look forward to starting applications in the fall.
The Annual Conference is a huge event with so many people that it can begin to feel overwhelming. However, it is an extremely exciting opportunity to take part in and I am beyond thankful for the opportunities I have been given to attend it. The people I have met through the experience and the relationships I have developed will only help me as I begin this adventure within Student Affairs, and I look forward to the many opportunities to come in the future.
