Tag Archives: NC State

Veering off Course to Stay on Track, by Shauna Morin

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When I began the HEA doctoral program just over a year ago, it was with the sole intention of furthering my career as a student affairs practitioner. After seven years as a full-time professional in the field, I had come to realize that a doctorate would be necessary to secure an upper-level position in higher education administration and I felt it was time to take the Ph.D. plunge. What I didn’t realize was that, in coming to NC State, I would be exposed to an entirely different career path that I’d never before considered—that of a faculty member. 

As any current student or graduate of our program knows, we have some incredibly talented and dedicated faculty in HEA. Because I am the graduate assistant for the HEA program, I’ve had a unique opportunity to spend significant time with them, observing the myriad roles they play and gaining insight into their diverse career paths. Learning about our faculty’s educational and professional journeys has reinforced that there are many possible avenues to a career in academia, thereby making attainment of such a career seem more viable. I never anticipated that my graduate assistantship would shift my career trajectory, but it has been a welcome (if unexpected) turn of course.

Over the past year, I’ve also gained tremendous insight into the world of a faculty member by engaging in collaborative research, writing and reviewing scholarly articles, and (perhaps most exciting of all!) teaching. I am currently participating in NC State’s Preparing the Professoriate (PTP) program, a yearlong professional development initiative that allows me to gain hands-on experience in the classroom under the supervision of a faculty mentor. As part of PTP, I am serving as a teaching colleague for the master’s level Foundations of Student Affairs course. Thinking creatively about lessons, developing activities and assignments, and getting up in front of the classroom have provided equal measure of challenge and reward. Though experiences such as PTP were not part of my plan when I entered the HEA program, they have proved to be hugely valuable and formative in my learning.

While I am not entirely certain that I’ll pursue a faculty career when I complete my degree, I am committed to keeping all doors open that will enable me to do so. And I am grateful for the opportunities and support here at NC State that make it possible. I encourage all of our current students to get involved by taking full advantage of our collective faculty expertise and the professional development offerings within and across programs at the University. Most of all, I urge students to explore an array of career paths within higher education by venturing into unfamiliar waters once in awhile. After all, veering off course can sometimes keep you on the right track!

 

Words of Wisdom from a Second Year, by Gabriel Solomon

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I’d like to take some time to offer some helpful advice to our current 1st year M.Ed cohort from the perspective of a 2nd year.   1st years, by this time you’re almost halfway through with your first semester!  I know I speak for everyone when I say that things will get much easier after the first semester.  The following are just a couple of tips I learned from my 1st year, some of which I wish I had realized sooner.

Remember to MAKE time for yourself!

Make time for yourself at least once a week in order to help yourself get through the stressful demands of school and your assistantship.  Encourage yourself to find new hobbies, discover local getaways, and spend time with friends and family.  Work will ALWAYS be there!  You never know what other experiences you could be missing out on.   Remember, many opportunities will come your way, however recognize that it’s ok to say no. 

Invest in your professional development

The whole reason you’re in grad school is to become a student affairs professional.  A great way to promote your professional development is by being an active and involved member of HEA!  We provide several opportunities throughout the course of the year such as inviting guest speakers, holding seminars, and offer professional development funds.    

Attend conferences in your area(s) of interest.  Conferences offer valuable opportunities to connect with influential individuals in the field, and to advance your knowledge of best practices.  Try to be strategic about the conferences that you attend.  For example, if you choose to attend a local or regional conference your first year, consider attending a national conference your second year to maximize networking connections and knowledge of practices around the country.

Start early, stay organized

The first few weeks of the semester offer you a chance to get adjusted to the rigors of graduate school.  Depending on your undergraduate focus, graduate school may present you with a different set of academic challenges. 

Make a calendar and mark down all your assignment due dates.  I find this to be one of the easiest ways to start, and stay organized.  Be sure to set reminders into your calendar at least a week in advance of a due date to keep assignments fresh on your mind so they don’t sneak up on you.

By now you should have already written your first paper and had it critiqued for formatting APA errors.  Make the necessary corrections and then use this paper as a template for starting future APA styled assignments.  That way, you won’t need to worry about trying to figure out how the title, heading, and references should be styled.

Begin to create a word bank of “buzz words” that you can use in future assignments.  This can be extremely helpful during those late night writing sessions when you develop a case of writer’s block.  I usually add a couple words to my bank after co-authoring a group assignment.  Here are just a few popular words in my word bank:  enrich, advocate, support, foster, and perception.

That’s all for now!  I hope that you all find these tips helpful!

Crossing the Line and Working with Faculty, by Lisa Latronica

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So often as student affairs paraprofessionals and professionals we talk about the importance of collaboration with the other side of the university – the academic affairs side. But it’s not always as easy as you would think. Faculty members and degree programs have their own set of job responsibilities, and we’re not just talking about teaching classes and grading papers. They complete research, publish articles, sit in meetings, and work with their students. Between their schedules and ours, it can be easier to silo ourselves and do our own thing. But for the holistic success of students, we know we really do have to work together.

Last spring, the College of Engineering approached University Housing about starting a living learning village for first-year undergraduate engineering students. As the Residence Director for the residence hall they were interested in placing the village in, I was able to have the opportunity to sit in on meetings with faculty members, assistant deans, and other parties heavily involved with the College of Engineering. I was the only graduate student at the table, and I had no idea how much I would learn about collaboration and the academic side of the university.

In creating the Engineering Village, I learned quickly that academic affairs and student affairs had very different goals and concerns. The College of Engineering’s main focus in creating the village was to increase retention and integrate classroom material into all aspects of the students’ college experience. On the other hand, as a RD, I was focused on creating a well-rounded experience and making sure the students could have a diverse range of programs and interactions. While it seems like these outcomes could clash, I was surprised at how quickly our team recognized the different strengths and wanted to learn more about each other’s different goals. Within a few months, I learned more about engineering classes and the concerns of STEM students than I ever realized I would, and I got to hear about it from the faculty and staff who were literally on the front lines and working with those students. The flip side of this was I was able to also share my expertise in student development – that even included explaining Chickering’s vectors during one meeting. Talk about theory to practice!

This August, the Engineering Village officially launched with 109 freshmen all living together. Since then, I have been contacted by at least 15 faculty members who want to come to the residence hall and interact with the students in a variety of ways, from sharing their research to teaching them how to make lip balm. It turns out that the stereotype of faculty having no interest in students outside of the classroom is completely false. They want to be involved, and they want to learn from student affairs professionals, but it has to be a true collaboration. The academic side has just as much passion as we do, but we have to give them the opportunity to express it in a way they are comfortable with and enjoy.

Collaboration is a tricky thing, but it can absolutely work. I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity as a graduate student to work so closely with academic affairs, and I really do believe it’s an experience that is unique to NC State. Since their merger of academic and student affairs into the Division of Academic and Student Affairs a year ago, there is increased communication and opportunity between the two sides. Silos are slowly being torn down and the student experience is becoming more integrated. I am excited to watch the Engineering Village partnership grow, and for even more projects across the fields to come to light. My one piece of advice? Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts! You’ll be surprised where those conversations can lead!

Lessons Through the Lens of Roman History and the Lens of My Nikon Camera, By Jessie Stellini

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Growing up with my dad working for United Airlines had its perks. I never felt like I missed out on study abroad. But when Derek Bundy (HEA class of 2013) shared about his trip to Italy in the summer of 2012, I realized how silly it would be to pass up an opportunity to see a place I hadn’t and get class credit for it!

I worked my internship schedule around the trip, saved what money I could (thanks, Mom and Dad for helping with the rest), and registered for the 2 week class, halfway around the world, that promised to examine themes of leadership, power, authority, and social justice through the lens of Roman history (and the lens of a camera).

It’s true; the major assignment (a photo elicitation project) was a huge draw for me. Photography is my newest hobby, and the opportunity to interpret the class themes through photographs sounded like the coolest assignment ever! Little did I know, the types of pictures I enjoy taking would say more about me than I knew how to say on my own.

Prior to the trip, we took pictures that represented the themes of the course. On our first day in Italy we partnered up with classmates and talked about the photos we chose and what they symbolized. Throughout the course, our goal was to reconsider the photos we started with and examine how our interpretations changed, or how we might replace various pictures.

I learned so much about how we conceptualize leadership, and how it differs from power and authority, which many neglect to challenge, and how challenging power can make a huge impact on social change. I did all of that learning in the most amazing historic sites in the world, while taking pictures, and continuing conversations over the most delicious pasta EVER! More importantly, however, I was reminded that I have a medium through which I can show what I’ve learned. My final project was just that, a space for me to share how discussing the themes of the course helped me name my core values:

 

If you’re interested in learning more about my trip, please feel free to chat with me. I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted about the registration deadlines for this year. Also, you can check out the rest of my pictures here: www.stelliniphotography.weebly.com/europe

Conference and Collaboration Opportunities, by Nicole Thomas

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You often hear that the triangle is a great place to be for Higher Education. Not only are there tons of schools to work and gain experience at, but there are also so many opportunities to collaborate with other professionals! This October the regional NAFSA (Association for International Educators) conference is coming to Raleigh. I am so excited about the opportunity because I will be blending my interests from my assistantship and internship to co-present with someone at NC State.

I currently work at Duke University as the Gender Violence Prevention Graduate Assistant and at NC State in the Office of International Services as an Advising Intern for international students and scholars. My colleague approached me about co-presenting at the regional conference but I thought to myself, “I am not an expert in advising international populations yet, what could I possibly contribute?”. He was interested in my work at Duke and after a coffee chat we decided that international educators have the opportunity to attend so many workshops on advising…..why not develop a workshop for them on how to respond to an international student that may have been a victim of gender violence? We know that gender violence is a problem on our college campuses and it affects every segment of the population, including international students, scholars and their families. The idea was so intriguing!

I have learned so much researching the cultural differences and responses to gender violence. Surprisingly, my research has helped me become a better immigration advisor because I have explored other issues that my students and scholars are dealing with. My colleague and I have really enjoyed working together and have spent a lot of time digesting and reflecting on how these issues affects our population. I would highly recommend submitting a conference proposal while studying in your program at NC State! Professionals want to hear and learn from you. Even if you aren’t sure you know enough about the topic, research your interests and find a triangle colleague to tag team it with!!

If you are interested in learning more, the HEA October meeting will have a Conferences and Associations professional development component with our newest faculty member, Tiffany Davis!