PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NASPA

NASPA is an association for “Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.” Their website can be found at www.naspa.org.  Their mission is to be the “principal source of leadership, scholarship, professional development, and advocacy for student affairs.” They believe that their assistance will help support the student affairs profession’s health, sustainability, and advancement.  NASPA also holds that strong research-based policy is crucial to the further development of their field.  

NASPA's Code of Ethics

NASPA's statement of shared ethical principles for individuals and organizations in student affairs is exhaustive and sound. NASPA has laid the foundation with the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) with quality assurance, student learning, and professional integrity, and continue their mission to cement their practice in wisdom and honesty.

Training Summary

I was able to attend a lecture on the Action-Logic model of program development and implementation, as well as the Home in 5 lectures from Stephanie Blank, appointed last year to Governor Nathan Deal's Child Welfare Reform Council. 

New Skills

Writing programs
Data management
Graphic design, word processing, spreadsheets
Fundraising
Internal and external research
Gathering resources for individuals in need
Answering office phone 
Calling clients and potential donors

See Some Examples

At Family Connection-Communities in Schools in Athens, I've been provided with many opportunities to contribute to our work.  Many of these opportunities have come in the form of graphic design, as I designed the ticket itself for our Changing the Picture for Children in Athens Awards Dinner, as well as the accompanying art contest--reproductions of the winning art will be the given to the honorees, and the framing will be generously donated by Athens Art and Frame.

I've also gotten the opportunity to update our intern handbook for FC-CIS, updated our calendar, suggested representative titles for the interns, contacted UGA deans for contributing to FC-CIS,  and contacted many potential sponsors to see if they would like to get involved in FC-CIS's many events.

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Strengths, Weaknesses, and Areas for Growth

One of my main weaknesses is procrastination, as well as mustering up the courage to speak in large groups, especially if I feel out of my depth.  I will always be grateful for my time in my internship at FC-CIS, where I was often surrounded by influential people in the community who have been working 10, maybe even 20 or more years for the betterment of children in Athens.  I still have much more work to do to feel entirely comfortable sharing my thoughts and opinions, but I am continuing to work on my communication in every aspect of my life.  One of my strengths is my ability to connect with people individually, and I hope to continue growing this skill.

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One-Year Plan

1. Take GRE.
2. Apply to graduate schools with programs in student affairs.
3. Continue working towards more diversity in Housing and in FACS.
4. Fly a new gonfalon at either winter or spring 2015 graduation.
5. Graduate.

Five-Year Plan

1. Be employed professionally at a university in either housing or diversity in student affairs.
2. Continue education and certification.
3. Continue diversification and representation for people of marginalized identities and education on allyship.
4. Have a dog named Bear and a cat named Plumpernickel.