Sustaining and Celebrating Student Affairs: Inspiring Stories from the NASPA Annual Conference

In the most recent episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, recorded at the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, host Dr. Jill Creighton invites us into a vibrant tapestry of real stories from practitioners at every level of higher education. The episode centers around a powerful question: Can you share a moment or experience in student affairs that you feel embodies the spirit of this profession? The result is a chorus of voices revealing the deep, often unseen impact student affairs professionals have on their campuses and on each other.

From directors and deans to graduate students just starting their journey, one theme rings clear: student affairs is about people. Stories of mentorship, community, and personal growth abound. Many professionals recounted full-circle moments—guiding undergraduates, only to see them return years later as colleagues or even scholars in the field. Listening in, you'll hear how those simple, day-to-day interactions—a word of encouragement, honest conversation, or helping hand in crisis—can change a student's path or even their life.

Community and connection surface as vital throughlines. The NASPA conference itself becomes a symbol—a place where hugs, laughter, and candid discussions help professionals recharge, collaborate, and remember why this work matters. There's a raw honesty, too: several speakers acknowledge the unique challenges facing higher education today. Yet, in the face of adversity, they highlight the unwavering spirit of resilience, support, and advocacy that defines student affairs.

Listeners will also appreciate the emphasis on equity, inclusion, and the holistic development of students. Whether it's empowering first-generation scholars, supporting students in crisis, or building bridges across functional areas, the profession's commitment to fostering belonging and success shines bright.

What elevates this episode is its authenticity. These are not scripted testimonials: they're person-on-the-street interviews, each voice echoing with genuine passion and care—for students and for one another. It's an episode that will remind you of your "why," whether you're a new grad or a seasoned pro.

If you're seeking inspiration, camaraderie, or simply a reminder of the everyday magic in student affairs, tune in to this episode. It's a celebration of the profession's heart—and a call to keep showing up, for our students and for each other.

Listen now and let these stories rejuvenate your passion for student affairs!

TRANSCRIPT

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]:
Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs. I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Hey, SA voices. We are back with our third and final episode from this year's annual conference. This is our third person on the street style interview, and we're so thankful for those of you who chose to share your voice with us. Today's question was on theme three, which was sustaining and celebrating the student affairs profession.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:44]:
We asked you, can you share a moment or experience in student affairs that you feel embodies the spirit of this profession? Once again, thank you so much if you shared your voice with us today. And for those of you who are unable to attend annual conference, we hope that these three episodes plus our three interviews from the conference gave you a bit of a taste of what was going on, in New Orleans. And if you were at the conference, we hope that this reenergizes you and brings you some of that joy and passion that we get when we are able to be together in community. Thanks so much, and enjoy your conversations.

Eileen Hentz [00:01:14]:
Hello. My name is Eileen Hentz. I am the program director of academic and student services at the University of Maryland Department of Aerospace Engineering celebrating sustaining student affairs profession. I think a moment that I can remember that I feel embodies the spirit of the profession is just through mentoring. I remember meeting a student their very first semester as a first year student and not knowing they'd had no idea what they wanted to do or where they wanted to go. And I'm kind of working with them all throughout their time as an undergraduate student. And at some point, they kind of recognized that they wanted to do someth