tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14255079686059359502024-02-20T03:45:28.280-08:00Summer of NASPAMichael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-26804901940481560282008-07-28T10:13:00.000-07:002008-07-28T10:17:10.717-07:00Congressional UpdateCongress may finally renew the Higher Education Act this week:<br /><br /><a href="http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/07/3984n.htm">With Compromises, Higher-Ed Bill Could Move Through Congress This Week</a><br /><br />It goes without saying that this legislation will have a large impact on higher education in general, but student affairs practitioners may be especially interested in the provisions dealing with the designation of predominantly Black institutions versus Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-23327094980231950912008-07-02T11:01:00.000-07:002008-07-02T11:08:39.974-07:00Check Out Tyler's BlogMy fellow intern, Tyler Blair, is also keeping a blog about his experience this summer. This week he's asking NASPA staff to write a bit about why they chose NASPA. Just as people enter student affairs for many reasons, NASPA staff have a broad range of backgrounds and experiences that led them to the organization. Check it out:<br /><br /><a href="http://naspatyler.blogspot.com/2008/07/why-naspa.html">Why NASPA?</a>Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-50889617524563769042008-07-02T05:41:00.000-07:002008-07-02T11:09:02.354-07:00Path to Student Affairs: NASPA Staff Member Joseph DeSantoIn response to my earlier post, <a href="http://naspainternmichael.blogspot.com/2008/06/path-to-student-affairs_20.html">Path to Student Affairs</a>, my supervisor, Joey, wrote up his story. Joey is the assistant director of educational programs here at NASPA.<br /><br />Joey's path:<br /><br />How did I get involved in student affairs? It's the people!! Much of the first two years of my undergraduate experience was spent navigating a large four-year institution looking for my niche'. Unfortunately, one of the things no one really tells you about looking for community in a major metropolitan area is that it can be expensive! At the beginning of my junior year I was eligible for work-study. That fact, coupled with a need to bring in more income, resulted in me looking beyond my then job as a employee of the local record shop into something more permanent. My mother (I am and forever will be an only-child) forwarded me a job posting for a mentor in something called America Reads*America Counts (ARAC). Within a short period of time I had applied, interviewed, and was working as a after-school 4th grade math mentor at a local elementary school. Math was never my strong suit and most likely will never be. You can ask my co-workers who see my handiwork on an Excel file! It was the other mentors and most importantly the ARAC office staff who kept me passionate about my work. The math was secondary. <br /><br />As my first semester with ARAC continued I found myself spending more and more time doing homework, visiting, and consulting with the office staff about school, work, and life in general. Many of them were graduate assistants or graduates of what was to me an enigmatic field called "student affairs". Near the end of that first semester a position opened in the ARAC office recruiting new members and publicizing the program. Any hesitation to apply never entered my mind and the position was shortly something I was proud to call my own. My new role with ARAC lasted until graduation day and during that time period I found new challenges, opportunities and most importantly mentors. Many weren't mentors in the formal sense. I never asked them to be my mentor but they became so through the example set via their commitment to college students and practice of inclusivity. ARAC offered me more than a job. I gained role models both personally and professionally who opened up networks, challenged my thinking while simultaneously being authentic and compassionate.<br /><br />There were other avenues that facilitated my foray into student affairs and higher education life, but the leadership and service experiences through ARAC were truly unparalled. The people - even more so. The relationships formed during my time there introduced me to student affairs and established a foundation for future study and professional life in the field.Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-52087720043787496272008-07-01T06:56:00.001-07:002008-07-01T07:03:08.035-07:00Update on Congressional Activity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/images/20080630_p063008jb-0078-515h.html"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/images/20080630_p063008jb-0078-515h.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The new war-spending bill, signed into effect yesterday, includes education funding for veterans:<br /><br /><a href="http://chronicle.com/news/article/4765/bush-signs-bill-that-expands-education-benefits-for-veterans?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en">Bush Signs Bill That Expands Education Benefits for Veterans</a>Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-2838702061585946562008-06-30T08:55:00.000-07:002008-06-30T09:23:28.772-07:00Funding and CongressHere's a link to an article about bills that will impact higher ed:<br /><br /><a href="http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/06/3595n.htm">Higher-Education Bills Are Among Congress's Unfinished Business</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.aoc.gov/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/US_capitol_building.jpg/800px-US_capitol_building.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-4246797974011456742008-06-23T04:21:00.000-07:002008-06-23T13:35:57.927-07:00Meet My MentorI started hearing about NASPA long before I was a graduate student (actually, before I was even an undergraduate student). Before I knew what NASPA was, I was hearing about partnerships and conferences through some of my fellow trainers at the <a href="http://ncbi.org/">National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI)</a>. I started training with NCBI as a high school student and have continued on for more than nine years now.<br /><br />NCBI has a large campus affiliate program and at our national meetings I would hear reports from campus trainers about all of their cool work on campus. A few would talk about other organizations they were working with. NASPA came up frequently in that context and one trainer in particular, Lori Ideta, Ph.D., talked about the importance of her involvement in NASPA. Lori's commitment to giving back to her profession and professional organization, as well as her skills and knowledge of student life, impressed me.<br /><br />When I applied to graduate school and told Lori that I was going into student affairs, she offered instant support and I am honored to call her my mentor. As I write this, Lori has just stepped into a new role, vice chancellor of student affairs, at the <a href="http://www.uhwo.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu</a>. She shared some of her background and philosophy with me recently. (For grad students who may be feeling a little overwhelmed or uncertain about things, make sure to read her last answer.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Parrish:</span> What drew you to student affairs?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lori Ideta:</span> Similar to many of our colleagues, I was not born with the goal of becoming a student affairs professional. I “fell” into the profession when I was exposed to wonderful student affairs staff as an undergraduate and graduate student. My first career path was elementary education. I soon learned that I could continue to be an educator – at the university level – by helping students shape their careers and life skills.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MP:</span> What was your first job in student affairs? What has the path from that position to your current position included?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LI:</span> I started as a student assistant in an office of academic advising and I was hooked. I loved the ability to assist students in their matriculation through college. My first full-time position in student affairs was working in the Dean of Students Office, as the assistant to the dean. This role entailed doing anything and everything the dean wanted and needed. What a great experience to empower me to become a student affairs generalist!<br /><br />Similar to many women colleagues, my career path has been a “crooked” one as opposed to a straight line from an entry-level position to senior student affairs officer. I never dreamed of becoming a vice chancellor for student affairs. I remain amazed at how blessed I have been with mentors who have lifted me as I climbed and with the wonderful opportunities that have been put in my life journey.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MP:</span> Who are you mentors and how did you get connected to them?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LI:</span> Dr. Doris Ching, vice president for student affairs, <a href="http://www.uhm.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa</a> and Aunty Alberta Pualani Hopkins, retired interim dean of students, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa were both formal mentors. They both were trailblazers who were ahead of their times. As women, as Asian women, as women of color, they carved paths so that I, and others, could follow. Dr. Ching was one of the first Asian female vice presidents in higher education in the nation. As a student, she was my role model. Both she and Aunty Pua provided opportunities, formal and informal, professional and personal, to ensure my growth and development. To both of them, I am truly grateful.<br /><br />I have also been blessed with numerous other mentors – colleagues, co-workers, staff, students – who have served as guides, <span style="font-style: italic;">sensei</span>, and leaders to me. They are too numerous to mention, but they all hold a special place in my heart. It is important to note that a mentor does not need to be someone who is of a formal “higher” rank than you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MP:</span> You have been involved in knowledge communities within NASPA, especially the <a href="http://www.naspa.org/communities/kc/community.cfm?kcid=16">Asian Pacific Islanders Concerns Knowledge Community (API KC)</a>. Why is that work important to you and how does your identity inform your professional practice?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LI:</span> I am so incredibly proud of my Asian heritage. As a Japanese American woman, the ability to now follow in the footsteps of Dr. Ching and Aunty Pua – to make paths so that others may follow, to lift others as I climb, is a true honor. From my cultural context, it is imperative that we give back to our people, that we nurture our own, that we are empowered to ensure the success of our own communities. It is with complete humility that I now assume the role of national co-chair of the API KC to, in some small way, attempt to return what has been so generously graced to me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MP:</span> Anything else you'd like to share with grad students in the field?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LI: </span>Persevere. Be tenacious. Refuse to give in. Institutions of higher education were designed to be elitist and exclusive. They were built to “weed” people out. So, when you think you cannot continue, when you believe that you are done, when you rationalize that a graduate degree really is not that important, resist the desire to resign. Call a friend. Reach out to a mentor. Connect with a colleague. Have a melt down. Stomp your feet. Shout out. Cry a lot of tears. Then, get back to work. Once you attain your graduate degree, no one can take it away from you. It will probably be the most difficult academic endeavor of your entire life. But, it will be yours and yours alone. Graduate degrees are earned, not gifted. You can do this. And you will. The world needs you.Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-25104614467570333262008-06-20T14:16:00.000-07:002008-06-20T14:17:24.544-07:00Path to Student AffairsI got my start in student affairs as an undergraduate. I had a rough freshman year, one that I jokingly describe (much to my mother's horror) as the year I dropped out of college twice. More accurately I transferred at semester and then stopped out to go to work full-time at the end of the academic year. As it turned out, spending a year working on campus was the best thing I could have done. <br /><br />I served as an <a href="http://americorps.gov/">AmeriCorps</a> Team Leader for the <a href="http://www.mtcompact.org/">Montana Campus Compact</a> at <a href="http://umt.edu/">UM</a>. I supervised a team of 10 part-time members who ran various poverty and literacy related programs like Habitat for Humanity and America Reads/America Counts. Although I was working full-time at the <a href="http://www.dhc.umt.edu/oce/">Office for Civic Engagement</a>, the year provided me with the opportunity to explore what I wanted to do when I went back to school (despite my not-so-stellar first-year experience I knew I would go back). I was also hooked on student programming. <br /><br />Upon returning to school the next fall, I signed up for a part-time AmeriCorps term of service. I worked as a service-learning liaison for the <a href="http://www.sfa.umt.edu/drama/">Drama/Dance Department</a> and helped to build a course for advanced students to get them involved in <a href="http://www.artsbridgeamerica.com/home.php">Artsbridge</a>, a national program that places art students in public schools to teach through their artistic medium. Aside from working with the students who took the course, building curriculum and working with faculty also proved to be intriguing and professionally satisfying. <br /><br />During my senior year I worked as the co-coordinator of the <a href="http://life.umt.edu/uc/name/aboutthemulticultu">MultiCultural Alliance</a> at the <a href="http://life.umt.edu/uc">University Center</a> (UM's college union). This job provided me with the opportunity to explore campus climate issues, collaborate with staff, faculty, and administrators, and create programming that spoke to our particular cultural context. This work led to the implementation of the <a href="http://www.umt.edu/dayofdialogue/">Day of Dialogue</a> program which is still in its third year. My connection with the MultiCultural Alliance also included co-teaching a one-credit course called <a href="http://life.umt.edu/uc/name/intergoupdialogue">Intergroup Dialogue</a> during my sophomore, junior, and senior years.<br /><br />Student affairs permeated not just my 'student life', but my early professional life as well. I found things I was passionate about...and some things I was decidedly not passionate about. One of the cool things about student affairs is the broad scope of our work, as well as the many paths professionals take to get into the field. I would love to hear about how and why you got involved in student affairs. How did you know it was the field for you? Leave your stories in the comments.Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-69267004372419198002008-06-17T07:28:00.000-07:002008-06-30T09:21:52.210-07:00Sexism on CampusInteresting (if somewhat obvious) article about research done at UC Irvine regarding female faculty and administrators:<br /><br /><a href="http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/12/women">http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/06/12/women</a><br /><br />You may want to avoid reading the comments section though...Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-15168665637644643822008-06-09T11:18:00.001-07:002008-06-11T05:45:52.459-07:00NCCWSL<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/images/nccwsl2008_banner_2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The <a href="http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/">National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL)</a> took place at <a href="http://georgetown.edu/">Georgetown</a> last week. I worked a few days of the conference and was impressed by the turn out. We had more than 500 college women, undergraduates and graduate students, from a wide variety of institutions. I was particularly pleased to see such a large community college contingent and to hear about what women from two-year institutions are doing on their campuses. NASPA and the <a href="http://aauw.org/">American Association of University Women (AAUW)</a> partnered to put the conference together.<br /><br />The highlight for me was the <a href="http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/wod.cfm">Women of Distinction Awards</a>. It was awesome to hear from five very cool women leaders. The awards committee did an amazing job of picking a group of women with incredibly diverse experiences and identities. The student advisory committee members also did a terrific job introducing each award recipient.<br /><br />On Friday, I led a workshop entitled <a href="http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/workshops.cfm#4h">Service and Identity: Examining the Relationship Between Who We Are and How We Serve</a>. The participants in my session were very enthusiastic and willingly shared insights into their own core identities and how they'd like to see service grow on their campuses. I definitely walked away with a bigger picture of volunteerism on college campuses and renewed hope that we can do service in more culturally competent ways.<br /><br />If you work with undergraduate women I highly recommend that you encourage them to attend next year. The annual conference occurs in June in the Washington, D.C. area.Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-78038138036698979132008-06-04T09:44:00.000-07:002008-06-05T06:11:59.354-07:00Graduate MembershipThis week the annual NASPA member survey went out to our entire mailing list and as I was sorting through auto responses and undeliverable messages, I reflected on what being a member of the association means as a graduate student. I have to admit that I became a member in January because I knew I was going to the <a href="http://www.naspa.org/conference2008/index.cfm">annual conference in Boston</a> and as a member, you get such a good deal on registration. Although I had a vague sense of what being a member meant to established professionals in the field, I didn't really have any idea of what being a graduate member included.<br /><br />Beyond the annual conference, NASPA membership provides a whole host of benefits for graduate students to take advantage of. Here are a few of my favorites:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Publications:</span> Headed up by Melissa Dahne, the <a href="http://www.naspa.org/pubs/index.cfm">publications department</a> puts out a variety of journals, books, and internet resources. Although they are great resources for research, the journals and e-sources also provide an opportunity to dive into writing and publishing. The marketing and communications staff at NASPA encourage grad students to submit articles. So, if you've done some research and want to get a jump start on getting published, send it in. Otherwise, stop by the <a href="http://207.97.193.139/">bookstore</a> and find some new reading.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knowledge Communities: </span>Known as KC's around here, <a href="http://www.naspa.org/communities/kc/index.cfm">knowledge communities</a> provide an opportunity for smaller groups of NASPA members to gather on a common topic of interest, generally with an identity or professional issue focus. For me, being able to get grounded in an identity based KC at the conference was very helpful. It was exciting to see the work that the <a href="http://www.naspa.org/communities/kc/community.cfm?kcid=12">Women in Student Affairs (WISA) KC </a>has put into the new Journal About Women in Higher Education. I also had a great time meeting with the <a href="http://www.naspa.org/communities/kc/community.cfm?kcid=9">New Professionals and Graduate Students (NPGS) KC</a> and was glad to meet other first-timers. I would highly recommend getting in touch with your KC, either at the regional or national level.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Professional Development Opportunities: </span>Aside from the national conference, NASPA hosts and co-sponsors several smaller conferences, drive-ins, and workshops throughout the year. These <a href="http://www.naspa.org/events/index.cfm">events</a> offer opportunities to network in your region, spend a few days focusing in on a particular issue or area of interest, or tackle a current challenge. I am particularly interested in the Multicultural Institute, which happens every other year (slated to occur next in December 2009). Take a look around the NASPA website to learn about all the great offerings.<br /><br />These are just a few of the resources that NASPA offers grad students. I encourage you to take full advantage of your membership and if you have any questions or want me to highlight some of your favorites, leave a comment.Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425507968605935950.post-19361778175792893692008-05-27T08:56:00.001-07:002008-05-28T05:30:12.687-07:00Getting StartedWelcome! I'll be updating throughout the summer about my experience as a NASPA graduate intern. Hopefully I'll be able to give some insight into the organization, as well as current issues in student affairs. I just finished my first year of graduate school in <a href="javascript:void(0)" tabindex="10" onclick="return false;"><span></span></a>the Higher Education Program at the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) </a>and I graduated from <a href="http://umt.edu/">The University of Montana (UM)</a> in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology.<br /><br />So, why NASPA? As an undergrad I worked in the student affairs division at UM in a variety of capacities. I coordinated the University Center Multicultural Alliance, acted as Service-Learning liaison for the Drama/Dance Department, and took a year away from classes to serve as an AmeriCorps team leader on campus. Now, as a grad student, I work in the Illini Union Office of Volunteer Programs at UIUC supervising undergraduate student employees. I've had great experiences in student affairs and am passionate about addressing issues of access and equity on campus, so NASPA seemed like a natural fit for a summer internship in the field.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to working on projects like the <a href="http://www.aauw.org/nccwsl/2008/">National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL)</a>, doing some archiving (I told my mom my anthropology degree would come in handy some day...), and many more. I also look forward to hearing from you. If you have questions or issues you'd like to see addressed, please leave me a comment!Michael Parrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18355609809800311046noreply@blogger.com1