Meet My Mentor

I 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 National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI). I started training with NCBI as a high school student and have continued on for more than nine years now.

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.

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 University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu. 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.)

Michael Parrish: What drew you to student affairs?

Lori Ideta: 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.

MP: What was your first job in student affairs? What has the path from that position to your current position included?

LI: 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!

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.

MP: Who are you mentors and how did you get connected to them?

LI: Dr. Doris Ching, vice president for student affairs, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa 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.

I have also been blessed with numerous other mentors – colleagues, co-workers, staff, students – who have served as guides, sensei, 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.

MP: You have been involved in knowledge communities within NASPA, especially the Asian Pacific Islanders Concerns Knowledge Community (API KC). Why is that work important to you and how does your identity inform your professional practice?

LI: 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.

MP: Anything else you'd like to share with grad students in the field?

LI: 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.

Graduate Membership

This 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 annual conference in Boston 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.

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:

Publications: Headed up by Melissa Dahne, the publications department 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 bookstore and find some new reading.

Knowledge Communities: Known as KC's around here, knowledge communities 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 Women in Student Affairs (WISA) KC has put into the new Journal About Women in Higher Education. I also had a great time meeting with the New Professionals and Graduate Students (NPGS) KC 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.

Professional Development Opportunities: Aside from the national conference, NASPA hosts and co-sponsors several smaller conferences, drive-ins, and workshops throughout the year. These events 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.

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.