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My ultimate career in higher education is to work in the Division of Student Affairs. The
particular position I am working towards is to become a Director of Student Affairs/Associate
Dean of Students at a four year institution. This position will allow me to work closely with
students, assist with personal and academic advising as well as put my creative skills to the test
by coming up with programs and events that will enhance the higher education experience. My
career decision was influenced when I was a junior at Portland State University. I was a work
study student at the time and became attached to work in the higher education environment. I
worked in Financial Aid and Admissions. I was able to understand and have a view from a
student and university standpoint. For example, while I was a work study student, I assisted a
sophomore student who was a first generation college student. The female student was on a full
ride scholarship which was her only ticket to pursue an education. Her scholarship came from an
outside source and was unfortunately delayed. She was told if her finances did not go through,
she would be dropped from her courses, and she was about two weeks into the semester. She was
also told there was absolutely nothing the school can do. I felt for her because I was a student
myself and imagined what if I was in her position. I spoke with the Director of Financial Aid,
and fought for her to get help, at least temporarily until her scholarship check came to the school.
We were able to help the student and that inspired me to want to help students. I usually hear
stories from students about administrators and people in a position of power not helping students
in need, but I have the mindset that there is always something someone can do to help.
The Director of Student Affairs position is also known as Associate Dean of Students. At
my current institution, Georgia Institute of Technology also known as GA Tech refers to the
position as Associate Dean of Students. This position typically serves as the Chief Hearing
Officer for university and usually works under or reports to the Vice President for Student
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Affairs. According to HigherEdJobs.com, there is currently a vacant Associate Dean of Students
position at St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. According to their standards, qualifications
for the position include: at least three years of experience in education, counseling, higher
education or related field, at least three years of experience in Student Affairs or related work
experience with students between 17 and 25 years of age, knowledge of student development
theory, experience with student conduct, experience in supervising students, experience with
facilitating teams and committees, ability to communicate effectively, ability to verbally
communicate effectively in Spanish is helpful, knowledge of computer programs including
Microsoft Office, database programs, and word processing programs, Valid Texas drivers
license, must be insurable, ability to comply with workplace guidelines and attendance
requirements, and successful completion of an employment and or criminal history background
check is required. (HigherEdJobs) In terms of preferred qualifications, the website mentions a
Ph.D. or ABD.
After my junior year of undergraduate school, I maintained work study positions in the
Student Affairs Division. I worked in different departments so I can get a feel for the broad
variety of positions. About a year after I graduated, I obtained a position in the Counseling &
Testing Department at a two-year institution. My supervisor at the time was amazed of my
knowledge of how Student Affairs worked. She encouraged me to pursue a M.Ed. so I can be
qualified for upper level positions. My supervisor also served as a mentor for me. I admired the
fact that she was under the age of thirty and accomplished so much in the field of higher
education, including being close to obtaining her Ph.D. When I met my mentor, I was twenty-
three years old with a Bachelors degree. My mentor sat down with me one day and asked what
my plan was and what she can do to help me fulfill it. I told her that my main fear was to take the
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GRE exam before I applied to graduate school. I came into work days later and she signed me up
to take the GRE exam. I was shocked and scared, but that is what a true mentor is supposed to
do. She signed me up for the GRE for months later, so she helped me prepare. This was the end
of fall semester, and by summer semester, I was enrolled in graduate school. Obtaining a
Masters degree is my main goal right now. I feel this degree will help me get to my Dean of
Students position.
My short-term goal is to complete my M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration while I
maintain my full-time position as an Administrative Professional at GA Tech. I am doing this
right now and although it is difficult to balance the two, it is still manageable. Since I am not
currently employed in the Student Affairs Division, I took an unpaid position as Staff-Faculty
Advisor for Nu Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This will allow me
to be involved with Greek Affairs, which is under the Division of Student Affairs and more
importantly give me hands on experience with students.
Upon completing my Masters degree, my long term goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Higher
Education Administration from the University of Georgia or Mercer University. Although I will
soon be qualified to apply for an Associate Dean of Students position, many preferred
qualifications require a Ph.D. In the meantime, I plan on gaining experiences in different Student
Affairs related positions. For example, below is a hierarchy chart that I created based on
positions at GA Tech. Included in my long term goal is to stay with GA Tech.

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Currently, my position is Administrative Position III. I do not plan on applying for an advanced
position until I complete my Masters degree because the position allows me the perfect balance
between being a full-time employee and student, while participating in other important roles on
campus. My goal is to skip the position or level of Assistant to the Dean of Students position
and go for Student Life Coordinator or another position within that level. When I am able to
obtain these positions, my intent is to stay committed a minimum of about four years. A possible
road block would be having an upper level role while pursuing my Ph.D., but it can be done. My
professional development plan will take some years, but currently I am on the right track. Along
with education and being qualified for positions, there are also projects, professional
development opportunities, and being committed to every aspect of higher education, including
being updated on current literature.
As a higher education professional, one must be updated on current literature, and can do
so by subscribing or reading higher education journals. Some I have read and kept it up with
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include: The Journal of Higher Education and The Journal of General Education. It is beneficial
for me being a full-time student because certain classes and topics allow me to be current on
what is going on. In addition to current literature, professional development is the key factor to
having a career in higher education. Working for the University System of Georgia, I was able to
attend conferences and workshops to receive professional development. For my specific career
goal, NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education has an annual conference
where members and employees can attend. According to NASPAs website, they are the
leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs
profession. We serve a full range of professionals who provide programs, experiences, and
services that cultivate student learning and success in concert with the mission of our colleges
and universities. (NASPA: Student affairs,) NASPAs annual conference can serve as a
professional development opportunity, networking, and to develop and understand new
innovative ideas that one can bring back to their institution. Many student affairs administrators
across the county are members of NASPA, which is beneficial for professional growth. When I
obtain a higher position within student affairs, I will seek to become a member of an
organization as such. That way, I will be notified of workshops, conferences and events that will
assist in my professional development.
Collaborating with organizations such as NASPA will enrich ones professional skills
and serves as an opportunity to promote professional growth. As I grow and work towards my
goal of becoming Dean of Students in the Student Affairs Division, I plan on collaborating with
other campus organizations and the community. The collaboration that I am fulfilling right now
is with Greek Affairs. I am the Staff-Faculty Advisor for Nu Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority. Although this position does not correlate with my current position, it allows me to be
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involved with Student Affairs. I am able to learn about my institutions policy and procedures,
work closely with the current Director of Greek Affairs, and it is a perfect resume builder. Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority values service to all mankind and Nu Beta Chapter is heavily involved
with the community. Serving the community in the institutions name is also important and a
positive collaboration that will promote personal and professional growth. Some community
projects we have done include a benefit concert to raise money for childhood obesity and a
Health Awareness Tailgate, which offered free HIV testing and other screenings for student of
the GA Tech community. Student Affairs is such a broad division that collaboration is a constant
action. Many Student Affairs divisions collaborates with Academic Affairs, for example in
Testing Services, Career Services department more than likely collaborates with local businesses
that recruit students for jobs, and Counseling and Disability Services collaborates with
organizations such as AHEAD, Association on Higher Education and Disability. I have
collaborated with many organizations while I worked in Student Affairs, and it is beneficial to
continue doing so in order to enhance my professional growth and broaden my horizons as a
higher education professional.
Overall, I feel that I am on the right path on my career trajectory. My short term goal is to
complete my M.Ed. degree, which I am doing right now, and with my long term goals, I am on
my way to moving on to the next step on the hierarchy chart. I have networked with colleagues
in the higher education field as well as taken the positive advice from my mentor who also helps
me stay on track. Although I only have three years of experience under my belt, I have been
fortunate enough to learn about current literature and networking organizations to assist me with
my professional growth. I look forward to continuing my education beyond a Masters degree as
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well as experiencing different positions that will eventually lead me to my goal as Associate
Dean of Students in the Student Affairs Division.
















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Work Cited
Higheredjobs. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=175686561&Title=As
sociate Dean of Students
Naspa: Student affairs administrators in higher education. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.naspa.org/about/default.cfm