#NASPA15 Reflections

Julia Golden:
When I got to New Orleans I was immediately in love with the location. So much food and different types of culture creating one city experience. I wondered how inclusive New Orleans truly was. I am someone who likes to understand the context of a situation. I thought to myself that the next time I attend a conference I’ll research where I’m going and the history of the city I am in.

For instance Louisiana on  September 18, 2004, by a significant margin, the voters of Louisiana approved a state constitutional amendment, Louisiana Constitutional Amendment 1, that banned same-sex marriages and civil unions. However, groups like Equality Louisiana or the student group, Spectrum of LSU are helping to make progress toward LGBTQ rights. Next year as we look forward to NASPA 2016 National Conference we should ask ourselves how inclusive a state is, and wonder what groups we can support in that state that are supporting LGBTQ rights.

Brian Medina:
Welcome back from NOLA!

This year’s conference was one of the largest ever, bringing over 8,000 Student Affairs Professionals to The Big Easy for great networking, workshops, and knowledge community involvement. As an introvert, so many people in one place can be overwhelming. However, our tight-knit GLBT Knowledge Community made the experience exemplary rather than frightening.

Speaking of numbers, we had over 100 attendees at our Open Meeting! We also had about 50 attend our LBT Women’s Breakfast and another 125 throughout our Awards Reception and Social. Our visibility at the conference should not be understated.

All in all, the conference was a great experience. Thanks to all of you for being a great family and for pushing NASPA toward better inclusion of our many identities!

Sean Smallwood: 
Transitioning back into the routine of life outside of a hotel room, two suitcases, and non-fried food has not been the easiest. I am a second year graduate student at the University of Vermont, within the final moments of my time here, and thinking about the next adventure in my career. As I sit in my office to reflect on my experience of NASPA and The Placement Exchange, strong, vivid memories stick out to me. First, I think about the amazing relationships I was able to cultivate with professionals from across the country – especially those connections where I was able to get to know people instead of their functional area. Then I contemplate navigating the murky waters of being a queer-identified professional and what that means for my wellbeing in my next role as I job search.

Get to know PEOPLE.
The most important lesson I learned from this conference experience is that it is great to understand what people are professionally interested in, but their narrative, story, and what makes them human is equally (if not more) important. I was lucky to partake in “The Family Project” that the GLBT Knowledge Community has started piloting this year. When I met the first time with my person, we just sat and talked about everything and nothing at the same time. I had a few questions about the job search process, but I also got to know them as a person, their story, and what they enjoyed about the world. We discussed issues pertaining to social justice, inclusion, and faith identity. That interaction reminded me why I love my job and this field in general, because there is the opportunity to connect deeply with other people, and cultivate strong relationships.

Being queer in the job search.
Let me first say that my experience with The Placement Exchange was not as scary as all the horror stories I’ve been told as a graduate student. It is manageable so long as you take care of yourself. However, being queer greatly impacted my experience as I navigated interviews and asked interviewers different questions. I had the opportunity to hear from other queer-identified professionals in the field and they reminded me to think about the institutional values, whether I would be affirmed or tolerated, the area the institution is located, and a myriad of other factors. Moving forward, I hold these gems close to my heart as I know prepare for on-campus interviews across the country. Additionally, I have to consider my own wellbeing, how I am taking care of myself, and bring my authentic self into the interview space. This dance of finding the best fit is a long one, but one that will be worth it in the end if I take time for intentionality.

The closing of one chapter for another.        
Every time I come back from an annual conference I feel so drained and energized at the same time. In many ways this serves as a signal for a new year, new chapter of opportunity,  and a refocused lens on the work that I do with students. However, the overarching theme of transition still sticks with me as something to consider. I am transitioning from being a graduate student to full-time professional, from one job to another, from one part of the country to another, and isn’t that exciting? It’s just the beginning and I am lucky to be surrounded by so much support from professionals, friends, and family from across the country.

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If you are interested in contributing to the GLBT KC blog, please email Kaitlin Winters ([email protected]) or Bryan McKinney ([email protected]).