Alumni Spotlight: Personal and Professional Growth through NUFP

As I reflect on my first year of graduate school, I think of how the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) has been one of the key involvements that helped prepare me for graduate school and develop into the future student affairs professional I strive to be. The NUFP program is a semi-structured mentoring program for undergraduate students wishing to explore and better understand student affairs and higher education. My mentor in the NUFP program was the Center for Scholarships Coordinator, Connie Moreno. Connie provided me guidance and support throughout my undergraduate exploration within the field of student affairs.

As a participant in the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program I was able to participate in the 2014 Dungy Leadership Institute (DLI) at the University of Utah with 31 NUFP Fellows. I attended professional workshops that contributed to my growth by exposing me to different areas within student affairs, and the opportunity to connect with NUFP Fellows from around the country. The Dungy Leadership Institute also gave me an opportunity to collectively work on a group case study and present our findings to student affairs professionals at the University of Utah. Being exposed to case studies and student development theory prior to graduate school prepared me for classroom discussions and graduate group projects.

Moreover, as a NUFP Fellow I was able obtain a summer internship at Texas Christian University, where I worked within Housing and Residence Life, Academic Advising, and Admissions. My undergraduate university was a large public state university, and my internship was at a small private Christian university. Obtaining an internship at a different university other than my undergraduate institution, allowed me to gain new experiences and knowledge on the campus structure and student affairs division. From my NUFP internship it allowed me to have a smooth transition into my graduate program because I understood the student affairs structure and/or campus culture may be different from what I was exposed to at my undergraduate institution.

Lastly, the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Programs taught me the importance of mentorship. My NUFP mentor provided me guidance and insight on the field of student affairs and the value of mentorship. Connie shared with me that mentorship does not stop at my undergraduate career, but it will continue on for a lifetime. My NUFP experience helped me succeed in my first year of graduate school by initiating and seeking out mentorships through peers and student affairs professionals at my graduate institution.

My experiences in the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program have been essential to my personal and professional growth. These experiences combined with my passion for student success excite me to begin a career in higher education.