Query
Template: /var/www/farcry/projects/fandango/www/action/sherlockFunctions.cfm
Execution Time: 4.25 ms
Record Count: 1
Cached: Yes
Cache Type: timespan
Lazy: No
SQL:
SELECT top 1 objectid,'cmCTAPromos' as objecttype
FROM cmCTAPromos
WHERE status = 'approved'
AND ctaType = 'moreinfo'
objectidobjecttype
11BD6E890-EC62-11E9-807B0242AC100103cmCTAPromos

Welcoming others to my professional home through GAP

April 28, 2015 Mark Wade Bowling Green State University

NASPA has been my professional home for the past three years.  When I was a junior at New York University, Marissiko “Koko” Wheaton (my NUFP mentor) asked me if I had ever considered student affairs as a field. After giving me a comprehensive introduction into student affairs as a career path, Koko proceeded to tell me about an opportunity to become a NUFP fellow through NASPA. While I only had a basic understanding of NASPA, we applied together as mentor and mentee. The rest has been history.  Fast-forward two years: I found out about the amazing possibility that is the NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP).   

The NASPA Graduate Associate Program is a wonderful opportunity for graduate students to assume a leadership role within a professional organization. Once selected, NASPA Graduate Associates serve as the liaison between NASPA and one’s individual campus. This past year, I have had the great chance to be the NASPA Graduate Associate for Miami University. In  this role, I have planned programs for my campus that has informed my fellow graduate students and colleagues of opportunities that come with belonging to a professional organization. Whether it was planning webinar watching parties or organizing a lunch with our Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Jayne Brownell, I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting individuals at Miami to NASPA as a whole.  In addition, I was also thankful to partake in another experience afforded to me through the NASPA GAP program, working as an intern at the Annual Conference in New Orleans.

My first Annual Conference occurred in 2013 in Orlando, FL. During this experience, I remember feeling energized to enter the field with talented colleagues. As a NASPA Graduate Associate, I was able to apply to serve as an intern at the Annual Conference, a decision that came as no question to me. Selected as the NUFP (NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program) intern for the 2015 Annual Conference, I provided assistance at the Undergraduate Pre-Conference, an experience I attended only the year before. Moreover, I had the opportunity to have a behind-the-scenes look into the conference experience, attending numerous meetings and helping out with different events throughout the Annual Conference. I also met fellow NASPA Graduate Associates who have been doing incredible work at their respective campuses. The NASPA Graduate Associate Program has truly made my experience in this professional organization come full circle, as I have been able to give back to NASPA through this opportunity. Three years ago, my mentor Koko introduced me to her professional home; now, I have had the chance to do so for others.

What would I say for graduate students thinking about applying to serve as a NASPA Graduate Associate?  It’s simple – do it!  Serving as the NASPA Graduate Associate for Miami University has allowed me to grow as a professional, while also encouraging me to do the same for others. It is a great way to give back to the field and to assume a leadership role in a professional organization early on in your career. As I conclude my year as a NASPA Graduate Associate, I feel that much more ready to continue making a change in the field, while also remembering to give others the opportunity to find their professional home.

The NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP) is an initiative to increase leadership opportunities of graduate students within NASPA. The priority deadline to apply for GAP is August 14, 2015. More information about the program can be found on the website and through the 2015-2016 Position Description, as well as the application link.