Reflections from NPI: Becka Bovio

Name: Becka Bovia

Current Position: Coordinator for Student Programs

Institution: Trinity University in San Antonio, TX

# of Years of Experience: 2

Why did you choose to apply to the New Professionals Institute:

My current institution really encourages new, young professionals to attend. My dean had been faculty at NPI the year before and mentioned it to another young colleague and I, and it was never really up for discussion, in a good way! Also, my graduate program strongly encouraged professional development, so professional development has always been important to me. I am always seeking to be a better person and a better professional so that I can better serve students as I learn and grow. I really wanted to attend NPI to gain further insight from my peers and colleagues, and I wanted to learn from seasoned professionals. I contribute a lot of my confidence and success in the field to the socialization I experienced during graduate school and in my current position. NPI is just one more way of gaining more socialization into the field as you hear from senior level administrators who have really seen, heard, and experienced it all.

What did you expect entering the Institute:

I had high expectations! I had several colleagues at my current institution who had all attended, and all had amazing things to say about NPI. They all came away from the experience having learned a lot. I was expecting to make some great connections with colleagues across the country and to learn more about what it takes to stay in the field and grow as a professional. I expected to be really tired (especially as an introvert), but I was really energized by the experience. The faculty were so real and so encouraging, it was hard not to walk away feeling enlightened and excited about the work we do in Student Affairs.

What was the biggest lesson you learned from NPI:

I learned so much, I don’t even know where to begin. Some tidbits include:

• Make time for reading and professional development (even just 30 minutes a day).
• When people show you who they are, believe them.
• Go from a job to a job (don’t quit, then job search).
• When you become a leader, you lose the right to hold a grudge.
• Trust, but verify.
• Work-life balance doesn’t really exist. It’s more about work-life efficiency and effectiveness.

With that said, the biggest take away for NPI for me wasn’t so much a tangible lesson or piece of advice. Going to NPI solidified my desire to pursue a PhD. I had always been somewhat on the fence about pursuing a terminal degree, but something about the experience just pushed me and helped me clarify my own goals. NPI made me realize how much I love learning, how much I wanted to continue on and on in the field, and how one day I might want to serve as a Dean or VP. If that blessing comes my way, I want to be as prepared as possible for the sake of my students by having that final degree.

What has stuck with you since finishing NPI:

I think NPI helped me see that a career in student affairs really isn’t linear. I always knew that, but I’m such a planner, so it’s been hard to imagine not having my next 5 to 10 to 15 years mapped out. You can plan and expect certain things, but you never know where opportunities will arise. It helped me to think more fluidly about my career and that I need to be more go with the flow about when and where I am.

What piece of advice would you give to a fellow new professional:

It’s going to be ok. It’s ok to feel unsure, to mess up, to fail, and to question your decision to be in this field of work. With that said, it’s going to be ok. Take some time to stop, reflect on your talents and successes, and reflect on what makes your heart soar. Do the work your heart loves, and if that’s in student affairs, great, if it’s not, great.  Also, never stop learning. Never think you’re finished. There is always something new to learn, something new to experience. For the sake of our students, it’s always best to be seeking new knowledge to aid and assist them. Whether that’s new ideas, new programs, new skills, education is so key.

Final Comments:

I HIGHLY recommend attending NPI, and if you do, LEAN ON THE FACULTY. If you choose to attend, these faculty have the ability to radically change how you view yourself and the field. They are wise, they are knowledgeable, they are talented, and they are real. While the faculty change every two years, I can’t imagine faculty would be chosen that aren’t ready to pour their heart and soul into the experience. They will teach you so much about what it’s like later on down the road and will encourage you to be confident in who you are and where you are.

Co-sponsored by NASPA Region III and SACSA, the New Professionals Institute is the preeminent professional development opportunity for new student affairs professionals in the South. This unique opportunity allows new professionals to draw on their first years of experience to improve their effectiveness and to learn from others. It is a time of professional and personal renewal and assists new professionals in the development of their careers.

NPI  requires a commitment by the new professional to work intensively over five days with other new professionals and a team of more-seasoned faculty members. To assure that new professionals' participation in the Institute is fully endorsed by the current senior student affairs officer at his/her institution, registrants must have a letter of support submitted by the senior student affairs officer at their institution. There is a limit of two participants per institution.

Many institutions have used the New Professionals Institute not only as a training ground for rising stars in the profession, but as a form of recognition for outstanding new professionals on their campus. Participants come from all areas of student affairs: student activities, orientation, career services, residential life, recreation, judicial affairs, admissions, Greek affairs, counseling, international services, and more!

The application deadline is April 10th.
Application information can be found at the following link: HERE