I am going on my 3rd year as a member of NASPA and I really enjoy utilizing all of the resources available to us. As the state membership coordinator for New Mexico, it was very important to me to bring a professional development opportunity for our colleagues to partake in. The drive-in conference was a HUGE success.

I've been a NASPA member since 2010. I am current a member of the NASPA AVP Steering Committee and was a member of the NASPA Culture of Respect CORE Blueprint review team. I have presented at the national conference and AVP Symposium, and have been a program reviewer as well. However, when I think of NASPA, I think of community. It has allowed me to connect with peers, colleagues, and mentors who push me to grow and learn. They are also there to lean on during challenging times.

When I attended my first NASPA annual conference in 2002 as a M/NUFP fellow, I never could have imagined the impact that the organization would have on me personally and professionally. Over the last 20 years, I have had the opportunity to serve NASPA and the larger field of Student Affairs in various capacities, but it's been the relationships that I've developed throughout the years that I hold the most dear. As I reflect upon my journey, I carry gratitude for the individuals that I've worked with already, and have great optimism and excitement for the experiences and connections yet to come.

Through the NASPA membership, I gained access to the online platform of the official NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education journals. In 2020, I accessed an article titled, ALLEVIATING TRANSFER SHOCK: CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER STUDENTS. My goal then was, and still is, to focus on supporting the next generation of college students and help them navigate the process of degree achievement and knock down barriers along the way!