The Division of Student Affairs continues to share its leadership and expertise on the national stage. Staff from across the division will be presenting at the NASPA Annual Conference in March 2026, in Kansas City. Their upcoming sessions highlight the transformative student-centered work happening in Student Affairs and across the campus.
Empowering the Frontline: Intentional Professional Development and Coaching for Administrative and Frontline Staff
Ebony Brown, Executive Coordinator, Student Affairs, and Dr. Adam Cebulski, Founder and CEO, transform.forward
Organizations often miss an opportunity to foster an environment that is truly inclusive by limiting who has access to professional development resources. Brown and Dr. Cebulski will share an intentional approach to supporting professional development for administrative and frontline staff. They will discuss a framework that combines coaching and community building that not only enhances professional growth, but increases self-efficacy and sense of belonging among administrative and frontline staff.
We All Can't Move West: A Regional Exploration of APIDA Identity and Community
Angelina Jenkins, Assistant Director, Mosaic Center, and Dr. Aaron Parayno, (Tufts University)
While the West Coast and Hawai'i are often viewed as the primary hubs for the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) community, the Asian American population is the fastest-growing in the U.S., expanding from 10.5 million in 2000 to 18.9 million in 2019. This growth has extended into non-traditional regions like the Midwest and South, yet many professionals still encounter the "just move West" narrative when considering community and belonging. This session centers on the experiences of APIDA professionals who navigate the tension between their career trajectories and the search for geographic belonging in areas lacking established ethnic enclaves. Grounded in research on geographic racial identity development (Chan, 2017; Kodama et al., 2017), featured panelists will discuss navigating isolation, "othering," and the strategies used to build meaningful communities in varied regional contexts. Participants will gain insights into how geography influences professional identity and learn actionable strategies to support APIDA students experiencing similar geographic isolation.
NASPA APIKC Scholars Collective
Angelina Jenkins, Assistant Director, Mosaic Center, Dr. Justin Samuel (University of Texas at Austin), Erika Pen (Salem State University), Dr. Savneet Bains, (University of Texas at Austin)
The NASPA APIKC 2026 Scholars Collective serves as a dynamic bridge between rigorous inquiry and communal growth, integrating formal research presentations with community-focused roundtables that center APIDA scholarship and research development. The 2026 Collective provides an intentional platform to amplify scholarly contributions from APIDA professionals. In alignment with the NASPA Annual Conference Focus Areas, this session centers on research that elevates APIDA experiences, culture, and identity to transform the landscape of our profession.
Different Roads to Campus: Centering Commuter and Returning Adult Learner Voices on Belonging
Serena Studivant, Assistant Director, Commuter Success, and Lauren Allen, Director, Women's, Gender, and Equity Center
Studivant and Allen will unpack the diverse journeys of commuter and returning adult learners, two student populations often overlooked in belonging conversations. Their session uplifts lived experiences, challenges traditional narratives of campus life, and offers strategies institutions can implement to create more inclusive pathways to success.
From the Margins to the Center: Stories of Black Queer Doctoral Students Searching for Belonging
Dr. Mitchell Everett, Assistant Director, Graduate Student Life
Dr. Everett's powerful session elevates the narratives of Black queer doctoral students whose stories often go unheard in graduate education research. Drawing from personal testimonies, this session explores identity, community, resilience, and what it means to seek belonging in spaces not originally built with you in mind.
Navigating Self-Doubt: Impostor Syndrome and Graduate Student Wellbeing
Jennifer Artis, Senior Director, Director of Student Life and Success for Graduate, Adult Learners, and Commuters, and Dr. Rae Chresfield, Assistant Vice President, Health and Wellbeing
Artis and Dr. Chresfield will lead an insightful conversation about impostor syndrome, mental health, and the unique pressures facing graduate students. Their session blends research, practice, and lived experience to highlight how institutions can better support students navigating self-doubt while building healthier academic communities.