Higher education and student affairs professionals play a crucial role not only in carrying out the institution’s vision and mission, but also in creating the campus culture and fostering communities on and off campus. As a student affairs professional, I have a duty to ensure my practice aligns with my personal and professional values through continued intentional reflection and responsible engagement with the students I serve. My own experiences as a student, my personal background, and my work in international education, advising, and residential life have shaped my student affairs philosophy. This personal philosophy is grounded in three primary components: cultural humility, holistic support, and lifelong learning. 

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Cultural humility

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Cultural humility is the practice of self-reflection on how one’s background, cultural framework, and lived experiences impact all interactions with the individuals and systems around them. As a student affairs professional, on a personal and individual scale I am responsible for remaining aware of existing power dynamics and remaining critical of perceived cultural norms. As an educator, I am also prepared to challenge students to grow and to support them throughout the process by encouraging them to address their own biases, think critically about identity, power, and oppression as it relates to them, and to reflect on the intent and impacts of their actions. In order to meet students where they’re at, we must acknowledge and then mitigate power differences and imbalances, either created or inherited, which we either subconsciously or intentionally perpetuate or worsen. Therefore, on an institutional level, I am committed to leading with empathy and advocating for students, especially those holding marginalized identities, against the systems of oppression within my sphere of influence. I will practice humility and curiosity throughout my career and remain open minded to learn from future colleagues as well as the students I serve.

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Holistic support 

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College is a highly transitional time in students’ lives, and it is a crucial window for their growth and development as people. They may be navigating life independently for the first time, meeting new people and having new experiences, and figuring out their own values and life goals. Throughout my own college experience, I learned about the impact of finding a community firsthand and had my assumptions challenged on several academic, personal, and moral levels. This led to intentional reflection on who I was and who I wanted to be and eventually a great deal of personal growth. The importance of holistic support is something I also observed through my work experience in residential life, and in my work with international students. 

If we want our students to thrive academically and develop as leaders, we need to ensure they are wholly and holistically supported in all aspects of their student experience. As a staff member, this means understanding the student experience and the challenges various student populations may face in different aspects of their lives first and foremost, and working cooperatively with other offices and departments to ensure a seamless student experience. Regardless of whether a specific issue falls within my scope, I will make sure to signal that I am a safe person to come to; it is then critical that I maintain thorough knowledge of the services and resources available to meet students’ needs and that I make appropriate and prompt referrals. 

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Life-long learning 

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It is important that I continue to educate myself, both professionally and personally, as the field of higher education and student affairs continues to develop and change. Student populations will change and we as a society will progress, and it is critical that I relentlessly invest in my own personal and professional development on a moral, intellectual, and social level. I can do this by engaging in dialogue with my students and colleagues as well as my personal relationships, and also by keeping track of how the literature is informing the practices and policies of student affairs in general. Evidence-based approaches accompanied by a critical framework will help me to challenge my established notions and welcome the continuous influx of positive change.

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