Making Connections

Old Dominion University’s LeADERS program connects students to courses and real world experiences in the areas of: Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research, or Service Learning. This LeADERS ePortfolio shares how my experiences in the areas of Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, and Service Learning have supported my personal and professional development.

Reflecting Back

I chose to participate in LeADERS because I wanted to make sure I used all the resources provided to me by my university that will contribute to my success. Much of the work and experiences that are highlighted in this portfolio was already completed prior to me becoming familiar with LeADERS. Once I realized that my undergraduate experiences could count toward the LeADERS program, I wanted to make sure I took full advantage of the opportunity! I also loved the idea of putting together all my undergraduate experiences in one website.

Overcoming Challenges in LeADERS

A significant challenge that I faced throughout a few of my LeADERS courses was balancing my academics and co-curricular activities during my freshman and sophomore year. This impacted my ability to reach my highest potential of success from the fall of 2016 through the Spring of 2018. In order to overcome this challenge, I did a reevaluation of my relationship with God. In this assessment, I realized that the degree I was pursuing in my first two years at ODU – Civil Engineer Technologies – didn’t align with God’s will, nor did it complement my character strengths. I searched for a different degree and career that would align more with my interests and found the field of Student Affairs in Higher Education Administration. In May of 2018, I changed my major to Leadership so that I’d be equipped to be effective in this field. It was a step of faith, but from that point on, I was able to easily balance my academics and co-curricular activities because I was studying a subject that I loved and was intentional about my involvement. 

What Component of LeADERS Contributed to My Success?

Being exposed to various divisions of Student Affairs during my Academic Internship LeADERS course was one of my most significant successes. The very same day, hour, and minute that I changed my major from Civil Engineering Technologies to Leadership, I received a notification that I was accepted into Old Dominion University’s National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP). One of the components of NUFP positioned me to serve as an intern for the University of North Carolina Greensboro’s Division of Student Affairs. During this internship, Darron Jenkins, UNCG Coordinator for Residence Life, was my supervisor and was adamant about me having a successful experience. One of my favorite ways to learn is from experience and exposure because it gives perspective. In sharing this with my supervisor, I was able to connect with other student affairs professionals and administrators at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina State University, UNC Greensboro, Bennett College, North Carolina Central University, William Peace University, and other institutions across the region. These connections have positioned me to be accepted into a Student Affairs Masters Program and I contribute it to all of the professionals who’ve poured wisdom into me during this experience!

Connecting Each LeADERS Experience

Each of my LeADERS experiences [Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, and Service Learning] are similar in that they’ve preparing me to be a competent student affairs practitioner. For my Leadership experience, I enrolled in CPS 415, Women in Leadership under the instruction of Dr. Charlene Williams. This was my second course with Dr. Williams, so I was able to easily expanded my knowledge on the challenges women face in leadership and the disproportionate representation of women at the top. Because women make up a large percentage of Student Affairs professionals, I now have the confidence and competence to navigate the field along with others who face different challenges than me because of their identity.

In addition to working with others who posses different identities, my Diversity experience enabled me to be more aware of any implicit biases I may have unknowingly held. This helps in the field of student affairs because diversity and inclusion is moving to the forefront of every student affairs division. In order to support all students, one has to be culturally competent and PAS 409, Leadership and Cultural Competence has equipped me to become just that. 

My Service Learning experience in PAS 301, Ethics, Governance, and Accountability, has equipped me to be knowledgeable in higher education policy. As a future higher education administrator, it is important to exercise ethic and accountability skills while maintaining government expectations for the university. Because of this course, I understand a few of the potential challenges I may face as a future Vice President / Chancellor over a division of student affairs and I’m prepared to overcome them.

My Academic Internship experience connects each of my LeADERS experiences together because I had the opportunity to exercise the skills learned in my course work and witness on a first-hand account how others exercise these same skills in their current higher education leadership role at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Shadowing Dr. Cathy Akens, UNCG Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, having diversity discussions and enhancing my professional development with Coretta Walker, UNCG Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, engaging in conversations about leadership, ethics, governance, and accountability with William Scott Holloway, UNCG Assistant Director for Academic Success Coaching, and connecting with Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam Jr., Chancellor of UNCG, were all opportunities where each of my LeADERS experience connected during my Academic Internship. There are so many more professionals to name who’ve helped me put my coursework to action and they all contribute to the reason I’m able to pursue a Masters in Student Affairs in the fall of 2020!

Looking Forward

What’s Next?

After graduation, I will be pursuing a career in Student Affairs in Higher Education Administration. I will be attending Clemson University for their Masters of Education in Student Affairs Program where I’ll work for Residential Learning as Clemson Home’s Graduate Assistant for Learning and Development. My primary responsibilities include assisting in the development and implementation of a comprehensive learning and development strategy designed to educate and support 240 student staff and 22 graduate staff members in University Housing. In my role, I’ll contribute to the design and implementation of the Resident Assistant Leadership Institute (RALI). RALI aligns with Clemson’s Residential Experience Model (REM) and RA competencies as a foundation. I’ll also work to further evolve the RA Development Plan, an elevated continuing education plan for staff and will supervise 5 undergraduate RA Educators. I’m excited to announce that I begin in this role on June 1st!

How Did LeADERS Help Me Get Here?

My experience within LeADERS, specifically in the Academic Internship portion of my experience has prepared me to achieve this goal. In addition to the professionals, administrators, and mentors at ODU, I received a lot of advice on applying for graduate school during my time at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Each of the Assistant Directors and Coordinators for Residence Life at UNC Greensboro have allowed me to work side by side with them and those experiences have prepared me for Clemson’s Learning & Development Graduate Assistant position.

In the summer of 2019 I had the opportunity to present alongside Ashley Owens, UNCG Coordinator for Residence Life, at the North Carolina Housing Officers Social Justice and Assessment Drive in Conference on the topic, “Dealing With Difficult or Dealing With Different.” In this presentation, Ashley and I spoke to housing professionals and university administrators from across the state of North Carolina about how to train Resident Assistants to navigate conflict. A few weeks after that opportunity, Demarcus Merritt, UNCG Assistant Director for Housing and Residence Life, and I tabled during NASPA’s Dungy Leadership Institute at the University of Chapel Hill to an audience of undergraduate and graduate aspiring student affairs professionals (See photo above). In addition to conversations with my supervisor Darron Jenkins, both experiences with Demarcus and Ashley have allowed me to learn about the logistics associated with housing leadership that undergraduate students don’t regularly see. I was able to speak to these experiences in my interview for the GA position at Clemson and I am able to put the lessons I learned to practice.

I am grateful for the Academic Internship experience I was able to have at UNCG. In addition to the individuals who’ve poured into me during this experience, I would like to thank President John R. Broderick, Old Dominion University President, Dr. Ellen Neufeldt, former Vice President of ODU SEES and current President of California State San Marcos, Dr. Don Stansberry, Interim Vice President of Student Enrollment and Engagement Services, Dr. Johnny Young, Dr. Preston Reilly, Sam Palmucci, Chantal Matthews, Kevin Muchiri, Shannell Smith, Jared Mays, Pete Baker, Rachal Weaver, Lubbock Smith, Dr. Tisha Parades, and a long list of other higher education professionals and administrators from Old Dominion University, who have helped me progress through LeADERS and reach the level of success that I’ve gracefully been able to obtain today.