From the President's Desk
To help celebrate Careers in Student Affairs Month, we are happy to have ACPA President Kent Porterfield share a personal reflection on his experience in the field.
Like many of my friends and colleagues in student affairs, I happened upon this career because of the influence of a few key mentors in my life. I did not map an intentional path to a career in student affairs. In fact, I didn’t even know a career in student affairs was possible until my supervisor opened my eyes to the possibility. It took me a bit longer to realize that my work in student affairs is as much a lifestyle as it is a career. I am a different person than I would likely be had I pursued a different career. I can honestly say that my career in student affairs has influenced my perspective on a myriad of social issues. My work has caused me to examine and reexamine my views as well as the way I see and interact with others, particularly those who are most different from me. Had I chosen another career, I wonder if I would have paused to seriously think about my identities and the ways they may impact other people. A career working in student affairs opened my eyes to a world that was previously invisible to me. I am by no means the culturally competent person that I want to be, but I have no doubt that I am further along in my journey because I chose this particular career.
I moved into generalist positions fairly early in my career. It was not really an intentional move for me. In fact, I had no career plan until someone I respected and looked up to suggested that I apply for an assistant dean of students position. That set me on a “generalist” path. Being a generalist in student affairs means juggling a lot of different issues, and it often involves overseeing a multiplicity of functions and areas of practice. It requires broad-based knowledge, as contrasted with being a deep content expert on any one topic or in any particular area of scholarship and practice. As a generalist, in addition to the issues and subject matter, I spend much of my time thinking about leadership, strategy, organizational dynamics, climate, outcomes, and relationships. I rely on skills of listening, verbal and non-verbal communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and community building. Some might refer to these as “soft” skills, but I have found that they are challenging to master and absolutely critical to achieving almost anything worth doing in student affairs work. As an SSAO for the past seventeen years, I have learned the importance of choosing words carefully, understanding why communication often fails, being authentic, staying positive, empathizing, understanding triggers of stress, being assertive without being aggressive, and reflecting. I have also come to appreciate the critical skill of negotiation.
A career in student affairs can be deeply rewarding. The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students is an incredible blessing and also a great responsibility. While the hours are often long and the issues sometimes seem insurmountable in student affairs, I am profoundly grateful for my career in higher education. Being an educator is the only thing I have ever really imagined myself doing (other than playing centerfield for the St. Louis Cardinals!). A meaningful and successful career in student affairs requires many things, including an acceptance that one's professional and personal lives are going to frequently intersect, and that a keen awareness and understanding of one’s attitudes, values, beliefs, biases, and identities is critical. Having a career in student affairs requires some psychological resiliency and an ability to manage conflict. It requires an understanding and an appreciation of the importance of being a role model and mentor. It requires us to stay current in the scholarship of our field. In my opinion, setting goals, accepting and appreciating honest critiques, developing and following through on plans, being flexible and adaptable to rapid change, working for equity and inclusion, and being faithful to the ethics and ideals of the profession are also key behaviors that lead to successful student affairs careers.
On occasion, I am asked to give advice to graduate students or new professionals contemplating careers in student affairs. Some common advice I give is to accept that nearly all the challenges in our society also manifest in higher education. This makes the work interesting and challenging as our field flexes and adapts and our work changes. To be successful in any career, it helps to fall in love with the work. There are good days and bad days over the course of any career, and the bad days are easier to deal with when you really love what you do. I believe that the most effective educators are more than just knowledgeable and skilled; they appreciate and value learning to the extent that it is embedded in their souls. There are many careers that pay better than student affairs. I am certain there must be careers that don't require the same hours or crazy schedules. Moreover, I am certain that there are careers that are less taxing emotionally. For some, other careers might be more life shaping than a career in higher education and student affairs, but for me, this was the right choice.