Talking Stick - March/April 2017 - 54

CONVERSATIONS
will reach out to me personally to ask
questions about my transition into
a higher ed adjacent career, and I
frequently look out for potential job
postings for them.

Boone: My first opportunity with
the company came about through
networking. My experience was
much like Amma's-the opportunity
presented itself, and I just decided to
make the leap. If you are interested
in something, it never hurts to start
asking questions. I have hired people
for whom the conversations started
with questions at a conference. It can
take time, but I will say that, by and
large, hiring processes in the corporate
world are very fast-paced compared to
student affairs experiences.
TS: How did you respond to those
who challenged your thoughts/actions
about entering the SA-aligned field?

Singer: I often like to tell people that
I have one of the best jobs in higher
education. I work with wonderful
students, get to interact with devoted
faculty and staff volunteers, and have
the opportunity to provide leadership
development programming on
campuses across the country.

Marfo: I maintain that I'm still
doing student affairs work, but in
a different way. I see any campus
or organization that I work with
as a partner in the work I do. I
work alongside them. Most of the
challenge I heard was incredulity
about the logistics of it: But where
will you work? (from my house or
the library). How will you make
rent/get insurance? (I still make
money; it's fine). Aren't you scared?
(of course, but that's a poor reason
to not try). I find considerably less
challenge and more curiosity about
it now. I can tell when it's coming
from a place of support, versus one
of skepticism, and I handle those
questions differently based on what
I believe the motive is.
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TALKING STICK

Brown: Much like Amma, I've found
a lot more curiosity and less challenge.
I also think that, given the stage I was
in my career when I made the leap
(nearly 20 years as a professional), I
encountered a lot fewer questions. I've
also had a history of doing things a
little differently.

Boone: Challenges do happen. There
were jokes about going over to the
dark side, and there were people with
whom my relationship changed when
I transitioned. But I think the core
of what I do has not changed. I am a
service provider, and my job is to help
staff. In my case, it's by helping to
manage systems and processes more
efficiently. I also think the "aligned"
terminology is the key. We are all
aligned in the same end goal (student
development); we just have different
roles to help make that a reality.
TS: How has your foundation in
mainstream student affairs influenced
and shaped your lens and experiences
in the student affairs-aligned role
which you are in now (or the role you
are musing about)?

Brown: It influences me all the
time. It's interesting working in an
environment with other people who
did not have the extensive socialization
in the field that I had. I look at
everything a little differently, from
my approach to my supervisor to my
email habits. In many ways it has
been a tremendous benefit. I know the
work. I've done it recently. It helps me
connect with campus partners in ways
that other people can't.

Singer: Since the programs of
our organization are delivered
predominantly on campuses, it has
been helpful to be aware of the trends
related to the educational and social
concerns of students. It influences
our approach to marketing the
organization to prospective members.
Also, having a student affairs network
of colleagues has helped in identifying

partners to support the work of the
organization.

Brown: I like that Tara mentioned
maintaining a network of student
affairs colleagues. I think this is
critical to continuing to feel the pulse
of the profession. It requires even
more effort to maintain when you are
outside of a campus setting. I find
myself reading more and engaging
at conferences and with professional
associations more.

Marfo: Agreed. Because so much
of my work depends on helping
students succeed in the on-campus
environment, the perspective and
counsel of colleagues who are in it day
in and day out is invaluable to keeping
my work relevant and well informed.
That urgent need I had to stay on
top of the field and its changing
dynamic hasn't left me; I just do it a
bit differently, and its results pop up in
a new way.

Boone: I agree that the foundation has
provided a unique opportunity to help
shape our services. Part of that lens is
the ability to assess and adapt to trends.
Having the ability to critically analyze
how we adapt and enhance what we do
to meet these changing times/people/
situations comes largely from the
student affairs lens. We have hired a
number of people from student affairs;
this allows us to maintain a focus
on the needs, and we are continually
challenged to adapt and evolve as the
profession adapts and evolves.
TS: What professional challenges do
you currently face in your SA-aligned
career?

Brown: Since I've only ever worked
in academia, I've realized there are
a lot of privileges I took for granted.
For instance, I no longer have library
research database access or many
of the other resources traditionally
associated with a university. When I
renew my membership to professional
Talking Stick - March/April 2017

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