Student affairs is… from a leadership perspective

My story is not unlike the many who have preceded me and those who will follow me into a student affairs life. It started on a small college campus where as a student I found my connection through student activities. As a first-year student, I signed on to sell tickets for the spring fling festival and this single act of volunteerism turned into a life of service to students. From that moment, I ultimately discovered a career path that led me to my ideal job. 

As the dean of student affairs and the senior student affairs officer at my college, I balance between the needs of the institution and the needs of students. I am often the voice of students at the leadership table and try to bring the student perspective into the decision making process. But I am not alone. I am fortunate to work at an institution that values student input and respects the needs of students. My responsibility is ensuring that we consistently deliver the quality service that students expect and deserve and create opportunities for engagement that provide for growth and development. 

I see student affairs as the ultimate bridge between the academic world and the “real” world. The lessons learned in the classroom are best applied in the laboratories of life – the opportunities we create through the activities, programs and services of student affairs. Our campuses, whether large or small, are places where students come together with peers and others to learn and grow. This is true whether the student is attending directly out of high school, is first-generation embarking on an unfamiliar journey or is post-traditional returning to change careers. Student affairs professionals are charged with creating and sustaining learning environments and experiences for students. We must consider our student partners as key stakeholders in the process of developing these opportunities. 

My path in student affairs has afforded me an opportunity to work at several institutions serving a variety of students. My career began at a small, public liberal arts college that served a mix of regional and national students. As a feeder for post-graduate professional programs, academics was a strong focus on this campus. From there I moved to a mid-sized regional community college. The student mix was very different and included those looking to transfer to a state university and those seeking a terminal degree in a trade or technical skill. Finally, I arrived at my current institution – a health sciences college. My students are highly motivated, post-traditional learners who come to us for a specific education and experience. In all of these settings, the opportunity to engage students continues to be important although the means for doing so varies. 

More recently, emerging issues such as mental health, sexual assault and gender-based violence and crisis management have taken much of my time and attention. While these issues have been difficult, the opportunity to influence and address these from a policy perspective has been stimulating and provides me with a renewed sense of purpose. Even though my role continues to evolve and my responsibilities to students has expanded beyond that of engagement, I enjoy interacting across divisions and collaborating with others, both on my campus and with colleagues at other campuses, to address these common concerns. 

The challenge faced throughout my career has been one of creating the right opportunities so students could find their voice. Not only must we create these safe learning environments and experiences for students, but we must do so in a way that encourages personal growth. Regardless of the institutional type or student mix, this tenet of student affairs does not change. Higher education, and particularly student affairs, must place students at the center of our decision making and focus our efforts on lifelong learning beyond the walls of our institution. Student affairs professionals assume an important role in achieving this outcome. 

Dr. Hampton Hopkins is the dean of student affairs and enrollment management at Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte, NC. He has more than 20 years of experience in student affairs. His involvement with NASPA has included serving on the board of directors as the director of the Small Colleges and Universities Division and in various other roles.