Students from three local colleges attended a panel at Florida State University as part of Careers in Student Affairs Month, where leaders in the field discussed their career paths and experiences. The event was organized by FSU’s Division of Student Affairs to promote awareness of student affairs professions.
Panelists included Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs at FSU; William Hudson Jr., vice president for Student Affairs and enrollment manager at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU); Christen Givens, dean of Enrollment Services at Tallahassee State College; and Amelia Parnell, president and CEO of NASPA — Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The discussion was moderated by Parnell.
The panel was also recorded as an episode of Connect with VP Amy Hecht, FSU’s podcast on student affairs, which is available on YouTube and Spotify.
Panelists shared their personal journeys into student affairs. Givens noted that she “fell into student affairs and fell in love with it,” explaining how her background in counseling psychology helps her communicate with parents and students. Hudson said he initially wanted to be a guidance counselor but discovered his passion for supporting students through FSU’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). He stated: “Seeing the impact you have on students — we have students whose family are below poverty level — and by one degree, it changes that family. It touches my heart and rejuvenates it.”
Hecht described her path from undergraduate studies in mass communications at FSU to earning advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania before returning to FSU. She emphasized balancing administrative responsibilities with maintaining connections to students: “a love and willingness to learn,” she said, is essential, along with not losing touch with those served.
Parnell reflected on her own unexpected journey leading NASPA: “If somebody had asked me all those years back where I thought I’d end up for a career, I would not have said lead a national membership association in student affairs. I did not have that on my bingo card. Wherever you are in your journey, as you can see from the four of us, you can land right where you want to be.”
The panelists agreed that no two days are alike in student affairs work. Hecht commented: “We have really strong leaders in student affairs. Sometimes you have to address different things that may not be happening in your direct area. You pivot and you pivot again.” Hudson compared the profession to water: “because we have to take any shape and form. You must have an ebb and flow.” He also stressed self-care: “Find outlets and find individuals who will check in on you,” he said. “Take that time and don’t bring those issues home.”
Looking ahead, the panel expressed optimism about technology’s potential to make higher education more personalized.
Careers in Student Affairs Month is a nationwide initiative held each October to highlight the importance of the profession.
More information about FSU’s Division of Student Affairs can be found at https://studentaffairs.fsu.edu/.
