We spoke with three Certified Student Affairs Educators who received access scholarships from the NASPA Foundation about why they sought certification, what certification means to them, and advice for those thinking about certification. Learn directly from Priscilla Arungwa, director of students, Utah State University; Brooklyn Cole Herrera, assistant director, peer education and associate director, quality enhancement plan, Dalton State College; and Todd Sullivan, vice president of campus support, North American Interfraternity Conference about their experiences with Student Affairs Educator Certification.
Why did you want to become certified? If you hold multiple certifications, what made you seek these specific credentials?
Arungwa: For over a decade, I've served in student affairs, leveraging my background and degree in Human Resources Management. This experience has instilled in me a deep understanding of the importance of professional development and certifications. Seeking certification in student affairs allowed me to demonstrate my commitment and expertise in the field. Additionally, I wanted to set an example for others who may be considering professional certifications. The certification exam was rigorous, and I approached it with dedication and focus. I was thrilled to pass on my first attempt, confirming my knowledge and expertise.
Cole Herrera: When I first heard about the Student Affairs Educator Certification, I knew it was the opportunity I had been searching for to formally demonstrate my knowledge and growth in the profession. Having previously obtained a Master of Management degree and my Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in progress, I have lacked a credential reflective of the knowledge and skills gained throughout my time in the student affairs profession. Becoming a Certified Student Affairs Educator (CSAEd) provided me with a recognized credential demonstrating my commitment to the profession.
Sullivan: As my higher education career has shifted over time, it was important to me to remain fresh and knowledgeable. My current professional role is not on a college campus, so I sought an opportunity to feel connected to student affairs. My undergraduate fraternity involvement was my springboard into student affairs, so pursuing the FSL credential was an obvious choice.
How has this certification supported your career in the profession, or how do you hope that this certification will support your career in the profession?
Arungwa: Driven by an innate passion for professional development, I thrive on learning new concepts and testing my knowledge. Earning the CSAEd certification has boosted my confidence and established me as a committed professional in the student affairs field. Recognition from my supervisors holds great meaning for me, and I look forward to future opportunities where I can leverage my skills and knowledge to support others in the field.
Cole Herrera: The certification exam encompasses domains aligned with the knowledge and skills possessed by well-rounded student affairs professionals. I had always experienced a certain level of dissonance as I felt that working in higher education was my calling while simultaneously questioning my ability to succeed in the profession without a related graduate degree. Obtaining the certification curated newfound confidence in my ability to leverage previously developed skills and identify their transferability to higher education contexts. For example, the exam consists of a risk management domain, and I had never considered how the skills and knowledge obtained throughout my brief commercial insurance career posed value in the student affairs profession. After receiving my certification exam results, I also discovered my highest performance area related to talent management, reflective of my graduate degree in management. I can genuinely say that this newfound confidence affirmed my calling to support students in higher education, in addition to better supporting my staff as a mid-level manager.
Receiving a detailed domain performance report following the certification exam gave me insight into developing an intentional professional development plan that I would have lacked the context for curating independently. I am excited to align my continuous education hours for maintaining certification with the areas for growth identified in the report. As a result, I also anticipate that this experience will significantly contribute to my future career progression.
What did it mean to you to receive funding for this certification scholarship?
Arungwa: I was truly surprised and honored to receive the scholarship from the NASPA Foundation. By entrusting me with funds to pursue this certification, means a great deal. The scholarship arrived at a critical moment, when I needed it most. However, I also felt a deep sense of responsibility to take the certification seriously, given that it was funded by donations from others. I wanted to ensure that I passed on the first attempt, and I diligently studied and participated in professional development webinars offered by NASPA.
Cole Herrera: Combined with limited access to professional development funds and my personally held value of spending departmental funds directly on the students, the certification scholarship provided me with access to the opportunity that I would not have had otherwise. Not only did the financial support for pursuing the exam contribute to my professional growth, but my ability to advocate for future professional development funds has also increased with rationale for maintaining the required continuous learning hours associated with certification. Most of all, receiving the access scholarship meant that members of my NASPA family, who had likely never met me, believed in my ability to succeed and leverage the experience to further contribute to the field.
Sullivan: A job change this past year meant that certification costs would have been self-funded during a time of transition. The scholarship was meaningful to me because I may not have been able to pursue the certification without it.
What advice do you have for someone considering certification?
Arungwa: I strongly encourage you to apply and take the certification test. You won't regret it! I vividly recall waking up my husband at 5:00 AM to share the good news of passing the exam. He was overjoyed for me, knowing how much this certification meant to me. Even with a doctorate degree, I recognize that our world values continuous learning and going the extra mile to become an expert in your field.
Cole Herrera: My advice for someone considering certification is to not accept intimidation of a particular domain as rationale for not pursuing the opportunity. For me, the assessment and evaluation domain felt overwhelming, but it posed a great opportunity to further my knowledge and seek related development opportunities. I began by reviewing the assessment-related resources suggested by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification for exam preparation. Exposure to the recommended materials has already led to the initiation of assessment-related areas in my functional area.
My advice for individuals seeking a certification scholarship is to know your why...and authentically express it. Your passion for the profession and opportunity will radiate from your application.
Sullivan: It's essential to determine why you want to seek certification. That clarity will help you answer the if, when and how of the process. If finances are an obstacle, have the courage to ask for assistance. Undoubtedly if you are in a helping profession like student affairs, you have already "paid it forward" for others. Perhaps now is the time when someone else can do the same for you.