In the beginning was NASPA

In the beginning there was NASPA. NASPA is a professional organization for student affairs administration. NASPA has evolved to be a leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice, and affirms the commitment of the student affairs profession to educating the whole student and integrating student life and learning. There are over 11,000 members at 1,400 campuses, and representing 29 countries, NASPA is the foremost professional association for student affairs administrators, faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students.

Over Spring Break I attended the NASPA international conference in Seattle, Wa. Its Seattle and it rained. But to much avail it was the culmination of many of my NUFP experiences in real life. There were thousands of higher ed professionals, future professionals and undergrad students. The best way to explain the NASPA experience is to take all of your friends who in college (or life in general) are the first to do a ice-breaker, lead a discussion or are really passionate about a specific issue; put them in a room and say, "go develop lives"... you have NASPA.

The NUFP side of NASPA was a little less overwhelming. Having been armed with plenty of "Nathan Notes," what to be expected was delivered. As several M/NUFPers emerged on our pre-conference location there was a slight buzz of unknowing excitement. Finally able to put a face to all the faceless emails and identify the future student affairs wonders. Being in the room reiterated how small student affairs really is. From the future graduates anticipating seeing each other at grad interview days to total strangers connected by a mutual acquaintance. There are only three degrees of separation in this industry.