October is Careers in Student Affairs Month! To celebrate, the Office of Student Life is highlighting staff members from different departments. Learn more about each staff member and their Student Life journey by reading the spotlights below.
Meagan Barnhart
Substance Use Intervention Services/Collegiate Recovery Community
Meagan Barnhart is the Assistant Director of Substance Use Intervention Services/Collegiate Recovery Community. Meagan has worked at IU and in the Student Affairs/Life field for one year.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Affairs/Life?
“One of my roles within Student Affairs is supporting students as they navigate their relationship with substances. Oftentimes, this support entails resources, evidence-based practices, positive coping, and community. It is difficult to find all of these opportunities in one space, however, in Student Affairs we are working towards creating these supportive campus environments every day. A moment that has validated this meaningful work for me was an interaction with our Collegiate Recovery Community members. They shared the difficult emotions associated with coming to college: worries of fitting in, maintaining their recovery, and finding supportive people and spaces. They also shared the sense of relief and belonging they have felt in finding and creating their own community on campus. This is what I enjoy most about Student Affairs, working as a team to provide moments of belonging and support for all students.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Affairs/Life?
“My advice as a new member of the Student Affairs team is to allow the students to be your teachers. Take a moment to stop and listen to student needs, concerns, and interests. This allows for student voices to be at the center of everything we do. It is only after student voices are heard that our work can begin.”
Amanda Clark
Student Health Center – Physical Therapy
Amanda Clark is a Physical Therapist at the Student Health Center. Amanda has worked at IU and in the field of Student Affairs/Life for 10 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Affairs/Life?
“I thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to work one-on-one with individuals each day, getting to know each one, working with each one to try and improve their quality of living, and return them to the things they want to do.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Affairs/Life?
“My advice would be to look for opportunities to connect with students, find something in common, listen to the needs of students, and make each one feel like a special part of the IU community.”
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“Working in the Office of Student Life is a gift and a blessing. I feel honored to be part of an amazing team.”
Nikeetha Farfan D’Souza
Dean of Students Office
Nikeetha Farfan D’Souza is the Associate Director of Student Support and Bias Response in the Dean of Students Office. Nikeetha has worked at IU and in the Student Affairs/Life field for four years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Affairs/Life?
“I have always loved working with students, and one of my favorite aspects of working in Student Affairs is to support student learning and development through play. I enjoy playing games with my family and have had many opportunities to play with students over the years too, which is so rewarding and fun. And if I am really lucky, I get to see them learn almost immediately as we play. One of my favorite moments was tabling for and promoting the Bias Response and Education office at the Hoosier Fest this year with my boss. We came up with two games for students around bias and stereotypes—one was a card game where you guessed a famous celebrity and the other was statement cards written by students around stereotypes they faced. Despite being a somewhat serious topic, we had many students stop by and want to play. Almost all of the students either yelled in excitement when they got something right, and louder when something was wrong. They teased each other and laughed like old friends even though a lot of them had just arrived at IU or in the US. You could see many students experience an “aha moment” when they learn something new and it clicks with their current life experience or the game. Many students have recognized me after that day and come up to say hi!”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Affairs/Life?
“If you love working with students or youth, and you want to find creative, innovative, and fun ways to support/develop students, Student Affairs/Life can provide that. It doesn’t matter what subjects interest you or what degree you have, there is a space for you and your unique experiences/expertise. I have met people from different educational backgrounds, countries, identities, and work experiences in this field and it only enhances our work in supporting our students. We are capable of creating a unique college experience beyond the classroom for our unique students and the possibility of that is endless.”
Holly Anspaugh
Student Legal Services
Holly Anspaugh is a Staff Attorney at Student Legal Services. Holly has worked at IU and in the Student Affairs/Life field for four and a half years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Affairs/Life?
“As a staff attorney at Student Legal Services, I work with both student clients and interns. One time, a certified intern and I spent a few months preparing a case and taking it to trial. We won our case, and afterward, the student client told us they would not have been able to remain in school if we had not helped them navigate the situation. It was the perfect reminder that our work is meaningful, and we can change students’ lives for the better.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Affairs/Life?
“Know your ‘why’ and let it guide you. Careers in this field can feel overwhelming sometimes. When you focus on your purpose of serving others, you stay motivated for long-term success.”
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“You will never know the full impact of the work you do. Do it anyway.”
Daniel Rademacher
Student Health Center
Daniel Rademacher is a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Student Health Center. Daniel has worked at IU and in the Student Affairs/Life field for one year.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Affairs/Life?
“There are so many moments that it is difficult to choose just one. When students come to see the Student Health Center to see us, they are often one-on-one with a provider for the first time. Really listening to the students and their health concerns and being able to guide them in the direction of good health and self-care is why I came to IU and why I will stay.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Affairs/Life?
“Students are the reason we are here. When working with students, it is extremely important to really listen to what they are telling you.”
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“The Office of Student Life turned out to be the perfect fit for me. Being able to interact with students has been life-changing for me, and it has become my passion.”
Cedric Harris
Dean of Students – Bias Response and Education
Cedric Harris is the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Support and Bias Education in the Dean of Students Office. Cedric has worked at IU for 28 years and in the Student Affairs/Life field for 32 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Affairs/Life?
“I have so many different stories that it is hard to choose. The best moments are when a student returns to say thank you or goes out of their way to introduce me to their parents. One moment that I will always remember involved a staff team I had when I worked in residential life. I am a theme-based person and created a theme at the beginning of the school year called ‘On the Road to the Final Four.O’. We created a bracket that included intentional components that the staff had to work on and help residents to achieve. 9/11 happened shortly after, and we relied upon this structure to help the staff refocus students on the goal of achieving a 4.0 GPA and creating an environment that was supportive. It was surprising how well the residents believed in what we were doing and how they applied themselves to achieving the goal. Something then happened that following spring that no one expected, and it helped to solidify the theme in the minds of the students: IU’s mens basketball team made it to the Final Four that March. Even though IU lost in the final game, the excitement and satisfaction that everyone felt from working hard throughout the year made what turned out to be a sad and difficult year for many into a year of fond memories and academic success. It’s times that this that make the long hours worth it.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Affairs/Life?
“Student Affairs/Life can be very rewarding work and also very challenging. If you choose to enter this field or if you already are in it, know that to do it well will take a strong commitment. There will be ups and downs, good and bad, easy and hard things that you will deal with. Serving students is not always a smooth endeavor because human beings are unique individuals and what works for one may not work for another. Each student comes to the university with a goal to graduate and it is our job to do whatever we can to assist this person along other journeys so they can go and have a positive impact on the world. The rewarding part is knowing that you contributed in some way to the student’s success. Afterward, take a break, get your energy back, and get ready to do it again for the next student.
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“In Student Affairs/Life, as in many careers, what you do can change from day to day. So, you should prepare yourself to work with and adapt to change because each fall, a new group of students joins the campus community and they bring with them their perspective as it has been shaped by the world around them, particularly from a technological standpoint. Be ready to get your hands dirty, to engage in difficult and meaningful conversations, and finally, allow your face to break into a smile of joy as you see your students accomplish their goals.”
Stay tuned all throughout October for more staff spotlights!
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