STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – BRITTANY WHITE
Brittany White is currently pursuing her Higher Education and Student Affairs Master’s degree after being actively involved as an undergraduate student at the University. Before completing her undergraduate degree in 2014, she spent her senior year working in the position of Coordinator in Freshman Studies. She credits this as a beneficial and enjoyable experience that led to her career in higher education and has continued this work in her role as a graduate assistant in Freshman Studies. She states that going to work is something that she is eager to do because each student interaction and lesson taught is unique and significant.
Brittany reflected on the influence of the courses she took in her first semester in the program in Fall 2015. While taking courses such as Introduction to Higher Education and College Student Affairs, she related course readings into advising techniques and learned from her fellow classmates. Through her studies, she noticed the benefit of targeting institutional resources to specific student populations. For example, she mentioned that having specialized departments for sophomores, pre-majors, veterans, freshman, etc. allows programs to tailor services to meet the needs of these student groups. Brittany affirmed her belief that “as student affairs professionals, we want to ensure every student has the best college experience and receives all of the appropriate resources readily available for them.”
Her favorite moments in class were listening to guest speakers talk about their journey through various levels of higher education institutions because she connected readings of conflict resolution, ethics, and organization and governance to the world of work. Brittany notes that this allows her to think about future situations and potential dilemmas she may encounter in the workplace. She communicated her belief that a student’s first year experience is key to building a strong foundation for their success. Brittany reflected, “being able to relate theories while watching my students grow and develop into outstanding college students is such a joy for me.”
Her advice to her peers? “Never give up and never doubt yourself. With hard work, you can make your dreams come true. Although it may be hard to not compare yourself to students in the program, focus on you, and know that through hard work and dedication, you can be so successful.” She notes that every student has experiences that give him or her a unique approach and understanding of higher education. She has witnessed how varying opinions can strengthen classroom discussions on any higher education topic.
In line with her words of encouragement to her peers, Brittany hopes to continue her education by pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management and Policy after completing the Master’s program. While enrolled as a graduate student, she hopes to get more experience through internships and professional opportunities, such as associations, and conference attendance.