Undergraduate Institution: James Madison University

Assistantship: UGA-Center for Student Organizations

Areas of interest in Student Affairs: Currently I am interested in orientation, university programming, and student leadership. However, my eyes are completely open to the world of student affairs and I realize that as I grow as a person and professional my interests may change.

Why I chose UGA: When I came to UGA for an interview, I was overcome with a sense of community both within the program as well as the school as a whole. I was immediately energized by the passion that every student had for being here. I left the interview knowing that UGA was a place where my growth and learning would be facilitated by an amazing faculty, awesome cohort members, and a student body that would challenge and engage me in my assistantship and practicum experiences.

Words to live by: “Now that it’s all over, what did you really do yesterday that’s worth mentioning?” -Coleman Cox

Undergraduate Institution: Montclair State University of New Jersey

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Multicultural Affairs, Academic Advising, Leadership Development, Student Activities

Assistantship: UGA-Office of Multicultural Services and Programs

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because I really liked the staff and the curriculum seemed challenging. After interview weekend, I felt that I could really grow as a professional through classroom instruction and my potential assistantship. I also liked the idea of being in a small cohort

Words to live by: “Champions aren´t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” -Muhammad Ali

Undergraduate Institution: Bucknell University

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Campus programming and leadership development; transfer students (concentrating on community college scholars).

Assistantship: UGA-WUOG 90.5M Radio Station

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA for its location, culture and size– a significant and positive change from my small, private liberal arts undergraduate institution.I chose CSAA at UGA for its cohort model, prestigious faculty, and endless experiential opportunities in the field throughout the academic program.

Words to live by: “And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” (Anais Nin).

Undergraduate Institution: Bowling Green State University

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Orientation, First-Year Student Success and Programs, Student Activities, Leadership and Service

Assistantship: Georgia Tech-Office of Orientation and New Student Programs

Why I chose UGA: I chose the University of Georgia for a handful of reasons. Not only is this program one of the most reputable in the country, but also the cohort model, faculty and wide range of experiences available in Athens, GA made this program tough to beat. Another factor that was especially important to me was that I wanted to see a different part of the country and interact with students outside of my realm of knowledge.

Words to live by: “This above all: to thine own self be true” – William Shakespeare

Undergraduate Institution: University of South Florida

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Study Abroad, Special Events, International Students, Student Leadership

Assistantship: UGA Office of International Education

Why I chose UGA: One of the best universities for studying CSAA, loved the campus and Athens area

Words to live by: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” -Gandhi

Undergraduate Institution: Grand Valley State University

Areas of Interest: 1st Generation Students, Minority College Experience, TRiO,Leadership Development and Service Learning!

Assistantship: Communications Graduate Assistant, University Health Center

Why I chose UGA: A past supervisor recommended that I check the UGA CSAA website out. When I did, I was really drawn to the counseling background and the wealth of experience I would get through classes and working/interning in the field. Once interviews came around, I had a sense of peace and “home” at UGA. I loved my interaction with the faculty I encountered. The fact that the program’s reputation is highly esteemed is the icing on the cake! I feel very blessed to be here!

Words to Live by: Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It is a covenant between equals. Compassion is always, at its most authentic, about a shift from the cramped word of self-preoccupation into a more expansive place of fellowship, of true kinship.

- Greg Boyle via “Tattoos on the Heart”

Behold the one who can’t take His eyes off of you. Marinate in the vastness of that. – Greg Boyle

Undergraduate Institution: Baylor University

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Student Activities, Judicial Affairs, Leadership & Service

Assistantship: UGA-Office of Student Conduct

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the highly respected and rigorous graduate program, the outstanding faculty and the beautiful campus. And SEC football didn’t hurt either.

Words to live by: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” -C.S. Lewis

Undergraduate Institution: University at Buffalo

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: International Student Affairs, Orientation, Student Organizations

Assistantship: UGA-International Student Life, Coffee Hour and Programming

Why I chose UGA: Variety of Assistantships and Internships available, large and active student body, highly active faculty, and UGA’s beautiful campus.

Words to live by: Your only consistency should be unpredictability.

Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Housing and Student Conduct

Assistantship: UGA-Housing

Why I chose UGA: My decision to come to UGA for graduate school was an easy one. I fell in love with the program and faculty during interviews because of their dedication and passion for students. I connected with the students in the program and knew I couldn’t find another program better for me.

Words to live by: “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.” –Gandalf, Lord of the Rings

Undergraduate Institution: University of Georgia

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Student-Athletics, Minority Services

Assistantship: UGA-Multicultural Services and Programs

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the faculty, cohort model, and reputation of the program.

Words to live by: There’salways something to suggest that you’ll never be who you wanted to be. Your choice is to take it or keep on moving.-Phylicia Rashad

Undergraduate Institution: University of Idaho, GO VANDALS!

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Greek Life, Student Organizations, Student Government

Assistantship: Georgia Tech-Office of Greek Affairs

Why I chose UGA: UGA has a top-notch student affairs program with caring faculty and stellar students. The CSAA program is more than a group of graduate students and faculty; we are a family who encourage and challenge each other!

Words to live by: “Take what you love to do and make it your job!”

Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina Wilmington

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Orientation, First Year Experiences, Fraternity and Sorority Life

Assistantship: UGA-University Housing

Why I chose UGA: I loved the size of the cohort, the great reputation, the assistantship I received, and I wanted to attend a larger university than my undergraduate institution.

Words to live by: “Life doesn’t give you the people you want, it gives you the people you need- to help you, to hurt you, and to make you into the person you were meant to be.”

Undergraduate Institution: North Georgia College & State University

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Career Services, Greek Life, Leadership Development, Admissions, Orientation

Assistantship: UGA-Career Center

Why I chose UGA: How sweet it was to find an elite Student Affairs program in my own backyard! I am completely confident UGA will prepare me for a lifetime of enrichment in the university setting with their strong emphasis on practical applications, the supportive faculty, and UGA football.

Words to live by: To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart.

Undergraduate Institution: University of Michigan-Ann ArborAssistantship: UGA-Career Center

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Financial Aid, Admissions, Career Services, Diversity Retention & Recruitment, Multicultural Affairs, Administration, Policy

Why I chose UGA: I knew I wanted to get out of the Midwest for graduate school. When researching the best student affairs programs, UGA’s CSAA program came highly recommended by both CSAA alumni and other student affairs professionals around the nation for its excellent faculty, field contributions, and academic breadth.

Words to live by: Make every year an upgrade.

Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: First-year experience, orientation and transition programs, leadership development

Assistantship: UGA-Student Government Association

Why I chose UGA: For me, CSAA offered a very highly regarded program, outstanding faculty, focus on practical experience, and the cohort model. Additionally, I knew UGA would provide a contrasting experience to that of my undergraduate institution.

Words to live by: Clear eyes, full hearts– can’t lose.

Undergraduate Institution: UNC Chapel Hill

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: International Student Life and Study Abroad

Assistantship: UGA-Office of International Student Life

Why I chose UGA: I chose UGA because of the assistantships that were available in the fields I am interested in and because I liked the positive vibes I got from Athens.

Words to live by: You may be right; I may be crazy, but it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for

Undergraduate institution: University of Minnesota Duluth

Areas of Interest in Student Affairs: Student Leadership, Outdoor Programs, Orientation and Students in Transition, Recreation, Service Learning, International Education

Assistantship: UGA-Recreational Sports

Why I chose UGA: The ability to work in an assistantship with the Recreational Sports – Georgia Outdoor Recreation Program while studying student affairs in CSAA made UGA a perfect fit for my interests and future career path. After finding so much support and neat people in the program, and more broadly on campus and within Athens, it confirmed that this is the right place for me to be.

Words to live by: Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. – W.B. Yeats

Undergraduate Institution: Emory University

Area(s) of Interest in Student Affairs: Orientation, Student Activities, Housing, Student Leadership

Assistantship: Gainesville State College-SOAR Program

Why I chose UGA: While I was looking for something completely different than my undergraduate institution, I was fearful of attending a large public university and getting lost among all of the students. The CSAA program at UGA immediately felt like a smaller community within the larger UGA. The faculty members are dedicated to providing students with the most well-rounded, intellectual, and hands-onexperience that a future student affairs professional could want. As if the stellar reputation of the program, faculty, andpast CSAA studentswere not enough, I also get to be a Georgia Bulldog! What could be better?

Words to live by: “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and – SNAP – the job’s a game!” – Mary Poppins