MISSION STATEMENT

My passion and commitment to student affairs and higher education are anchored by the
concepts of community, inner harmony, and leadership. Altogether, I will harness these values as
guiding principles for myself as I navigate, advocate, and educate (myself and others) in an ever-
changing field that influences and transforms lives.

First and foremost, I cannot commit myself to this work without a statement of humility. In order
to fully enable community, inner harmony, and leadership, I must willingly abandon
perfectionism and embrace the journey of continuous learning and unlearning in a field in which
changes are occurring frequently. I will extend myself and others' grace and the space to be
courageously wrong in this field, so we are reminded of the opportunities that come from making
mistakes and engaging in radical dialogues.

Community: Student affairs and higher education is not a field that flourishes on individualism,
and I will ensure that my purpose always centers on community. Fostering relationships and
building connections between myself and others is how I envision myself advancing in this
work. I will advance by remaining vulnerable to communities’ resilience, wisdom, and histories
that pave the way for my practice. Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005) is the framework
for how to support students, colleagues, and the other partnerships I will care for.

Inner-Harmony: Eliminating self-doubt and leaning into my abilities will positively impact the
ways of my professional practice and personal relationships in this field. I believe that exercising
compassion starts from within and I will do my best to apply it in hope that I can help others with
their own journey to inner peace as they navigate through the stress produced by the system of
higher education. This includes displaying self-care and practicing holistically where I assure
students, colleagues, and others that our identities are far more complex and multi-dimensional
than solely being a student and employee. From a multicultural lens, I will also utilize inner
harmony to identify my biases, and discrimination, and increase my self-awareness.

Leadership: Being a leader holds many responsibilities and I will wield the responsibility of
advocating for underserved student populations, prioritizing transformative justice, and being an
authentic leader working alongside others towards common causes. I am able to practice
leadership every day without having the loudest voice or assertive manner. Instead, I will display
leadership by including others, welcoming their authentic selves, and keeping my work informed
of their passions and contributions. Effective leadership does not mean overpowering the work of
others with my own, but rather I will cultivate relationships that encourage everyone to bring
forth stories, experiences, and skillsets.