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Final Synthesis

Savannah Clare

The University of Mississippi

EDHE 665

Dr. Kerry B Melear

April 16th, 2024

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During my time in the Higher Education program at the University of Mississippi over

the last two years, I have learned many things about the field of higher education, student affairs,

program exploration, and self-discovery. In addition, the experiences I have gained from my

graduate assistantship paired with the academic knowledge, I feel prepared to for what comes

next for myself. In my program, I have had the unique opportunity to engage with an array of

speakers from various departments that have enriched my academic journey outside of traditional

coursework that not all graduate programs get to experience.

Out of the numerous papers I have written, I have selected four documents for my final

synthesis, as I believe these four best represent my work as a student, my growth, my interests,

and personal identity. The four documents I have chosen include: EDHE 609-The Cultural

Context of Education: Cultural Context Prospectus, EDHE 671- The College and the Student:

The Voice Project, EDHE 670-Crisis Management: Personal Reflection & Analysis of

Leadership Style, and EDHE 670-Crisis Management: Crisis Response which was a group paper.

These four papers give a well-rounded glimpse of my academic experience in the Higher

Education/Student Personnel program.

The first paper entitled “The Influence of the Digital Footprint on College Students” is

the most recent paper I have completed from the EDHE 609- Cultural Context of Education

course. This paper serves as a prospectus where I focused on the influence of social media on

college students experience today. I chose this topic and paper for my synthesis because of my

personal interest in the vast complexities surrounding this topic in higher education. As someone

who is an avid social media consumer and a student, I wanted to evaluate how the culture and

challenges that are attached with social media. One part of this paper that sticks out to me is that

“college is already an incredibly transformative experience in the life of a student, but the
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external factors of social media can ultimately affect one’s experience in higher education either

positively or negatively” (Clare, 2024). Throughout this prospectus factors on the individual

level, societal levels, and an institutional level because they look different, but they all intertwine

because of the population that higher education institutions serve. Some of the points more

specifically addressed through this prospectus was mental health, social media in sorority life,

opportunities beyond college, and the role of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Looking back on finishing this paper, I'm happy with how much detail I included. I have gotten

better at understanding and analyzing stuff since I started this graduate program. If I had written

this paper in my first semester, it would have been really challenging for me. But now, I can see

how important this topic is for higher education and how much it aligns with my passions and

interests.

The second document I selected for the final synthesis is the Voice Project from “EDHE

671: The College and the Student” course by Dr. George McClellan. When this assignment was

first presented to our class, we were incredibly apprehensive of the objectives, this assignment

entailed. Looking back now, I can understand the purpose of the assignment and I do agree it

was an assignment that was shaped our thinking our first semester in this program. The Voice

Project challenged me to look more closely as an identity that varied from my own. Through this

project, I have come to appreciate the interconnectedness of personal narratives and societal

structures. Acknowledging the various external factors that influence individuals’ decisions, I

have gained a richer understanding of their diverse backgrounds and circumstances. This

realization has not only broadened my perspective but has also deepened my commitment to

fostering inclusivity and my understanding of others.

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The third document I selected for my final synthesis is my Personal Reflection &

Analysis of Leadership Style from the course EDHE 670 Crisis Management with Dr. Shannon

Richardson. This class peaked my interested as it was the first time it was being introduced into

the program. One of the asked we were asked to do was to complete the Clifton Strengths

assessment quiz to find out what our strengths were. Prior to this course, I was unfamiliar with

this specific assessment. It was very detail quiz that asked a lot of questions to best gauge what

your top five strengths area. My top five strengths results are Empathy, Harmony, Adaptability,

Communication, and Developer. Seeing these qualities affirmed as my strengths was reassuring

and validated my perception of myself. Recognizing one's strengths, especially in times of crisis,

can be instrumental in guiding leadership decisions and offering support. I chose this document

because it provided me with a deeper understanding of how my strengths contribute to my

leadership style and resonate throughout my personal and professional life. Additionally, though

my experiences through this graduate program and my assistantship, it has afforded me

opportunities to further hone my leadership skills and communication abilities, not only in crisis

situations but also in everyday scenarios. This document allowed me to appreciate the value of

self-awareness and leveraging strengths to navigate challenges well.

For my final synthesis, I selected a group paper from the same crisis class as the previous

document. I believe that showcasing a group paper demonstrates my ability to collaborate

effectively in moments requiring teamwork. This assignment was a mock scenario of COVID-19

disease outbreak on our campus and creating a response strategy. When COVID-19, originally

started our world was full of uncertainty but required everyone to work together and quickly, like

a group paper. and create an action plan for a virus, that people did not know much about. While,

in this mock scenario this was another outbreak of the virus we were able to roll out a previous
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action plan for managing higher education operations, but with an updated approach. Throughout

this class, I gained insights into the critical importance of the initial 48 hours following a crisis

and the significance of clear communication. While the specific scenario we tackled may not be

common, it provided invaluable lessons on the meticulous steps and processes required to

address circumstances effectively. I deemed it essential to include this document in my final

synthesis for several reasons: collaboration skills, showcases my critical thinking abilities,

demonstrates my ability to adapt to high-stress situations, and highlights my problem-solving

skills in a group setting.

These four documents are just a small glimpse into my academic performance and do not

provide the full picture into the skills I have acquired and possess. Each assignment served a

purpose in challenging my perspectives and thought processes, contributed to my academic

growth, and ultimately have shaped me into the student and future practitioner I am today.

As this chapter of my life journey draws to a close in a matter of weeks, I reflect on it as

one of the most enriching experiences I have encountered thus far in my life. From forming

meaningful connections and friendships, cherishing both significant and small memories, from

my role in Student Housing and the valuable skills I have expanded on, to my time in this

graduate program, I am genuinely grateful for every part of the past two years. The last two years

have been vital for my personal growth that I believe will serve me well as I transition into the

field of higher education and adulthood. From moving to a state, I had never stepped foot before

moving here to now not being ready to leave, speaks to how this experience has poured into my

life just in two short years.

While the specifics of my future role remain pending, I am optimistic about the

opportunities awaiting me. I am confident in my ability to contribute to making a tangible impact

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in any department and various students. I am hopeful to dip my toes in multiple departments or

tasks so I can expand on my knowledge of higher education and continue to learn and growth. I

believe that the opportunities awaiting me are endless and I am ready to apply the things I have

learned throughout my time at the University of Mississippi and fully emerge myself into my

next chapter of life.