Welcome
Dear Perspective Graduate Student:
I am glad you are interested in a career in educational leadership and pursuing graduate studies at Valdosta State University. VSU is a dynamic, growing regional institution, with small classes, wonderful new student life facilities, and dedicated faculty and staff. We are a student-centered institution that values student success, and encourages student involvement in the learning process.
As Vice President for Student Affairs and the 2005 President of the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), I am a strong advocate of student affairs work. I believe a career in student affairs exposes an individual to all aspects of the higher education experience- in and out of the classroom. I have had the opportunity to work in student affairs at four different universities and the skills I have developed are very diverse- ranging from counseling and advising student leaders; supervising complex departments like housing, financial aid, and student life; planning new facilities; and managing multi-million dollar budgets.
As President of NASPA, I represented over 11,000 student affairs professionals internationally. I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit many campuses and hear about trends in the field. I can’t think of a more challenging and rewarding career! New challenges abound, and every day the student affairs professional must utilize creativity, vision and other leadership skills for problem-solving and decision-making.
Our educational leadership/student affairs graduate program is on the rise. We have top-notch faculty and practitioners who will be there to mentor you all along the way. I hope you will consider VSU for your graduate institution. There are many opportunities for graduate assistantships, internships, and practica. Please don’t hesitate to contact the faculty for more information. I hope to see you in the classroom!
Sincerely,
Kurt J. Keppler, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs