My experiences in SDA have developed my professional skills and I still have many ways to continue growing into the

future. My ability to seek knowledge and act as a lifelong learner will help me to continually improve as a professional. My strengths highlight the way I work with students and my passion for this field. These are secondary or soft skills, but I am interested in improving my primary or hard skills. The largest theme that I could extract from my areas of development includes mastering hard skills as professional tools. The elements I have developed in the SDA program but still need to improve within my practice includes research, policy and technology.

Research and Assessment I have basic competency in research where I can gain access to, understand, apply and think critically about research. I have shown this through my Research and Programming Development documents (Artifact G), which show my work from Internship (SDAD 564) for the CAP-C program. Artifact G reflects my progress as well as areas for growth with LO8 (Utilizing assessment, evaluation, technology, and research to improve practice) where I have tried to utilize with the hard skills of evaluation, technology and research with a student centered approach. Artifact G includes my program assessment model designed for the CAP-C program that seeks to evaluate participant learning in an open ended manner that places student learning above evaluation of their work. I know that I can still improve in evaluation and assessment of students especially with aligning outcomes to assessment. Pertaining to research, my Five Year Plan (Artifact I), reflects my goals for further development and participation in this element of the higher education field. I know that I can be more thorough when completing literature reviews of pertinent research to program planning that I complete such as with the CAP-C program. Reading further research and my dream of applying to doctoral school to perform research is included in my five year plan. I regret not being able to complete the M.A. program here at SeattleU. If there is one thing I could go back and change, I would have pushed myself more to take on that project. I know that it would have pushed my competency in research into further application. After graduation I would like to engage in presenting at conferences to further this practice. This is also included in my five year plan. I hope to continue growing my own practice and application of research.

This deeper understanding of LO8 has actually inspired me in continuing to push myself forward with my professional growth.

Communication in Writing Artifact I and G also reflects my developing skills in professional communication LO9 (Communicating effectively in speech and writing). The dimensions I have defined include professional communication such a research and reporting. Research and curriculum design is a programmatic was of communicating with students and colleagues. I want to complete research as a full time professional to better communication in the student affairs professional field. I have learned in this program that assessment is a form of storytelling for the student experiences. Research is designed to improve student services and a way of communicating long distance with various colleagues. Communication through various forms of technology can actually foster stronger community connections. I hope to hone this skills to apply as a practicing professional to better serve students.

Policy in Practice Through this program, I have been able to better understand LO7 (Understanding issues surrounding law, policy, fianc and governance). Policy, law and governance do not have to be cold and strict, as was my previous understanding of these practices but I can also understand the elements of law and policy in a way that are student-centered. Leadership and Governance (SDAD 576) and Higher Education Law (SDAD 580) have helped me reflect on what consequences and the larger context of my work. This includes how to communicate professionally and address the many issues that arise in professional practice. Case studies in both of these courses have been developmental for my problem solving and reflections in my professional practice. I have learned that Im not interested in covering my own through policy but being able to serve the institutional community and students in an appropriate and equitable manner. The SDA program has been pushing me and this growth is best reflected in my resume. Artifact A1 and A2 truly show the ways I have challenged and been challenged with policy and law development. I have been able to explore policy development, budget management and crisis response in my graduate assistantship which has contributed to my understanding of laws that

regulate student services. At the same time, I have also realized the shortcomings of policies, such as ADA, and improved my practice serving my student leaders with a disability justice practice as opposed to a policy based practice. Artifact H, the NASPA/ACPA competencies, outline my areas for growth well for learning outcomes seven, eight and nine. When it comes to policy implementation and structure I am aware that is my weakest aspect of my professional skill base. I am hopeful to continue growing in this professional development especially because I believe that policy is designed to serve students. This approach inspires me and keeps me learning.

Implementation of Technology Revisiting LO8, my work with the CAP-C program (Artifact G) also reflects my growth and areas of improvement for utilizing technology effectively. Technology as a practice, I now see as a way of building stronger community and communicating with students and colleagues. Before starting this program I had a very minimal understanding of technology and its professional uses. I had no online network and used little computer resources. During my time in this program I have learned how to use Adobe photoshop, Adobe publisher, Microsoft word and Visio, SPSS software, Qualtrics survey software, Canvas online classroom and film and video editing equipment with the Media Production Center. Much of this development was intentional and developed through both of my internships with CAP-C and intergroup dialogue, this work is reflected in Artifact G as described above. With my Assistant Resident Director graduate assistantship I also learned the Starrez housing application. In my professional leadership I served as a facilitator for Leadership Blitz 14 Technology on Leadership and attending the Technology Un-Conference held here at SU. My best presentation, Artifact D, is also an example of how I used graphic design and editing to produce an informational handout and presentation. I am proud of the presentation because in the past I never would have chosen to invest time in engaging my audience through graphics design which I now view as kinesthetic format of presentation building. I also hope to continue to improve in my use of technology proficiently and the SDA program has pushed me in this regard, especially with internship presentations which I am also proud of. I want to continue growing in this development especially as technology continues to improve. Technology can improve the student experience, make my work more efficient and

create more opportunity to make connections and build community on and off a higher education campus. It is a different way of communicating that I have utilized in the past, and this program is helping to improve my future practice.

Overall The learning outcomes I selected reflect the learning I have done in the SDA program, and the lessons I have learned. I have shifted my notions of research, policy and technology and this paradigm shift in monumental in my future practice. Technology can build and enhance communities, policy can be a way of advocating for students and research is reportable storytelling. These lessons I have learned, have shift my understanding of these aspects of the student affairs field.