Running Head: PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Professional Philosophy Statement

Jenn Islam
Miami University

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

Professional Philosophy Statement

Inclusivity
I believe in inclusivity. I believe that everyone wants to feel like they belong or like they
are welcome. There are certain types of people who would prefer to be isolated and by
themselves. However, they still want to be welcomed. I believe that it is our duty as part of being
a human to show compassion and care for all individuals. I recognize that there is a difference
between being treated as fair and as equal. I would rather be treated as fair.
Courses that are a joy to teach are where we share a strong sense of belonging and a
feeling of community (Berg, 2016). We, as educators, have the authority and responsibility to
create an inclusive classroom environment. Also, an educator does not need a classroom to teach
others. An educator merely needs to be in that mindset. #IStandForDiversity because every
person has a place in this world and a voice to be heard. Together we are stronger (DrRonHolt,
2016).
Family
I believe in family. I feel that everyone is connected in some way. I feel like a professor
can be seen as close as an involved parent or as removed as a distant aunt. Much like family, you
won't like everyone that you have to interact with, but you still have to interact with them. This
ties into my value of inclusivity. When we include, we work towards building on the
already-present family. We have so many families, both those actually related to us by blood and
those who are not.
When asked, what is a profession, it is explained as a group of individuals with similar
work interests and purposes (Dalton & Crosby, 2011). I feel like that in itself shows that each

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

profession is a different type of family. I equate groups to families. You don't have to like
everyone, but you feel like you have an obligation to support them, especially if they reach out to
you, because you are in the same family/group/profession.
When defining a mentor, one of the requirements is that there is a level of personal care
and commitment put into the position (Baker, 2010). These are some of the things that I expect
out of certain family members, which adds to why mentors tend to fall under a metaphorical
family tree. I have more people helping me than Henry Ford had in his assembly line (Islam,
2011). This statement was true for me then and even truer for me now. I know that this will be a
trend that doesnt end.
Transparency
I believe in transparency. I believe that there is a difference between being transparent
and being honest. I feel like being honest still gives you the leeway to lie or hide the truth or let
the truth be distorted by imagination. I feel like sharing as much as you're able to speaks about
your character, and that you'd rather that someone know the full story. We began in honesty.
Let us end in it, too (Kaur, 2015).
Passion
I believe in passion. I believe that your heart fuels your actions. When one enjoys
teaching, one does it well. (Berg, 2016). I believe that if you do something you're passionate
about, in terms of a career, you'll always be motivated and never get tired enough to quit.
Concluding Thoughts
My core values are inclusivity, family, transparency, and passion. I plan on incorporating
these values in the work that I do by believing in them and continuing to include them in my

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

daily lifestyle and being as a person. I will strive to make people feel included and welcome
them to my family/families. I will be as transparent as needed and when needed. I will love what
I do, because that is another way to feed my soul and keep me motivated to serve others. While I
am unsure of where I will go with my career and whether or not I will stay in the field of student
of affairs, I am sure of one thing: I am an educator.

PROFESSIONAL PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

References
Baker, V. L., & Griffin, K. A. (2010). Beyond mentoring and advising: Toward understanding
the role of faculty developers in student success. About Campus, 14(6), 28. doi:
10.1002/abc.20002
Berg, M., & Seeber, B. K. (2016). Pedagogy and pleasure. In Authors,The slow professor:
Challenging the culture of speed in the academy(pp. 33-51). Ontario, Canada: University
of Toronto Press.
Dalton, J. C., & Crosby, P. C. (2011). A profession in search of a mission: Is there an enduring
purpose for student affairs in U.S. higher education? Journal of College and Character,
12(4), 1-7. doi:10.2202/1940-1639.1862
DrRonHolt (2016, September 5). #IStandForDiversity because every person has a place in this
world and a voice to be heard. Together we are stronger [Tweet]. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/DrRonHolt/status/772914208426057728
Islam, Jennifer (2011, November 15). A different Cinderella story [Blog post]. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-islam/post_2610_b_1072673.html
Kaur, Rupi (2015). Milk and Honey. Canada: Andrews McMeel Publishing.