Jacks: Prioritizing personal and work lives for new and mid-level professionals can be hard. There are so many decisions:
go further with doctoral work, start a family, apply for a
lateral position in a better location, follow a spouse’s/partner’s
career, pursue upward mobility at a current institution, and
the list goes on. It probably was not easier years ago, but life
seemed simpler.
Jones:;The environment of higher education is going through
a period of substantive change. You must prove you are willing
to keep learning as you move through the ranks. The more
you can support your position with data and assessment, the
stronger you will be.
Waits:;The budget tightening in our institutions has forced
many positions to be eliminated, placed on hold, or restructured. Mid-level professionals are often asked to take on
more responsibilities during hard times. This can result in
lower morale if the mid-level professional is balancing greater
responsibilities with less staff support and fewer resources.
How;have;you;achieved;personal;and;professional
balance?
Lee:;I am constantly working on achieving balance. I try to
eat healthy, exercise daily, and allow time for myself. I keep a
list of to-do items for the next day on my bedside table, and
NDSU
Associate Director of Operation-
Memorial Union
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY-FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota State University is a student-focused, land- grant, research university with more than 14,000 stu- dents from 48 states and more than 80 countries. NDSU offers about 108 undergraduate programs, 46 doctoral
programs, 66 master’s programs, an education specialist and nine
certificate programs. The university’s annual research expenditures
exceed $110 million. And its Bison athletic teams compete as members of NCAA Division I.
Primary responsibilities for the position include supervision of
the Service Center, Event Services & Reservations, Gallery, and
Recreation & Outdoor Programs. The Associate Director works with
Facilities Management to process work orders, resolve building
maintenance issues, and monitor building access, and collaborates
with custodial services to ensure a clean and safe building. The
Associate Director also works in coordination with the Director of
the Memorial Union to prepare and implement recommendations
for building policies and procedures, capital planning, assessments,
and the Memorial Union customer service philosophy. This position
requires occasional weekend duty for on-call rotation and to assist
with large events.
The salary is $49,000 +commensurate with experience. Position
is open until filled. Initial screening date is September 26, 2011.
Start date is December 1, 2011. Submit cover letter, resume, transcripts, and contact information for three professional references
(online only) to https://jobs.ndsu.edu/
I use post-it notes everywhere. I also realize that during peak
times, like registration, there is no balance.
Jones:;Find things that renew you. Take a vacation or give
yourself permission to read a novel. Do fun things with your
family and friends. Build in time for exercise and fitness. All of
these things are critical.
Dalpes:;Achieving balance is one of the things I talk about
with my peers. The nature of the SSAO position can challenge any approach to balance. I've had fun using twitter to
connect with SSAOs on a variety of topics. Many use tweets to
motivate each other to exercise and get inspiration. Check out
#letsmove, #safit, #worklifebalance, @whywomenrun.
What;advice;would;you;give;women;entering
an;SSAO;position;today?
Callahan: Be realistic about the expectations of the job: this
is not a 40-hour per week position. Women need to delegate
more and be realistic about work responsibilities. For many of
us, it is ingrained that we must be superwomen. You do not
have to be a vice president to be a successful woman in student affairs. Many truly respected and admired professionals
in the field are not vice presidents. Most importantly, follow
your passion.
Dalpes: I recommend to other professionals in the field that
they utilize professional development programs on diversity
and social justice to explore issues across and within social
identity groups. In order to come from a truly inclusive and
equitable place, we need to continuously examine and reflect
upon who we are in the world, how the world sees us, and the
privileges and limitations ascribed to us based on our social
identities. All of this allows us to move in the organizational
space of our institutions with clearer understanding and
accountability as leaders involved in transformative change.
Jacks: If the job is for you—go for it. Do not aspire to be an
SSAO because your ambition would be questioned if you did
not go for it. It is okay to be the director, dean of students,
or associate vice president. If you want to become an SSAO,
make sure you have the right stuff to handle the position: a
thick skin, the ability to delegate, and the tenacity to make
hard personal decisions. Do not allow the status, the title, the
salary, or the power to go to your head.
Lee:;Maintain your authentic self. Many times people believe
they must change to reach a certain level. You need to be
authentic in terms of who and what you are. If you are not
truly the person you represent, it will cause many problems.
Read everything— The Chronicle, NASPA/ACPA professional
professional publications, and professional books on leadership and management. Maintain professional awareness and
participate in professional development activities. LE
