As part of Florida State University’s Careers in Student Affairs Month, students from three area colleges had the chance to attend a panel with leading student affairs professionals. During the event, these panelists discussed their career journeys, the obstacles they’ve overcome and future opportunities in the field.
The leadership panel featured Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs at Florida State University; William Hudson Jr., vice president for Student Affairs and enrollment manager at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU); Christen Givens, dean of Enrollment Services at Tallahassee State College; and Amelia Parnell, president and CEO of NASPA — Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
The unique networking event with distinguished alumni was among several activities organized by the FSU Division of Student Affairs in support of Careers in Student Affairs Month, a nationwide initiative dedicated to acknowledging and promoting the student affairs profession throughout October. The event was filmed in a special episode of Connect with VP Amy Hecht, FSU’s Student Affairs podcast, shared on YouTube and Spotify.
Parnell moderated the 90-minute discussion before addressing the audience’s questions. Panelists were asked to speak about their career paths and what motivates them, as well as any advice for those considering a role in student affairs.
Givens, who holds a master’s in counseling psychology, said she “fell into student affairs and fell in love with it,” finding that she can apply and use her previous training when speaking with parents and students.
Hudson, who earned his doctorate in rehabilitation counseling from FSU, said he originally wanted to be a guidance counselor. He recognized he had a heart for CARE — FSU’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement, which offers multiple programs that support student success.
The FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs of 15 years said, “Seeing the impact you have on students — we have students whose family are below poverty level — and by one degree, it changes that family. It touches my heart and rejuvenates it.”
Hecht earned her undergraduate degree in mass communications and television production from FSU, then went on to earn her Ed.D. and MSEd in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. She shared that as an undergraduate, she never imagined she’d come back to FSU.
In addition to encouraging “a love and willingness to learn,” Hecht emphasized the importance of balancing the role of administrative duties and leadership and not losing touch with students, a lesson from a course she took in 2002 that she still remembers to this day.
While their journeys were different, each of the panelists agreed that no two days in student affairs are alike.
“We have really strong leaders in student affairs,” said Hecht. “Sometimes you have to address different things that may not be happening in your direct area. You pivot and you pivot again.”
Hudson said he likes to compare those in student affairs to water “because we have to take any shape and form. You must have an ebb and flow.”
He added the importance of practicing self-care for handling stress and stated he’s found solace in music, reading and playing cards.
“Find outlets and find individuals who will check in on you,” he said. “Take that time and don’t bring those issues home.”
Parnell has been with NASPA for more than 10 years and became its president and CEO in July 2024. She is a frequent keynote speaker at national and regional conferences, and presents topics related to higher education, student affairs, college affordability, student learning outcomes and institutions’ use of data and analytics.
“If somebody had asked me all those years back where I thought I’d end up for a career, I would not have said lead a national membership association in student affairs,” Parnell said. “I did not have that on my bingo card. Wherever you are in your journey, as you can see from the four of us, you can land right where you want to be.”
When asked about what they thought lay ahead in the field, panelists responded that they were hopeful that advances in technology could offer more personalization and be more relational.
For more information about FSU’s Division of Student Affairs, visit studentaffairs.fsu.edu.