Graduate student and new professionals community of practice

Thank you for stopping by to learn more about the ACPA Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCOP). Take some time to look through our content and don’t hesitate to share how you’d like to get involved. Use the menu below to jump to a section of interest. 

Please contact us at [email protected] or connect with the members of our Directorate Body with questions or ideas.

Our Mission

The Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCOP) is one of the entity groups within ACPA charged to develop and deliver year-round programs and services focused on enriching and supporting the needs of graduate students and new professionals in student affairs and higher education.

Our Vision

GSNPCOP strives to be the centralized gateway, network, and resource for graduate students and new professionals that elevates current issues, addresses institutionalized culture, produces scholarly work, and implements innovative practices that promote systemic change in order to transform higher education and student affairs.

our history

1988 // The Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCOP) was created as a standing committee through the work of 1987’s Graduate Student Member-at-Large, Anne Eskridge. The purpose of this standing committee was to create a system of support for graduate students and new professionals in ACPA by recognizing the need to have affordable convention registration, housing options, as well as programs and events focused on graduate students.

2011 // The Standing Committee matured to a more defined Directorate structure with positions and requisite skills defined.  Communication with the Standing Committee constituency was improved by an improved newsletter, including regular versions made available online through the ACPA homepage. The “inverted funnel model” of leadership development through the Standing Committee was introduced. The goal was to enable graduate students and new professionals to move in to the Standing Committee up through the Directorate and on to positions of great responsibility within the Association.

2015 // The Standing Committee transitioned to be a Coalition. The change represented several positive advances the Standing Committee was able to accomplish for the support of graduate students and new professionals within the field of student affairs. While working as a Coalition, Graduate Students and New Professionals helped emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration and helped make our entity group more inclusive to the entirety of our membership.

2017 // After conversations with ACPA in 2017, it was decided that a Coalition was not the best place for Graduate Student and New Professionals. Shortly after, Communities of Practices were established, and one Community of Practice was established for Mid-Level Professionals. In the summer of that same year, the Coalition officially changed its name to the Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice.

Newsletters

July 2024

Front page of the newsletter

February 2024

Front page of the GSNP newsletter

November/December 2023

Front page of the GSNP newsletter

October 2023

Front page of the GSNP newsletter

September 2023

Front page of the GSNP newsletter

2022-23 Year in Review

 News & Updates

upcoming events

ACPA Growing Knowledge Series: Racialization and Whiteness in College Student Leadership Education Efforts

Racialization and Whiteness in College Student Leadership Education Efforts Thursday, October 17th 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET Registration Link Complimentary for ACPA Individual Members, $10 for ACPA Chapter Only […]

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Growing Knowelege Series Webinar: Racialization and Whiteness in College Student Leadership Education Efforts

The Growing Knowledge Series (GKS) creates a pathway for those who have completed their dissertation, but never published, to share their scholarship with the profession through a hosted webinar. This collaborative effort […]

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ACPA Growing Knowledge Series Webinar: The Process of Design for General Classroom Facilities in Higher Education Institutions

The Growing Knowledge Series (GKS) creates a pathway for those who have completed their dissertation, but never published, to share their scholarship with the profession through a hosted webinar. This collaborative effort […]

Find out more

Meet the Directorate

Julie Townley
Julie Townley

Chair

She/Her/Hers

Clemson University

CARE Case Manager

Liv Maldonado
Liv Maldonado

Chair-Elect

She/Her/Hers

Appalachian State University

Coordinator for Residence Life

Convention Experience Team

J Ravancho
J Ravancho

Vice Chair

They/Them/Theirs/Silá

Miami University (OH)

Academic Advisor

Abby Roskos
Abby Roskos

Coordinator, Special Events

She/Her/Hers

Purdue University

Program Coordinator of Orientation Programs

McKenzie Kitzmiller
McKenzie Kitzmiller

Coordinator, Special Events

She/Her/Hers

Tri Delta

Regional Property Manager

Cole Verbeten
Cole Verbeten

Coordinator, Convention Ambassadors

He/Him/His

University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point

Residence Hall Director

Kayla Vukas
Kayla Vukas

Coordinator, Convention Ambassadors

She/Her/Hers

Arizona State University

Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Nick Malendowski
Nick Malendowski

Coordinator, Awards & Scholarships

He/Him/His

Eastern Michigan University

Assistant Director, Honors College

Networking Team

Taylor Swan
Taylor Swan

Vice Chair

She/Her/Hers

Virginia Tech

Professional Academic Advisor

Lauren Feldman
Lauren Feldman

Coordinator, Member Engagement

She/They

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

Assistant Director for Gender Equity and Sexuality

Rose Glenn
Rose Glenn

Coordinator, Member Engagement

She/Her/Hers

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)

Event Coordinator

Michael Chapman
Michael Chapman

Coordinator, Cross-Org Involvement

He/Him/His

University of Minnesota

Men’s Engagement Coordinator

Sydney Rubin
Sydney Rubin

Coordinator, Cross-Org Involvement

She/Her/Hers

The Ohio State University

Recruitment and Engagement Specialist

Operations Team

Steven Feldman
Steven Feldman

Vice Chair

He/They

Indiana University Bloomington

PhD Student

Jon McCullough
Jon McCullough

Coordinator, Records & Website

He/Him/His

The Ohio State University

Program Coordinator

Ramon Izquierdo
Ramon Izquierdo

Coordinator, Assessment

He/Him/His/El

University of Cincinnati

Community Coordinator

Maddy Wilson
Maddy Wilson

Coordinator, Communications

She/Her/Hers

Boise State University

Student Organizations Coordinator

Professional Development Team

Blanca Moncada
Blanca Moncada

Vice Chair

She/Her/Ella

San José State University

Coordinator for Academic Success

Anthony Dillard
Anthony Dillard

Coordinator, Professional Engagement

He/Him/His

Miami University (OH)

Graduate Resident Director

Nallely Dominguez Holguin
Nallely Dominguez Holguin

Coordinator, Professional Engagement

She/Her/Ella

Mile High 360

Postsecondary Advisor

Tyaira Smith
Tyaira Smith

Coordinator, Professional Engagement

She/Her/Hers

Miami University (OH)

Assistant Director, Center for Career Exploration and Success

Jose L. Medina III
Jose L. Medina III

Coordinator, Special Events

He/Him/His

University of California, Merced

Coordinator, Bright Success Center

Eddie Stakelum
Eddie Stakelum

Coordinator, Special Events

He/Him/His

Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton)

LGBTQIA+ Living Community Graduate Assistant

Get Involved in gsnpcop

Become a member of the Graduate Students & New Professionals Community of Practice! Actively participate in opportunities that provide resources and support to members, both personally and professionally, with care, respect, and encouragement.

Ready to join?

Joining an Entity through the ACPA Member Portal automatically identifies you as a member of that Entity! You will begin to receive Entity communications through their respective email listserv and have access to any resources they share!

  1. Login to your ACPA Member Account
  2. Click on Community Groups (Chatter)
  3. Click Groups
  4. Click Active Groups
  5. Find the entity you want to join and within that group, click +Join

Contact GSNPCOP via email at [email protected] to learn more about ACPA’s Graduate Students & New Professionals Community of Practice.

Any ACPA member can become involved and there are varying levels of involvement:

  • Become a Convention Ambassador
  • Attend our open business meeting and awards session at the annual ACPA convention
  • Submit a program proposal for Convention
  • Review award and scholarship submissions
  • Host a webinar

Additional Involvement Opportunities

ACPA Convention Ambassadors

Please check back soon for more information.

Submit to Present in the Growing Knowledge Series!

Submit to Present in the Growing Knowledge Series!

Recently successfully defended your dissertation? Undecided about working toward an article, but looking for a way to share your dissertation scholarship? Never published your recent dissertation research? The Growing Knowledge Series is for YOU!! This new offering...

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Apply to join the GSNPCOP Directorate!

Apply to join the GSNPCOP Directorate!

We are currently seeking to fill all of our Coordinator positions on our Directorate for the 2022-2023 cycle. Before completing the application, please be sure you have reviewed the Directorate Interest Packet for Coordinator Positions. For full consideration, please...

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GSNPCoP Scholarships

ACPA’s Graduate Student and New Professional Community of Practice is once again offering scholarships for ACPA25 and ACPA membership! If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]

 

For an overview of what scholarships we’ll be offering this year, please review below:

 

Convention Registration Scholarship

Application Closes: September 15th, 2024

Description: The Convention Registration Scholarship will cover the registration fee for the 2025 ACPA Convention in Long Beach, CA at Early Bird 2 Rate for ACPA Graduate Students and New Professionals ($239). If you are not an ACPA member and/or do not register by the deadline, you are responsible for making up the difference in costs.

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a current graduate student (Masters or Doctoral) or in the first 1-5 years of their professional role at the time of the 2025 Annual Convention. Also must plan to attend the 2025 Annual Convention February 16-19, 2025 in Long Beach, California.

 

Flat-Rate Scholarship

Application Opens: October 1st, 2024

Application Closes: December 15th, 2024

Description: This scholarship is intended to cover other financial needs associated with Convention other than registration (for example hotel, meals, airfare etc.) as we know that institutions might only fund certain parts of attendance. This scholarship’s recipients will each receive a flat-rate stipend to go towards conference expenses while attending ACPA25. The scholarship will most likely come in the form of a reimbursement – more information will shared at the time of acceptance.

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a current graduate student (Masters or Doctoral) or in the first 1-5 years of their professional role at the time of the 2025 Annual Convention. Also must plan to attend the 2025 Annual Convention February 16-19, 2025 in Long Beach, California.

 

Membership Scholarship:

Application Opens: October 1st, 2024

Application Closes: December 15th, 2024

Description: This scholarship is intended for grad students or new professionals who are unable to attend Annual Convention due to financial or other reasons. This scholarship will provide a year-long membership to ACPA where folks will be able to access ACPA2GO, the “Journal of College Student Development”; and “About Campus”, a network of Entity groups, and resources on the Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization.

Eligibility Requirements: Be a current graduate student (Masters or Doctoral) or in the first 1-5 years of their professional role at time of application submission

 

Additionally, we will looking for scholarship reviewers for these annual scholarships! Check back soon for a link to sign up to be a reviewer.

 

GSNPCoP Awards

The depth and quality of work by student affairs educators, higher education scholars, and faculty colleagues too often goes unrecognized. Get involved with GSNPCOP by recognizing and nominating a colleague, supervisor or supervisee, mentor, or other leader for an Award by October 31st.

 

The Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCoP) honors 7 individuals with the following awards during ACPA 2025 in Long Beach, California. If you have questions about this process, please contact the Awards Coordinator via email at [email protected].

Outstanding Master’s Student

This award is given to a current master’s degree student in a higher education or student affairs-related program. The recipient of this award will have made a positive contribution (either through research or service to the profession) to the field of student affairs and/or has made significant contributions to their graduate program and institution.

Outstanding Doctoral Student

This award is given to a current doctoral student in a higher education or student affairs-related program. The recipient of this award will have made a positive contribution (either through research or service to the profession) to the field of student affairs and/or has made significant contributions to their graduate program and institution.

Outstanding New Professional

This award is given to an individual in their first three years of professional (post-graduate) employment. The recipient of this award will have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their department, institution, and the field of student affairs (either through research or professional service). This individual should demonstrate a propensity for developing students and utilizing theory in practice.

Outstanding Mentor to Graduate Students

This award is given to a student affairs professional or graduate preparation faculty member who goes above and beyond in their efforts to provide guidance and support to graduate students in higher education or a student affairs related graduate program.

Outstanding Mentor to New Professionals

This award is given to a student affairs professional who goes above and beyond in their efforts to provide guidance and support to new practitioners in the field of Student Affairs.

Outstanding Dedication to Professional Service

This award is given to a new professional or graduate student in higher education or a student affairs related field who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the field of student affairs through involvement in professional associations (both local, regional,and national), committees, conferences, and/or graduate program recruitment.

Racial Justice and Decolonization Research Excellence Award

This award is given to a practitioner or researcher within Student Affairs who has dedicated research hours and/or publications related to the Strategic Imperative on Racial Justice and Decolonization. Research should highlight the progression or action steps outlined by the Strategic Imperative.

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