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 gsnpcop@acpa.nche.edu or connect with the members of our Directorate Body with questions or ideas.
Our Mission
Our Vision
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.
GSNPCoP Scholarships
ACPA’s Graduate Student and New Professional Community of Practice is once again offering scholarships for ACPA26 and ACPA membership! If you have any questions, please reach out to acpagsnpconex@gmail.com
Convention Registration Scholarship
Application Closes: September 17th, 2025
Description: The Convention Registration Scholarship will cover the registration fee for the 2026 ACPA Convention in Baltimore, MD 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 2026 Annual Convention. Also must plan to attend the 2026 Annual Convention March 30 – April 2, 2026 in Baltimore, MD.
Flat-Rate Scholarship
Application Closes: January 11, 2026
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 ACPA26. 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 2026 Annual Convention. Also must plan to attend the 2026 Annual Convention March 30 – April 2, 2026 in Baltimore, MD.
Membership Scholarship:
Application Closes: January 11, 2026
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. If you have questions about this process, please contact the Awards Coordinator via email at ACPAGSNPConEx@gmail.com.
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.
Newsletters
December 2024
November 2024
July 2024
February 2024
upcoming events
News & Updates
GSNP Election Results!
Announcing the newest elected leaders for GSNP: Chair-Elect: Cole Verbeten he/him/his UW-Madison, SOAR Operations Specialist New Professional Vice Chair for Professional Development: Eddie Stakelum he/him/his Rochester Institute of Technology, Residence Coordinator...
GSNP Election Information and Candidate Bios
Special GSNP Election (Update from December 8, 2025): A special election for the Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice is now live! Voting takes place December 8th – November 15th. All active GSNP members should receive a unique link via email...
ACPA26 Needs Graduate Student Interns!
Deadline to apply is 31 October 2025 Applicants will be notified of their application status by 21 November 2025. Click here to apply ACPA is excited to recruit ACPA26 Graduate Convention Interns to assist with the execution of the ACPA Annual Convention in Baltimore,...
Meet the Directorate
Blanca Moncada
Chair
She/Ella
San José State University
Coordinator for Academic Success
Cole Verbeten
Chair-Elect
He/Him
University of Wisconsin-Madison
New Student Orientation Coordinator
Liv Maldonado
Past Chair
She/Her/Hers
Appalachian State University
Coordinator for Recruitment & Student Operations
Convention Experience Team
Abby Roskos
Vice Chair, Convention Experience
She/Her/Hers
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Program Coordinator
Rockson Owusu Amponsah
Coordinator, Special Events
He/Him/His
University of Northern Iowa
Residence Life Coordinator
Serenity Wolf
Coordinator, Special Events
She/Her
Clemson University, Honors College
Associate Director Scholarship Programs
Natasha Adams Spencer
Coordinator, Awards & Scholarships
She/Her
North Carolina State University
PhD Student & Research Associate
Adam Marino
Coordinator, Convention Cohort
He/Him/His
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
New Professional
Tessa Sprinkle
Coordinator, Convention Cohort
She/Her
Appalachian State University
Resident Director
Networking Team
Sydney Rubin
Vice Chair, Networking
She/Her/Hers
The Ohio State University
Recruitment and Engagement Specialist
Ashleigh Costley
Coordinator, Member Engagement
She/Her/Hers
Winston-Salem State University
Professional Academic Advisor and Student Success Coach II
Dr. Mohamed Gomaa
Coordinator, Cross-Organizational Involvement
He/Him/Él
Hamburg University
Research Assistant/PhD
Anne Badgett
Coordinator, Member Engagement
She/Her
Appalachian State University
Resident Director
Soheli F Jony
Coordinator, Cross-Organizational Involvement
She/Her/Hers
Indiana University Bloomington
PhD Student, NSSE Graduate Assistant
Shammas Bashir
Coordinator, Cross-Organizational Involvement
He/Him/His
University of Houston
Instructional Assistant – CliftonStrengths
Operations Team
Jaclyn Coppinger
Vice Chair, Operations
She/Her
New York University
Academic Advisor, Advising Operations – College of Arts and Science
Martha Kakooza
Coordinator, Data and Assessment
She/Her
Morgan State University
PhD Candidate
Festus Cobena Ainoo
Coordinator, Website Content and Development
He/Him/His
University of Maryland, College Park
Instructor & Graduate Coordinator for Leadership Studies
Chloe Dragos
Coordinator, Social Media
She/Her/Hers
Western Carolina University
Professional Development Team
Eddie Stakelum
Vice Chair, Professional Development
He/Him/His
Rochester Institute of Technology
Residence Coordinator
Blake Eisnaugle
Coordinator, Professional Engagement
He/Him
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Career and Academic Advisor
Julia Assis Azevedo
Coordinator, Professional Engagement
She/Her/Hers
Clemson University
Graduate Assistant for Scholarship Programs and Recruitment
Bri Kind
Coordinator, Professional Engagement
She/Her/Hers
Miami University
Special Projects Graduate Assistant for CAS’s Dean’s Office
Emmanuel Bosompem
Coordinator, Special Events
He/Him/His
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Assistant Residence Director
Kayla Engel
Coordinator, Special Events
She/Her
University of South Carolina
Residence Hall Association Coordinator
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!
- Login to your ACPA Member Account
- Click on Community Groups (Chatter)
- Click Groups
- Click Active Groups
- Find the entity you want to join and within that group, click +Join
Contact GSNPCOP via email at gsnpcop@acpa.nche.edu to learn more about ACPA’s Graduate Students & New Professionals Community of Practice.
- 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.