Current Student Testimonials

Savannah Culver

Cohort 13Savannah Culver

What initially drew me into the SAHE program at Missouri State was the program’s emphasis on research and assessment. Both are growing emphases in the field of higher education. I believe having experience in both research and assessment will distinguish me from my peers once I enter the job search and will continually benefit me once I actually begin my professional career.

Since beginning the program, I have greatly enjoyed the knowledge my professors and fellow cohort members have brought from working in various functional areas of student affairs. I especially enjoy hearing from my peers during the Student Affairs Theory course in which we explain how we see these theories we learn about in class being lived out by students in our graduate assistantships. Actually being able to apply what I learn in class to my assistantship and eventually to my professional career is a surreal experience that continually pushes me and reminds me why I want to pursue student affairs.

Logan Elliott

Cohort 13Logan Elliott

Personally, I did not attend Missouri State for my undergraduate degree, so coming to a new learning environment was a bit frightening for me. However, the faculty, staff, and students in the program were so welcoming and friendly that I felt it was almost impossible to not find my place at Missouri State, specifically within the SAHE Program. The flexibility of my graduate assistantship in New Student and Family Programs allowed me to come to Missouri State the summer before starting the program. I was able to have a hand in planning and implementing our orientation programs (SOAR and The Ursa Experience) before starting classes, which was a huge learning opportunity for me and helped further develop my passion for building relationships with students.

Since starting classes in the fall, I have learned so much both inside and outside of the classroom. My professors, while kind and compassionate, hold my classmates and me accountable for graduate-level work, which though challenging, provides education for me and my peers which feels unmatched from other programs in the field. Having a small cohort that takes all classes together has been one of the most impactful parts of this whole experience. The 11 of us are like a small family that holds each other accountable, challenges each other to grow, and provides support not only in the classroom but in our day-to-day work as well. Coming to Missouri State to pursue a degree in student affairs has been one of the best educational choices I have made thus far, and I can't wait to see where it takes me.

Aidan Williams

Cohort 12Aidan Williams

Even though I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Missouri State University, my experience in the SAHE program has given me experiences and insights into the institution that I didn’t have as an undergraduate student. It was really insightful to have these two different views of my home institution because it required me to critically reflect on how my involvement shaped my experiences, and how those are different from others.

One of my favorite parts of the program is the cohort size. I couldn’t imagine being in a cohort of 25-30. During our first semester it was easy to get to know everyone, especially since we all take the same classes together. It’s nice to have this built in support structure, especially since we’re all adjusting to grad school assignments and new professional identities. I couldn’t imagine going through a program and not having that sense of community with others.