Student Research and Assessment
Student Projects
First and second year students in the Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) MS program are supervised by Dr. Nicole West and Dr. Nate Quinn who work with professional staff in the Division of Student Affairs (and in other campus departments) to complete research/assessment projects during their 4-course sequence of research and assessment classes. Learn more about our students' projects.
Professional staff interested in submitting topics for study for the 2022-23 academic year, should contact Dr. Nicole West or Dr. Nate Quinn.
SAHE Assessment Symposium
Each year the SAHE program, in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, hosts an Assessment Symposium for the University, where 1st year SAHE students present posters describing their research projects, and 2nd year SAHE students deliver oral presentations to share their assessment projects.
The 2023 SAHE Assessment Symposium will be on Thursday, April 13th from 8:00-12:00 p.m. On the 3rd floor of the Plaster Student Union.
Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum
Each year the Missouri State Graduate College and the Graduate Student Senate host the Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum, which showcases graduate student research and creative works through oral, poster, and performance presentations. Abstracts are submitted by 1st year SAHE students to present the findings of their completed research projects and by 2nd year SAHE students to present the findings of their completed assessment projects. The 30th Annual Frank Einhellig Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023.
The following SAHE students have been recognized for outstanding research posters or presentations:
2022
- Jemimmah Namodi
- Sayyam Hamza
2021
- Taylor West
- Hannah Peak
- Sierra Chitwood
- Apryl Meyers
- Samuel Schrum
- Samuel Robison
2020
- Elayna Coleman
- McKenzie Mathewson
- Aidan Williams
In addition, the following SAHE students have been awarded non-thesis research funding to support their projects:
- Sayyam Hamza
- Natalie Benne
Research-Related Awards
The following SAHE students and faculty have received national awards related to their implementation of or insturction related to research in student affairs:
- Mathewson, M. L. (2021). Gerald Saddlemire Masters Research Award. Association of College Personnel Administrators (ACPA).
- West, N. M. (2021). Excellence in Teaching Award. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA)
Publications & Presentations
As a result of their work with SAHE faculty and campus staff, the following students have had the findings of their research and/or assessment projects accepted for publication or presentation.
Publications
- Hunter, K. (2022-23). Perceptions of the campus environment and its impact on students’ enrollment decisions. Journal of Student Affairs, 30, 35-51.
- West, N. M., Payne, A. N., Smith, M. D., Alston, A. D., Bonds, N. T., Akalugwu, W. N. (2022). A collaborative autoethnography of six Black women walking tightropes in higher education. Negro Educational Review, 72(1-4), 131-163.
- West, T. L., & Fridley, A. (2021). Athletic identity and academic success: Supporting the development of student-athletes. Journal of Student-Athlete Educational Development and Success, 3, 1-25.
- Coleman, E. R. (2019-20). Breaking the silence of struggle: Experiences of students facing food insecurity. Journal of Student Affairs, 29, 29-47.
- West, N. M., & Greer, A. J. (2019). Forecasting the future success of Black American women in student affairs. Negro Educational Review, 70(1-4), 27-54.
- Mathewson, M. L. (2019-20). The impact of social media usage on Missouri State University students’ mental health. Journal of Student Affairs, 29, 146-160.
- Wagner, M. M. (2018-19). Build the pyramid: A best practices literature review for living-learning communities. Journal of Student Affairs, 28, 153-162.
Presentations
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- Bourgeois, N. A. (2019, October). True Colors: A tool for student supervision and advising. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference, Fargo, ND (refereed).
- Coleman, E. R. (2019, May). Experiences and perceptions of students facing food insecurity at Missouri State University. 2019 Impact Summit: College Student Mental Health Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
- Coleman, E. R. (2019, October). Experiences and perceptions of students facing food insecurity at Missouri State University. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference, Fargo, ND (refereed).
- Hash, K. M. (2019, April). The college search process for students from low-income rural backgrounds. Missouri Association of College Admission Counseling (MOACAC) Conference, St. Charles, MO.
- LaRoue, K. R. (2019, October). Inclusion beyond academics: Disability support in student affairs. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference. Fargo, ND.
- Mathewson, M. L. (2019, May). The impact of social media usage on Missouri State University students’ mental health. 2019 Impact Summit: College Student Mental Health Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
- Qian, Y. (2020, May). Narratives related to acculturative stress among Chinese international students. Educational session at the 2020 Impact Summit: College Student Mental Health Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
- West, N. M., Smith, M. D., Alston, A. D., Coleman, E. R., & Williams, A. J. (2020, March). Developing an AER toolkit to make your statement in student affairs [Session/travel cancelled due to COVID-19]. Undergraduate Student Pre-conference at NASPA Annual Conference, Austin, TX (refereed).
- Williams, A. J. (2019, October). Students as the heroes of their stories: Adjusting our advising approach. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference, Fargo, ND (refereed).
- Wilson, D. (2019, May). Providing invisible accommodations: Faculty perceptions of student accessibility needs. Missouri Association of Higher Education and Disability (MO AHEAD) Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.