Division of Student Affairs Named One of Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs
The VCU Division of Student Affairs (DSA) was recently named one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and in collaboration with the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). This prestigious recognition is given to student affairs divisions in the United States that cultivate a workplace environment that is vibrant, diverse, supportive, and committed to staff work-life balance, professional development, and inclusive excellence.
This year 22 institutions were honored in the 2024 class with VCU being the only division of student affairs in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive this distinction. In order to be considered, employees of the division were invited to complete a survey that examined categories such as family friendliness, salary/benefits, and professional development opportunities.
Dr. Myriam Kadeba, Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, led the efforts to pursue this honor. “I was encouraged by Dr. Aaron Hart, Vice President of the Division of Student Affairs, and Brooke Berry, J.D., the Associate Vice President for Belonging and Inclusion to lead this initiative,” Kadeba shared. “Dr. Hart emphasized the significance of such a national recognition for the Division of Student Affairs and the greater VCU community, so it was important to respond to his charge.”
Kadeba worked with a small team in DSA that included Dr. Yiyun Jie, Director of Assessment, and Ijuanzee Isom, Director of Human Resources for DSA. The three of them, which Kadeba affectionately referred to as the “dynamic trio”, worked together for two months to gather resources, employee satisfaction data, and division information needed to put together the submission for consideration by the selection committee.
Dr. Hart noted that it was important to pursue this distinction. “We have so many talented and dedicated staff in our division who are committed to the success of VCU students,” he said. “I thought it was important to share our stories, our passions and our successes. I have an obligation to create an environment where staff feel appreciated, valued and supported and I take great pride in meeting that goal.”
When learning that DSA had been awarded this distinction Kadeba said, “I was excited for what this national recognition means for the Division of Student Affairs and its staff.”
Dr. Hart added, “I was ecstatic, but not for me. I was ecstatic for the entire DSA team. They deserved this recognition and it was well deserved.”
The 2024 Most Promising Places Institutions will be recognized at the ACPA Annual Convention in Chicago, 18 – 21 March 2024. Dr. Hart and other members from DSA will be on hand to accept the honor.
For more information on the survey and a list of past recipients please visit: https://myacpa.org/most-promising-places/.
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education will present this national recognition to the winners on March 19, 2024 at the ACPA24 Convention in Chicago, IL during the Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and ACPA The Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs Reception.
Celebrating 40 years, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education is the nation’s only biweekly newsmagazine dedicated exclusively to diversity issues in higher education.
For additional coverage, check out this VCU News Article
Categories Fall 2023 - Spring 2024