Thanks for everything!

Three years ago when we stepped into the NASPA National Knowledge Community Chair-Elect position for Women in Student Affairs (WISA) we had so many ideas of what this fantastic group of women could accomplish together.  We had both been involved heavily at the regional level and were excited to have a national platform to showcase the good work of our members.

As our term is now coming to a close, we have a few thoughts on our time with WISA…and more than a few people to thank!

1.  Social Media Connection and Support is the Heart of WISA: Five years ago, under the fantastic leadership of Sherry Mallory and Suzanne Onorato, we created the WISA social media team.  WISA was the first NASPA Knowledge Community to implement a multifaceted social media strategy that included Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.  Members connected during Twitterchats on topics like “Having It All,” “Mentorship vs Sponsorship” and “Fulfilling Your Goals in 2015.”  We posted jobs on Facebook and connected via LinkedIn.  They shared inspiration on Pinterest.  Basically, WISA was everywhere! 

In November at our NASPA conference call we presented an overview of our social media strategy to the 28 other KC’s and were given kudos for our strong online presence.  We were excited to hear that WISA is a national model for NASPA on how to successfully use social media to engage and connect with membership.

2. The WISA Blog Continues to Thrive!: Over 150 people have written for the WISA blog since it’s inception a few years ago and each week we see a flury of activity as people read it, share it and discuss it.  We are so proud of the readers who continually contribute, promote and support this free professional development opportunity.  The WISAKC Blog continues to be a success and regularly reached several hundred views each month in 10 different countries.

3. Regional Representatives Bring WISA to You: Our regional WISA KC Chairs are creative, dynamic and invested in providing resources for women. They are charged with assessing the unique needs of their region and connecting with individual members.  Several regions have conducted drive-in WISA conferences, networking nights, book clubs, and institution-based WISA groups.  Thank you for your commitment to WISA.

4. Sharing our Knowledge: In addition to actively soliciting engagement by our members, as a KC, WISA is expected to generate and share knowledge about women’s issues in student affairs.  We have done this in a multitude of ways.  Not only do we use the social media platforms discussed above to share and disseminate knowledge, but we have provided articles for the NASPA Knowledge Community publications.  Many thanks to our authors of these publications – they were outstanding additions to the body of knowledge for women in our field:

·Building and Sustaining Relationships Founded Through Social Media – Ciji A. Heiser and Melissa Robertson, Fall 2013 Publication - http://www.naspa.org{filedir_3}2013_NASPAKC_Fall_Publications.pdf

·Imposter Syndrome: Implications for Women in Student Affairs – Julie A. Payne-Kirchmeier, Spring 2014 Publication – http://apps.naspa.org/files/2014-Spring-KC-Publication-Final.pdf

·Women and Well-Being: Navigating the Elements—Rachel Aho.  2015 Publication (in progress)

In addition to these publications, WISA actively encouraged people to submit program proposals on issues important to women in our association.  We continue to sponsor key programs, and highlight presentations at the annual conference focusing on themes important to our knowledge community.

5. Creating New Knowledge:  During these past two years, WISA took on the challenge of diving into the current literature, and of performing both a directed and open content analysis of our social media platforms, all in an attempt to discover new areas of research that need attention for our work.  In 2014, Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, Amber Garrison Duncan, and Ciji A. Heiser got down into the weeds and developed some research areas for further study.  These were further enhanced by Niki Rudolph and Melissa Robertson, and our updated research agenda will be unveiled at the 2015 NASPA Conference in New Orleans, LA.  Many thanks to these women for pushing the research agenda for women in our field!

6. Advocating for Women: Last year, WISA KC along with the APIKC, penned a joint statement condemning the racist statements from students at the University of Illinois Urbana Champagin directed toward Chancellor Phyllis Wise, and encouraged the community to engage in dialogue and educational activities about the intersecting issues surrounding this incident of sexism and racism.  Through this type of advocacy, we believe that WISA can continue to advocate on behalf of women in higher education.

7. Supporting Spaces for Connection, Conversation and Growth: WISA continued to be a primary partner with the Center for Women Board over the past year.  We supported financially and with our presence the Center for Women Board awards, and the joint networking reception in which these award recipients are honored.  Additionally, we continued to provide financial support for the Women of Color social at the national NASPA conference.  Finally, we appointed WISA KC members to serve as liaisons for both the Inclusive Excellence Task Force and the Identity-Based KCs group for NASPA.  These connections were crucial as our membership continues to ask for information and conversations based on intersections of identity

All of these accomplishments could not have happened without the support, involvement and leadership of so many people.  Coordinating WISA truly does take a village. While this is not an exahustive list, we would be remiss if we didn’t thank a few folks for their commitment to WISA, support during our tenure and overall awesomeness.  Some of you have been with WISA since the very beginning. YOU are the reason why we do what we do! Thank you!

Ciji Heiser
Melissa Robertson
Jasmine Clay
Marlene Kowalski-Braun
Peggy Burke
Jasmine Clay
Rachel Aho
Lizzie Dement
Grace Hahn
Claudine Meilink
Roxie Tucker
Jenna Day
Renee Dowdy
Kristyn Tomlinson
Amy Jorgensen
Sarah Hoffarth
Shelly Morris Mumma
Kelley Stier
Megan Wyett
Jenesha Schem
Victoria Kathrein
Amanda Landowski
Daviree Velazquez
Amber Garrison Duncan
Niki Rudolph
Quinana Stone
James Stascavage
Frank Ross
Suzanne Onorato
Sherry Mallory
Mary Jo Gonzales

All in all, it has been a distinct honor to be able to work with all of the people associated with the Women in Student Affairs knowledge community.  This community has been a significant part of both of our professional journeys; quite frankly, without many of the connections we made through our KC work we would not be where we are today.  Our hope is that these past two years have built on previous work by the KC, brought more peolple and their voices into this community, and served as a place for women and those suppoting women’s issues in our field to come together and discuss successes, challenges and opportunities. 

Please continue to support WISA under what promises to be more phenomenal leadesrhip under the co-chair team of NIki Rudolph and Kathy Rose-Mockery.  These two women have a vision for our KC that is amazing, and we cannot wait to see what comes next.

Thank you again – and we look forward to seeing you at the KC meeting for WISA at NASPA 2015 in New Orleans!

All the best,

Julie Payne-Kirchmeier and Ann Marie Klotz