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New School, New Job, New Life: Supporting The Transition Of Student Affairs Graduate Assistants, Karen J. Haley, Brandi Hephner, Peggy Koutas

Educational Leadership and Policy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Student affairs professionals have a responsibility for the professional development of graduate assistants (GAs) in the department as these positions are marketed as first professional positions. While prior literature has addressed the transition of graduate students into graduate school, there is little about the transition process for students with graduate assistantships in student affairs. Student transitions are important as they may set the tone for their first professional experience and ongoing professional development. Four key themes emerged from the voices of the graduate student participants in this study as they described their transition process into a GA position. First, they …