Education Commons^™

“Raining” In Your Emotions As A Student Affairs Professional, Chantel J. Vereen

The Vermont Connection

As younger generations of student affairs professionals become

more involved in the field and aware of their mental health

identity, there appears to be a disconnect between young professionals

and those who are older and keep the state of their mental

health hidden. The author questions whether young professionals’

openness about their mental health identity lines up with the

institutional/general professional expectations for dealing with

emotional trauma in their field. In this narrative, I discuss my

understanding of how student affairs professionals encounter

tragedy while holding their own mental health wellness. I will

further delve into how professionals can feel …

From Disconnection To Sentience: Creating Space For Practitioners Who Experience Student Death, Kevin L. Wright

The Vermont Connection

Student crises are a common issue within higher education. When a student comes to a college campus, it is the duty and responsibility of student affairs professionals to empower them and contribute to their holistic success. Unfortunately, some students fall through the cracks and the result can conclude with a student transferring to another institution, failing their classes, dropping out of college, or in a worst-case scenario, death. Working in higher education requires hard work and heart work. There is an emotional investment in the work that is produced by scholar-practitioners. When unfortunate situations occur that result in a student’s …