When trying to choose the name for my website, I wrestled to come up with the right mix of words to encapsulate my approach to student affairs, as well as my vision and direction. 

It has always been important to me that people are not left out on the fringes of community, but rather that they are drawn in.  Many times in my own life I have felt a sense of belonging in various circles, however, not always 100% -- sometimes I felt that I could fit in, while also representing a unique (and sometimes challenging) perspective.  Although this has been strenuous at times, as I have developed in my own identity, I have discovered the “blessing side”.

A wise colleague once remarked that the gift in belonging, but not fully -- is that I can stretch and challenge others with another point of view, and at the same time create pathways to draw others in.

In student development, I strive to invite students into community, help foster a sense of belonging, stretch their perspectives, and journey alongside them as they develop their voice. 

My most powerful learning moments were those in which I was challenged by someone who thought differently than me, exposed to cultures with different values and traditions, and then asked to reflect upon my own knowledge and experiences to create meaning.  Many of these moments took place when I stepped outside of my own familiar way of life.  This is one of many reasons why I so greatly value off-campus study opportunities.  As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, these opportunities provide avenues to reach out into the globe, and through the formation of relationships and shared experiences, draw nearer together in greater understanding.