Meet Amie: Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs

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I had the opportunity to work alongside Â鶹´«Ã½ affair professionals in Canada before coming to the United States. From there, I found joy in taking the journey with Â鶹´«Ã½s as they learn and develop in their chosen career path. My growing passion for Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs led me to find the HESA program at WMU. 

The first day I inquired about the program through their website, I received a response right away. They thoroughly explained to me the HESA  curriculum, which includes a combination of Â鶹´«Ã½ development, leadership theories and diversity cognate. The program was very accommodating in helping me find a graduate assistantship at the same time. So, currently my GA at the Seita Scholars program includes a full tuition scholarship and financial support through out the duration of my program. 

The HESA program offers a practice-based experience where I can apply and consolidate my academic learning and graduate assistantship practice in developing skills and competencies needed to thrive in the field. 

It has been a joy and a great learning curve partnering with very passionate and talented Â鶹´«Ã½ support professional at the . It is a honor to be able to serve the community of persistent and resilient scholars.

The program was established in 2008, it is the nation's largest, most comprehensive collegiate program that supports youth who had experience in foster care. Our program is focused on transforming WMU Â鶹´«Ã½s from foster care by integrating Â鶹´«Ã½ experience to build a strong foundation of Â鶹´«Ã½ for their  future.  

I'm the graduate assistant in the Seita Scholars program and I support the co-curricular programing. We have this program called Summer Early Transition Week where we help incoming first-year WMU Â鶹´«Ã½s transition into college life. At the same time, as the semester is going for fall and spring semester we have this program called Graduation Preparation. In the program we help our incoming graduating Seita Scholars transition to their professional life, so we conduct seminars, partner with different departments across Western to give them that knowledge and network to support them as they transition to their chosen career paths.

More leadership and technical skills. And how to solve problems regarding Â鶹´«Ã½ transitions and their daily activities in the universities. Like how can I organize events, learn from each other and build a community at the same time.

It has been a year of growth and exciting new learning for me. The HESA program is built in a way that I'm able to connect knowledge in my undergraduate business management classroom discussion and to my work with Â鶹´«Ã½s and staff at the Seita Scholars Program. 

My goal after graduation is to work in a research university with diverse talents and Â鶹´«Ã½ body. I shared this desire with HESA faculty and my advisor, Dr. Romana Lewis. Dr. Lewis is very supportive and she gave me a few options and connected me with international and domestic partners.

I'm very excited to start my internship in summer 2023 at the international education center at the University of Toronto. Its Canada's globally top ranked research university.   

Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs at WMU

The higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs (HESA) concentration in the educational leadership program is offered in-person in Kalamazoo with Â鶹´«Ã½ to take some of your electives online. The HESA program operates like a cohort-based program with most Â鶹´«Ã½s starting in fall semesters. Students from all undergraduate majors are welcome and the program serves full-and part-time Â鶹´«Ã½s. The 39-credit hour curriculum combines a Â鶹´«Ã½ development and leadership theory core, diversity and inclusion electives, and two individualized field experiences.

Â鶹´«Ã½ the Sieta Scholars Program

Seita Scholar Â鶹´«Ã½

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Eva

Major: Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs
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Major: Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs
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Jonathan

Major: Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs
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Mike

Major: Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs
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Terry

Major: Higher education and Â鶹´«Ã½ affairs
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