On Sunday, November 12 and Monday, November 13, five students from SNHU attended the Student Affairs Leaders of Tomorrow (SALT) Conference. This conference, brought to the attendees by the Office of Student Involvement, was delivered to students who are pointing their future towards student affairs. Student affairs typically refers to jobs or positions at a college or university not directly involved with academics (Student Involvement, Residence Life, etc.).
The SALT Conference was organized by SNHU’s own Colleen Lubin, associate director of student involvement and was backed by the NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Foundation, formally the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. NASPA is an organization which moderates both higher education student career development as well as student affairs professional development.
“We had 94 undergraduates from the Northeast attend and learn about the field of student affairs, including five students from SNHU that applied and were selected,” said Lubin.
Matthew Montminy, a SNHU senior looking to work in student activities, applied and attended SALT. Montminy stated that many members of the SNHU student affairs team worked to mentor him and his application. Montminy stated that Eastside Residence Halls Residence Director Jake Piecuch was critical to his application acceptance, as Piecuch reviewed Montminy’s application and worked with him to tailor it toward the conference. Additionally, Montminy also stated that Associate Director Residence Life, Matthew Petersons, as well as Assistant Director Student Involvement, Tom Balestracci, were crucial in Montminy’s development toward student affairs and the acceptance to this conference.
Shannon Conway, another student from SNHU looking to work as an academic advisor, attended SALT and learned many valuable skills while attending the conference. “I learned how to tailor my resume specifically for jobs in higher education and how to network with these professionals in the field.” Conway also stated that, through SALT, she gained multiple contacts and connections which she will later be able to leverage toward finding job opportunities.
“It was amazing to see all these talented undergrads who want to pursue a career in student affairs and were passionate about the work we do every day,” said Lubin. “That was my favorite takeaway!”
