DR. SOUA XIONG
Dr. Soua Xiong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation at California State University, Fresno, where he also serves as the Coordinator of the MS in Counseling, option in Student Affairs and College Counseling master’s degree program. He is a Past-President of California College Personnel Association, the California State Chapter of ACPA-College Student Educators International, and has 10 years of student affairs experience in the community college and university settings for programs designed to increase college access and success of underrepresented students in higher education.
A CAREER IN STUDENT AFFAIRS highlights the unique experiences of Hmong student affairs professionals from a wide range of professional levels, institutional settings, and functional areas. Each author shares a journey into student affairs and how this was navigated to become a student affairs career. Each chapter also concludes with advice for Hmong students who are considering a career in student affairs and provides insights for prospective and current Hmong college students. This book is a great resource for student affairs professionals, faculty, and institutional leaders working with Hmong students exploring career options in higher education. Because many of the professionals were the first in their family to enter higher education, reading their experiences can be very beneficial to many Hmong students.
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
Dr. Soua Xiong
Growing up, my parents and I knew it was going to be important for me to get a college degree, but did not know how to get there. All that changed towards the end of my eighth grade when we were living in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Someone from Fitchburg State University came to our middle school to recruit students for the TRIO Upward Bound program. I was super excited and could not wait to get home to share with my parents that there was a program that can help me get to college. I applied and was accepted into the program. Upward Bound helped me to cultivate a college-going mindset, graduate from high school, and pursue a college education.
During my undergraduate and graduate years at California State University, Fresno, I continued to participate in TRIO and other educational opportunity programs, such as TRIO Student Support Services Program, TRIO McNair Scholars Program, and College Assistance Migrant Program. Because of these programs, particularly their caring and supportive staff members, I am the first in my family to complete a bachelor, master, and doctoral degree. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Fresno, and my Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the joint doctoral program between Claremont Graduate University and San Diego State University.
TRIO and other educational opportunity programs not only had a significant impact on my academic trajectory, but also my career trajectory. As a participant in these programs, I have first-hand knowledge of the positive impact they can have on students who are first-generation college students, come from a low-income and/or migrant/farm-working backgrounds like me. For that reason, my career in student affairs was dedicated to giving back to these types of programs and paying it forward to other students in these programs.
Prior to becoming a university professor, I was a student affairs practitioner for 10 years in programs designed to increase college access and success of underrepresented students in higher education. These included roles at California State University, Fresno as an Outreach Recruiter for the College Assistance Migrant Program, Graduate Student Advisor for the TRIO Educational Talent Search Program, and Counselor for the TRIO Student Support Services Program at Reedley College. Currently, as an Associate Professor of Student Affairs and College Counseling at California State University, Fresno, I have the privilege to teach and train individuals to enter the field of student affairs with the counseling skills necessary to support the holistic development and success of students from diverse backgrounds.
I briefly share my own student affairs journey to highlight how each of us will have our own journey into the field of student affairs, what motivates us to stay on this career pathway, and how we navigate our career as a Hmong student affairs professional. As you read this book, I hope the experiences and advice of the authors will inspire, motivate, and encourage you to consider a career in student affairs.