KOUA THAO

KOUA THAO is a contributor to the new book “A Career in Student Affairs: Reflections from Hmong Student Affairs Educators.” In his chapter, titled "A LEAP OF FAITH: MY JOURNEY AS A HMONG STUDENT AFFAIRS PRACTITIONER," Koua shares with us about how believing in oneself is crucial for success and how his life experiences helped him understand his identity. This understanding clarified his goals for life and education.

“I was able to make sense of my lived experience and find that there were sequential events that led me into higher education…I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason…And I learned the importance of finding an organization that will value you and the work that I will be able to contribute to the institution and student success…” - Koua Thao.

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.