MEE HER
MEE HER is a contributor to the new book “A Career in Student Affairs: Reflections from Hmong Student Affairs Educators.” In her chapter, titled "MY JOURNEY IN STUDENT AFFAIRS: FROM MENTORING TO ADVOCACY," Mee shares with us about the issue of food security among students and emphasizes the need to destigmatize food insecurity, drawing from her own college experiences. The high cost of education contributes to food insecurity on campus, as student debt continues to rise, and affordable housing and childcare options are scarce. When students worry about where their next meal will come from, it negatively impacts their physical, mental, academic, and social well-being. Those facing food insecurity often struggle with lower grades due to lack of sleep and difficulty concentrating, which hinders their focus. Additionally, these students may feel isolated because they can't afford to join their friends for meals.
“Addressing food insecurity is not easy. It is a systemic issue that needs to be addressed at the state and federal levels. What I can do at the higher education level is find ways to address basic needs in a holistic manner to ensure that all students can be successful by providing resources to alleviate those barriers. Food insecurity heavily impacts students of color and low-income students. We should do our best to retain our students from withdrawing from college because it trickles down negatively putting people in a cycle of debt and poverty…” - Mee Her.
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.
