PLIA XIONG

PLIA XIONG is a contributor to the new book “A Career in Student Affairs: Reflections from Hmong Student Affairs Educators.” In her chapter, titled "THERE IS NO RIGHT PATH," Plia emphasizes that there’s no single right path; it’s important to believe in yourself and pursue your passions. And even if things aren’t aligning with your expectations or leading you where you want to go, it’s perfectly fine to take a step back and reflect on your current situation and future aspirations. What motivates her is the chance to help students achieve their academic, career, and personal goals. She finds joy in watching the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences Ambassadors gain confidence in their public speaking and presentation skills during visit day events. Additionally, she enjoys discussing how Statistics and Data Science can fit into prospective students' academic and career aspirations. She also dedicates her time to support nonprofit organizations like the Hmong Education Council, HLUB Foundation, and Our Scholarship, Inc., which offer financial scholarships to Hmong and Southeast Asian scholars.

“If there is something that I have learned from this journey, it is that there is no right path to get to where you want to be. I believe it is important to take advantage of life opportunities and continuously develop your unique experiences and skills to help you reach your career aspirations. If it is not what you thought it would be or not taking you to where you want to be, it is okay to take a break to reflect on where you are and where you would like to be…” - Plia Xiong.

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.