Unlocking the Potential of Community Colleges: Insights from Dr. Bette Simmons

In a captivating episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, Dr. Jill Creighton sits down with Dr. Bette Simmons, an esteemed leader in higher education, to delve into the transformative role of community colleges in today's academic landscape. Dr. Simmons, a celebrated figure in student affairs, shares her journey and insightful perspectives that challenge traditional views of community colleges and highlight their evolving importance in serving diverse student populations.

A Career Dedicated to Student Success

Dr. Simmons has devoted over four decades to enhancing student engagement, success, and leadership development, primarily within community colleges. Her career began serendipitously when a convincing interview led to an unexpected but remarkable path in student affairs at County College of Morris. Her story is a testament to the impact of passion-driven work and the profound influence mentors and community connections can have on one's professional trajectory.

Reimagining Community Colleges

The conversation challenges the outdated perception that community colleges are a "second choice" for students. Instead, Dr. Simmons emphasizes their vital role in providing accessible education and addressing the needs of underrepresented students and adult learners. She discusses the significant strides community colleges have made in workforce development and dual enrollment programs, illustrating their commitment to meeting industry needs and offering students a robust, supportive educational environment.

Tackling Student Challenges

Dr. Simmons also candidly addresses the growing challenges faced by today's students, including basic needs insecurity and mental health issues. She shares anecdotes of students who have triumphed over adversity, thanks to the supportive networks provided by community colleges. Her stories underscore the importance of holistic student support systems, which are increasingly necessary to navigate the multifaceted challenges students face in higher education today.

A Legacy of Mentorship and Leadership

As a pioneer in the development of NASPA's knowledge communities, Dr. Simmons’s contributions have shaped the broader landscape of student affairs. Her advice to new professionals is straightforward: seek connections, remain curious, and never underestimate the value of persistence and resilience in building a fulfilling career.

Why Listen?

This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in understanding the evolving role of community colleges and the future of higher education. Dr. Simmons’s experiences and insights not only celebrate the successes of these institutions but also advocate for their continued innovation and inclusivity. Listening to her story could ignite a deeper appreciation for community colleges and inspire educators and administrators to rethink how they can best support their students.

Tune into this enriching dialogue to explore how community colleges are not just places of learning but hubs of opportunity and transformation. TRANSCRIPT

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, sheherhers, your essay voices from the field host. Welcome back, SA Voices. Chris and I have just gotten back to our respective homes after spending some amazing time with you in New Orleans for the annual conference. Like many years before, we were able to capture some live recordings of the podcast while we were there, and in particular this year, a few episodes live in front of some of you. So thank you so much if you were able to make space in your annual conference schedule to come see us.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:52]: The first episode we're going to bring you is with doctor Betty Simmons who won this year's Fred Turner award for outstanding service. Now this recording was captured live, so the audio quality may not be up to our usual standards, but I promise you that the recording and the conversation itself is incredibly rich. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr. Simmons. Betty is a distinguished leader in higher education and student affairs, recognized nationally as a NASPA foundation pillar of the profession, and regionally with several distinguished community college leadership awards. Betty has dedicated her career to advancing care, engagement, student success, and leadership development predominantly in community colleges. She retired from County College of Morris in 2022 where she spent forty two years advancing in various student affairs positions, ending as the VPSA overseeing initiatives focused on enhancing student development, student engagement, wellness, and retention. She's known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to fostering supportive and inclusive environments among students, student affairs professionals, faculty, and academic administrators. Throughout her career, she's implemented impactful programs that address critical student needs, including academic support centers, wellness centers, and basic needs resources.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:57]: Her expertise spans various areas of enrollment student services, student support services, and student engagement, all in the community college environment. As a respected mentor, Betty has guided countless student affairs professionals identifying and implementing effective and efficient roles and organizational structures, advocating for innovative approaches to developing strong student affairs professionals. Betty holds a doctorate in higher ed from Seton Hall University. She frequently serves as a community college and student affairs consultant on topics ranging from student affairs assessment, leadership development, and organizational management, as well as an accreditation evaluator. Betty resides in New Jersey with her partner. Now in retirement, she's found more time for volunteering in her community, traveling, especially cruising, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:39]: Betty, welcome to SA Voice News. How are you? 

Dr. Bette Simmons I'm great.

Dr. Jill Creighton How's your conference?

Dr. Bette Simmons Exhausting. Yes. Still have a day and a half to go. It's just wonderful now.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:49]: Yes. For our listeners, it is day two of NASA's annual conference. We're here at 08:30 in the morning, so the first session of the day. We see that many of our colleagues, may not have been able to to make it to the sessions this morning, because it was such an eventful evening last night. Last night was also Saint Patrick's Day. Dr. Bette Simmons [00:03:04]: Yeah.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:06]: Here in New Orleans. And I don't about you, but I accidentally became part of the parade.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:03:12]: I watched it from a distance

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:13]: Yeah. I was walking back from dinner, and I came right in front of our hotel, and I was, oh, I'm in this. I had to cross the street. Okay. But we're live taking today at the conference and celebrating your new award With NASPA. But congratulations

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:03:26]: Thank you so very much.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:28]: Awards are here this afternoon. Excited to celebrate you.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:03:32]: Thank you. Among many of our fellow award winners here.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:03:34]: So I'm a little. Okay. Very excited. Thank you.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:37]: But as we talk about your story today, the first question we always like to ask is, how did you get to your current seat? Now we know that you are in in retirement alone. You've had a forty two year career in student affairs, and so we'd love to hear that journey.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:03:49]: Sure. I'll make a quick story because it could be a mom's story, but to finish my undergraduate education, I had a branch of teaching assistantship to go to Harrison State University. And over the summer, I had a conversation with my father who was a high school guy in sweater. And it was tenfold because I wasn't a % sure that that's what I wanted to do. My undergraduate degree is in foreign language, Spanish and French. And I knew that I didn't wanna teach and I didn't wanna work for the government. But I didn't know what I'm allowed to do.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:04:24]: So talking with my gal, it's a question of, well, what do you wanna do? And I didn't have an answer to that. So by the end of the summer, we made a decision, my dad and I, with his help, that I'm most important girl in this country and pursue something that I wasn't passionate about. Passion is really and has all this been important to me. So I stayed in my community. I worked for a key organization for a short style. And then Mark Feller, who was an adviser board at Campbell College of Morris in New Jersey, he said, no. There's this job for delaying for educational opportunity fund. Why don't you go for that job? I'm not qualified.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:05:00]: Now you just go for it anyway. Get the experience of an interview and see where it takes you. This was in 1979. Affirmative action was all the rage. My community is a very diverse community at the time, but County College of Morris was not diverse. And so I did apply for the job. I'm interested for the job, had the best review in my entire life because in my mind, I was going to get the job. It was very relaxed.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:05:26]: I barely should work myself in practice mode. And in practice mode. Yeah. I did not get the job. But Community College of Parks was so impressed with me that they said he'd like to hire you anyway, and they created this job for me as he sits into the dean or student development. And I jumped at it because I had a wonderful experience as an undergraduate in Hunda residence halls. I was an RD, and I just endured working with students. And so that's how I dealt my career.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:05:56]: But I'm telling you, I told the vice president trajectory? Where do you see yourself going? And remember, County College of Horace is a community college. I said to him, I would like to have your job someday, but but at a real college. I will always remember those words. And for anybody who is a community college person, it's painful to hear that, to be called, you're not a real politician. The good news is I ended up with a huge job after forty two years. I remember this always at a real college and learned to appreciate the value and the work and the impact that community colleges do every single day. I am so grateful for that experience that CCI gave me.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:43]: We were talking before we started taping today that you were part of the community college ethic assist squad in full

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:06:48]: of school? Absolutely. A %. Yeah. Can you talk to us a little bit about

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:52]: what community colleges meant to the communities in the areas that you became your career and that's contrasted to how would the community colleges now?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:07:01]: That's a great question. Now back in the eighties, at least in Morris County, let me give you a little bit of history of Morris County. It is a wealthy county. It's one of the wealthiest counties in the country and the sense among the community is that you don't go to County College Morris Avenue Branch Pick High School. You weeds. You go somewhere else. You go to to send you somewhere else. It's only those people who, it's probably not going to be their career goal to go to college, just go to Camden.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:07:33]: Or if you were looking to just get a couple of credits and dig yourself, go to Camden. It wasn't well respected and I think that that's historical community colleges in our history that we are second class, third class, and fourth class citizens and not the places for students to go. And also the student experience, you just go to the class and then you leave. There is no campus life. There is no student engagement. There is no leadership development. That's not true. And that was one of the things that was really important to me when I began my career at Cameron College of Mars is to embrace that we can be a real college even greater than we already are.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:08:13]: And we look at how many people are now enrolling in community colleges across the country and how well respected we are and the opportunities for people who may be underrepresented or may not be ready for the traditional college experience right out of the gate or for that adult in mutual who is really looking to retrain, tool, and get something new or get more, you have a pump in place, Lori, and we have better respect for community colleges today than we did forty years ago.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:44]: We're seeing community colleges being first choice. I suppose. Absolutely. I see community colleges doing a much better job

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:08:50]: at meeting industry Yes. With ACT. The workforce development conversation started in community colleges because you were really focused on what is the community and so as it's it's really interesting to watch the trajectory of community colleges and how people are now making that economic decision that I can still get to University of Maryland, where Cornell, we work with David transfer students, like, going through the community college, really strong integration. And then hear from the students to come back and say, you know, I was better prepared because of my time at CCM than I if I were a freshman starting at four years SOLID. It's it's just a, a wonderful, wonderful option. We also started both in

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:32]: the Middle East conversation, Virgin Olive Community Colleges rather than the four year where our doctoral degree in directing institution FC. Can you talk to us about what that conversation was like when you were first having it?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:09:43]: You know, it was like, what? Why would that be? It's it's all about the preparation and the contribution of of all of your education, but also the complete development and experience that the community colleges can give both inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom. And I was forever arguing my students about the learning that occurs outside the classroom that will set the student up for the rest of their life. The fact that they will remember in more cases than not something that happened outside the classroom than what they learned inside the classroom. They will connect with a counselor and I have a counselor or adviser who is here in the audience with me today. They will remember their experience with that person more than they will in some cases with some of your faculty as they move through that educational layer and then the contributions that they have during the whole way.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:34]: What else was born in the community colleges throughout your career that maybe you're seeing other institutions like sacred for now?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:10:41]: Sure. Dual enrollment is gonna be you know, I made a decision to stay in higher ed because I didn't wanna work in, the primary and secondary, educational environment. Well, they're on campus now, and they're there in large numbers. And post COVID, a lot of colleges are really relying on dual enrollment. Those high school students who are high achieving or looking to really strengthen their academic experience sooner rather than later. And to see more students graduating college even before they get their high school diploma, that was really born in 18 colleges. And to see four year colleges now in that space, in some cases, at least in New Jersey, taking credit for it on your cutting edge, when your tuition rate. It's amusing.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:11:28]: It's amusing. Sing with adult learners. She needed a college. We're building space when you count view of the time, adult learners will flock to the community colleges because I needed to improve in order to get up in the work. You see now more of our four year counterparts, our baccalaureate counterparts engage in the adult learner more because they understand that that's where the population is gonna come from. It's not always just in one compartment.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:53]: We also see in the community college system as time has gone on, again, with that first choice implement, we're seeing that transfer articulation agreement change over time. What was that like with that started?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:12:04]: First of all, you know? So in New Jersey, before we had legislation that said you must, it was a bit of a struggle. We have some institutions that we your students could get to when they went down the end of the loss as credit. There would not be any question about the value of the education that students experience when they came to college. A favorite story that that I had was a student was taking a course to attend our school. It was taught by a faculty member who was a faculty member at a four year institution, exact same curriculum, exact same textbook. Everything was the same. It was just being taught in your campus. When the student went to transfer the course, he wasn't gonna transfer.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:12:42]: And so we had to go to the four year school when the argument is being taught by your instructor. This This is the same curriculum as what your instructor will be teaching. We really had to fight tooth and nail to get our credits recognized. Over time and through the health legislation in some cases, there was an appreciation or the value of what's happening in classroom, community college the home experiences, that there's less equity in what was being taught in the curriculum, and there's a smoother path for transfer. There's still some challenges, and that happens a lot when students change their minds. After I graduated my community college, am I gonna go something that's different? Well, I'm not necessarily gonna guarantee that complete transfer, but we work at, and we had those conversations for the four years falls.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:13:26]: How have you seen the student needs change over the course of the time you've been at the community college system? Especially community colleges.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:13:34]: You inspect if people are struggling. That's one of the reasons why they come. It's the economics of it. We're less expensive. We'll close our own. We don't have to worry about room and board. And it didn't have the problems with the basic needs that we have today. In the nineteen eighties, sure, were there problems? Absolutely.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:13:51]: But to the the impact that we're seeing today, with so many students who are couch surfing or sleeping in their cars or not sure where they're going to be to take a shower the next day. They're not able to be top to side what to do with your children because they can't afford childcare, and they've gotta be able to do something. That wasn't to the extent that it is today. And the ability that the community college has is particular to help students identify and rarely get resources, but also provide more additional scholarship numbers for them. I do not have conversations with students who would say to me, you mean I could come and not pay a dime because of scholarships that you are giving in addition to what the 500 state couple minutes again? Absolutely. If your need is that high, we can do that. And then that will save you some money along the way so you will continue to transfer onto that four years full and get there. It's so much freer than ever.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:14:50]: And it's you see that's the shift in how the credit students are taking because they can only afford this much. And so that, you know, extends the trajectory to get them to serious needs, debris, or whatever, denture they're going for. It's so heart wrench to see the struggles that students are experiencing today, the mental health issues that students are experiencing, the students who are learning disabilities and learn differently. It wasn't human magnitude that it is to gain. We didn't see it as much back in these.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:15:17]: I know you mentored literally thousands, if not tens of or hundreds of thousands of students per

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:15:22]: your career.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:15:22]: Do you have a favorite student success story?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:15:25]: Oh my goodness. I have so many. I have so many. But there was a student at County College of Morris, and Maureen Moody, or I might remember Ross, she was a student with a disability, an older student. She was already there when I came to County College of New York, seeing it, and she was wreaking havoc with the vice president of student development at the time. She didn't take one the rest of the time. So she was probably our longest enrolled student. She was angry on occasions, and she was a delight to work with on other occasions.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:15:56]: But she challenged us. She actually helped push the college to really recognize what the needs of students with disabilities were and how to respond to those. And, again, this was happening in the first of the eighties and the nineties. The ADA was not as in-depth as it is now in the support services around students with disabilities. She lived in housing and transportation was a big issue where she could find food was an issue. Making sure that she bought for classes that she wanted, the faculty that she wanted. She was a chairman. She had a lot of anger inside and pain for what she experienced, but she still marched on.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:16:34]: She dealt with a realistic medical issues during her tenure. I think it took Roscoe's to seventeen, eighteen years to get her associate's degree. When we walked that young woman in my opinion across the stage, it was heart wrenching, tear jerking. The whole college community knew Roz and knew what she learned to work. To see her graduate was just a magnificent experience because Ed's munch to her and we look we had to do together with us. That's like I'm a little Mary Faber, whoever I've

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:05]: seen in Ferrisburg, right? Yes. Absolutely.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:17:08]: And she was also engaged in campus life. So it's not just about the classroom, it's about the student activities and what are the events and having many a possible premiere, an individual with multiple disabilities to be a normal student. We have to get creative and she helped teach us along the way. I think those are my favorite moments when

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:27]: you get to see a student across the graduation stage that you know has been engaged with many, many support services. And you also know that you can't celebrate that as loudly as you want to. And so I think, generally, you're just For biggest challenge. Absolutely. Yeah. Now you've had a career at basically the same institution for a great chunk of of your time in the profession, which I mean is pretty rare.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:17:49]: I think

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:49]: that there's anality in student affairs that you need to move out to, I think, partially because we have, you know, the in response to which, you know, there's only one senior senior affairs officer position. Maybe there's two AV key, you are a q four. Many, many more director opportunities, things like that. But being at the same institution, requires a level of patience. Yep.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:18:09]: A trigger for Greerbrook that

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:11]: I think, that we see in the profession now, we we do have a well earned eagerness to grow our careers Yes. Knowing that, you know, there are there are just limitations to, you know, who's gonna move forward. Sydney, you talked about the journey of of choosing to stay at one institution and choosing to grow within it? Sure.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:18:28]: It's a great question too. And you know the interesting thing is I didn't choose to stay. In my mind again because I wanted to get to a real college and in my mind that was a private knowledge, I was only gonna stay for two years. But the college took an estimate in me and after those two years passed and our years was on and I knew from an assistant dean's position to to a counseling position, I felt that, okay, Hudson really set some roots here for sure at times. And after eight years as a counselor, I decided that it was time for me to leave the college. Well, the college didn't want me to leave. And the individual who was one of my professional mentors, doctor Edward J. Yaw, he was Jack with him and Dean at the time, Katie King, college's president.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:19:11]: And he said to me, Benny, you need to lay my office and he and our ambassadors. You need to work on establishing relationships with community and it's about who understands the the thinking of students, what their needs are. You need someone who has a good relationship with people on campus. Would you be willing to do that? It was a leap of faith for him and it was a risky move for me because of choking out of student affairs, which is where my card was, working with students, eyes of the door, looking at students. But I also knew that my director of counseling thought I was too involved in other areas outside of the counseling office. And then I was losing my way. This is what they did to counseling. So I knew that I couldn't stay there.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:19:51]: So I took that heat buffet and of work, as he has sipped into the president for four years. It was one of the smartest professional moves that I made because I was able to get a thorough understanding of the entire operation working out of the president's office. Look working with work trustees, working with the mayor of the community. I was the funded action officer at the time and got to work even more closely with faculty and other individuals. I would not have had that opportunity had I stayed where I was, and it would have taken me a while if I'd left for college to establish that type of work, opportunity to become what they good old to me. So I did not for four years and I enjoyed it. Learning enough of finances, I'm learning enough strategic planning, I'm learning about, you know, facilities management. It was all part of what I was doing in the president's office.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:20:40]: And then we went through a reorganization because hospice containment needed to happen, and it was decided upon position as assistant to the president wasn't necessary. So I started looking again. And during college course, I once again stepped down and said, no. We don't want him to leave. We would like to see him go back from his student affairs area as he said 15. But we were getting rid of the vice president. When we eliminated the vice president's position, there was some penis students, and he wanted me to come back and pay the dean's students. Interesting thing, and when we talked about it actually just this morning, I ended up with math and being responsible there supervising the department that I left.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:21:18]: The counseling office there were just me. So all of my colleagues in the counseling office who were colleagues at the time were down to my staff. And it was a wonderful experience at the end. I'll rake the spout for the work that we do in student affairs. I loved what I did. And that's when I've also became from the University of NASA. And our dean of students like the Turing said, Betty, you've got to go to NASA. You've got to study the way some of the principles that that organization has to build without lived artificial vision, especially after a reorganization where we lost the vice president.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:21:48]: So I did. And one thing after another, he left. I said, okay. I'm gonna leave. And I thought, well, I'm gonna leave. We want you to come in as a dean of students. Every time I called about leaving the college, the college said, don't want me to leave. We have more for you, and we want you to do more for us.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:22:06]: And I lived in the community. I've worked there for so long. You establish roots that you're not willing to live in a follow-up, and I didn't see many to to leave. So every time I called that evening, they're held a separate. The major event that really solid quite a nice time there was I'm a super talented student. The former academic vice president had moved up to Rockley Community College in New York State, as a president. He called me and Betty Lippert College for vice president of Superfairs at Rockland Community College. Oh, him out of that.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:22:37]: Oh, what I'm not gonna get? They're not gonna hire me. They offered me a job. Do I stay where I'm comfortable? Or do I take the rest and do I leave and go someplace and explore? You fly out. The grass will start on the other side of the dance. Pause me now to say to say yes, but then can we fall into the forest? Step up and say, what? You wanna be a vice president? Okay. We're gonna merge your corporation with the enrollment services division, and we want you to be the key to student the adviser for doing the student development enrollment issue. You've got it. They increased my portfolio.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:23:10]: I'm keen on saying, you know, it's a mix. And I love that poster. I love the people that I worked with. I love the work that we did. So even though I didn't necessarily plan to begin, it was hard to leave. And after forty two years, it shows you. I think it shuts in there and us to the same institution. I really can't handle that.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:23:28]: You're probably the luck that we were able to accomplish.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:23:30]: You mentioned your entree of to NASPA. And one of your, I think, biggest hallmarks for our organization here is, you still identify as the grandmother of the knowledge of new. Yes.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:23:41]: Yeah. Could you talk to us another? Sure. I was attending a NASA conference. Shannon Ellis was the president at the time or the chair of the board now. And Teresa Powell that since passed away was at Temple, and she is becoming the the chair of the board. I said to Theresa, and we are closing, I wanna do something to help you in your your positivity. So they had I said, okay. Sure.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:24:05]: Boom. They wanna hear, you know, that's national director of massive networks. So those were very little social, if we accept NAST. How I said, oh, sure. Okay. I can do that. As we were going through the transition, because you come here as elect and then you become the national director. So while I was in the Atlanta status, I can recall from a student and Theresa, She also had my own education director.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:24:31]: She also had my own education in the college tomorrow, so I knew. I think I can. I'm never a mentor. And they said, we got this really neat idea. We want the networks to grow. We want the networks to become UNESCO's entree into the profession for individuals and to kind of create these affinity groups. And we want them to be acknowledged communities. Are you going to stay with us, you develop these? As Crystal knows, you don't have to say no to any one of those.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:24:59]: Yeah. And so I did, and I started out making that transition from networks to knowledge communities. And I will tell you, Jeff, at the time, when this happened, you will not have any more than 12 communities. How does this happen? You have over everything. Over the hundred likes. So it's amazing as the grandmother of the Casey to see how many children. I would

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:25:22]: just let you know in the audience, we're just going in for a number of at least one Casey or at least, like, I don't know, like, five,

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:25:28]: I think. And to Gwen's credit, she has this vision, and she can articulate it in such a way that it helps to really set the stage and set the foundation for this is what we should create. We knew the knowledge, peace, we knew the networking was still important. And there were some networks that it was a little bit of a struggle to get them to make that shit, especially if their dad would be based ones. It was, you know, it was more of a daddy or wasn't acknowledged. Well, how can we partner? And we keep doing it, and it's successful, honestly, because we're getting ready to celebrate twenty five years of knowledge candidates. Mhmm. So I'm going fast.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:26:03]: That's amazing. I feel like you're NASDAQ team is good. Yeah. Thank you.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:07]: You also sent time in the region to your advisory board. You spent time in the foundation board. You so weaving your way through NASCLA, do you have any advice for professionals who are looking to become more adult?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:26:17]: Sure. Connect with someone. If you see someone walking down the corridor or you hear a speaker, well, don't be afraid to step up to that person and say, I just dreamt to speak. I would like to chat with NASPA and how I can get involved. Our president, Amelia Purnell, is awesome. She's very approachable. Kev was the same way. The NASPA board of directors are a terrific group of people.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:26:43]: Having Sarah Devs chair of the foundation board getting involved in fundraising, fund development. There were so many people who know so much about NASPA that it's easy for someone who is new to the association to say, hi. I'd like to be involved. Go through the commons area and just chat with anybody. They'll pull you in. That's possibly pulling folks in. And then we could do one thing. It's not that hard to present a program or go to a region or get for KC unit that is Glenda and just offered volunteer at the moment.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:27:16]: But this all it took was one step. And then here you are, forty five years later as the grand mayor of Nazareth.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:27:24]: Well, Betty, this season of our podcast is focused on the past, present, and future of student affairs. So we're out seeing Oliver has the season to respond to one question each on past, present, and future. So I'm gonna ask you first, in our past, what's one component of the history of student the question that you think we should continue to carry forward or alternatively can let go? You know, it makes me think back to

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:27:47]: my graduate courses, and my doctoral courses in higher education and when we talk about student affairs and the way a casting affairs came towards us And it was all about taking care of her students. And as people who have worked for you know, first, second, last is always about students. And we should never use that sleep because the work that you do is helping to enrich that at whatever stage the marital graduate they are. I think student affairs is really embracing students even more so because of the basic needs that we talked about, the differences in their learning styles, the language they interact. We certainly have COVID students now. For years, social and emotional learning is a challenge because they haven't had that experience to the extent of early sphere. So if we keep the students first and foremost in our line of sight, then I think that the student affairs profession will continue to do the right one that we do. I also think something that got to let go of is not paying attention to our staff.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:28:51]: And we tend to focus on lunch with students that we forget that the statins giving twenty four seven of their time, and I'm gonna take care of our staffing. It's kind of what we heard in our opening session from Amelia. It's and was awesome. They were really strong when we talked about the joy and the pain. We're all experiencing one as professionals. And sometimes we just put that behind us because I'm gonna really focus on those students. So I'd say, don't let that go. Key fellows will be far.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:29:21]: Into the choices, what's happening in the field right now that's going well for student affairs?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:29:25]: There's a whole new crumb of these student affairs professionals coming up. In spite of challenges to be in our profession, we've got the younger generation that's really excited about our work. They've had a really exciting college experience as undergraduates. They wanna be a part of Booking Jeep on a daily basis. I think that that gives me hope for in the future, because the present is really incubate a whole crop of senior Garrett's professionals that will feature a profession of our so kinda AT and T questions at

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:29:56]: once they're in and out. And looking at the future in an ideal world, what

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:30:00]: does the needle need to do to cry towards our future? Mhmm. Especially now, I know this question may have hit different. Yeah. I have

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:30:07]: a little bit of sound.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:30:08]: Yeah. Def we tend to continue to have to justify our existence and our worth and our value. And I know that NASA has got a task force, right, you know, that is really taking a look at strategic planning and setting the the the course of our future and trying to understand not just the work and value of going to college, but the work and value of student affairs. And I think that we have to stop apologizing for who we are and getting the rest of the world to understand that you all can't exist with Alice. And I think student affairs has got to stay strong with that. That, yeah, we are the ones that you will call when there is a crisis. We are the ones that you will call when you need to figure out something to empower the whole student. We are the ones who are willing to hear the differences of the lives of the students throughout their entire career.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:30:53]: So we need to stop apologizing for who we are and really tell people, you need us. So leave us alone. And don't tell us how to do our jobs. We know how.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:31:17]: Or NCCWSL unites college women and gender nonconforming students from across the nation for a transformative experience in leadership development, networking, and inspiration. Tailored for undergraduate students who identify as women or outside the gender binary, NCCWSL provides a welcoming and empowering space for to build leadership skills, connect with peers, and find inspiration to drive change. Through engaging workshops and hands on activities, NCCWSL challenges and inspires attendees to make meaningful impacts on their campuses and communities long after the conference ends. The conference is happening May 28 through May 30 in College Park, Maryland, and the call for proposals is currently open until 04/07/2025. If you are a speaker, facilitator, educator, or a student that wants to submit a proposal for the conference, we encourage you to submit your proposal by April 7 to be able to be considered for that. The four learning outcomes that the conference is focusing on is awareness of self and others, career engagement, civic engagement policy and advocacy, and leadership development. Again, April 7 is the date to be able to submit your proposal and encourage you to do just that. You can find out more on the NASPA website.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:32:42]: The NASPA emergency aid micro grant initiative is currently open. The application opened the application opened on March 25 and closes on 04/08/2025. Unexpected Unexpected and emergency expenses remain a persistent barrier to on time college completion and student success. A staggering number of students, particularly those enrolled at public two year and most minority serving institutions, report that they would be unable to come up with $500 within a month. NASPA has a deep commitment to addressing basic needs of college students, and we recognize the importance of emergency aid programs in supporting the persistence of students facing unexpected financial crises. This year, NASPA is awarding two and four year accredited institutions with emergency aid micro grants sponsored by TIAA. NASPA is awarding selected institutions with up to $10,000 to provide emergency aid resources directly to students. To apply for this, you can go on to the NASPA website to complete a application form and expect to receive a link to the contact for all application correspondence and only one application per institution will be accepted.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:34:02]: Again, find out more about the NASPA emergency aid micro grant initiative on the NASPA website. Finally, today, there's a new culture of respect webinar that is happening called evaluating title nine cases without gender bias on 04/17/2025 at 3PM eastern. Researchers find that essentially all reports of sexual abuse are credible, but the vast majority of title nine complaints end in inaction. In this workshop, doctor Nicole Badera will reflect on her year long ethnographic study of one university's Title IX process and explore the reasons that Title IX administrators hesitated to intervene in clear cut cases. Specifically, this workshop will focus on the role of gender bias throughout the Title IX process. Throughout the Title IX process, including staff interactions with complainants and respondents, expectations guiding informal resolution, assessment of evidence in investigations, sanctioning decisions, and provision of supportive measures. You can find out more and sign up for this great online learning opportunity in the NASPA online learning community at learning.NASPA.org. Every week, we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:19]: So we are going to be able to try and keep you up to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways because the association is as strong as its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether it be getting involved with a knowledge community, giving back within one of the the centers or the divisions of the association. And as you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify for yourself where do you fit? Where do you wanna give back? Each week, we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, Hey, I see myself in that knowledge community. I see myself doing something like that. Or encourage you in other ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now to offer other things to the association, to bring your gifts, your talents to the association, and to all of the members within the association. Because through doing that, all of us are stronger and the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:41]: Chris, thank you so much for letting

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:42]: us know what's going on in and around NASPA. We always appreciate your update. And, Betty, it is time for our lightning round.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:36:51]: What about seven questions in about ninety seconds? Okay. Ready? Yep. Alright. Question number one. If you were a conference keynote seeker, what were your entrances be? Fantasy. Bright Earth Moon Fire. Number two. When you were five years old, what did you wanna be when you grew up? A library.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:37:06]: I loved books. I loved being in the library and it started when I was very young reading.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:12]: Number three. Who's your most influential professional mentor? Gwen Dungey. Number four, and your last question,

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:37:17]: your essential student affairs read. So it's really funny because I get an interim a yearning, and I made the staff read Amelia Parnell's data book because David is so critically important to the work video now, and they had no idea about David and Sedo Harris.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:33]: Number five. The best TV show that you've been vinging, like The Pit.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:37:37]: I haven't heard that. Oh, you have to see The Pit. It's an emergency room in Pittsburgh, and it's like modern day era VR. I mean, apparently, the people in in emergency rooms of it, it is the most realistic version. Yeah. Aside from that, I watch zero again, which is very applicable what's happening in today's topic. Right? You've seen it? Number six. The podcast you expect the most Alice's

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:00]: week to in the last year.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:38:02]: This one. Oh, I've never known podcasts before. Okay. I'm old school. I'm I'm I'm I'm People are. We're not giving you these bags. And so when you all contacted me to do this, I said, oh, I gotta listen to a podcast. So I went on the site and then listened to your podcast that Mike's Yahoo did.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:38:19]: Mike's person was Jay. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Awesome.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:22]: And finally, number seven, any shout outs you'd like to give personal or professional?

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:38:27]: So I wanna give a shout out, but never hear it really. I'll make him, to my partner in life, Tyrone. He has been with me for over forty years through his journey. And without him and his support, his understanding, and willingness to be second class to my profession, I wouldn't be where I am today. I also wanna give a shout out to my staff because what I can get to accomplish as a professional, I couldn't have done it without the normal team. At County College of Morris, as I always said, we had the best, the best team on the college campus. They were so and any of my staff from County College of Morris get an opportunity to hear because it's it's one of them.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:08]: Buddy, I so appreciate getting to learn more of their story today and kind of hear the reflections on a four decade career and see if there's how things have changed, how things are kinda the same, and we're leveling now. So you just fit so beautifully in this season of the past, present new future of student affairs. And once again, congratulations on your life. It's a student who is Jeremy.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:39:26]: I would appreciate that. If anyone would like to fit from

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:29]: a conversation with you after this episode, but it was happy to be fine here.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:39:32]: So, I am on LinkedIn. Apparently, I'm on Facebook too, but I spend more time on LinkedIn for more professional visits. And you could always look me up in the in the NASA membership directory, send me an an email, shoot me a text message. I'm more than happy to. Betty, thank you so much

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:46]: for sharing your voices. That's the name.

Dr. Bette Simmons [00:39:48]: Thanks for giving me the opportunity to pray.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:55]: This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, a podcast brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners, and we continue to be grateful that you spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can always email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for doctor Jill l Creighton. We always welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and please leave us a five star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really helps other student affairs professionals find our show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by doctor Jill Creighton. That's me.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:35]: Produced and audio engineered by doctor Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.