Shane Long, a 2024 graduate of the PhD in Public Policy with a Concentration in Educational Leadership and Policy and Assistant Dean of Students at the University of New England presented the session Do You Know the Way to VPSA? Professional Development for the Preparation of Senior Student Affairs Officers based on his dissertation research at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region I conference in Burlington, VT in November of 2024 and again at the NASPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA in March 2025. Dr Long’s article, also titled Do You Know the Way to VPSA? Professional Development for the Preparation of Senior Student Affairs Officers, was recently accepted for publication by the . The publication date is pending.
Dr. Long’s study used a set of eight competencies gathered from the literature to assess the professional development activities that SSAOs perceive prepared them for the role. A newly developed instrument was used to assess the usefulness of 11 common professional development activities in each competency area. The study used quantitative data analysis to determine the significance of these activities in preparing SSAOs for the role. The results showed these SSAOs found discussions with colleagues were perceived as the most effective form of professional development.