As graduate students in Syracuse University School of Education’s (SOE) M.S. in Higher/Postsecondary Education program, Alexis Alfaro G’26 and Alexa Jones G’26 have had many opportunities to hone their skills as student affairs professionals.
Through the program, both have experienced practica and graduate assistantships, and now they are strengthening their ties to their professional community by helping to shape attendees’ experiences at NODA’s nationwide spring conference.
Welcome and Belonging
Otherwise known as the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education, NODA continues to use its original acronym, which dates from its founding in 1976 as the National Orientation Directors Association. “NODA is a professional organization for higher education practitioners focused on supporting students’ successful transitions into and through college by advancing orientation, transition, and retention practices,” explain Alfaro and Jones.
Alfaro, currently a graduate assistant in SOE’s InclusiveU program, and Jones, a GA in Syracuse University’s Office of First Year Seminar, joined NODA in 2025, originally participating in its Graduate Internship Process.
“We both served as NODA interns this past summer,” they explain. “Alexa was a graduate intern at Temple University, and I was a graduate intern at the University of Oregon. Through our continued involvement with the association, and encouragement and guidance from Nick Stines, Assistant Director of New Student Orientation at Syracuse University, we discovered the opportunity to volunteer with the planning committee for NODA’s Spring Learning Conference, which is an in-person conference available to all undergraduates, graduates, and professionals.”
The pair are working alongside seven other NODA members from various institutions to help bring to life the Spring Learning conference, which is in fact four events held at locations across the United States and online in February, March, and April.
“The conference we are planning will be held at Towson University in Maryland,” the pair continue. “Alexa and I serve as the two members of the Attendee Experience Committee, which focuses on how participants experience the conference from start to finish. Our goal is to foster a sense of welcome and belonging, making sure attendees feel supported, included, and connected throughout the event.”
“Alexis and Alexa exemplify what we aim to cultivate in our Higher Education master’s program.”
Professor David Perez II
To achieve this, Alfaro and Jones are planning a variety of social events for attendees, including conference-wide opportunities and smaller group gatherings organized by constituent groups (graduate students, undergraduate students, and professional staff). “These events will incorporate icebreaker activities to foster connection and community among participants,” they add. “We are also coordinating a service-learning project that attendees can take part in, which will involve assembling hygiene care kits to be donated to Towson University’s Basic Needs Hub.”
Theory into Practice
“Alexis and Alexa exemplify what we aim to cultivate in our Higher Education master’s program—the integration of research and practice,” notes David Perez II, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Principal Investigator of The Pedagogy of Student Success Project (TPSSP). “Their work with NODA’s Attendee Experience Committee demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how to operationalize concepts like inclusive excellence and sense of belonging that we explore in our coursework.
Perez II continues, “By centering attendee experiences and designing intentional opportunities for connection across diverse constituent groups, they’re not simply planning events, they’re enacting an asset-based approach to professional conference design that align with the broader goals of TPSSP. This kind of applied learning, where students integrate theory into practice within professional contexts, is essential to developing reflective practitioners who can lead meaningful change in student affairs.”
As complement to their current graduate assistantships and earlier practica—in Syracuse University’s Office of First-Year Seminar, Falk College Career Services, and Office of Academic and Student Services—Alfaro and Jones say serving on NODA’s Attendee Experience Committee has given them valuable insight into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into hosting a professional conference.
“We both plan to continue working in the orientation, transition, and retention field, so this experience has provided a unique opportunity to better understand the scope of conference planning within the profession and to engage with diverse perspectives from across institutions,” they observe. “Being part of the back-end planning process has deepened our appreciation for the intentional work required to create meaningful, inclusive experiences and has further informed our professional growth in higher education administration.”