Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs Recognized for Leadership and Student Impact at 2026 NASPA Annual Conference

The Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs was recognized for its continued leadership in student development and services at the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference held on March 7-11 in Kansas City, Mo. Convening more than 6,000 professionals, educators and thought leaders, the NASPA Annual Conference allows for participants to network with colleagues across the globe and discuss best practices and emerging trends in the field of student affairs.

Nearly 30 Division of Student Affairs staff and graduate students pursuing the student affairs administration in higher education (SAAHE) program attended the conference, highlighting Texas A&M’s commitment to creating a safe and engaging environment where students can grow and find belonging. Notably, Dr. Darby Roberts, director of Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research, was awarded the NASPA Region III Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs through Teaching Award for educating graduate students about assessment practices in student affairs.

“I’m honored to receive the award for teaching in the SAAHE program,” said Dr. Roberts. “I have truly enjoyed mentoring students over the years, many of whom have become valuable colleagues and friends. It’s rewarding when former students later share how much they learned and how they use assessment in their current roles.”

Beyond individual recognition, Texas A&M’s Fish Camp was featured during poster sessions by Dalton Jones, program manager in the Department of Student Activities. He shared how the extended orientation program supports incoming freshman students to ease their transition to Texas A&M. Earlier this year, the program had received acclaim by earning the NASPA Excellence Silver award in the Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, First-year, Other-year orientation, and related category.

Other Division of Student Affairs programs that were awarded NASPA Excellence awards include the New Student Conferences en Español program that received Bronze in the same category. The Residential Leadership & Engagement program received Bronze in the Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, Student Activities, Student Union, and related category.

Additional conference highlights included presentations from Texas A&M staff, showcasing the Division of Student Affairs’ impact across numerous areas including data analysis and assessment, student career readiness, and marketing and communications.

Jennifer Ford, interim associate vice president for student affairs, and Mariah Patrick, communications manager in the division’s Department of Marketing & Communications, co-presented “Power Up Your Programs: The Case for Collaborating with Marketing Professionals” and “Your Secret Weapon: Leveraging Marketing Expertise for Student Affairs Success.” These presentations emphasized the synergy between student programming and marketing to effectively reach students.

“Texas A&M is a leading contributor and sharer of best practices at NASPA each year,” said Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff Vicki Dobiyanski. “In addition, our staff is routinely recognized for their contributions to the student affairs profession and are among the best in the country.”

Presentations also included “Assessment 301: The Director of Assessment Institute, Leading Assessment Beyond the Tasks,” “In the Middle: Leading as a Mid-Level Professional in Student Affairs,“ and “Some Catchy Title: Storytelling with Data” by Dr. Roberts.

Luke Altendorf, director of strategic collaborations, presented “Train to Lead: Building Bench Strength Across Student Affairs” and Amarette Renieri, assistant managing director in the Career Center, presented “Building Bridges: Integrating Career Readiness Across the Student Experience.”

Reflecting the strategic priority to invest in staff, the division shared how it prepares staff at every level for the evolving higher education landscape. Dr. Justin Jeffery, associate vice president and dean of students, and Dr. Kristen Harell, associate vice president and senior system student affairs officer, co-presented “Rethinking Student Affairs Staffing: Imagining Generalist Roles for a Modern Profession.” Dr. Dobiyanski also presented “So you want to be an AVP? Considerations for those aspiring to the AVP Role.” Together, they discussed how Texas A&M is building opportunities so staff members can achieve professional milestones while strengthening student services.

Several Division of Student Affairs staff members continue to serve in leadership positions across the NASPA organization, reflecting Texas A&M’s influence in advancing student affairs excellence. Dr. Jeffery serves as a member of the NASPA Foundation Board of Directors and Dr. Roberts sits as an at-large member of the NASPA Board of Directors. Dr. Dobiyanski recently completed her term as a member of the AVP Steering Committee, and Amarette Renieri finished her term as chair of the Student Career Development Knowledge Community.

“The Division of Student Affairs continues to be actively engaged in shaping the direction of the profession through NASPA,” said Dr. Jeffery. “Whether through presentations, leadership roles or collaborative work, our world-class staff are helping advance student affairs while staying grounded in the needs of our students here in Aggieland.”