What is your why? 

Jennifer Ford emphasizes that knowing your “why” is vital to remember what gets you up in the mornings and persevere through challenging moments. Hers is simple but powerful: to help people, to help students and to help her colleagues. That dedication shines when following her path to Texas A&M and her subsequent 25-year journey in the Division of Student Affairs. 

Freshly graduated from the University of Oklahoma and hired as a consultant for the Delta Gamma sorority, Ford traveled to a different college campus every week to work with Fraternity and Sorority Life advisors. It was during this cross-country adventure that she was sent to Aggieland in the spring of 1997 to set up the newly established Delta Gamma chapter. 

Those four months led to a master’s degree at Texas A&M in educational administration and a graduate assistantship in the Student Life department. She is now a senior associate director of the same department decades later, managing programs including Student Legal Services, Off Campus Student Services and New Student & Family Programs. 

Although Student Life has been home base for much of her career, she’s intentionally sought out other experiences across the division. Using her “why” as an anchor, she’s always been focused on where she can make the greatest impact for students.

“I thought my career was going to focus on Greek life forever, but Texas A&M has unparalleled opportunities,” Ford said. “While I was never formally a part of Residence Life or Student Community Standards, I have volunteered or been a part of special projects that have taught me to view things from different angles.”

Through that unique perspective, she hopes to expand the division’s reach so that when students access division resources, they are also equipped with the knowledge to share that information with other Aggies. 

Get to Know Jennifer Ford

Q: You’ve earned your master’s in educational administration with an emphasis in student affairs administration (SAAHE). How did you decide to pursue student affairs as a career?

While I was supporting the Delta Gamma chapter here at Texas A&M, the women taught me what it meant to be an Aggie. Inspired by that experience and the Aggie core values, I applied for the SAAHE program. From there, I started as a graduate assistant in Student Life and worked in various roles across the department. I transitioned to the Department of Multicultural Services for about eight years, then finally returned to Student Life. 

Fun fact: I also met my husband through the SAAHE program. We actually announced our engagement to our cohort in Dr. Kibler’s class when he was teaching, so having him back as our Vice President for Student Affairs feels like a full-circle moment for our family.

Q: You’ve been a part of the Division of Student Affairs for more than 25 years. In what ways has the division remained the same, and how has it evolved?

What remains the same is the division’s focus on students and delivering the best student experience possible. That mission resonates with me. Of course, how that is implemented has changed over the years. For example, when I first joined, financial aid services was part of the division and the Career Center wasn’t. Those changes reflect certain trends in student affairs, but students are always at the core of our work.

Q: October is Careers in Student Affairs Month. Do you have any words of advice for those pursuing or starting out their careers in student affairs?

First, I want to highlight that it’s important to know your “why” and to remember it. There are days in doing this work that can be really, really hard, whether it’s dealing with something that has happened with a student or a difficult conversation you have to navigate. You can’t always be in control but letting that “why” guide you will get you through those hard times. 

Second, I would say be open to opportunities. There will be jobs in student affairs that don’t even exist now because students’ needs are always changing. In the future, someone will ask you if you’re interested in a seemingly unrelated job, committee or special project, and I advise you to be open to those moments.

Q: As the university grows, how do you approach helping students feel at “home” at Texas A&M?

I can distinctly recall when we passed 50,000 students, the 60,000 mark and beyond. At each of those stages, what was and continues to be crucial is that we try to make this large campus feel as small as possible. 

That can start with the small interactions we have with students. I’m not an extrovert, but today, I stopped and introduced myself to a student who was bannering at Rudder Plaza. During that brief two-minute conversation, not only was I able to learn more about her organization, but I pointed out where I worked in the Student Services Building and explained what we do in Student Life. We should take any opportunity as staff to say “howdy” and to naturally build relationships with students.

Q: What’s a special or meaningful memory you’ve had while working for the division?

I remember when the Memorial Student Center (MSC) reopened in April 2012 after being closed for three years due to renovations. The senior class had never gotten to experience the MSC until their last semester, and they were so pumped. There were students running inside during opening day, and we realized very quickly there weren’t enough outlets. (The world changed a lot over three years with how quickly everyone began carrying around their phones and laptops!) Seeing the excitement on those seniors’ faces and the pride that everyone had for the project – it’s definitely one of my favorite memories. 

Q: Do you have a message you would like to share with your colleagues across the division?

Do good. Be kind. And choose joy.