Master of Higher Education students present at national conference

Ellie MacMillan G’26 stood at the front of a packed room in New Orleans, ready to present at one of the largest student affairs conferences in the country. Among the crowd? Her mentor from her undergraduate institution. Her mentor from Elon. And a lot of eyes.

“It felt like a full-circle moment,” she said. “It was an incredible opportunity to showcase my skills and reflect on how far I’ve grown.”

This spring, six students from Elon’s Master of Higher Education (MHE) program had the opportunity to present at two of the field’s leading national conferences. The ACPA Convention was held in Long Beach, California in February, followed by the NASPA Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in March.

For all six students, it was their first time presenting at a national level. They co-presented with MHE faculty member and Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Emerging Professor Stephanie Hernandez Rivera, sharing a project rooted in their course “Transition to Adulthood in the Context of College and Culture.” As part of the course, students created visual art projects that reflected their own undergraduate development, using student development theories to interpret and explain their experiences. Their conference presentations invited participants to consider how theory intersects with identity, culture, and personal growth.

Carolina Martinez-Cuin G’26 and Cici Salazar G’26, along with Emma Calhoun G’25 and Logan Morral G’25, attended and presented at ACPA. At NASPA, McMillian and Cass North G’25 represented the program.

Each student brought a unique perspective to the conference sessions and left with a renewed sense of confidence.

“It was powerful being able to speak to a larger audience,” Morral said.

“I feel confident. I feel I can do anything else,” said Salazar. “I feel I can go to another conference and present.”

Calhoun and Martinez-Cuin shared how meaningful the experience felt for them, both personally and professionally. North noted how helpful it was to learn the behind-the-scenes work of putting together a proposal and presenting alongside an experienced faculty member.

Professional development is a core part of the MHE experience. In addition to attending national and local conferences, students participate in webinars, colloquia and guided professional planning with faculty. These opportunities help them prepare for roles across the field of higher education.

As the semester continues, students are already brainstorming ideas for future proposals, with support from faculty mentors.