Noles in the Pros: Celebrating FSU Alumni in Student Affairs

Sonja Ardoin, Ph.D. is a learner, educator, facilitator, and author. Proud of her rural hometown of Vidrine, Louisiana, her working-class, Cajun roots, and her first-generation college student to PhD journey, Sonja holds degrees from LSU, Florida State, and NC State. She considers herself a scholar-practitioner of higher education; she served as an administrator for 10 years before shifting to the faculty in 2015. An associate professor of higher education and student affairs at Clemson, Sonja studies social class identity, college access and success for rural and first-generation college students, and career preparation and pathways in higher education and student affairs. Learn more about Sonja's work at www.sonjaardoin.com.

“As a first-generation college student my campus involvement as an undergraduate exposed me to career possibilities in student affairs and shifted my interests from secondary education to higher education. Being a small part of someone’s collegiate journey and witnessing their “ah ha” moments was, and is, meaningful for me. Florida State offered me a strong foundation for understanding both the theoretical and practical aspects of working in higher education and student affairs, connected me to amazing people (e.g., faculty, supervisors, peers) and also offered me a long-term network of professionals who I still learn from and partner with 20 years later!”

Brandon Bowden is the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University (FSU) leading the Campus Communities Portfolio. Dr. Bowden directly supervises Strategic Planning and Assessment, Staff Experience, Information Technology, DSA Marketing and Communications, the Center for Leadership and Service, the Center for Global Engagement, the Student Union, and co-supervises the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) along with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

“I enjoy working with our students and watching them grow, develop, become leaders, and ultimately graduate and go on to do great things. I also truly enjoy the people that I work with. They make the hard work worth it, and it feels good to know I have so many people willing to work hard with me to provide amazing experiences for our students. Whether it is the many opportunities I have been afforded to work in different roles and across the university, the experience of engaging globally with other Higher Ed and Student Affairs peers, or simply my goal in life to be able to do something I really love…FSU has been center stage in all of these.”

Dr. Michael Sanseviro earned his Masters in Higher Education Administration at FSU in 1991 and currently serves as the Vice President for Student Engagement at Georgia State University.

Why are you passionate about student affairs? I am passionate about student affairs because the work we do makes a direct impact on students' lives and has a synergistic impact on all the lives our students will touch. More than any other higher education professionals, student affairs professionals engage our students across the entire spectrum of human experiences through the breadth and depth of the scope of our work.

Years in Student Affairs: 10

I learned about the field of Student Affairs when I was an Orientation Leader in undergrad. As I learned more about the profession, I realized how many Student Affairs professionals had impacted my college experience and I wanted to be able to support students in a similar way. I love the work that I get to do every day and the people that I get to work with. No two days are the same and it brings new challenges and learning opportunities all the time.

Dr. Kellie Gerbers completed her M.S. in Higher Education in 2010 and her Ph.D. in Higher Education in 2017 at FSU.

“I still use the FSU LifeNet as a key network for advice and professional connections. I reach out to FSU alumni who hold similar positions to me for mentorship. My time working in FSU Student Affairs, particularly in Campus Recreation, showed me what developing a student-centered departmental vision could look like. I still use those lessons today.”

Dr. Guardia earned his B.S. in Communication (Media Performance) and M.S. in Higher Education from FSU.

“FSU shaped my path by helping me discover the transformative power of higher education and student affairs. As a first-generation college student, the support and mentorship I received at FSU revealed the profound impact student affairs professionals can have on student success. My academic training and early professional roles at FSU solidified my commitment to advancing equity and leadership development in higher education. FSU instilled in me a lifelong dedication to helping students find their voice, purpose, and community.”

“I love working in student affairs because it allows me to foster student success, engagement, and belonging across campus communities. Leading divisions and programs that directly impact student well-being, leadership, and equity reinforces my passion for developing campus cultures that empower every student to thrive.”

Dr. Hodges completed his M.S. in Higher Education from FSU in 2002.

“FSU was the epitome of Student Affairs. The faculty were intentional in creating out of classroom experiences to truly provide life experiences and cultural competency for the profession. Having the opportunity to shadow student affairs professionals and to be exposed to all varieties of Universities through our capstone project and also being made to become affiliated with and attend NASPA.”

“I love creating a culture of inquiry and development for students where they get to be challenged outside of their comfort zone while also being intentional in supporting them and challenging them through their development.”

Mr. Peña earned his M.S. in Higher Education from FSU in 2016.

“I owe a lot of my career to the Higher Education program at Florida State University. Serving as a graduate assistant in the Center for Leadership & Social Change catalyzed a career in student leadership, student advocacy, and student support. My time at Florida State really instilled core values in the Student Affairs work I still do to this day.”

“I love Student Affairs because we can directly contribute to the success of the students we serve and work alongside. My mission since I started this career has been to create a pathway for students from underserved communities to ultimately graduate from college and change the world.”

Dr. DeRosa completed his B.S. in Communication and M.S. in Higher Education at FSU.

“My time at FSU was so formative. From my experience as an undergraduate student leader to my graduate assistantships. FSU was an incredible training ground for all things in Student Affairs. I met fantastic classmates who became lifelong friends and had dynamic faculty and staff mentors who provided wonderful examples of theory to practice. I'll always cherish my time at FSU.”

Dr. Goeglein earned his M.S. in Higher Education from FSU in 2018.

“I am thankful daily for the lessons learned in courses and my assistantship in particular. I was lightyears ahead of my peers when I started my first full-time professional job in residence life. I would not be who I am or where I am without the support of the LifeNet and our program. My first professional job, I believe at my core I obtained because of a LifeNet connection that I made at NASPA immediately following TPE.”

Mrs. Acker-Price completed her M.S. in Higher Education from FSU in 2018.

“Florida State University ignited my passion for serving students. My time at FSU showed me the profound impact that intentional programs, mentorship, and student engagement can have on personal growth and belonging. Through experiences both in and outside the classroom, I discovered a calling to help students find their place, develop their potential, and make the most of their college experience.”

“I love working in Student Affairs because it allows me to make a lasting impact on students' lives. I'm passionate about shaping experiences that define what higher education feels like for students—creating communities of belonging, fostering leadership, and ensuring they leave college more confident and capable than when they arrived.”

Dr. Kepple completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education and an Institutional Research Graduate Certificate from FSU in 2023.

“My experiences in the FSU Higher Education program reinforced the idea that we should be supporting each and every learner in the path they wish to take through college and to their career afterward. I learned about the importance of a holistic college experience both in and outside of the classroom on a student's success.”

“I love working in academic and student affairs roles because I think it is important that students know that there is not only someone in their corner, but there are whole teams working to support their development and help guide them to the future they wish to have.”