Running head: FINAL PORTFOLIO & JOURNEY REFLECTION 1

Assignment #6 Final Portfolio & Journey Reflection

Seminar for Public Administration PUA 550
Andrees Rivers
McDaniel College
Summer 2014










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Final Portfolio & Journey Reflection
My journey in pursuit of a Master of Science degree in Public Administration with a
concentration in Human Resource Management is a very interesting one. Upon enrollment as a
Graduate student in the program, I was a part of the Higher Education Administration
concentrated curriculum. However, this was discontinued after my second semester in the
program and subsequently, I was funneled into the Public Administration/Human Resource
Management Program. I never anticipated any significant interest in this concentration, but am
thoroughly satisfied with this transition and program overall. The Human Resource Management
phase of the experience has been fulfilling and ultimately applicable to the supervisory
component of my work in Student Affairs which will maximize with advancement in the ranks.
This field has prepared me to become a versatile practitioner/leader within the Higher
Education/Student Affairs field.
At this point in the program, I am now in the final stages of completing my portfolio
which has been another rewarding experience. I have learned volumes from the developmental
process of creating and assembling this important body of work. Each paper, project and
assignment has allowed me to develop more competencies and skills applicable to my personal,
professional and scholarly endeavors. All of which will be essential in my successful pursuit and
accomplishment of these short term and ultimate goals. Enclosed is a summary, detail and list of
short and long term goals exemplifying the comprehension and implementation of my course
work, professional experiences and the five Executive Core Qualifications.




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Short Term Goals
In the short-term time frame at McDaniel until conclusion, I set the following goals:
To successfully complete coursework and attain my M.S. of Public Administration
degree with a concentration in Human Resource Management.
To continue my professional organization affiliations with the Mid Atlantic
Association for College and University Housing Officers, MACUHO (Mid Atlantic
Association for College and University Housing Officers, 2014). In addition to
continuing and enhancing my affiliation with the Maryland College Personnel
Association, MCPA (Maryland College Personnel Association, 2014).
Continue to stimulate focus on professional development of my student staff
members in a variety of systems.
Assume sole ownership over extensive projects which relate directly to the future
position I aspire to which is that of a Student Activities Coordinator or Assistant
Director of Student Activities. These projects include the following:
Late Nights at McDaniel Programming Initiative
First Year Fun on the Weekends Programming Initiative
Coordination of all department wide programming and events.
Intensify my experiences in key areas within the current Area Coordinator role going
forward, including:
The acquiring of additional staff supervisory duties.
The assuming of sole responsibility of an entire budgeting process.
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Fine tuning and polishing of my presentation skills for the facilitation
of presentations that I intend to do for my students, staff and
colleagues during training sessions, conferences and/or meetings.
Accomplishment of these short term goals, will provide an invaluable service/benefit to
my students, staff and subsequently McDaniel College. These enhancements have allowed me to
track my goal setting path in the field of housing both professionally as well as personally.
Additionally, my work ethic will be concentrated on competency within certain key skills from
basic to advanced and/or even proficient. Ultimately, the goals set are inspired by all five of the
Executive Core Qualifications. In order to maintain and improve my developmental experiences,
I intend to build additional professional coalitions. Also, these goal setting objectives will be a
Leading Change and Leading People with the refinement of my presentation and supervision
skills (OPM.GOV, n.d.). I anticipate utilization of the Results Driven principle by acceptance of
sole leadership roles with programming as well as gaining experience with Business Acumen
through control of an increased budget next year (OPM.GOV, n.d.). In the future, I will
encounter a variety of objectives and challenging opportunities that I will be prepared for as a
result of accomplishing these short term goals. Finally, these goals will allow me to grow,
develop and enhance my overall confidence which I believe will have a strong impact on ones
performance both personally and professionally.
Additional Short Term Goals
Beyond the scope of my current Area Coordinator role, I intend to set and accomplish
these additional short term goals. Each of which will directly impact accomplishing of my long
range goals.
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To become affiliated with an additional professional group or organization linked to
my future career area of Student Activities. This organization is called the National
Association for Campus Activities, NACA (National Association for Campus
Activities, 2013).
To achieve an Assistant Director of Student Activities position at a small or mid-sized
institution.
To continue to magnify and embellish my skills in the areas of budgeting, planning,
supervising and leading of higher level staff persons. Each of which are essential
skills to possess in order to successfully accomplish my long range goals.
The accomplishment of these stated goals will enable me to achieve the major career goal
of a Director of Student Activities. My experience focused on the creation, planning and
execution process of student programming and these three key goals will have prepared me to
transition into a role with increased responsibilities to fulfill student programming needs. In
addition, the refinement of my supervision, presentation, budgeting, conflict management and
diversity training skills are assets that will be beneficial to future employers (OPM.GOV, n.d.).
Each of the Executive Core Qualifications influence all short and long range goals and
encompasses the essential skills required to thrive in mid to upper level leadership roles within
the field of Student Affairs (OPM.GOV, n.d.). These necessary attributes are centered around
being an effective and productive leader with creativity, flexibility, strategy, problem solving
skills, financial management, negotiation skills, and the ability to building effective coalitions
(OPM.GOV, n.d.). All are embedded into different components of my goals which will be
adequate preparation for my long term career pursuit of a Director of Student Activities role
within a small or mid-sized institution.
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Long Range Goals
As a current and future leader in Student Affairs, I serve the public through administering
to the wellbeing of students and parents. My long term goals that I envision accomplishing are:
To attain and maintain a Director of Student Activities position within a medium
sized institution within the next five to seven years.
Exhibiting competent and advanced professional skills in key areas including:
o Becoming an advanced presenter.
o Increasing my staff supervision duties while also enhancing my leadership and
management responsibilities and practices.
o Enhancing of my experience in the budgeting of financial resources.
My personal values, passion and ambition to enlighten and encourage others will
ultimately allow me to accomplish these long term goal as Director of Student Activities role. In
order to achieve the stated goals, I believe that time and experience will be of the utmost
importance. With time and experience up to this point, appropriate development in key areas
including those specified in the Executive Core Qualifications will be possible. Most
importantly, I will be able to experience significant development in the areas of Leading Change,
Leading People and being Results Driven (OPM.GOV, n.d.). Additionally, in order to attain the
advanced levels, time will be focused into the fine tuning of components listed within each
category (OPM.GOV, n.d.). Each of which inspires the goals listed above for my long term
accomplishment of this Director level position. I am a firm believer that setting goals is a
metaphor for upward mobility building a ladder one step over top of another and experience
provides this climbing opportunity. Therefore, my current experiences build on top of each other
in preparation for a major challenge and achievement. Finally, through utilization of the skills
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taught in the Public Administration program, I can effectively administer meaningful
contributions to students that I serve within the field of Higher Education/Student Affairs.































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References
Maryland College Personnel Association. (2014). Maryland College Personnel Association -
Home. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from http://www.mymcpa.com/
Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing Officers. (2014). Mid-Atlantic
Association of College and University Housing Officers. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from
http://www.macuho.org/default.asp?
National Association for Campus Activities. (2013). National Association for Campus Activities
| Welcome to the National Association for Campus Activities. Retrieved July 18, 2014, from
https://www.naca.org/Pages/default.aspx
OPM.GOV. (n.d.). Executive Core Qualifications. Retrieved June 28, 2014, from
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/executive-core-
qualifications/