UMKC Higher Education Student Association (HESA)

HESA VP Jessica Moniz presented on the unique needs of Student-Parents at NASPA!
“Investing in learners’ success is shown to improve retention & graduation rates, while also strengthening economic health. In order to support student-parents, we have to study their needs, how they perceive sense of belonging & campus connectedness, & drive tangible strategies on campuses to aid in their success. Students-parents are not a commodity, but a commonality amongst many undergraduate students. When we support these students, we’re making generational changes & improving social mobility, financial stability, & improved health & wellbeing.”
Jessica’s UMKC education directly inspired this passion!
“The inspiration for this poster first occurred while I was researching for my assignment in the course ‘The College Student’. I realized how drawn I was to the literature & research being done for this population but noticed gaps where additional knowledge was still needed.”
Interested in following her footsteps? UMKC can help! “Speak with your academic advisor & inquiry about opportunities to be involved.”
What if I’m a nervous introvert?
“I think being nervous shows that you are passionate about what you’re doing. I try to take the ‘me’ out of it & realize that it’s an opportunity to bring awareness to a topic that’s often not at the foreground of conversations. I see it as a chance to shine light on helping other people”
What was her motivation to apply for such a huge conference?
“I almost didn’t! I had major imposter syndrome & nearly missed the deadline. I questioned if I was qualified enough to present on such a huge platform, but then I realized that it’s not about me, but about the message. If you have interest in presenting at a conference, I encourage you to put yourself out there!”
Her favorite part of having meaningful conversations with other professionals. “I was able to speak with faculty & they shared information I hadn’t considered before. Brainstorming solutions was a rewarding experience.”
Congratulations on your work, Jessica! You’re a spectacular representation of UMKC excellence!

A new school year means new opportunities! As members of our board graduate, new positions are opening up next year to join the High Education Student Association! You can nominate yourself or a classmate for any of the positions below. Scan the QR code or go to https://tinyurl.com/HESANominations26
Nominations close Wednesday, April 15th at 11:59pm so don't delay!
Open positions:
Vice President: Responsible for planning and organizing meetings in the absence of the President; motivate and support committee leaders and members; assist with/create monthly newsletter
Secretary: Document and organize meeting minutes; assist with newsletter, document and track event attendees, upload and share relevant documents on RooGroups
Treasurer: Responsible for preparing and submitting SAFC funding requests, P-card requests and purchase requests for the organization; maintain official financial records
DEI Chair: Ensures events are inclusive and accessible to all; supports diversity competencies

We hope you had a great Spring Break! It's been a couple weeks, but we had some great moments at NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education that we absolutely have to share with you all!

Are you ready for some professional development? The premiere student affairs conference, NASPA is this week at the Kansas City Convention Center! Are you excited? Nervous? Comment below if you're going and looking for a conference buddy to join a session, meet up for lunch, or help with networking!
Don't forget to support HESA's own VP Jessica Moniz and advisor while they present their work during the conference!
Follow NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education or visit https://events.naspa.org/e/2026-naspa-annual-conference for more information.
We'll see you there!

It's time for a graduate spotlight!
Cori Corrado walked the stage in December, earning her Masters in Higher Education Administration. Today she’s here to answer some burning questions about her time with UMKC and next steps as a higher education professional.
Soon, she'll join Rockhurst University where she will study Education and Leadership in their Doctoral program. “I’m also job hunting, wish me luck!” Right now she’s open to exploring all that higher education has to offer, but would find work in orientation programs particularly fulfilling.
Reflecting on her time with UMKC, she’d like to give a shoutout to Dr. Maher. “By far my favorite class was Leadership in Higher Education … I really learned about myself and what kind leader I want to be!” The hardest part of her Master’s education was coding a full load of classes. “That included internship, plus a graduate assistantship. All of the directions I was pulled in during my final semester was hectic as I tried to establish my next steps and job hunt, while at the same time making sure I stayed in top of my school game.”
For students considering this program, she recommends asking questions, making mistakes, and learning! “This program is taught by wonderful, caring, competent professors, make sure to express your needs so that you can get the most out of it!” Speaking of the UMKC team, she learned to lean on them throughout her time with UMKC. “Communicate your needs with your program advisor, teachers, and mentors. They will help you navigate a balance to success. … through the guidance of Drs. RP and Maher, I realized that the life and education experiences that I brought into the program would translate into a deep consideration for fairness, student success, and advancement in campuses.” She also urges you to keep a flexible mindset! “The knowledge we are learning now is cutting edge for this generation of students, but may not be relevant 20 years down the road. Being able to adapt, be flexible, and stay focused on the people you are trying to aid is crucial.”
Congratulations on your graduation and we can’t wait to see all you do in the future!

Join us for a WICKED good end-of-semester bash! Drop in anytime Tuesday, December 9th 6-8pm the Basement Lounge of the Education, Social Work & Psychology Building to spend “One Short Day” enjoying snacks, refreshments, and comradery with fellow Higher Education students as we close out the Winter semester “For Good!” Have a “Wonderful” time and feel “Popular” with your classmates. “What is This Feeling?” Relief and well-deserved fun!

Join us for the upcoming Conference on Higher Education Values, Identity, Belonging, and Purpose this June at UMKC! The conference will feature a keynote speaker and various sessions to choose between. Registration and details are available at go.umkc.edu/VIB

HESA is excited to celebrate our graduates this Sunday at commencement! See highlights from the Case Study Showcase where we celebrated the work of our Master's in Higher Education Administration students.

Join us April 27th from 4:30pm-7:00pm in Pierson Auditorium for the Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration Case Study Showcase. Students graduating from the program will present their final projects - let's celebrate the accomplishments of these students!

Happy Spring Break, Roos! You are invited to join HESA this Thursday at noon for a social hour at Jazzman's to connect with other Higher Education Administration students and faculty at UMKC! Attendees will need to bring their own food/beverage. We hope to see you there!

Event Tonight! Join us in-person or on Zoom for a presentation from UMKC's Financial Wellness Center on the Psychology of Money. RSVP on Roo Groups!

WEBINAR TONIGHT! Join UMKC's HESA tonight at 7:30PM for a panel of two higher education professionals speaking on serving in interim roles. This virtual event is free to attend. See the link to join below!