James Archibald Recognized for Contributions to Student Affairs Through Teaching

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s Dr. James G. Archibald is the recipient of the 2014 Region III Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education’s (NASPA) Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs Through Teaching Award.

Archibald will now represent NASPA’s Region III — which covers Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia — at the national level, competing for the 2015 Robert H. Shaffer Outstanding Faculty Member Award. That announcement will be made in January.

“This award is an enormous honor,” said the assistant professor of higher education leadership in VSU’s James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services. “To be recognized and acknowledged by all the faculty and student affairs professionals in the Region III chapter of NASPA, which is the largest student affairs association in the field, is truly an achievement.”

Archibald said that approximately 17 of his VSU students wrote and signed letters in support of his nomination for the award, sharing with the selection committee all the ways he has contributed to the student affairs profession through development of professionals, research and publication, and active involvement in professional organizations.

“These students are spectacular; I was truly overwhelmed with emotion,” he noted, referring to their show of support. “It is a sense of validation and appreciation for the work that I do. It is an honor to be recognized by your colleagues and peers, but to be recognized by your students is truly an indescribable feeling.”

“… above everything,” he continued, “educating and developing our future student affairs practitioners and higher education professionals is my passion and my top priority. I train my students to be competent and caring professionals. Nothing less than excellence is acceptable.”

Archibald also enjoys collaborating with student affairs professionals around the nation on different projects and developing best practice standards. He has held and continues to hold leadership positions in a number of professional associations within the field of student affairs, and he is responsible for the development of a professional workshop for support staff in the field of student affairs statewide through the Georgia College Personnel Association. He serves as chairman and member of dissertation and thesis committees and coordinates a summer internship experience that allows students to be placed in experiential educational opportunities across the country. He even assists students with job placement after graduation.    

“These are just a few things that I do,” he said, adding that he is fortunate to be able to work with and learn from past and current fellow faculty members within the Department of Curriculum, Leadership, and Technology, and the Dewar College of Education and Human Services, especially Dr. Patrick Biddix, Dr. Eric Archer, Dr. Karla Hull and Dr. Renee Hannibal.

Archibald joined the VSU faculty in January 2012 as an assistant professor of higher education leadership. He has also served as coordinator of the university’s higher education and student affairs programs. He teaches courses in the assessment and evaluation of higher education, counseling in student affairs, internship in higher education, organization and governance in higher education, research methods, and administrative leadership.

Established in 1918, NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. It serves a range of professionals who provide programs, experiences, and services that cultivate student learning and success in concert with the mission of colleges and universities in all 50 states, eight United States territories, and 25 countries. It was historically known as the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, thus the acronym NASPA.

Contact Dr. James G. Archibald at (229) 333-5633 or jgarchibald@valdosta.edu to learn more.

On the Web:

http://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/education/curriculum-leadership-and-technology/

http://www.naspa.org