Pre-Assessment Reflection

Daniel Oliveira
San Diego State University

PRE-ASSESSMENT REFLECTION
As a returning student in the Master of Arts program for Postsecondary
Educational Leadership in Student Affairs, I am on my way to achieving the
learning outcomes of this program. I can reflect on my seven years of
experience as a student affairs professional at San Diego State University
and San Jose State University for reference in achieving these learning
outcomes. Although not in the context of postsecondary education, my five
years of experience as a secondary education teacher are also valuable as
reference for some of these outcomes. I can apply my strengths and the
skills that I have developed from these professional experiences to my
continued learning and future career in higher education. The courses that I
have completed for this degree thus far have also provided a level of
knowledge that is certainly applicable to these learning outcomes.
My teaching experience as well as the many presentations I have made
at professional conferences related to fraternity and sorority life have given
me applicable skill in communicating ideas and concepts effectively in
spoken word (L.O. 10). An area for growth is my communication skills in
writing. I am challenged to overcome my anxieties about academic writing,
so I expect that my confidence and writing skills will increase significantly in
the next two years as I complete coursework and writing assignments in
these courses.
My teaching experience has also given me insight into identifying the
preparation and learning tendencies with which students enter higher
education (L.O. 3). I have the ability to propose strategies to facilitate

PRE-ASSESSMENT REFLECTION

student development and success. The Methods of Inquiry course that I

completed in 2003 gave me an opportunity to engage in a meaningful
outcomes-based assessment of collaboratively designed student learning
and development initiative (L.O. 7). My life-long experience in developing
my multicultural competence and my professional experiences with a great
diversity of students have given me opportunities to articulate and apply
foundational principles of access, equity, and learner success (L.O. 8), which I
learned in my course on Educational Leadership in a Diverse Society in 2003.
My professional experience has helped me to identify my own leadership
strengths and areas for continued development (L.O. 5). The concepts and
theories that I am currently learning in my Educational Leadership course are
helping me to identify and apply various leadership styles that are prevalent
within student affairs (L.O. 4).
The concepts learned in next semesters Theoretical Foundations of
Student Affairs will help me to articulate the theoretical foundations of
student affairs in postsecondary education (L.O. 1). This coursework coupled
with my Internship in Educational Leadership and my position as a Graduate
Student Assistant will all help me to identify how learning and development
theories are implemented in daily practice (L.O. 2). The internship
experience and the Research Seminar that I will complete next year will give
me opportunities to apply research to practice in an area of specialization
(L.O. 9). And lastly, in my final semester and final course in this program,
Seminar in Critical Leadership Issues in Student Affairs, I will identify ethical

PRE-ASSESSMENT REFLECTION
leadership issues in student affairs and propose solutions and strategies to
address these issues (L.O. 6).
My current academic and professional training have provided a
knowledge base and breadth of practical experience to build upon as I seek
to achieve these program learning outcomes. I look forward to expanding
my knowledge base in order to be purposeful and intentional in applying
theory and research to practice so that I may best serve our students. I look
forward to building upon my skills and competencies to become an effective
student affairs practitioner and passionate leader. I know that the
knowledge and experience that I gain through this program will make me a
competitive candidate for positions that I may seek in the student affairs
profession. And I recognize that the relationships that I build with my
colleagues and instructors will serve me well as a network of passionate
professionals who are dedicated to student development and success.