Investing in the Middle: Making the Case for Your Professional Development
Includes a Live Web Event on 10/14/2026 at 3:00 PM (EDT)
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Professional development at its core, is an investment in both where you currently are and where you want to go in your career. However, for mid-level student affairs administrators, professional development requires greater intention about where we invest our time, energy, and resources; illuminating the return on investment for both the individual and organization. This interactive session provides the space for mid-level professionals to reflect on their professional development experiences, explore upcoming opportunities that align with their evolving career goals, and identify strategies for articulating the value of continued professional development. Participants will leave with practical approaches for making intentional development choices and advocating for investments that support their growth and professional impact.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Identify a minimum of one area professional development to invest in over the next calendar year that is in alignment with their career goals, positional responsibilities, and desired growth as mid-level student affairs professionals.
2. Articulate the return on investment of their engagement in mid-level professional development opportunities across at least one of the following areas including: skill development, professional networks, career mobility, leadership capacity, scholarship contributions, and institutional impact.
3. Identify a minimum of one advocacy strategy or tool to communicate the value of their professional development to their organization.
Meeghan Milette
Associate Director Professional Development
George Mason University
Meeghan Milette serves as the Associate Director of Professional Development in University Life at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She provides leadership to divisional professional development initiatives and signature professional development programs coordinated by the Professional Development team. Ms. Milette has a background in professional development, staff training, building and facilitation of professional learning experiences, collaborative programming, along with supervision and staff management. Milette is committed to enhancing professional staff experiences through her work. Professionally, Milette worked in Housing & Residence Life for over 15 years in various professional roles gaining skills and professional competency in staff management, crisis response, leadership, and training development. Milette currently serves as the Co-Chair of the NASPA Mid-Level Administrator Steering Committee and served on the 2025 Mid-Level Administrator Conference (MLAC) planning team.
Tania Velazquez
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs/College Director
Suffolk County Community College
Tania Velazquez is a student affairs administrator with more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience across both four-year universities and community colleges. She currently serves as Assistant Dean of Student Services at Suffolk County Community College, where she provides executive oversight of Counseling, Advisement, Career Services, Transfer Services, and mentoring initiatives serving over 11,000 students. She also holds a concurrent role as College-Wide Director of Career Services, leading strategy and operations across three campuses to advance career readiness, employer engagement, and workforce development. She is an active contributor to the field through national presentations, publications, and professional service. Tania has presented extensively at NASPA conferences and currently serves as Co-Chair of the NASPA Mid-Level Administrators Steering Committee. Her previous leadership roles include Chief of Staff for the NASPA Community College Division and Chair of the NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community. She is also an elected member of the SUNY Community College Leadership Academy.