Why is connecting with your transfer students so important? In this special video, two of our 2019 National Transfer Student Ambassadors interview the transfer professionals who nominated them for the award. Follow along as the students and their mentors take a deep dive into how their institutions serve transfer students and the huge impact meaningful connections can have on students' transfer journeys. Appalachian State University Jane Rex, Director of Transfer Services Jay

National Transfer Student Ambassador Taylor Smith from Spelman College reflects on her experience as a TSA attending the NISTS 2019 annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, February 13-15, 2019. What were your original thoughts on transfer professionals/initiatives, and how did they change with your conference exposure? When I initially learned about the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students, I was so excited. I could have never imagined that so many different p

National Transfer Student Ambassador Jennifer Hernandez from the University of Illinois at Chicago reflects on her experience as a TSA attending the NISTS 2019 annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, February 13-15, 2019. What were your original thoughts on transfer professionals/initiatives, and how did they change with your conference exposure? Hearing from staff members who genuinely want to improve the experience of transfers reminded me of all the staff and faculty who he

National Transfer Student Ambassador Bianca Hill of Baylor University reflects on her experience as a TSA attending the NISTS 2019 annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, February 13-15, 2019. What were your original thoughts on transfer professionals/initiatives, and how did they change with your conference exposure? I don’t know that I had thoughts on professionals, aside from just being really appreciative of them, but I was definitely pretty ignorant about initiatives and

In the weeks leading up to the NISTS 2019 annual conference, we're highlighting the transfer stories of this year's National Transfer Student Ambassadors. All four students will attend the conference and participate in a student panel conversation facilitated by Janet Marling, Executive Director of NISTS, during the closing session on Friday, February 15th. Tell us a little about yourself. Hi everyone! My name is Taylor Althea Smith and I’m currently a junior at Spelman Colle

In the weeks leading up to the NISTS 2019 annual conference, we're highlighting the transfer stories of this year's National Transfer Student Ambassadors. All four students will attend the conference and participate in a student panel conversation facilitated by Janet Marling, Executive Director of NISTS, during the closing session on Friday, February 15th. Tell us a little about yourself. I am a first generation American and college student, so the idea of college in general

In the weeks leading up to the NISTS 2019 annual conference, we're highlighting the transfer stories of this year's National Transfer Student Ambassadors. All four students will attend the conference and participate in a student panel conversation facilitated by Janet Marling, Executive Director of NISTS, during the closing session on Friday, February 15th. Tell us a little about yourself. For me, navigating college was like expecting to walk down a hallway and ending up in a

In the weeks leading up to the NISTS 2019 annual conference, we're highlighting the transfer stories of this year's National Transfer Student Ambassadors. All four students will attend the conference and participate in a student panel conversation facilitated by Janet Marling, Executive Director of NISTS, during the closing session on Friday, February 15th. Tell us about your transfer journey. I am a dual citizen in two countries and have experienced and witnessed what it mea

It's National Transfer Student Week, and as part of the celebration, we're excited to announce this year's National Transfer Student Ambassadors. These individuals were selected through a national competition intended to recognize outstanding students who represent the heart of our work. ​Nominees were asked to submit a letter of recommendation, resume, and a written and video response describing their transfer journey, advocacy efforts on behalf of transfers, and how their p

What were your thoughts on transfer initiatives and how did they change with your conference exposure? Before attending the NISTS conference, I imagined every school had similar transfer student programs. I quickly found out that this is not the case; some schools have more programs and resources than other institutions. It was shocking to see that there isn’t a national curriculum when it comes to addressing transfer students. Instead, it is up to each and every school to cr

What were your original thoughts on transfer professionals/initiatives, and how did they change with your conference exposure? Entering this experience, I was aware of many programs, professionals, and initiatives that are used to support transfer students. My experience in student affairs at Stockton, as well as my experiences at the past two NODA national conferences, have shown me that efforts are being made. Going into the NISTS conference, I was excited not only to learn

What were your original thoughts on transfer professionals/initiatives and how did they change with your conference exposure? I’ll be the first to admit that I did not know much about transfer professionals before the conference. I knew the profession existed because I had been fortunate enough to be supported by professionals in the field, but the depth of their work was both intimidating and inspiring. There were scholars, professionals in student services, professionals in

What a journey this has been to have been a part of the NISTS Annual Conference. Being in a room with so many professionals striving for a better education and experience for transfer students has been rewarding and eye-opening. As a transfer student ambassador, I have had the inside scoop on the happenings of the conference, and I'm sure you would like to know what I think! Here are some questions and answers regarding my experience at the NISTS Conference in Atlanta, GA. Wh

The journey to finding purpose comes in many forms, whether through great accomplishments or life lessons. I can truly say that I am a scholar of life and education, as I have overcome hurdles in both. Thankfully, those experiences have led to this moment of being named one of the NISTS Transfer Student Ambassadors. My educational journey and the efforts of NISTS have taught me the importance of the process of selecting the best school for your educational journey. Here are s