From left: Abby Bair, Morgan Rizzardi, and Amber Racchini
Associates for Student Development—a graduate student organization for IUP SAHE students—hosted an event called “Finding Your SAHE Why” on Monday, November 3. This event brought together current SAHE students and SAHE alumni for an evening focused on purpose, career direction, and discussing the heart of student affairs work.
Featured speakers included three SAHE alumni: Abby Bair, program coordinator for new student programs at the University of Pittsburgh; Amber Racchini, vice provost for Academic Success at Indiana University of Pennsylvania; and Morgan Rizzardi, dean of students at Butler County Community College. Each shared their insights into how their time in graduate school continues to shape their approach to leadership, decision-making, and student-centered practice. The speakers also discussed discovering personal motivation, values, and passion for the practice—including how and why each professional continues to choose student affairs.
The event offered connection and community building by creating intentional space for current students to ask questions, learned from lived experiences, and build connections with current professionals in the field.