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Looking back on my past two years of coursework in the higher education administration and student personnel reveals some very evident programmatic themes. First, the theme of college student development has been evident in multiple courses. The business of higher education is another recurring theme in the program coursework. Third is the theme of multiculturalism and diversity. All of my courses and experiences in the program have involved one or more of these themes. Besides the actual college student development course, there have been many other courses involving issues of student development. For example, the course on women in leadership discussed issues of student development and theories on women’s developmental patterns as they apply to higher education. The multiculturalism and diversity course also focused on how to work with students, using developmental theories, to help build multicultural competency. In the college student environment course, student development was also often considered. It is important to understand where students are developmentally to build environments that fit them. It is also critical to understand a student’s development in order to find a college environment and culture that will provide them with the right balance of challenge and support. Student development has also been very apparent in my internship experience, graduate assistantship and current job. My internship helped me understand how to better identify students in different phases of development. At Cuyahoga Community College’s career center, I worked with students from many diverse backgrounds and at many different ages and developmental points. Having exposure to students in a variety of developmental levels was key in training me to better identify developmental patterns in students in various situations. In my graduate assistantship and current job as an academic advisor, I often draw upon student development theory to determine the best ways to assist students. When students express concern about coursework or major program of study, it is much easier to help them sort out the answers if I know their developmental phase or pattern. The business of higher education is the second major program theme I have experienced. Like college student development, there is also a course directly related to this theme, the business administration in higher education course. However, the theme of business and administration was the focus of other courses such as: state and federal policy in higher education, higher education curriculum, higher education law and student disability law, student affairs in higher education, and leadership in educational organizations. Understanding the operational workings of higher education is very valuable when navigating the field as a new professional. From applying what I have learned about budgeting during a casual conversation about responsibility-centered management, to using knowledge of how curricular decisions are made in a committee meeting to plan the new first year experience course, the theme of business in higher education has been a very important one. Multiculturalism and diversity is the third programmatic theme, and also has a course designated for the topic. Other courses addressing issues of multiculturalism and diversity include: leadership in higher education, women in leadership, disability law, college student development, college student environments, and higher education curriculum. All of these courses directly addressed issues of diversity in higher education. It has been very important for me to gain a stronger understanding of my own multicultural competencies and learn ways to help those around me further develop their own multicultural competency. I have utilized my learning about multiculturalism to provide a more inclusive environment for international and minority students with whom I work. I have also helped develop multicultural awareness among fellow student affairs professionals, administrators, and faculty at work. This theme has been the most obvious of the three among my friends and family because I have shared what I have learned with them and have helped them take a wider perspective on things in their own lives. All three themes have been strongly supported through the program coursework and experiences. I have a very solid understanding of student development, the business of higher education, and multiculturalism and diversity in higher education. My daily work and learning is enhanced by what I have learned about these themes, and my focus for the future is guided by these three main concepts in higher education.