No, we’re not talking about who the next U.S. President is going to be; the election is not until November. We’re referring to the next president of the California College Personnel Association (CCPA): Soua Xiong.
Xiong, a Ph.D. student in Higher Education and Student Affairs, at San Diego State University (SDSU) and Claremont Graduate University, was chosen to lead the organization in June. He will serve a 3-year term which begins this year as President-elect, assume the role of President in 2017-2018, and conclude his term as Past-President in 2018-2019.
“I am excited to be able to serve the state of CA in this larger role,” said Xiong, 31, adding that being president of CCPA is a position that he aspired to get. “I believe it will allow me the opportunity to continue to serve the broader higher education profession across the state.”
The California College Personnel Association, a state division of the American College Personnel Association, is a comprehensive student affairs organization for higher education professionals in California.
Its goals include creating change by providing leadership opportunities for higher education professionals in the state; promoting and disseminating research on effective practices in facilitating student learning and development; and encouraging and advocating for social justice, collaboration and learning.
As the next CCPA president, Xiong’s goals for the organization and its nearly 500 members include:
- Creating and fostering a culture of collaboration and learning that advocates for social justice in higher education
- Lead collaborative efforts to elevate the visibility of CCPA
- Establish and strengthen partnerships
- Actively engage CCPA members through the state of CA
“I want CCPA to be at the forefront of providing leadership opportunities, disseminating research, and offering timely professional development opportunities that are accessible, innovative, and unique to CA,” said Xiong, who was first introduced to CCPA as an undergraduate student at California State University, Fresno. “I want to reach out to higher education professionals across the state and let them know that CCPA is here to support them.”
Xiong is co-coordinator of the Minority Male Community College Collaborative, a national research and practice center at SDSU. In this role, he provides oversight of a national consortium of over 70 colleges across the United States. The consortium conducts monthly webinars, information-sharing sessions and yearly working group meetings to discuss and share strategies and practices that advance college success outcomes for men who have been historically underserved in higher education.
His research examines student success in higher education with a focus on factors that affect the experiences and outcomes of diverse student populations. He has published six peer-reviewed journal articles and disseminated his research at state, national, and international conferences.
His love and passion for higher education, Xiong said, stems from his experiences as a student and professional in various areas of student affairs. As an undergraduate was actively involved with college unions and student leadership programs.
After completing his doctorate degree, Xiong said he hopes to teach at a California State University campus.
“I want to give back to my community,” said Xiong, who spends his free time playing tennis and taking landscape photos at local beaches. “My goal is to be a professor and teach in a college of education in California. I love the CAL state system.”