Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Administration
Holly Mason Badra, 2022
Why did you choose to pursue the Higher Education Administration Certificate program?
As a Mason employee, I am able to get some tuition coverage, so I knew I wanted to make the most of that funding. I turned to the Higher Education Administration Certificate because I'm a higher ed nerd, and I knew I wanted to develop further as a higher ed professional. I love talking about and learning about the topics we cover in these classes. Before I applied to the certificate program, I took one class in the program to see if I would like it, and it was clear I wanted to pursue the certificate. All of the classes were engaging and informative; they also allowed us to explore inequalities, questions of access, and methods for supporting marginalized populations in higher ed.
What did you like best about the structure of the certificate program?
I like that it was only 15 credits so quite easy to accomplish over a couple years. I also like that I could take most of my classes online. What I really loved though was that I was in class with many individuals who worked in various spaces across campus-- a lot of Mason employees take advantage of this program. So most of the course discussions and conversations were practical and rooted in our own experiences. It was a great way to get to know others who work on campus and care deeply about supporting our students, faculty, and staff.
Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your time in the program?
I loved taking Dr. Carrie Klein's classes. I had the opportunity to do an independent study with her one summer and that research was very meaningful. I was also quite surprised to love the History of Higher Education course with Dr. Nate Sleeter. My expectations were low because I imagined it may be a less engaging class but the way he structured the course was perfect.
What advice would you give to an incoming certificate student?
If there is an area of interest that you hold that doesn't show up in any of the classes, consider an independent study with a faculty member who you think could support your research well.
In what ways has the certificate helped you progress toward your career goals or opened new professional opportunities?
After I finished the certificate program, I applied for the position I'm in now as the Associate Director of Women and Gender Studies, and I do believe that the certificate helped me to stand out a bit in that application process. Additionally, I was able to take some of my research from my independent study and transform it into a co-authored oxford bibliography (published with Dr. David Powers Corwin). Lastly, the knowledge from the courses informs the way I go about my work.