As part of The Stories That Shaped Us series, I sat down with Dr. Aaron Hughey, a long-standing SACSA member and faculty member in Student Affairs, who has attended the association’s annual conference for more than three decades. Over the years, Hughey has witnessed not only the evolution of SACSA itself but also the broader transformations within higher education. His reflections offer a compelling portrait of how professional communities sustain learning, purpose, and connection across a career.

Finding Community and Perspective

When Hughey first attended SACSA in the early 1990s, he was transitioning from a career in housing and residence life to a faculty role in a graduate program in student affairs. What struck him most about the conference was the range of thought and professional backgrounds represented.

Early in his career, he attended specialized housing conferences that deepened his operational expertise but offered a narrower view of the field. SACSA, by contrast, broadened that lens. “When I attended SACSA for the first time, I realized I was among colleagues who worked in every area of student services—conduct, admissions, financial aid, career services, and more. It broadened my understanding of the field and gave me the chance to learn from others’ experiences.”

Beyond the sessions themselves, Hughey found that the most meaningful learning often happened in informal settings—over lunch, in hallway conversations, or during evening socials. These moments created a sense of shared purpose that transcended institutional boundaries. “I felt like I was with my people,” he said. “It was refreshing to connect with others who understood the unique challenges and rewards of student affairs work.”

Professional Growth Through Connection

For Hughey, SACSA has provided a professional “anchor”—a community of continuity amid an ever-changing field. Even as he attended national conferences and engaged with scholarly associations, SACSA remained his professional home. “It’s the only conference I’ve gone to continuously since the beginning.” “It offers a balance between learning and collegiality—a place to engage seriously with ideas while also renewing relationships.”

That balance is what sustains professional vitality. SACSA not only challenges him to reflect on emerging issues in higher education but also reaffirms his sense of vocation. “Our professional identity evolves throughout our careers,” “SACSA helps me see how others are adapting to new challenges—changes in student motivation, emerging technologies, or the shifting nature of higher education itself. It reminds me that I’m not alone in facing those challenges.”

This reflective dimension is essential in times of uncertainty or fatigue. “SACSA is a space to recharge,” he said. “It reminds us why we do this work.”

A Culture of Balance and Belonging

When asked why SACSA retains such loyalty from its members, Hughey pointed to the organization’s ability to balance intellectual engagement with genuine human connection. “It’s a conference that values both scholarship and community. “You can have deep, meaningful conversations about theory and practice, and you can also enjoy time with colleagues in a relaxed setting. That combination keeps people coming back.”

He also emphasized SACSA’s flexibility, which allows professionals to tailor their engagement year to year. “Every year is different,” he said. “Some years, I focus on faculty sessions; other years, I spend more time mentoring graduate students. SACSA allows you to shape your own experience.”

That adaptability, he argued, mirrors the best of student affairs itself—responsive, relational, and inclusive. It creates a professional space where learning and belonging coexist, rather than compete.

Staying Relevant in a Changing Field

Over three decades, Hughey has seen higher education transform dramatically—technologically, demographically, and culturally. Yet SACSA’s core value remains unchanged: meaningful interpersonal learning. “People learn best through interaction,” he said. “You can read journal articles or watch webinars, but there’s no substitute for exchanging ideas in real time with peers from across the region.”

He views the annual conference as an incubator for fresh thinking, where professionals wrestle collectively with emerging issues—from artificial intelligence and digital learning to shifts in student engagement and workforce expectations. “Each year, I leave the conference knowing more than when I arrived,” Hughey reflected. “Someone always introduces me to a new way of thinking or a challenge I hadn’t yet considered.”

Advice for Newcomers

For those attending SACSA for the first time, Hughey’s advice is simple but profound: be fully present. “Go to the receptions and social events.” “Don’t focus on trying to impress people—just have conversations. Some of the best learning happens informally, when you’re discussing an idea over lunch or debriefing after a session.”

In his view, SACSA offers not only professional development but also the chance to build enduring relationships that shape a career. “You never know where a conversation might lead,” he said. “You might meet someone who becomes a collaborator, a mentor, or even a future colleague.”

“It Never Disappoints”

When asked to finish the sentence, “I keep coming back to SACSA because…” Hughey shared, “Because it never disappoints.” “I always learn something new, and I always reconnect with people who remind me why I chose this profession in the first place.”

Now in the later stages of his career, Hughey continues to view SACSA not merely as an annual event but as a professional home—a space where the spirit of student affairs endures through shared experience, mentorship, and dialogue. “I’ll keep coming,” he added, “It’s been part of my professional life for over thirty years—and it still inspires me.”