Hello, SACSA Family, old and new!

I am a proud product of an HBCU, having attended and graduated from the illustrious South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. And if you know anything about HBCU culture, especially if you’ve served in student leadership, Royal Court, SGA, or anywhere near a campus stage, you already know: HBCU graduates know how to introduce themselves.

So, with that being said… I bring you greetings from the home of a spirited blend of history, culture, fine dining, and my favorite pastime, shopping in Northern Virginia (NOVA).

My name is Dr. Dashan Jamel Axson-Lawrence, and I serve as the Associate Athletic Director of Academics and Student-Athlete Development at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. It is one of the greatest privileges of my career to serve the SACSA organization as your Vice President of Professional Development. Originally from the city that never sleeps (NYC), more specifically from the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York, by way of Lugoff, SC. I proudly carry with me the resilience, culture, faith, and community spirit of every place that has shaped my journey.

When I think about SACSA and what this organization means to me, I’m reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

That quote feels like SACSA to me. SACSA is an amazing collective of different perspectives, lived experiences, passions, and goals, and that diversity is exactly what makes this organization so powerful and impactful. Every day, I reflect on the people who started as colleagues and became family. Together, we aim not merely to exist in this work, but to push boundaries, advocate for others, and walk through this journey called life with passion, conviction, and purpose.

For me, SACSA has also always been about mentorship. It is about reaching back and pulling forward the next generation of student affairs professionals, especially our graduate students who are navigating this field with big dreams, fresh ideas, and sometimes very real uncertainty. I remember being supported, encouraged, and poured into early in my journey at SACSA 2013 in Norfolk. That experience affirmed for me that this was not just an organization, it was a professional home.

Because of the mentors who saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself, it is now my responsibility and my joy to give back in the same way. My goal is to ensure that graduate students and new professionals feel seen, supported, challenged, and developed. I want them to know that they belong in this work, that their voices matter, and that SACSA will always be a place where they can grow, lead, and thrive.

Before I leave you, I have a challenge:
Right now, send the SACSA website to at least five people. In the text, simply say, “Hey friend! Have you heard about SACSA?” Let’s plant seeds. Let’s help someone else find their professional home. Because SACSA has not only shaped our professional journeys, but we also have room to do the same for others.

I truly cannot wait to welcome you all to Greenville, South Carolina, for SACSA 2026. Please know that I am always here to lend a helping hand. And as my mentor, Dr. Joelle Carter, always says:

“It’s SACSA Time!”