Bradford Porter is a Community Coordinator at Kennesaw State University, working in Housing and Residence Life. This is his third year working in housing and residence life after graduating from graduate school.

Bradford's first conference experience was in Birmingham, AL which he attended while in graduate school with several classmates. He was encouraged to attend by Dr. Tony Cawthonand participated in the Graduate Symposium. The experience was impactful because it provided opportunities to network and see firsthand the professional community, he'd heard so much about from professors. He met many graduate students and professionals, learned about the field, and gained insight into what it looks like to be a new professional, especially for those hoping to remain in the region. The conference felt smaller and more welcoming, which made it less overwhelming while still offering a wide variety of sessions and experiences. That balance of comfort and challenge motivated Bradford to continue attending every year.

Bradford's most memorable moment at SACSA was networking. At the Atlanta conference, he connected with individuals who worked at his current institution. Those connections eventually led to applying for and receiving hiscurrent position. He valued not only meeting people, but maintaining relationships over time, even when a job opportunity did not materialize immediately. Being remembered, respected, and later becoming colleagues with those individuals was a meaningful and rewarding experience.

For first-time attendees, Bradford would offer two main pieces of advice. First, fully engage in the experience by pushing yourself to meet new people beyond those you already know from your institution. Attend sessions, participate in discussions, talk with those seated around you, and go to social events. Second, look for ways to get involved. Getting involved through service or committees provided motivation, learning opportunities, and the chance to contribute outside of his primary functional area.

Bradford describes their overall experience at SACSA as similar to a family reunion. It is a space filled with familiar faces, new connections, laughter, hugs, and meaningful check-ins. Over time, he's built relationships across different stages of his career—from graduate school to his first institution and now hiscurrent role. Watching those networks grow and overlap has been especially rewarding and reinforces a sense of community and shared development.

What keeps Bradford coming back to SACSA is both the experience and the meaningful work. He feels confident that hisprofessional development funds are well spent, knowing the value of the programming, committees, and learning opportunities. As a co-chair for the Knowledge Café and a member of other committees, he appreciates being able to facilitate meaningful conversations and provide space for professional exchange. He values the opportunity to learn from others, gain insight about himself, and participate in an environment that encourages growth and connection. These experiences are what he looks forward to each year and what continues to bring them back to the conference.

Bradford, thank you for your dedication, hard work, and meaningful contribution to the field, and to our organization.