WKU News

The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Graduate Student & New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCOP) group awarded Natalie Smith, WKU Housing & Residence Life Area Coordinator, the Outstanding Mentor to Graduate Students Award during their annual convention on February 18, 2025, in Long Beach, CA.  

The award is given to a Student Affairs professional who goes above and beyond in their efforts to provide guidance and support to new practitioners in the field of Student Affairs. Natalie has held various roles over her more than seven years at WKU, consistently demonstrating her commitment to student development, staff mentorship, and campus well-being. 

One of Natalie’s supervisees shared, “Natalie Smith is one of the best supervisors I’ve had since being at Western. She is very caring, compassionate and detailed in her work for her staff and students. Natalie puts in more effort than is needed and wants to help others obtain their life goals. As a supervisee anyone would be lucky to have her as a supervisor.” 

“As a dedicated and passionate student affairs professional, she consistently goes above and beyond in mentoring and supporting new professionals in our field. Her unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment is evident in the countless hours she has spent providing guidance, sharing invaluable insights, and creating meaningful connections with myself and many other entry-level professionals. Natalie’s passion for our student's development and professional growth not only inspires those around her, but also significantly enhances the overall effectiveness of our student affairs community. Her exceptional contributions truly embody the spirit of this award, and I can think of no other individual who I would rather have had as a mentor in my first few years in student affairs,” shared another supervisee. 

The Graduate Student & New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCOP) strives to be the centralized gateway, network, and resource for graduate students and new professionals that elevates current issues, addresses institutionalized culture, produces scholarly work, and implements innovative practices that promote systemic change in order to transform higher education and student affairs. Learn more at https://myacpa.org/groups/gsnpcop/   

Contact: kirsten.hooks@wku.edu, katie.corbin@wku.edu