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Sarah Schoper, an assistant professor in the Western Illinois University College Student Personnel (CSP) Program, was honored with the prestigious Annuit Coeptis Award for Emerging Professionals by the ACPA—College Student Educators International in April.
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CSP Faculty Recognized with Annuit Coeptis Award

May 19, 2014

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MACOMB, IL — Sarah Schoper, an assistant professor in the Western Illinois University College Student Personnel (CSP) Program, is the kind of teacher her students will think about years down the road in their lives and careers. Evidence of this is demonstrated in every nomination letter—12 in all—she received from her former and current students for the Annuit Coeptis Award for Emerging Professionals.

In early April this year, along with five other individuals from across the U.S., Schoper was honored with the prestigious award, which is bestowed annually by the ACPA—College Student Educators International. According to the ACPA website, the Emerging Professionals Award honors individuals for "their contributions to the fields of administration, teaching, research and publications."

Schoper, who started at Western in 2011, learned of the recognition this past winter and was honored with the others who received the award this year at the ACPA convention in Indianapolis in April. Although she served for many years as a student affairs administrator at such institutions as the University of Dayton and the University of Maryland, her job at Western is her first full-time faculty position in the student affairs discipline.

"I was a little anxious when I first began teaching full time, because, for 10 years I had been a practitioner. I had grown up in the student activities area; I have worked in orientation, Greek Life and leadership programs. I was a little nervous about leaving what I kind of thought of as 'my home,'" she explained. "But my research area is in the learning and development of graduate students who are in student affairs preparation programs, so to be able to help those who are going out to be student affairs professionals, well, it was an opportunity I was compelled to pursue."

These days, Schoper is feeling quite at home in her instructional work with Western's CSP students.

"There is no question that the favorite part of my job is when I get to go to class with the students and we get to learn together," Schoper noted. "It is challenging stuff we are trying to figure out, look at from different perspectives, critique and try on to see if it works. Preparing professionals really is my passion area, and it is a big honor to be able to do that."

Teaching Tributes
Schoper's former student, Craig Wagner, a residence hall director at Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, IA), spearheaded the effort to nominate her for the Annuit Coeptis Award. He contacted several of his fellow CSP alumni and students and asked them to also submit letters of nomination.

"What Craig did, it is very humbling and meaningful to me," Schoper said. "When I received the phone call from the person who chairs the Annuit Coeptis Award selection committee, it was, honestly, a bit overwhelming, particularly when he said, 'You have quite the packet. Well done.'"

The letter by Wagner, who finished the CSP program in 2012, tells the story of Schoper's impact on him and his fellow CSP students in the classroom, as well as outside of it.

"Her strong focus on student learning and her emphasis on building relationships with and between students made her the most effective and life-altering professor I have had in my time as a student.... Sarah's efforts outside of the classroom went far beyond meeting with students. Sarah came up with different ways of including students in her life. This included writing articles, hosting presentations and webinars, doing research and having miniature book clubs," he wrote. "With each day, I see more and more the extent to which she has affected my life. Because of Sarah's efforts, I find myself to be more compassionate and united with those around me. She has given me hope for a future in which I am better prepared to handle the complexity of our ever-changing world. What is more, she has helped me see how I can do this for others. Because of this, I recognize that I will never be able to thank Sarah completely for what she has provided me."

In a nomination letter submitted by Bentley University (South Waltham, MA) Residence Director Brent Ploughe, who graduated from the CSP program in 2012, he describes Schoper as a "trendsetter in the field of student affairs education and serves as benchmark for all educators."

"While my time with Dr. Schoper was limited, her instruction continues to have a significant role in my professional career," Ploughe said. "I consistently consider the needs of my students, shape learning environments around those needs and assess those environments for learning. I challenge others to ask the question, 'Who am I?' I also develop meaningful relationships with students, as I recognize the importance of being good partners with them on their journey towards self-awareness. This is a direct reflection of Dr. Schoper's commitment to student learning and her dedication to seeing future student affairs practitioners succeed."

Learn more about the Annuit Coeptis Award for Emerging Professionals at www.myacpa.org/award/annuit-coeptis-award-emerging-professional. Visit Western's CSP Program online at www.wiu.edu/coehs/csp/.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
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