Crafting Student Connections Through Experience

Amanda Gelber, Director of Student Engagement, McDaniel College

Amanda Gelber, Director of Student Engagement, McDaniel College

Through this article, Gelber emphasizes on how mentorship and involvement sparked a career in student affairs, now driven by a commitment to evolving student engagement through creativity and empathy in a changing, resource-constrained landscape.

I struggled significantly during my first year of college. In hindsight, I declared a major too quickly, and much of the coursework was either beyond my ability or misaligned with my interests. By the end of that year, two pivotal things happened: I changed my major and I joined an emerging leadership program. It was during a session of that program that I asked the facilitator about her job and how I could get more involved. Her guidance opened doors to opportunities that ultimately shaped my path. My journey into student affairs began in earnest during the second semester of my first year. I became active with the programming and homecoming boards and pursued several internships in leadership development, residence life and summer bridge programming over the course of undergrad. The advisors I worked with during that time truly inspired me. They didn’t just support me academically; they got to know me as a person. They helped me find a sense of belonging when I felt lost and that experience motivated me to do the same for others as a professional.

One of the biggest challenges in student affairs today is operating within a culture of scarcity. Professionals are often asked to do more with fewer resources, experience burnout, lack adequate compensation and feel undervalued. Another ongoing challenge is fluctuating student engagement. The pandemic drastically changed how students connect with campus life. While engagement numbers are beginning to rise again, we continue to face new hurdles as student expectations evolve.

“One initiative I’m particularly proud of is a trading card game I developed for our campus community. Drawing from generational research and gaming trends, the program allowed students to earn incentives throughout the semester and academic year”

Success in student engagement now depends on centering the diverse needs of our student body by actively listening and adapting to current trends. While I’ll always appreciate traditional programming, the focus has shifted toward adding deeper meaning to those experiences. Surface-level fun still plays an important role, but our programs now aim to strike a balance between what students want, what grabs their attention and what educational value can be embedded. This added depth is especially important as we work to demonstrate our value in an era of tight institutional budgets.

In this shifting landscape, the most effective tools for building community and promoting involvement have been student engagement software and social media. It’s essential for student affairs offices to have dedicated staff and student teams who remain current with emerging strategies. These platforms allow students to customize their co-curricular experiences and track their involvement, fostering a greater sense of ownership and connection.

One initiative I’m particularly proud of is a trading card game I developed for our campus community. Drawing from generational research and gaming trends, the program allowed students to earn incentives throughout the semester and academic year. Research shows that today’s college students are passionate collectors, whether it’s Squish Mallows or Funko Pops, the game tapped into that interest. Students received unique cards when they checked in at events, leading to a 25 percent increase in engagement during Fall 2024. More importantly, we reached new pockets of students who hadn’t previously been involved.

To build a more inclusive and dynamic campus culture, I recommend two key practices. First, conduct creative, out-of-the-box research. My team regularly draws from generational studies and cultural trends to design relevant programs, while benchmarking against peer institutions throughout the year. Second, I suggest using a mixed-methods approach to assess program effectiveness and student experiences. At the heart of student affairs is our commitment to student well-being—ensuring they feel safe, seen, and like they truly belong.