Running head: MISSION STATEMENT 1

Artifact B: Integrated Mission Statement

Rachel Fielding

Seattle University
MISSION STATEMENT 2

Artifact B: Integrated Mission Statement

I believe in myself, doing the best I can with where I am and what I have, and giving

grace when it is needed most. At the core of the intersection of my personal and professional

identities are the values I hold at the heart of who I am: authenticity, resiliency, advocacy, and

care. Understanding my identities as a white, able presenting, woman is important to how I show

up for myself and in my relationships with others. I strive to maintain awareness of my

privileges and the spaces I consume, and consistently challenge my biases to display my most

authentic self in a way that demonstrates multicultural competence (Pope, Reynolds, & Mueller,

2004). My forward-thinking lens, and identity as a first generation student, pushes me to

regularly question the status quo and advocate for systemic change in support of accessibility and

equity for all student populations. I view myself as a resilient woman who persists through

strength, and being able to recognize these traits within myself informs my approach to helping

others to see the ways in which they are resilient too. Informed by Yosso (2005), I aim to help

underrepresented students to identify the unique cultural wealth they bring to their experiences,

empowering them to persist, succeed, and find the value in their unique narratives. Regardless of

institutional or departmental context, I seek to draw upon current research and best practices

from the field of higher education to ensure I am consistently supporting my students in the most

effective and intentional ways. I believe in caring for my whole self-first, so I can sustainably

care for the field of student affairs, my students, and the institutions which I serve. It is my

dedication to lifelong learning, deep reflection, and intentionality that inform my student-

centered approach to holistic growth, development, and support. By holding my truest values at

the center of my heart and my practice, I am able to continue to meet others where they are at,

foster community, and create impact through service to myself, to others, to the student affairs

profession, and to society.

MISSION STATEMENT 3

References

Pope, R. L., Reynolds, A. L., & Mueller, J. A. (2004). Multicultural competence in student

affairs. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Yosso, T. J. (2005). Whose culture has capital? A critical race theory discussion of community

cultural wealth. Race Ethnicity and Education, 8(1), 69-91