ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: JHENAI CHANDLER

FROM FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION LEADER

By Melissa Powell

Jhenai Chandler’s journey from a first-generation college student to her current role as a leader in higher education policy and student affairs is a testament to her resilience, determination, and commitment to addressing inequities in higher education. Her story is rooted in her own lived experiences that mirror the struggles of the many students she now advocates for — those who are navigating multiple roles and priorities while also pursuing their education.

In August 2024, Chandler, a graduate of FSU’s Higher Education doctoral program, was named vice president for research and policy at NASPA, a professional organization for student affairs administrators in higher education.

NASPA is the professional home for student affairs. With a student-centered approach, NASPA serves the field of higher education by providing professional development, advancing research to address critical challenges, advocating for inclusive and equitable practices in higher education, and fostering networks that mentor and support the next generation of student affairs professionals.

The statistics she works with in her role are more than just numbers. They represent lives, including her own. “I was a first-generation college student. I was a student parent. I was a transfer student,” she said. “These are all challenges we’re talking about in higher education today. I lived that life, and so I’m able to humanize the data points and the experiences of students when I’m involved in research and policy conversations related to these areas.”

She advocates for the estimated 40 million Americans who started college but have not finished, motivated by her own family’s experiences. “Until that number dwindles down, that’s really my motivator: the working adults who want to go back to school, the student who needs to transfer. Keeping them on the pathway to completion is what inspires me.”

Chandler’s time as an undergraduate student at Anne’s College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Food, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, was not just a turning point — it was a lifeline. As an upper-division transfer student, access to childcare on FSU’s campus was vital to her success.

“The folks at University Housing helped me get connected with childcare, and it made all the difference,” she recalls. It was one of many moments when the support of others — often behind the scenes — enabled her to keep moving forward.

A CAREER SPARKED BY AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

While working at the Florida Department of Corrections as an undergraduate student, Chandler found herself struggling to balance work, parenthood, and the demands of her class schedule. An academic roadblock unexpectedly led her into the world of higher education advising. “I had a hard time getting into organic chemistry, a course I needed to take to graduate, because childcare closed at the time the course was offered,” Chandler said. A conversation about her scheduling conflicts with Jodee Dorsey, who served as the associate dean for academic affairs at the time, unknowingly sparked a future in higher education. “I was telling [her] about all the things going on, and she connected me with Jennifer Farrell, who offered me a job as an upper division advisor for the College,” Chandler said. “That’s how I got into advising — it all took off from there.” She was able to complete her degree while working on campus.

AN INTERSECTION OF IDENTITIES

Chandler’s journey is one marked by perseverance and a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for students from various backgrounds.

These overlapping identities have shaped her experience and fueled her passion to drive meaningful change in higher education. “It inspires me and encourages me to be thoughtful about my contributions to the field and to critically analyze the implications of the policy and research that we do.”

I’m also a Black woman, so I lie at the margins and the intersectionality of being a student of color, a transfer student, and a student parent.

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS AND FACUTLY SUPPORT

She credits much of her collegiate success to the personal support of faculty who understood her unique situation as a student, a mother, and a wife juggling a full-time job. “There were some blows in my journey,” she acknowledged. But the unwavering support of faculty like Toby Park-Gaghan, now the College’s associate dean for academic affairs, Gregory Harris, now the associate dean for strategic partnerships and community engagement, and Brad Cox and Tamara Bertrand Jones, who served as faculty at FSU at the time, made all the difference, she says. She recalls a particularly personal moment when her son was diagnosed with autism during her studies. “Brad Cox stopped everything and spent almost a half day with me, walking me through what that looked like for him and his family, and the resources that are available.”

This personal connection is at the heart of Chandler’s approach to leadership and advocacy. “I have so many family members who attempted college and weren’t able to finish because they didn’t have a TBJ [Tamara Bertrand Jones] or a Brad Cox,” she says. “I transferred to Florida State for childcare. Not all people have that level of access to make adjustments.” These experiences are what fuel her drive today.

I’m in these positions to give voice to the experiences of students, to make sure we’re making systems-level change so that no student has to drop out.

BUILDING STRATEGIC VISION AT NASPA

Now in her role at NASPA, Chandler is working to build a strategic vision for how research and policy can improve student outcomes. “Right now, I’m on week seven of the job,” she said with a smile. “I’m learning my team, learning about the work we’re doing, and planning for what comes next.”

Chandler is particularly excited to be part of NASPA’s leadership team at a pivotal time, with another Anne’s College alumna, Amelia Parnell, stepping into the role of president. “NASPA is going through a full leadership change,” Chandler explained, but the opportunities that come with this change are energizing, she said. “I’m setting a policy and research agenda, and I’m making it a priority to build relationships with vice presidents of student affairs across the country.”

For Chandler, relationships are at the core of what she needs in order to be successful especially working remotely in a virtual environment. “I’m a relationship builder. I am personable, and I think that’s important because higher education is all about making and maintaining strong connections with colleagues across the field,” she said. “We can be so transactional sometimes that we forget to make personal connections.”

REMEMBER YOUR “WHY”

Her advice to students reflects the same resilience and determination that has defined her own career. “For the student who might fall somewhere in the middle and not be the top performer, I would encourage them to keep at it,” she says. Chandler emphasizes that high-quality work and communication with faculty and employers are key to success, even when the journey feels overwhelming. “Don’t give up on yourself. Remember your ‘why.’”

In many ways, Chandler’s “why” is about creating opportunities for others who are walking a path similar to her own. “Even though I fell into higher education, I love the change that I was able to create for students who came from similar backgrounds or who didn’t have advocates,” she said. It’s clear that Chandler’s work is not just about policy or data — it’s about people. And with every student who finds success because of her efforts, her journey comes full circle.∎