The primary aim of the Division of Student Affairs is to deliver the No. 1 student experience — a goal that cannot be accomplished without a strong professional foundation. At Clemson, the student affairs M.Ed. program cultivates many of these professionals, offering participants a unique, holistic experience that thoroughly prepares them for success in the field — whether at Clemson or beyond.
Skylar Walder, a second-year graduate student in the program, exemplifies success. While working towards her undergraduate degree at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, Walder’s interest in student affairs began to grow. She eagerly attended her first graduate information session as a junior, encouraged by her former resident assistant — a Clemson student affairs master’s program alum. She took the opportunity to speak to a faculty member after the session, helping her connect with Clemson immediately and giving her personal insight into the program. Ultimately, she applied to several schools, but Clemson quickly set itself apart from the rest.
“Their interview and application process was very efficient, and I was able to have up to three required internship or experiential learning experiences built into the program, outside of my classes and assistantship. Very few master’s programs offer this,” she says.
Walder currently serves as a graduate community director with Clemson Home. She began on the west side of campus, managing around 500 students and 15 residential community mentors in the Gressette and Mickel communities. This year, she has taken on more responsibility, overseeing 880 residents and 25 staff members in the Lightsey Bridge community. Walder has handled the big step up with professionalism and grace, and students thrive under her leadership.
In her role, Walder’s days typically center around relationship building, operation management, and advising. Along with a full-time community director and a fellow graduate community director, Walder handles student concerns and facility issues, supervises staff and oversees daily operations. She meets with students and staff frequently to follow up on concerns and set expectations, and she acts as a liaison between the department and her staff. She serves on-call for her residential zone, prepared to answer any questions or worries during and after hours. She also offers advising for first-year students who serve as community council members in the Residence Hall Association.
Walder’s position requires incredible adaptability, which she demonstrates daily. “I am always thinking about how to meet the changing needs of our students; our approach to supporting them changes each year, and it is my responsibility to construct and communicate that,” she says.
In addition to her role with Clemson Home, Walder serves on the executive board for Chi Sigma Alpha — the student affairs academic and professional honor society. In this position, she connects with fellow graduate students to assess observations from field work and translate them into tangible ways to meet students’ needs.
Walder’s exceptional work has not gone without recognition. In 2025, she received the Student Affairs Walter T. Cox Outstanding Graduate Student Award, celebrating her impactful contributions to the Clemson University student experience.
“It made me think — how am I continuing to do the good work? More than a nice plaque, I value the fact that my work is noticeable, and it motivates me to continue to expand upon the experiences I have already built,” she says.
Entering Clemson, Walder didn’t anticipate some of the practical experiences she would come across. Her willingness to try new things has led her to unexpected corners of student affairs — her first practicum was with Advancement and Presidential Events, and her upcoming internship will be in Career Services at Furman University. Additionally, she has been published once (soon to be twice) and is presenting at a conference in a few weeks.
“I’ve always been an advocate for stepping out of your comfort zone, and Clemson gives you the flexibility to do that. The University connects you so well to the field, and [aspiring practitioners] should take advantage of it,” she says.
Walder’s future aspirations are consistent with the work she is doing now; she hopes to start her career in housing and residence life, where she aims to mimic “the people [she’s] learned from” by providing a memorable, holistic experience for everyone involved, especially students.
Davis finds a home in Clemson’s Division of Student Affairs
Operating with a similar intention is Chris Davis, student support and outreach coordinator for the Office of Community and Ethical Standards (OCES). Davis’ remarkable work during his time as a student affairs master’s student earned him the opportunity to transition directly into a career in Clemson’s Division of Student Affairs, where he continues to support the student experience and embody the University’s core values.
As he neared the end of his undergraduate years at Radford University in Virginia, student body president Davis thought about continuing his education in an area that particularly interested him — student affairs. Drawing from his experience in student government, as well as advice from mentors and faculty, Davis began searching for graduate opportunities, and Clemson immediately caught his attention. The welcoming and thoughtful people he met through the CU-GARS assistantship interview process made Clemson feel like home, and Davis was quick to accept his position the day after it was offered.
“Between connecting with an amazing mentor who helped me transition into Clemson and connecting with the important people with whom I would be doing my graduate assistantship, Clemson really felt like a family,” he says.
During his graduate assistantship with OCES, Davis had many responsibilities that stimulated his personal and professional growth. Outside of handling standard conduct violations, Davis’ primary job was to advise the judicial branch of student government, which he still handles today. In this role, he helped undergraduate students develop as leaders by overseeing their hearing processes for conduct violations. Through his work, Davis built valuable relationships and equipped students with the skills to succeed beyond Clemson.
As his time in graduate school came to a close and he began the job search, Davis reflected happily on his years at Clemson and how his experiences inspired him. So, when his supervisor approached him with a position at the University, it was one of the easiest decisions he would ever make.
“Everything that I ever want in a community, everything I ever want in a job experience — it’s all here. So why not stay?” he asked himself.
Clemson’s student affairs M.Ed. program provided Davis with a strong foundation that made the transition into his role as student support and outreach coordinator a simple one. Some of the work he does mirrors his graduate responsibilities — advising the student judicial board, addressing conduct violations — while some is completely new. He handles a lot of educational outreach to the Clemson community, communicating with students, organizations, faculty and staff about the OCES conduct process. He also manages the OCES website and oversees educational programs for student accountability and integrity.
While at Clemson, Davis has been given the tools and opportunities to grow, and he couldn’t be more grateful. Being exposed to both student and administrative perspectives, he has learned to adapt and apply both sets of thinking, giving him a professional advantage. He also has developed critical thinking skills, having been exposed to many situations that require quick and decisive insight. Davis attributes both of these traits to the unique field experiences the master’s program provides — something Walder also commended.
“The program stands out because it teaches you how to actually be a practitioner — how to critically think, how to address certain scenarios with the information at hand. The classes are very beneficial, but you truly learn and develop as a student affairs professional in your field experience, and Clemson University prioritizes that,” he says.
Davis’ educational experience at Clemson University did not stop at graduate school; he is currently in the educational leadership Ph.D. program. He has high hopes — become a dean of students, a vice president of student affairs and ultimately president at an R1 institution. Davis was drawn to Clemson for a reason — a confidence the University would cultivate his passion for student affairs and provide him with the resources to achieve his goals — and he aims to instill that confidence in others.
“If anyone is debating whether or not to come to Clemson, I say take that leap. We have renowned faculty, we have a great student support system — within and outside of the program. If those are the things you are looking for, you have found your match.”
Every October, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) celebrates the profession of student affairs through a designated “Careers in Student Affairs Month,” and Clemson University seizes the opportunity to highlight both its outstanding division and exceptional coinciding M.Ed. program. Vice President of Student Affairs Doug Hallenbeck highlights its unparalleled nature.
“As a second-generation student affairs professional and father of a third-generation professional, I’ve seen first-hand the impact of this profession on students and their families, including my own. I’ve been able to broaden my understanding of student affairs at each successive stop — culminating with the vice president’s role at Clemson. I’ve been fortunate to work at several great institutions, and the breadth of experiences available to graduate students here are second to none. I encourage any student thinking about continuing their education beyond undergrad to strongly consider the student affairs program at Clemson.”
Editor’s Note: As part of “Careers in Student Affairs Month,” Vice President Doug Hallenbeck will share thoughts on his journey throughout the profession with aspiring graduate students on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. in Watt 313. On Thursday, Oct. 23, the student affairs M.Ed. program is hosting a virtual information session from 10-11:15 a.m. for prospective students. Attendees will receive important details and be given the chance to ask faculty and current students questions about the program. More information can be found here.
