February 2026 Newsletter

In this edition:

• President's Message
• JASPA Pulse Check
• JASPA Annual Conference - Registration Still Open
• Reflections from a JASPA Affiliate Member
• Upcoming Programs
   

President's Message

"Don't Give Up: Rooted in the Magis"

During my college years, I participated in an alternative spring break experience in Hartford, Connecticut, serving in a soup kitchen for the week. As with most service experiences, it transformed me far more than anything I could offer during that brief glimpse into food insecurity in an urban community. Throughout the week, I struck up a conversation with a man who came in every day for lunch. On the final day of the trip, our advisor had us wear "Don't GIVE Up" buttons -- the theme of our campus Lenten observance that year.

That afternoon at the soup kitchen, my conversation partner asked what the button meant to me. I explained that our Lenten theme was not about giving something up, but about giving. He smiled and told me he needed that reminder -- "don't give up" -- because despite working an office job during the day and a security job in the evenings, he ate lunch there every day to stretch his paycheck as far as it could go for his young family. I gave him my button, we said our goodbyes, and I have thought of him often -- particularly on Fridays during Lent. In him, I found God in an unexpected place, as Ignatius invites us to do -- present in the dignity, resilience, and quiet courage of a man simply doing his best for those he loved. That first alternative spring break truly transformed me, and it remains a core memory to this day.

As we prepare for Lent, Pope Leo calls us to reflect:

"Let us strive to make our communities places where the cry of those who suffer finds welcome, and listening opens paths towards liberation, making us ready and eager to contribute to building a civilization of love."

This call resonates deeply with our Ignatian tradition. To find God in all things is to remain awake to the moments -- and the people -- that summon us beyond ourselves. To practice cura personalis is to see each person we encounter in their fullness: not as a problem to be solved, but as a human being worthy of our full attention and care. And to embrace Pedro Arrupe's vision of men and women for others is to recognize that our work in Jesuit student affairs is not merely a profession -- it is a vocation rooted in love and service.

During this Lenten season, may we give more of ourselves and deepen our Lenten sacrifice. Saint Ignatius envisioned the Magis as an invitation to deepen our faith and our commitment to God and one another -- to remove the obstacles in our midst so that we might feel greater connection to what is most important, meaningful, and joyful. As contemplatives in action, we are called to hold both the interior life and the outward mission together, allowing our reflection to fuel our service and our service to deepen our reflection.

In just a few weeks, we will gather at Rockhurst University for our annual conference to celebrate our award recipients and one another. I hope our time together offers each of us the chance to connect, reflect, and learn as we engage the Magis — asking the questions that draw us closer to our hearts, our students, and our communities. If you have not yet registered, please do so today.

As we prepare for our annual gathering, I invite you to sit with the following Daily Examen, attending to both the consolations that sustain us and the desolations that call us to grow:

Gratitude: What in my life am I privileged to have, to experience, and to hold?

Offering: What simple yet profound gifts might I offer -- in the spirit of cura personalis -- to my students, colleagues, family, friends, and community?

Real Talk: What obstacles have I placed in my own way that prevent me from giving all that I am? Where do I feel desolation pulling me away from my truest self and deepest call?

Renewal: Where is God calling me -- in these 40 days of Lent -- toward greater consolation, deeper connection, and more generous service?

May our hearts remain open to the call of this work -- as contemplatives in action, as people for and with others -- as a source of transformation for our students and for ourselves.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam -- For the Greater Glory of God

In solidarity and service,

Deb Cady Melzer
JASPA President
Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students
Loyola University Maryland
 

JASPA Pulse Check

Thank you to everyone who took January's Pulse Check! You can view the January results in the graphic below, which show strong enthusiasm for gathering in-person and a conference culture that balances professional focus with fun.

This month we are asking: "If student affairs were an Olympic sport..."  Click here to take this month's short, three question survey!
 

JASPA Annual Conference - Registration Still Open

"Mission in Motion: Foring Students in a Changing World"
Saturday, March 7, 2026
@ Rockhurst University
Kansas City, Missouri

We are very excited to host you all in Kansas City, MO, at Rockhurst University for the JASPA Annual Conference. This one-day event will include the Annual Conference, JASPA Banquet & Awards, and Club JASPA (evening social).

The conference will begin in the late morning, and all events will conclude by 10:30 PM. All Saturday events will take place on the Rockhurst University campus located just a few miles from the city center. Look for more information including a full schedule and keynote announcement via email and socials in early February! 

Registration is now open! View rates and register here.

• As a reminder, Kansas City has a wonderful FREE streetcar service that can be used to get around town and to Rockhurst’s campus, so JASPA will not run shuttles from the NASPA conference hotels. Check out the route here: RIDE THE STREETCAR.

• For those only attending the JASPA Annual Conference and looking to reserve hotel rooms closest to campus, please view the local options and deals here: HOTEL OPTIONS HERE.

Questions related to the Annual Conference can be directed to the following: 

• Briana Maturi, bmaturi@lmu.edu, Program Co-Chair
• Sonya Alexander, salexander3@fairfield.edu, Program Co-Chair
• Breyanna Primous, breyanna.primous@rockhurst.edu, Host Committee Co-Chair
• Taryn James, taryn.james@rockhurst.edu, Host Committee Co-Chair
   

Reflections from a JASPA Affiliate Member

"Reflections from the 2026 CHEBNA Summit"

Responding to students’ basic needs is a growing national imperative, signaling a broader call for institutions to care for the whole student. Santa Clara University -- located in the heart of Silicon Valley, a region marked by profound economic inequality -- has embraced this challenge as an opportunity to live out their mission more fully.

When I first stepped into my role as the inaugural Basic Needs Coordinator, I attended the California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance (CHEBNA) Summit as part of my
onboarding. I was inspired by the innovation happening across institutions statewide to address food and housing insecurity and left with a deeper sense of purpose regarding student advocacy.

One of my most critical efforts during my tenure was establishing and strengthening
relationships with local county agencies and food banks to streamline student access to
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Without state funding streams available to many public institutions, our work has relied on cultivating strategic partnerships. In collaboration with the county, we worked to reduce verification barriers and rectify wrongful denials by co-developing student-centered policies and practices, several of which have been adopted by other institutions statewide.

Returning to the CHEBNA Summit this year was humbling. It was especially meaningful to present and uplift the work being done at a private, Jesuit institution to increase food access. As the only private university presenting at a conference historically centered on California’s public higher education systems, it felt both like an honor and a responsibility. Attendees came from across the state and nation and from community colleges, public and private campuses, and non-profit organizations. The diversity of perspectives reinforced that student basic needs challenges transcend sector and geography, and they were excited that a Jesuit institution was engaging in this work.

The summit serves as a powerful reminder and living testament of what our Jesuit values look like in practice. Cura personalis -- care for the whole person -- was not just a phrase invoked, but a principle embodied in conversations about food security, housing stability, mental health, and students’ sense of belonging. A commitment to social justice and the belief in education as a force for transformation were strongly evident.

As this alliance continues to expand its reach nationwide, I am reminded that the most lasting progress happens when we move forward together -- sharing knowledge, building coalitions, and ensuring that every student has the resources they need to thrive. In that spirit, I extend an invitation to colleagues who are interested in strengthening holistic student support on their campuses. Whether you are just beginning to explore this work on your campus or seeking to deepen existing efforts, collaboration and shared learning remain our most powerful tools for advancing equity and care for the whole student.

Dr. Alexis Takagi
Santa Clara University
JASPA Affiliate Member
 

Upcoming Programs