Indiana University was honored recently with four awards from a national organization that advocates for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession.

Danielle DeSawal. Photo courtesy of the IU School of Education in Bloomington

NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education held its Region IV-East conference Oct. 26 to 29 in Cleveland. NASPA is the largest student affairs professional organization — a network of more than 15,000 members at 2,100 institutions — and is international in scope. IU Bloomington Vice President for Student Life Lamar Hylton is the current board chair for Region IV-East, which includes Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Ontario, Canada.

Danielle DeSawal, a clinical professor in the IU School of Education in Bloomington and president of the Bloomington Faculty Council, won the Fred Turner Award for Outstanding Service to NASPA. The award is given to an individual for demonstrating outstanding achievement to the student affairs profession and Region IV-East over an extended period of time.

She previously received the 2024 Pillars of the Profession award, one of the highest honors from NASPA. DeSawal also served on NASPA’s Future of Student Affairs Task Force and its Certification for Student Affairs Educators Advisory Task Force.

IU Vice President for Student Success Julie Payne-Kirchmeier received the Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education award, which honors an individual or organization for dedicated service, consistent advocacy and outstanding leadership to the higher education community on the national or international level.

Julie Payne-Kirchmeier. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President for Student Success Payne-Kirchmeier has held leadership roles in multiple professional associations, including as the Region IV-East director and NASPA board chair. She is a longtime advocate for students and higher education who has served on public policy committees. She’s a published author and speaker at professional associations for student success.

The Walter Center for Career Achievement at IU Bloomington won the Campus-Based Publication Award, which recognizes creative, well-executed materials that contribute significantly to the field of student affairs and have an impact on the intended community. The Walter Center won for its Career Planner publication, which helps College of Arts and Sciences students through each phase of their career readiness journey.

Nathan Bothwell, an IU Bloomington student in the School of Education’s Higher Education and Student Affairs master’s program, won the Graduate Student Rising Star Award for the state of Indiana. The award is given to a student pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree related to student affairs.

Bothwell, who has worked in the IU Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and the Office of Student Conduct, is known for a strong work ethic, attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively. He also was selected to be part of NASPA’s Graduate Assistant Program.

DeSawal and Payne-Kirchmeier will be considered for the international version of the awards they received at the regional conference.

“Indiana University has a rich legacy of meaningful contribution to the scholarship, practice and field of student affairs and higher education,” Hylton said. “As both region director for NASPA IV-East as well as the senior student affairs officer for the Bloomington campus, I am thrilled to see this legacy continued through these well-deserved recognitions of students, faculty, staff and resources representing the essence of Indiana University.”