Five words “Closed mouths don’t get fed,” became a mantra for Redbird Daniela Martinez during her summer-long graduate internship at the University of Texas (UT) at Dallas.
She swooped in this summer to support the North Texas school’s record-breaking orientation and recruitment efforts. Martinez also met or shadowed dozens of student affairs professionals.
“It was like drinking out of a fire hose,” said Martinez. “But it changed everything for me. I am so grateful for the experience, and it’s unlikely it would’ve happened if it wasn’t a part of my program.”
Martinez’s academic home is Illinois State’s College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) program. The curricula boast multiple professional practice experiences; one taking place after the first year of course work. Students are encouraged to travel outside of Illinois to take roles at universities or nonprofit organizations.
Martinez was hired by the UT Dallas Student Transition Programs department through NODA, a national organization for orientation, transition, and retention. Her time in Texas spanned 12 weeks; almost wire-to-wire between Illinois State’s spring and fall semesters.
“Not only did Daniela get the job done, but she really took every opportunity to build intentional relationships with students and meet and learn from UT Dallas staff, no matter if they worked in an area she was interested in or not.”
Asiah Claiborne, M.S. ’19
The gig was brought to her attention by Asiah Claiborne, M.S. ’19, a CSPA alum and UT Dallas’ director of student transition programs. Claiborne took up roots in the Lone Star State after graduation. Her first trek back to campus was October 2024 on her way to attend another CSPA alum’s wedding.
“When I popped my head into the third floor of DeGarmo to say hi to CSPA faculty and staff, Daniela was there, and she had such great energy,” Claiborne said. “So I told her about our orientation internship role, and I was thrilled that she decided to join us in Texas.”
Martinez and Claiborne had another connection. They held the same student position, six years apart, when they first entered the CSPA program. Both were Gamsky Fellows, a graduate assistantship opportunity for first-year students. It’s through the program’s parent unit, the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations (EAF). The position supports CSPA faculty and staff, and 50 percent of the funding support comes from an endowed gift from Dr. Neal Gamsky. He is a vice president emeritus for Student Affairs and helped establish Illinois State CSPA program in the 1990s.
The internship
Martinez served in UT-Dallas’ new role as the family and extended orientation intern. Orientation gives newly admitted students and families a glance at campus life and the many resources available to them.
“We were the first line of support for the student staff leaders who conducted the orientations,” Martinez said. “My favorite moments were connecting with the students, understanding their needs and concerns, and helping them put their best foot forward.”
Martinez also provided invaluable assistance in launching family orientation initiatives and funneled data points to UT Dallas’ staff; analytics that inform recruitment and strategic planning. She also appreciated the opportunity to observe (prospective) incoming freshmen as they navigated their first college experiences.
“Whether they jumped into the activities or took a cautious approach, I know the next few years will change those lives,” Martinez said. “It was exciting to see their journey’s first steps, and it reminded me why I chose this field.”
Claiborne commented that as international graduate student enrollment declines, colleges and universities must bring in larger freshmen classes to fill in the gap.
“I was so impressed by all three of our interns,” Claiborne said. “That orientation cycle was unlike any other. With Daniela, not only did she get the job done, but she really took every opportunity to build intentional relationships with students and meet and learn from UT Dallas staff, no matter if they worked in an area she was interested in or not.”
For Martinez, she was simply taking her mentor’s advice. The “closed mouths don’t get fed” adage made its way into her consciousness during conversations with Claiborne.
Expanding the Redbird Network
Martinez and Claiborne also made a 45-minute trek to Southern Methodist University (SMU) to meet and tour its campus with Dr. Daniel Suda, M.S. 15. Suda is a fellow CSPA alum who serves on its advisory board. He is SMU’s senior director of alumni and Mustang engagement and is a member of the CSPA advisory board.
“I learned a lot from Dr. Suda, too,” Martinez said. “And it was helpful to experience that day with Asiah. I got a chance to understand college and university environments from two experts who are part of the CSPA community.”
For Claiborne, the summer offered her a career first, as well.
“Being able to support CSPA and a graduate student like Daniela was something I hadn’t got a chance to do, before. And it won’t be my last,” she said. “I never expected to feel this connected to the alma matter where I got my master’s. But Illinois State is just as important to me as where I got my undergraduate degree from.”
Claiborne’s connection and support with Martinez didn’t stop when the Redbird flew back to Central Illinois.
Their dialogue is often focused on the future of higher education and making smart career choices.
Martinez’s fall internship is with Illinois State’s Multicultural Center. She serves as an advisor for PRIDE, a registered student organization supporting LGBTQ initiatives and concerns on campus. It’s a role she relishes, but it’s also the type of leadership and advocacy vanishing from several states across the U.S.
“Asiah and I talked about the changing landscapes of roles across higher education. Aligning goals and values is not as easy as it once was,” Martinez said. “But we both agree that supporting and preparing students for the future is what’s most important.”
Colleges and universities will always need hungry, student-minded, well-educated student affairs professionals like Redbirds Claiborne and Martinez, no matter their job title.
