Leslie Jo Shelton, an assistant professor of higher education, was recently named a College Student Educators International Emerging Scholar.

The program is an internationally competitive honor that supports, encourages and honors early-career individuals who contribute to student affairs and higher education scholarship.

In addition to monthly meetings with her Emerging Scholars cohort and events with past recipients and current Senior Scholars, Shelton will conduct a grant-funded research study and engage in ACPA leadership service. Her study focuses on understanding college student identity development through a grounded theory photovoice approach, which involves sharing and discussing photographs that are meaningful to participants. Her ACPA service commitments will include reviewing manuscripts for the Journal of College Student Development, co-coordinating a convention presentation related to higher education/student affairs teaching professional development and serving as a Scholar-in-Residence for an ACPA Coalition group.

Shelton said she's excited to be a part of the two-year Emerging Scholars program because it reflects her commitment to engaging in meaningful research that informs higher education and student affairs practice. It also facilitates her commitment to growing and serving through professional association leadership opportunities.

"As an early career scholar and lifelong learner, participation in Emerging Scholars will help me continue to build sustained, meaningful relationships and engage as a member of the ACPA scholarly community," she added.

Shelton is the program coordinator for the U of A Higher Education M.Ed. program in the College of Education and Health Professions. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology/criminology and a women's studies certificate from Ohio University, a master's degree in college student personnel from Ohio University and a doctoral degree in higher, adult and lifelong education from Michigan State University. Her areas of teaching and scholarship focus on college student learning and development within a social justice and inclusion lens.