Influential Woman · Higher education leadership

Alina Nigmatullina

Assistant Director, Mississippi State University

Starkville, MS

3Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's degree in African languages and Literature Degree Master's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language Degree PhD in Higher Educational Leadership from Mississippi State University (December 2024) Cert Fulbright Language Teaching Assistance Scholarship Cert Future Leaders Exchange Program Cert NASPA Inclusion Award 2024 Member NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) Member SACSA (Southern Association for College Student Affairs)

Her Story

About Alina

I started my first job in higher education in 2015, and my journey has been shaped by two major cultural exchange programs from the U.S. Department of State. The first was the Future Leaders Exchange program for high school students, and the second was the Fulbright Scholarship. Both of these experiences serving as a cultural ambassador shaped my journey significantly. I have a bachelor's degree in African languages and literature, then decided to go into teaching and got a master's in teaching English as a foreign language. After winning the Fulbright in 2019, I taught at Mississippi Valley State University where I got deeply involved with students, helping with student activities and student government at this smaller institution where everyone mattered and support was very noticeable. This inspired me to pursue a PhD in higher educational leadership because I already had classroom experience and wanted to expand into administration. I graduated in December 2024 from Mississippi State University. Throughout my career, I've been very active with professional organizations like SACSA and NASPA, both organizations for college student affairs professionals - one is national and SACSA is southern. I really value professional development and consider attending workshops, drive-in conferences, and actual conventions as one of the biggest investments I do in my professional life. In 2024, I won a very prestigious award from NASPA as the inclusion recipient for the programming I was doing with my students. Currently, I serve as assistant director in the Office of Innovation and Excellence at Mississippi State University, where we focus on student success through institutional effectiveness reports, data assessment, planning, and curriculum development. I also lead a professional development team in my division where we create opportunities and gather resources for staff professional development and career growth, and I serve on a work-life wellness committee for the university where we strategically plan, discuss, and implement initiatives around work-life wellness.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Alina

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say two things. First, if I'm trying to praise myself, I would say resilience. It's not always easy, it's not always a yes from the first try, but you have to keep remembering why you're doing it. Sometimes when the day is not as great as you expect, you have to regroup and keep trying and persisting. But also, it's not what, it's who - and that's my grandma. She is one of the most inspiring and lovely people, and she made me who I am today.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say never be afraid of your dreams. Some of the things that seem so wild and like they can never come true, you'd be surprised that they can. Sometimes, especially as young women and young professionals, we tend to underestimate ourselves. I think what we need to have is the audacity to walk in and know that your dreams are not too big for you, and just do it with the confidence of an established professional. Because if you believe you can do it, you really can.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The challenges are definitely big, with a very changing landscape of everything happening right now. It takes a lot of energy to maintain things, to secure the funding, to make sure that we provide the best support we can for our students and ensure student success at institutions. But I think it's one of the most rewarding fields that a person could be in because you get to see how young minds are being shaped and experiencing college, getting their leadership and collaboration opportunities. This is somewhere where you get thanked a lot, and you touch people's lives you don't even know you're touching. So I would say my biggest opportunity is to just keep growing and keep expanding my networks and learning more.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say honesty - maybe that's a little bit expected, but I think it's important in the modern world. I like to be true and transparent at work, to be able to have an honest conversation with a colleague or student. You can't have all the answers all the time, and sometimes you just have to be vulnerable and open about it. Definitely honesty. I would also say integrity is important in relationships, the ability to just, no matter what's going on, carry it with pride and being empowered. I think that's really important.

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