Why I Belong: Donna Sakabu

I vividly recall a conversation with two dear friends at a Starbucks in Roseville, California on a cold Saturday morning in February 2011. After spending 16 years as a stay-at-home mother to my two sons, deeply involved in serving at their schools and in the community, I had been researching and contemplating my next career move. As I shared with them the latest information I’d uncovered about college admissions for a newly formed college and career planning committee I co-founded at my sons’ charter school, the women turned to me and said, “We think this is the kind of work you need to do.” With that, my journey as an independent educational consultant (IEC) began.

The following week, I researched the backgrounds of local IECs in the Sacramento area. Many had college counseling certificates from UC Berkeley, but I needed something without a 90-mile commute, so I Googled “Online College Counseling Certificate programs” and, voila, the UCLA extension certificate program appeared. I registered for my first class that week and joined WACAC.

I heard about IECA from my UCLA college counseling classmates, but I’d looked at the website periodically and wonder if I’d ever qualify to join. Four years later, after launching my solo practice in California, while on a long bus tour of Texas colleges with another organization, my bus mate, Sherry Humphrey (now retired), told me what she valued about her IECA membership. We hit it off, and it was Sherry who wrote my recommendation when I applied for Associate membership.

In May, I celebrated my 10th anniversary in IECA—first as an Associate and then, three years later, as a Professional member. As I reflect on the last 10 years with IECA, what stands out to me is connection, collaboration, and community.

My first IECA experience after joining was participating in the 2015 Summer Training Institute (STI). What a terrific way to connect with others new/er to the profession and to learn from the wisdom and deep experience presented by IECA leaders that week. Ten years later, I still have handy access to my STI binder and periodically utilize it.

I attended my first IECA conference in November 2015, grateful for a few familiar faces from STI and the welcome events for those new to IECA. Over the years, I haven’t forgotten that feeling of being new to IECA, which motivates me to welcome new faces on tours and at conferences.

My late mother, Irene, was my role model for getting involved. Her commitment to her children’s activities and, as a registered nurse, to professional organizations, often as a leader, left a deep imprint on me that I’ve carried forward.

I had no preconceived plan of how I wanted to serve with IECA—it’s happened organically. When I was asked to sub as a tour bus host in 2016 for Boston University, I said yes. Then I was asked to be a tour ambassador for a pre-conference tour in the fall of 2018. At the fall 2019 conference, I stepped out of my comfort zone by submitting my name for consideration to join the Subcommittee on College Affordability (SOCA). At my first SOCA meeting, I felt impostor syndrome, big time. However, it was through SOCA that I had the personal growth opportunity to collaborate with others to prepare Insights articles, pre-conference workshops, and conference breakout session content.

In 2020, Sherry Humphrey recruited me for the Outreach Committee. Little did I know then what that commitment would entail, but in finishing up my ex officio role in June, I am so grateful Sherry roped me in. In 2023, as my SOCA term was ending, I co-founded the College Affordability Affinity Group (CAAG) with a colleague. I’m inspired by my peers, who motivate me to support my fellow IECA members—which, in turn, benefit not only our students and their families but many beyond our rosters.

Since I first joined IECA, the growth in programming has been exponential. The silver lining of the pandemic was the incredible increase in meetings via Zoom, formally and informally, providing many ways to establish connections, collaborate, and build community with other IECA members. It’s so wonderful to finally meet a colleague in person who feels like an old friend through the community built via the virtual setting.

If you look at my calendar in any given week, you will see many IECA events—sometimes one each day. Connections with colleagues through email, texts, and phone calls are also a regular part of my week. These experiences have created such a strong sense of community for me. I can honestly say I never feel isolated!

When I think back to the beginning of my journey as an IEC, I had no idea of the grand adventure in store for me. I was simply drawn to work I believed would be meaningful and interesting. Through three iterations of my career, IECA has provided me with ongoing support. I am thankful every day for the opportunities I’ve had to connect and collaborate with trusted colleagues in IECA who have helped forge such a strong sense of community for me.

By Donna Sakabu, CEP, IECA (TX)