Student Affairs NOW: Recent Episodes

SA Now Productions

Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast, weekly web show, and online learning community for thousands of us who work in, alongside, or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs.

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What if college student development is more complex than our traditional theories suggest? In this episode, we talk with the authors of Exploring Complexities in College Student Development: Critical Lessons from Researching Students' Journeys about the lessons they've learned from years of research and hundreds of student stories. Together, we explore how students make meaning of their experiences, challenge long-held assumptions, and consider new ways educators can support student growth in today’s evolving higher education landscape.

The post Exploring Complexities in College Student Development appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode of Student Affairs Now, we’re joined by Dr. Ralina L. Joseph to explore her new book, Racial Exhaustion: How to Move Through Racism in the Wake of DEI. What does it mean to be exhausted by race — and how do we keep engaging when conversations about racism, equity, and DEI feel increasingly fraught, polarized, or shut down altogether? Dr. Joseph helps us name the emotional and relational realities of this moment while offering a pathway forward through radical listening, discomfort, speaking, and dialogue. Together, we examine what racial exhaustion looks like on college campuses, how it impacts students, staff, and faculty, and what higher education leaders can do to respond with greater clarity, courage, and care. This episode is especially relevant for student affairs professionals, educators, and anyone committed to navigating race and equity work with more stamina and intention.

The post Racial Exhaustion appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Rural students are on every college campus and yet they remain largely invisible in our equity conversations, our institutional design, and our student affairs practice. Elise Cain, Jarvis Marlow-McCowin, and Ty McNamee have each dedicated their work to understanding what it actually means to come from a rural place, to carry that identity into a college environment, and to navigate the intersections within higher education.

The post Rural College Students: Place, Identity, Systems, and Institutional Responsibility appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

At a time when many campuses are navigating fatigue, uncertainty, and change, creating cultures rooted in care and connection has never been more important. In this episode, Heather Shea speaks with Dr. Patty Perillo and Earl Cabellon about the power of courageous leadership, centering justice, authentic belonging, and intentional culture-building to help staff (and the institutions in which they work) thrive.

The post Creating Cultures of Care, Courage, & Connection appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

These contributors discuss the charge for change, a report from the Piazza Center on moving beyond compliance for hazing prevention. They discuss moving beyond policies and legal compliance to changing culture and shifting the conditions that make change possible. They offer insights and suggestions for campus leaders to implement now.

The post The Charge for Change: Build Safer Campuses Now with Research-Informed Hazing Prevention appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

What happens when student affairs educators come together to discuss leadership, hope, and the future of higher education? In this special Student Affairs NOW Book Club episode, Heather Shea facilitates a live conversation with members of the Student Affairs NOW learning community inspired by Beverly Daniel Tatum's Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times. Together, participants reflect on the challenges facing higher education today, the opportunities they see emerging, and the leadership practices needed to navigate an increasingly complex landscape.

The post Peril and Promise: What Higher Education Needs from Leaders Right Now appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Panelists Keith Edwards Dr. Keith Edwards empowers higher education leaders with internal and structural capacity to lead with and through the storm toward better tomorrows for us all. He is an authentic educator, trusted leader,...

The post Leading through the Storm: Capacity and Clarity to Lead through Complexity appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Mark Butler breaks the myth of Alpha leadership based on wolves in captivity and redefines it as the behavior of wolves in the wild, where the Alpha focuses on protection, service, and responsibility. An expert in mental health, psychological safety, and leadership, Mark shares how leaders can be effective in leading teams, fostering well-being, avoiding burnout, and fostering psychological safety through simple practices any leader can utilize.

The post Redefining Alpha: Leadership for Well-Being, Engagement, and Success appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Education abroad is not just “travel.” It is a high-impact learning experience shaped by the current realities of U.S. higher education: student mental health, belonging, political polarization, affordability, global awareness, career readiness, and the role of faculty and staff in helping students make meaning across difference. While co-leading an undergraduate education abroad program in Europe, Student Affairs NOW host Heather Shea connected with four students, a faculty co-leader, and a program assistant to discuss the importance of education abroad in a changing higher education landscape. Together, they reflect on identity, history, learning, and student development while exploring how education abroad can help students better understand themselves, others, and their place in an increasingly interconnected world.

The post Education Abroad in a Changing Higher Ed Landscape appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

What if everything you've been told about picking the right college major is wrong? In Hacking College, Ned Scott Laff and Scott Carlson argue that the obsession with choosing the "right" major has left generations of students with what they call "empty college degrees." Find out how students can stop jumping hurdles and start hacking the college game.

The post Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Really Matter – And What Really Does appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, a higher education housing professional reflects on a career shaped by intentionally seeking joy in both everyday moments and unexpected opportunities. He shares how investing in personal passions and relationships sustains his energy and strengthens his effectiveness at work. He encourages young professionals to define success beyond burnout, recognize small wins, and build routines that prioritize purpose and fulfillment. His message is simple: joy isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create.

The post Here’s the Story: “Finding Joy” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

What does student affairs work really look like at a community college? From helping a first-generation student find their footing to supporting a working parent juggling classes and life, to guiding professionals with previous degrees to upskill and pursue different career paths- community college student affairs leaders and teams meet students where they are. Their work is hands-on, deeply relational, and shaped by a commitment to removing barriers and opening doors- it is truly love, justice, and humanity work. If you’ve ever wondered what makes community colleges feel so connected and responsive, this conversation offers a window into the educators who make it happen.

The post The Vital Role of Student Affairs in Community Colleges appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In these times of sustained and coordinated assaults on the mission and values of higher education, the Alliance for Higher Education is trying to bring a fragmented higher education industry together into a coalition with agency. Learn about the Alliance and how we can push back on the regressive legalism to help higher education move closer to our aspirations from our current realities.

The post Alliance for Higher Education: A Unified Voice to Protect Higher Ed’s Role in Democracy appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, Jackson Tidwell shares a powerful story of enforcing an unpopular policy that, in the face of a looming hurricane, proved to be lifesaving. What felt rigid and frustrating in the moment became a clear reminder that policies aren’t about control—they’re about care. It’s a compelling look at leadership, trust, and the purpose behind the rules we’re sometimes called to uphold.

The post Here’s the Story: “Policies have Purpose” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In part two, authors Drs. Kristen Renn, Chayla Haynes Davison, Alex C. Lange, Cristobal Salinas Jr., and Rosemary Perez unpack the Student Development Theory in Action (SDTiA) model—the framework at the center of the book and a response to the need for more usable, practice-oriented theory. They explain how the model works, why it emphasizes developmental processes and context, and where educators have the most influence. This episode offers a clear, actionable way to connect theory to the real work of supporting students.

The post Student Development Theory in Action: Inside the SDTiA Model appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

This episode tells the story of a higher education professional who, looking back, realizes that faith has quietly guided him through every stage of his life. Growing up in a close family environment, he learned resilience early while navigating challenging dynamics and moments of bias that shaped his perspective and purpose. What once felt like instinct or perseverance, he now understands as faith—an anchor that has influenced not only how he endured challenges, but how he leads, supports others, and shows up with intention in higher education.

The post Here’s the Story: “Faith is Resilience” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Student development theory is often seen as the foundation of student affairs, but many educators struggle to apply it in everyday practice. In this first episode, authors Drs. Kristen Renn, Chayla Haynes Davison, Alex C. Lange, Cristobal Salinas Jr., and Rosemary Perez explore what we often get wrong about theory—and why this book is needed right now. We discuss the origins of College Student Development Theory in Action and how it’s designed to help educators, graduate students, and practitioners actually use theory in their work.

The post Student Development Theory in Action: Why this Book, Why Now? appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Listen in from ACPA 2026 in Baltimore as we deep dive into how Student Affairs leaders foster high-performing teams in an era of shrinking budgets and organizational shifts. This episode features Drs. Brian Arao, Helena Gardener, and Dawn Lee who will share actionable advice while prioritizing safety, effectiveness, and inclusion for SA leaders, supervisors, and managers.
This panel will also share practical insights on cultivating resilient team cultures and maintaining a mission-driven focus, even when resources are lean. Whether you are managing a staff reduction or restructuring a core program, this podcast offers the strategic toolkit you need to lead with empathy and excellence.

The post Cultivating Resilient Teams (when resources are lean) appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Recorded live in front of an audience at ACPA26 in Baltimore, this episode of Student Affairs Now explores how podcasts and digital media are being used as dynamic teaching tools in graduate preparation programs. Presenters share sample assignments and a curated toolkit designed to help faculty connect theory to practice. The conversation highlights how podcast-based learning can amplify diverse voices and engage students in current issues shaping the field. Listeners will walk away with practical, ready-to-use strategies for integrating episodes into their own teaching and learning environments. Access all of the resources shared in this session by visiting Patreon.com/StudentAffairsNow.

The post Podcasts & Pedagogy: Faculty Teaching with Student Affairs Now appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of scholarly writing and publishing in student affairs. Our guests discuss how conversations about equity, representation, and access are reshaping whose knowledge is valued, as well as how emerging tools like AI are influencing authorship and intellectual labor. Together, we reflect on the responsibilities of authors and editors and offer practical insights for scholar-practitioners who want to contribute to knowledge production in meaningful and ethical ways.

The post Modern Scholarly Writing: Equity, Authorship & the Future of Publishing in Student Affairs appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this powerful episode, Steven Herndon shares a deeply personal story of leading through profound loss, revealing what it means to hold both grief and responsibility at the same time. Together, we explore the tension between showing up and shutting down—when hiding our pain helps us lead, and when it quietly holds us back. At its core, this is a story about the people who step in, lift us up, and remind us that peace and purpose can still exist—even in chaos.

The post Here’s the Story: “Leading with Peace and Purpose in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Who gets to define student success right now? In this episode, we unpack how recent federal actions, state policy proposals, and accountability trends are reshaping higher education. From accreditation and DEI to academic freedom and ROI, we explore how power is shifting—and what student affairs professionals need to understand in this moment.

The post Current Campus Context: Who Defines Student Success? Power & Policy in Higher Ed appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode of Here’s the Story, Jonathan Manz shares a defining moment that challenged his sense of direction and purpose.

Interim leadership can be complex for the individual and institution. In this discussion, you'll hear a variety of perspectives on interim roles from different personal, professional, and institutional perspectives. You'll gain a recommendations for leaders and institutions considering interim roles to navigate them as effectively as possible.

The post The Interim Leader’s Playbook appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Although plenty of evidence is out there about the impact of the environment on learning, community, belonging, and well-being, designing spaces is often an afterthought. These leaders think about this regularly from very different perspectives. Join this conversation rich with perspectives, new ideas, and great insights.

The post Designing the Environment appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Turning assessment into meaningful change requires more than collecting data—it requires a plan for action. In this episode of Student Affairs Now, we talk with the authors of Maximizing the Impact of Assessment in Higher Education: Closing the Loop with Change Management about how to move beyond reports and compliance toward sustainable improvement. Together, we explore practical strategies for leading change, building cultures of learning, and using assessment as a lever for equity and student success. Whether you’re leading from the middle or shaping institutional strategy, this conversation offers tools to help close the loop with purpose.

The post Turning Assessment into Meaningful Change appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

From scrutiny of student voting data and new SAVE Act proposals to proposed graduate loan caps, higher education may be breathing a slight sigh of relief as congressional appropriations rejected the administration’s deepest cuts. Yet this moment of funding stability comes alongside tighter regulation and expanding federal scrutiny. What happens when civic engagement feels politically charged and access to graduate education becomes more constrained? In conversation with Dr. Felecia Commodore and Dr. Crystal Garcia, we explore what these developments signal about institutional autonomy, belonging, and the posture higher education is adopting in 2026.

The post Current Campus Context: Campus Voting Data, Federal Funding & Loan Caps appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, a retired housing director reflects on a career spent shaping residential communities—and the people who led them. She speaks candidly about encouraging resident assistants to stay in the field, even as the role has grown more complex, more visible, and more demanding than when she first started. Rather than offering nostalgia, she offers perspective. She acknowledges the challenges today’s professionals face while affirming that the work still matters—and that the field still needs people willing to lead with empathy and steadiness.

The post Here’s the Story: “Reflecting on the Pictures on the Wall” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Contributors to the book, Cultivating Equitable and Inclusive Conversations in Higher Education, discuss why inclusion is central to the success of students, institutions, higher education, and society, and how we can do so well at all levels, from the organizational to the individual. They focus on contribution, conversation, holistic perspectives, thriving, sacredness, and habits of mind as we move forward.

The post Cultivating Equitable & Inclusive Conversations in Higher Education appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

This episode features a vice president for student affairs who came of age under legal segregation and invites us into a reflective journey shaped by classrooms divided by law, doors opened—or closed—by race, and a quiet resilience that learned how to endure, adapt, and lead. She carries those early lessons forward into the present moment, where the vocabulary has shifted and the statutes look different, but the terrain is still familiar. The names have changed. The debates sound new. Yet the enduring questions remain: who belongs?

The post Here’s the Story: “Belonging” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Dr. Angel Pérez’s The Hottest Seat on Campus is both a leadership manual and a call to action for higher education professionals navigating the volatile worlds of admissions and enrollment. In this conversation, we discuss the challenges and pressure as well as the rewards and joys of this role. He focuses on leadership capacities in politics, crisis, storytelling, and self-management, applicable to admissions leadership and beyond.

The post The Hottest Seat on Campus: A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admissions appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Dr. Stacey Pearson-Wharton discusses not only the harms of racism but also the ways those who experience racism can heal from the interpersonal, organizational, and systemic experiences. Dr. Stacey offers suggestions for finding stability and safety, soothing, mourning the loss, cultivating counternarratives, and finding power and control toward thriving.

The post Healing from the Wounds of Racism appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

One year into a new federal administration, the January 2026 installment of Current Campus Context examines what has actually changed for colleges and universities—and what has quietly reshaped campus life beneath the headlines. Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Brendan Cantwell and Dr. Crystal Garcia to explore federal power and institutional response, heightened ICE presence and campus climate, and how bluster, austerity, and silence are redefining institutional priorities. Together, they reflect on what these shifts mean for student affairs professionals navigating uncertainty, care, and purpose in 2026.

The post Current Campus Context: One Year In—What Changed, What Didn’t appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education argues that the time for incremental reform in higher education has passed and that colleges must transform their cultures, structures, and leadership models to truly center student success. They center the question, “What would our institution look like if students really mattered?” Join the editors as they discuss reframing cultures, practical steps, scalability, and how to be "hard on problems, but easy on people."

The post Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea is joined by a powerful group of scholar-practitioners to explore mentoring and community-driven solutions in higher education. Recorded as an extension of a compelling panel from the ACPA–ASHE Presidential Symposium, the conversation examines mentoring as both a deeply personal act of care and a collective strategy for sustaining individuals, strengthening communities, and driving institutional change. Together, the panel reflects on how identity and positionality shape mentoring relationships, how culturally responsive practices foster more inclusive and affirming connections, and how community partnerships and collective approaches can expand the impact of mentorship beyond one-to-one models. This episode invites listeners to consider how mentoring rooted in care, justice, and joy can be transformative—for people, programs, and the field of student affairs.

The post Rethinking Mentoring: From Personal Care to Collective Change appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Transformative Coaching for Faculty and Staff in Higher Education argues that a coaching approach can be a deeply human, ethical, and relational practice that can re-energize the people who make higher education work. In this conversation, we discuss what coaching is and isn't, what this approach can look like across higher education, and especially within student affairs work in these times.

The post Transformative Coaching for Faculty and Staff in Higher Education appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

From Monday through Friday, 9–5, we see the forward-facing journey of leaders—the wins, the awards, the praise. What we don’t often talk about is the journey beneath the surface: the real life, the day-to-day internal dialogue, and the quiet battles no one applauds. This is a conversation about resilience without romanticizing it—about strength alongside exhaustion, and the gap between how leadership looks and how it actually feels. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re the only one holding it together while carrying so much, this episode is for you.

The post Here’s the Story: “Holding on to Possibility” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, we explore students’ perspectives on the purpose of higher education at a moment shaped by rising costs, political tension, debates about belonging and DEI, and growing mental health concerns. Rather than talking about students, we center their voices—alongside the faculty member guiding these conversations in the classroom. Co-hosted by Dr. Michael Stebleton, Professor of Higher Education at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, the episode draws from his honors seminar on student development, career pathways, and the transition from college to work. Together with students enrolled in his fall 2025 course, What Is College For? Examining the Purpose and Value of U.S. Higher Education, we unpack what college is supposed to do—and who it is meant to serve.

The post Students’ Perspectives on the Purpose of Higher Education appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Late nights, second phones, and responding to crisis after crisis can add up over time, even for the greatest heroes. Much like Captain America and Rupert Giles, higher education professionals are rethinking their career paths, roles on campus, and pivoting to focus on self-care while still finding ways to impact students. Moderated by Dr. Glenn DeGuzman (UC Berkeley), and featuring Dr. Martha Enciso (University of Redlands), Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz (Mainstream Insight, LLC), Dr. Emily Sandoval (University of Southern California), and Brian MacDonald (UCLA).

The post Hanging up the Cape (for now) appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Katie Rose Guest Pryal’s bookYour Kid Belongs Here pushes back on ableist systems affecting neurodivergent (ND) children, college students, and the rest of us. Drawing on personal stories as a parent and expertise as a scholar, Pryal shows how exclusion is less about a child’s differences or behavior and more about the norms that institutions enforce. The book argues for a cultural shift: from viewing neurodivergence as a deficit to embracing it as a difference that enriches learning communities.

The post Your Kid Belongs Here: Navigating Neurodivergence for Parents, Faculty, and Staff appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode of Here’s the Story, “Unraveling to Become,” Neil E. Golemo and JT Snipes sit down with Frank Shushok Jr.—mentor, professor, and living example of what’s possible in student affairs. Frank shares how mentors, dyslexia, and one bold conversation with a Baylor Regent helped him reimagine his future, ultimately leading him from nearly not graduating high school to the presidency of Roanoke College.

The post Here’s the Story: “Unraveling to Become” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

This episode of Student Affairs Now celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL), one of the most influential research projects in student affairs and leadership education. Host Heather Shea talks with longtime colleagues and collaborators John Dugan and Kristan Cilente-Skendall about the study’s origins, impact, and evolution. Together they reflect on how the MSL has shaped our understanding of leadership, learning, and social responsibility across higher education and beyond. The conversation also explores their new venture, the Center for Expanding Leadership and Opportunity (CELO), and its role in advancing equity and human development for the next generation of learners.

The post Twenty Years of the MSL: Leadership, Learning, and the Future of Expanding Leadership & Opportunity appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In the latest podcast episode of Current Campus Context, Heather Shea discusses four critical issues affecting higher education: declining international student enrollment due to immigration policies, redefinition of professional degrees impacting student loans, ongoing budget cuts affecting staff, and shifts in college athletics regarding athlete compensation. The experts explore implications for institutions and student affairs.

The post Current Campus Context: Chaos, Cuts & College Sports appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea talks with Dr. Jonathan A. McElderry and Dra. Stephanie Hernandez Rivera about their forthcoming book Shaking the Table: Survival and Healing Amongst Identity Center Practitioners. They discuss what it means to “shake the table” in higher education and why centering the voices of identity center practitioners is especially urgent amid increasing resistance to DEI work. The conversation explores themes of survival, healing, and the power of storytelling to sustain those doing this labor of care and resistance. The episode also offers a glimpse into their upcoming second volume, Still Shaking the Table.

When a residence hall went off the rails during the pandemic, Craig Allen didn’t send emails or wag his finger—he showed up with pizza, t-shirts, and presence. Hear how those small acts sparked a culture shift and reminded his team of the real power of connection.

Given the challenges higher education is facing right now, we need models of leadership that are mission-driven, student-centered, and nimble and adaptable. Dr. Brian Bruess, is the first president of both the College of St Benedict and St. John’s University. He is leading what they call strong integration and putting systemness into practice to bring a more interconnected and relational way of leading.

In The Connected College, Elliot Felix talks about breaking down silos through a more connected structure and strategy for student success. He is joined by Dr. Daniel Maxwell, who has decades of student affairs experience to bring The Connected College to practical applications for student affairs leaders to improve the quantitative and qualitative student experience through more integrated approaches.

Learning to release the pressure of the "shoulds" and leaning into authentic desires is not easy feat. This episode explores the courageous decision of releasing the rules and making the decision to embrace a life worth living.

This episode was inspired by the recent article by Drs. Shaun Harper and Oscar Patrón, Three Decades of Campus Racial Climate Studies and 25 New Directions for Future Research, which builds on the foundational work of Dr. Sylvia Hurtado. Together, their scholarship has profoundly shaped how we understand race, racism, and belonging in higher education. We’ll discuss how campus racial climate research has evolved over the past 30 years, what challenges and opportunities remain, and where this critical field is headed next.

As the federal government shutdown continues, colleges and universities are grappling with its immediate effects on students and operations. Meanwhile, the proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence” is sparking debate about federal influence over campus policies and values. This episode explores how funding, freedom, and inclusion intersect in today’s political climate—and how student affairs professionals are helping students and institutions navigate these challenges.

Vicarious trauma is real, it’s widespread, and it’s not the same thing as “needing more self-care.” In this episode, Dr. Jill Bassett-Cameron joins Student Affairs NOW to explain what vicarious trauma is, how it shows up in our work, and why student affairs professionals must stop ignoring or minimizing it. Dr. Bassett-Cameron offers a timely and validating conversation about how we can name, manage, and reduce the trauma we absorb through service.

A student affairs professional navigating the challenges of living and working with long COVID is learning to reimagine both leadership and life. Balancing the demands of a high-energy, people-centered field with the unpredictability of chronic illness requires new rhythms of care, patience, and adaptability. This journey is less about returning to “normal” and more about creating a sustainable way forward—leading with vulnerability, modeling resilience, and redefining success through balance, boundaries, and community.

In this episode, we learn of a professional journey done with humbly. The importance of valuing feedback as wisdom and an opportunity to grow in all phases of life.

Dr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick discusses two of her books Generous Thinking and the companion, Leading Generously. She argues against critique for critique's sake, zero-sum thinking, and competitive individualism toward collaborative, mutually supportive, and generative ways of being, thinking, and leading. In this conversation, she shares why, what, and how of leading generously.

In this special episode of Student Affairs NOW, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ACPA Coalition for Disability and 35 years since the passage of the ADA. Panelists Erin Mayo, Kat Hurley, Mike Kutnak, Antonia De Michiel, and Spencer Scruggs join us to discuss the past, present, and future of disability in student affairs and higher education. From challenging ableism to promoting universal design and inclusive practice, this conversation is a call to deepen our collective commitment to access and equity for all.

In this September episode of Current Campus Context, host Heather Shea welcomes back Dr. Crystal Garcia and Dr. Brendan Cantwell for a timely conversation on the state of higher education. The discussion begins with reintroductions and updates on their current research projects, then turns to how scholars and practitioners can separate meaningful policy “signals” from distracting “noise” in today’s overwhelming news cycle. Together, they highlight underreported developments from the past month, consider what gives them hope as the academic year unfolds, and reflect on the challenges and opportunities shaping the months ahead — from looming federal deadlines to long-term structural shifts in higher education.

W. Scott Lewis recounts a moment as a Vice President for Student Affairs when his role unexpectedly required hostage negotiation skills to support a student in crisis. Surrounded by FBI agents and campus police, Scott’s decisions were risky, maybe a little lucky, and deeply human—yet ones he’d make again in service to his students. Scott tells this story masterfully, balancing the real tension with his legendary sense of humor, underscoring the weight of leadership in Student Affairs.

No matter where he goes, the constant question is raised, "How did you get that job?". Finding the perfect higher education adjacent role is a unique and intentional journey. Learn as Paul Brown shares his journey on how he found joy at Roompact.

We are seeing the politicization of DEIB across higher education. Join Rev. Sam Offer, dr. becky martinez, and Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington discuss how campus leaders can lead through this shifting landscape with integrity and effectiveness. They touch on the context of culture change progress and pushback, performativity and sustainability, well-being for DEIB professionals, responding to students, and coalition building for us all.

Dr. Todd Zakrajsek shares with us learnings from the science of learning and his newest book, Essentials of the New Science of Learning. He distills cutting-edge research in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and education to help students optimize their learning through many examples and stories. This conversation is helpful for our own learning, helping others learn, and powerful lessons about the value of struggle and even failure.

College student gambling is not a new phenomenon, but the landscape around it has changed dramatically in the last few years. These three experts discuss the changing context, changes in student gambling behavior, and how student affairs professionals can help students navigate this.

Current Campus Context is Student Affairs Now’s rapid-response series breaking down the latest developments in higher education. In this August edition, host Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Felecia Commodore, Dr. Brendan Cantwell, and Dr. Demetri L. Morgan to reflect on the summer’s most significant events shaping higher ed. Together they explore tensions between values and practice, policy and reality, and what students are bringing into the new semester, while also highlighting progress, innovation, and what keeps us motivated in this work.

In a classic "student affairs" moment, a young professional steps up to coach a scrappy women’s club soccer team rather than let their season be canceled. They only scored one point all year—but what they gained in confidence, community, and self-advocacy was a championship of its own.

An experienced student affairs professional reflects on how career “derailments” and “stagnant seasons” turned out to be pivotal to her growth, not signs of failure. In a moving twist, she finds unexpected joy and support from former students—proof that the seeds she planted long ago blossomed right when she needed them most.

Recent changes to college sports are monumental for athletics, athletes, and all of higher education. Shifts in name, image, and likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, unionization, transfer portal, TV money and conference realignment, and more are each having a massive impact and collectively will leave college sports unrecognizable to many and incredibly complex to navigate for all involved. Join four experts as they explain these changes, discuss the implications, and give us an idea of what is ahead for us all.

Dr. Harold Cheatham is a scholar, mentor, Dean, and 56th president of ACPA, and the first African American man to serve in that role. In this conversation, he reflects on the themes of serendipity and intrusive advising throughout his professional journey. He also shares his humility, commitment to service, and getting stuff done.

Dr. Zach Mercurio discusses his new book The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance. Zach comes from student affairs roots and focuses now on significance, meaning, purpose, and mattering at work. He describes how mattering differs from belonging and inclusion and how much mattering matters. He also shares a practical framework for cultivating mattering through three actionable practices: noticing, affirming, and needing.

In this episode of Student Affairs Now, Drs. Amy Goodburn, Stephanie Bannister, and Mary Fugate join Heather Shea for conversation about advancing equity for first-generation college students through data transparency. Together, they explore how definitions shape data collection, the role of national datasets, and how institutions are using data to inform practice. The discussion also highlights the risks of data loss and the importance of collaboration in advocating for first-gen student success.

While it is hard to think about the "dark place" that COVID holds in our collective heart, we are remiss if we do not acknowledge the great work that was done. Ardell Sanders tells a story about lessons learned and victories won during that tough time.

Paying it forward comes to life as Dr. McZee makes good on a commitment to pay forward care for the African American men he mentors until it was paid in full.

Dr. Annmarie Caño discusses her book Leading Toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education. This book offers a transformative approach to leadership in higher education that centers justice, healing, and systemic change. Drawing from liberation psychology and Latin American liberation theology, Annmarie Caño advocates for a model of leadership, acompañamiento (accompaniment), which includes centering inner work, reading reality, and engaging in a process of co-creating with others.

In his book The Caring University, Dr. Kevin McClure shares a transformative approach to higher education workplace culture. He argues that institutions must prioritize the well-being of faculty and staff to enhance student success. He challenges traditional norms that treat staff burnout and overwork as inevitable, instead advocating for an intentional, proactive, and sustained investment in employee care. Kevin shares how higher education leaders can re-imagine the workplace through a lens of organizational care.

Anne Brackett and Alicia Wojciuch, two dynamic leaders who’ve helped hundreds of student affairs professionals, join Heather Shea to explore how strengths-based approaches can transform the way we supervise and lead. Whether you’re new to CliftonStrengths or know your top five by heart, you’ll leave with practical strategies, fresh insights, and a renewed perspective on leading with intention and humanity.

In these times, being honestly truthful reinforces listening, hearing and holding students. Dr. Palmer shares the necessary value of understanding the difference between honesty and truth.

Tragedy and loss are inevitable in the career of any Student Affairs professional. In this powerful episode, Dr. R. Bowin Loftin recalls the day he had to deliver heartbreaking news after a sailing tragedy, offering insight into the role of institutions in upholding dignity and healing in the wake of disaster.

Authentic relationships between Black and white women in higher education are often difficult to cultivate—made more so by the persistent realities of misogynoir and the role white women can play in perpetuating harm. In this powerful episode, co-hosted by Heather Shea and Raechele Pope, we’re joined by Drs. Christina Holmgren, Leah Fulton, and Jayne Sommers to explore the preliminary findings of their ongoing research with Black women in student affairs. Together, they share stories, insights, and a new model for building reciprocal, accountable relationships that move us beyond performative allyship and toward real connection and change.

The editors of this book join to discuss contemplative practices for transformation. The volume shares stories that offer life experience, powerful examples, and concrete practices to help bring being, embodiment, and inner work to becoming and social change. They discuss the power of creativity and imagination in these times and point to the power of the dualities of anger and compassion, pain and joy, being and community, and more.

Dr. Jessica Riddell discusses mindsets and 10 tools to rethink, reimagine, and rebuild institutions of higher education from her research and book Hope Circuits. She offers a critique of the status quo and a call to "challenge the actual in the name of the possible."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUicR1InL2sEpisode DescriptionHeather Shea shares how working in a women's center and bringing feminist icon Gloria Steinem to campus shaped her personal, political, and professional journey. She reflects on the enduring need for activism and advocacy in women and gender equity centers.Suggested APA CitationGardner, H. (Host). (2025, May 14) Here's the Story: "Meeting Gloria, Finding Myself" (No. 270) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/meeting-gloria-finding-myself/Episode TranscriptHelena GardnerWelcome to Here's the Story, a show that brings Student Affairs to life by sharing the authentic voices and lived experiences of those who are shaping the field every day as part of the Student Affairs now family, we're dedicated to serving and furthering the people who walk the walk, talk to talk and carry the walk that all of us find ourselves doing who work in Student Affairs in Higher Education. You can find us at studentaffairsnow.com, or directly at studentaffairsnow.com/heresthestory, or YouTube or anywhere you enjoy podcast, I like to start off by thanking today's sponsor Huron. Huron's education and research experts help institutions transform their strategy, operations, technology and culture to foster innovation, financial health and student success. I get to be your host today, Helena Gardner, and my pronouns are she? Her, her, and I serve as the Director of Residence, education and housing services at Michigan, Michigan State University. I live my life as a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend and a mentor. I'm with you today from the ancestral, traditional contemporary lands of the Anishinabe three fires, confederacy of Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi peoples. The university resides on land seated in the 1819, treaty of Saginaw, home to Michigan State University. And I'm going to toss it to my co-host.Neil E. GolemoHowdy. My name is Neil Golemo. I use he, him pronouns, and I am blessed to serve as the Director of Campus Living Learning and Texas A name's Sonny Galveston campus, and I'm just over here living hard and making it look easy,Helena Gardnermaking it look easy now, because today, today, we have a special guest for you. Today. Want to introduce to you, Heather. Shea, you may be familiar with Heather. Shea, we see her often on Student Affairs NOW, kind of a big deal. Yeah, yeah, it's kind of a big deal. Like, kind of a big deal, like, we got a special guest today. I'm really excited. I have the pleasure of seeing Heather probably a little bit more often in real life on campus, as we get to be great colleagues doing this thing at Michigan State. Don't know, welcome Heather. Share whatever you want to share about you. And we're real curious what you gotta say today, so you let us know, and then we will get started. Alright.Heather SheaWell, it's so great to be here. Thank you for the invitation and for all of the work that the three of you are doing to create this, this amazing podcast, I think it's just such a powerful way of bringing the field to life, right? Because we are nothing if we are not the stories that have have shaped us. So I Yes, work at Michigan State, alongside Helena. I have been here since 2013 but before that, I lived in the West. As I like to say, I'm from the west. My originally born and raised in Colorado, moved to Arizona, then moved to Idaho, which is where I was right before coming to Michigan State, which Idaho will play prominently in my story that I'm going to share with you all today.Helena GardnerAlright. Well, Heather, we so you do this, and we typically see you get into our scholarly and practitioner land. Mm, hmm. And so, you know, tell us a story from the heavenly Alright, with that slide, all right.Heather SheaWell, this is the story about how I met feminist icon Gloria Steinem. And I'm going to share this story because it was one of the probably most um.

Dr. Carter-Atkins shares a powerful message of self-care and leadership through the magic of burpees!

Drs. Shannon Leddy and Lorrie Miller, co-authors of Teaching Where You Are: Weaving Indigenous and Slow Principles and Pedagogies, discuss indigenous approaches to teaching and learning. They integrate perspectives, histories, and values from many different Indigenous cultures across North America to offer insights to guide different ways of approaching teaching, learning, education, and being.

In this episode (recorded on May 1), Dr. OiYan Poon and Dr. Crystal Garcia join Dr. Heather Shea to reflect on the first 100 days of the current administration and what they reveal about its priorities and governing approach.

Assessment experts and student affairs leaders discuss the multi-level assessment process and how to utilize it as a leadership practice. This conversation helps explain this approach, what it offers, examples of how it is being done, and tips. They discuss assessment beyond measurement, leading learning and operations, as strategic planning, and through relationships.

In this episode, host Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Brendan Cantwell and Dr. Demetri Morgan to break down a wave of federal actions reshaping higher education. From the NIH’s ultimatum on DEI to a new executive order on accreditation—and threats to university tax-exempt status—they explore what these moves mean for institutional governance, research integrity, and academic freedom.

Dr. Paul Dosal reflects on his 15 years as an innovator, champion, and leader of student success and well-being. He shares lessons from creating institutional transformations for student persistence and retention through deliberative and intentional approaches, breaking down silos, predictive analytics, and creating cultures of care. He highlights blending technological tools and personal connections and relationships for holistic and systematic approaches to student success and well-being.

In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon and Dr. Demetri Morgan join Heather Shea to unpack three pressing developments shaping the current landscape of higher education.

In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Jason Cottrell, a longtime career employee at the U.S. Department of Education who was among the 1,300 staff members recently laid off. Jason shares insights into the role of the Department, how federal agencies navigate transitions between administrations, and what these layoffs mean for education policy. He also reflects on his own journey from higher education into federal service—and what’s next as he returns to the field of student affairs.

Dr. Demetri Morgan and Dr. Felecia Commodore join host Heather Shea to explore the escalating pressures facing higher education, including the lack of board engagement in defending institutional autonomy, rising federal influence, and the unjust revocation of student visas.

A renewed sense of purpose is gain after the smallest gesture from a student brings beauty to chaos.

In this origin story, Dr. Brooks shares his inspirational journey to the professoriate. Filled with triumphs as well as tragedies, his story reminds us of the importance of making your own path - one step at a time.

In the fifth episode of Current Campus Context, Heather Shea is joined by experts Dr. Felecia Commodore and Dr. Crystal Garcia to discuss the latest challenges facing higher education. They examine the growing threats to international students, including detention, deportation, and forced self-deportation, and the role of universities in protecting them. The conversation also explores faculty fears around academic freedom, the risks of speaking out in today’s climate, and the real dangers—beyond job loss—that educators face. Finally, they highlight the power of labor unions as a force for collective action against political and financial attacks on higher ed.

In this episode of Student Affairs Now, we're exploring the career shift from student affairs to alumni affairs with three panelists who have made the transition themselves: Josh Leidy, Rachel Clark, and Jessica Lee. How do student affairs skills translate to engaging alumni? What challenges and opportunities come with the shift? And what should student affairs professionals know if they're considering a move into alumni engagement? Join us as we discuss the connections between student and alumni experiences, the evolving landscape of alumni affairs, and how institutions can better integrate alumni into the student journey. We’ll also unpack common misconceptions, surprising insights, and the role of technology in shaping alumni engagement. Whether you're curious about this career path or looking for ways to strengthen student-to-alumni connections, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways.

Dr. Felecia Commodore and Dr. Demetri Morgan join host Heather Shea to discuss the latest threats to higher education and what comes next. This episode was recorded at 5:11 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 27th. Over the past few weeks, we’ve tracked how the Trump administration is dismantling the Department of Education and weaponizing federal funding to reshape colleges and universities. This week, three major developments add to the urgency: a proposed overhaul of the federal student loan system that could gut borrower protections, escalating attacks on diversity, equity, and free speech on campus, and the critical role professional associations are playing as higher ed’s last line of defense. As institutions navigate these pressures, the key question remains—who is prepared to fight back? Tune in for a deep dive into what’s at stake and what resistance might look like.PlaySuggested APA CitationShea, H. (Host). (2025, March 28). Current Campus Context: Federal Student Aid, Institutional Autonomy & Associations Push Back (No. 256) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/current-campus-context-mar28/ TranscriptHeather SheaHeather, welcome back to current campus context, a limited series from student affairs now the online learning community for those of us working in alongside and adjacent to higher education and student affairs, I'm your host, Heather, Shea and we were recording this episode at 5:11pm, Eastern Time on Thursday, March 27 as always, things might have changed by the time you listen this week, in our fourth episode, we are continuing our deep dive into the evolving landscape of higher ed current campus context is all about making sense of the moment we're in. Each episode, we bring in two experts to break down the latest developments, what's happening, why it matters, and how we can respond within our own spheres of influence. Our goal is to move beyond the headlines, providing context, perspective and actionable strategies to help you navigate these shifts. As part of this series, we have a rotating panel of five experts, so you will hear some familiar voices over the next several weeks, and you can learn more about all of our correspondence at studentaffairs now.com now, before we let you get into today's conversation, I'm excited to introduce our expert correspondents today who will help us unpack the latest developments. First back again this week. Dr Felicia Commodore is an expert in leadership, governance and administrative practices in higher education, with a focus on HBCUs, Ms eyes and black women in leadership. She is an associate professor in education, education policy, organization and leadership at the University of Illinois. Urbana Champaign, welcome back, Felicia,Felecia Commodorethank you. Heather, glad to be back,Heather Sheaand I am excited to introduce our fifth correspondent, Dr Dimitri l Morgan. Dr Morgan is an expert in institutional governance, campus climate, student activism and STEM education in higher ed. He is an associate professor of education at the University of Michigan. Welcome Dimitri.Demetri L. MorganGreat to finally be on and I'm really looking forward to our conversation today.Heather SheaSo, am I so? Am I so? Let's, let's go to the news and see what we're unpacking. Over the past several weeks, we have tracked several different stories. We're going to pick up on some of those themes today. We've tracked the dismantling of the Department of Education, the weaponization of federal funding as key strategies being used by the Trump administration to reshape higher ed. This week, I have three major developments that kind of build on these themes. First, the student loan system is facing a radical overhaul. Trump is proposing to shift federal student loans to the Small Business Administration. This is alarming for me, not just because I think the SBA lacks the infrastructure to manage student aid, but for me,

Dr. Megan Gerhardt discusses moving from intergenerational differences as tension to opportunities. She shares ways we stereotype, shame, and blame other generations, as well as the four practices to help make intergenerational differences a strength in organizations.

In this episode (recorded at 5:08 p.m. on March 20), Dr. OiYan Poon and Dr. Crystal Garcia join Dr. Heather Shea to discuss the executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the politicization of federal funding, and rising barriers for international students and scholars.

Struggling through his first year as a professor, Dr. Snipes faced feedback that made him question his future in academia. But just as he was ready to walk away, an unexpected encounter encourages him to stay.

It’s a story about love, loss, and a beautiful friendship between two higher ed professionals and what it is like for one to move on after the loss of the other.

In this week’s rapid-response episode, Dr. Heather Shea is joined by Drs. Felecia Commodore and Brendan Cantwell to break down the latest developments in higher education policy and politics. They discuss the U.S. Department of Education’s historic layoffs, the detainment of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, and the federal government’s decision to withdraw funding from Columbia University and the University of Maine system. Correspondents discuss Why does this matter? And what can student affairs educators and higher ed leaders do to respond? Tune in for expert insights and actionable takeaways.PlayCurrent Campus Context: Education Cuts, Student Detainment, and the Politics of FundingSuggested APA CitationShea, H. (Host). (2025, March 14). Current Campus Context: Education Cuts, Student Detainment, and the Politics of Funding (No. 251) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/currentcontext-mar14/TranscriptHeather SheaHeather. Hello. Welcome back to current campus context brought to you by Student Affairs. Now the online learning community for 1000s of us who work in alongside and adjacent to higher education and student affairs, I'm your host, Heather Shea, and this episode was recorded at 5:11pm, Eastern Time on Thursday, March 13. As always, things might have changed by the time you listen, as I shared last week, this limited series is all about making sense of the moment. We're in higher ed is facing rapid changes, and each week we will bring in two experts to help us break down what's happening, why it matters, and what we can do within our spheres of influence. Our goal to provide not just news, but context, perspective and strategies for action. I also want to mention we have a rotating group of five experts contributing to this series, so you'll see some familiar faces over the next several weeks, and you can learn more about all of our correspondents on our website, Student Affairs now.com I'm excited today to introduce our two correspondents who will help us unpack the latest developments. First, Dr Felecia Commodore, an expert in leadership, governance and administrative practices in higher education, with a focus on HBCUs MSIs and black women in leadership. She is an associate professor in educational policy organization and leadership at the University of Illinois. Urbana Champaign, welcome Felecia.Felecia CommodoreThank you. Excited to be here talking through this time. To be aliveHeather Sheaa lot. It's a time and joining us again this week. Thanks so much for coming back. Dr Brendan Cantwell, Brendan is an expert in higher education and Policy Governance and political economy of higher ed. He is a professor of higher adult and lifelong education at Michigan State University. Thanks for coming back and joining us for another day, for another episode. Brendan,Brendan Cantwellhey, great to be here. It feels like a year in between the week,Heather Shearight? Yeah, there this week is a lot of things have have happened, so I'm going to give a quick synopsis of three things that have kind of risen to the top of my list, and then we're going to unpack and discuss. So first of all, last week, we reported on Linda McMahon issuing a statement about the final mission. Now, earlier this week, the US Department of Education laid off over 1300 employees, really gutting the department, one of the largest cuts in history. I'm left with many questions, right? So what functions of the department remain? What responsibilities will shift to other agencies? What does this mean for federal financial aid, for education policy, for the office of civil rights enforcement, of the policies that the Dear Colleague letter laid out, which we discussed a little bit last week as well. That's issue number one. Second, I'm thinking about the detainment of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, in other words,

While attending the 2025 ACPA Conference in Long Beach, California, host Glenn DeGuzman invited random attendees to come in front of the camera and answer the following question: "What topic or issue is very important to you now and that you want to engage with more in student affairs?” The myriad of responses is a reminder of the diversity of people, places, and positions that make up our profession.

In this week’s rapid-response episode, Dr. Heather Shea is joined by Drs. Brendan Cantwell and OiYan Poon to break down the latest developments—from the Department of Education’s uncertain future to new guidance in the form of a Feb. 14 Dear Colleague Letter and FAQ, and executive branch threats to punish campuses that hold "illegal" campus protests. Why does it matter? And what can student affairs educators and higher ed leaders do to respond? Tune in for expert insights and actionable takeaways.PlaySuggested APA CitationShea, H. (Host). (2025, March 7). Current Campus Context: Dear Colleague Letter FAQ, "Illegal" Protests, and more (No. 249) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/currentcontext_march7/ TranscriptHeather SheaWelcome to the very first episode of current campus context brought to you by Student Affairs. Now the online learning community for 1000s of us who work in alongside and adjacent to higher education and student affairs, I'm your host, Heather Shea, and this episode was recorded at 5:15pmHeather Sheaon Thursday, March 6. Things might have changed by the time you listen. This new limited series is all about making sense of the moment. We're in higher ed is facing rapid change, and each week we will bring two experts to break down what's happening, why it matters, and what we can do within our spheres of influence. Our goal not just provide the news, but context, perspective and strategies for action. So I'm so excited to introduce our first two correspondents for today. First, Dr Brennan Cantwell is an expert in higher education policy, governance and the political economy of higher education. He is a professor of higher adult and lifelong education at Michigan State University. Hi, Brendan, hey, great to be here. And Dr oyun Poon is an expert in the racial politics of education, access, college admission systems and Asian Americans in education. She is a co director of the college admissions futures collaborative and consultant on higher education equity to Eleanor Governor JB Pritzker education team. Hello, well, welcome, hey, great to be here. Yeah. Thanks so much for joining. So this week, we're focusing on a few key developments with some significant implications for higher ed the first item earlier this week, Linda McMahon, immediately after being sworn in as Secretary of Education, issued her first statement about the department's final Mission. Pretty ominous sounding statement, and I think we expect it hasn't dropped as of the recording yet, an executive order charging McMahon with dismantling the Department of Education, even though we know that officially abolishing it would require an act of Congress. But this leaves me with questions about TRIO programs, Pell Grants, FAFSA. So that's Topic number ONE. Topic number two, february 14, your colleague letter. And then the subsequent FAQ document, which I think was meant to provide some clarification, but for me, made it more hazy in terms of what if anything we should be doing. And then meanwhile, the Chronicle of Higher Ed has been reporting that many campuses are taking anticipatory measures to comply. So that's topic two. And then the third topic, well, I don't want to bring in every single social media post. Earlier this week, Inside Higher Ed reported that the President doubled down on social media posting that college and universities that allow a legal protest would be at risk of losing federal funding. I'm thinking this maybe flies in the face of free speech. Maybe so. I think it goes without saying that these three issues will all shape the future of higher education in the coming months, maybe years, and so I'm going to turn it to you. Brendan, what does this all mean, given what I've just shared, where would you like to begin? And what do you see as the broader implications of these issues for colleges universities in the field of student affairs?OiYan PoonWell,

Join us for a special episode of Student Affairs Now, recorded live at ACPA25 on Monday, February 17, where hosts Raechele Pope and Heather Shea sit down with higher education icons Dr. Lori Patton Davis and Dr. Shaun Harper. These lifelong friends and influential scholars reflect on their groundbreaking research, leadership journeys, and unwavering advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As we reflect on the current moment, this conversation offers timely insights and inspiration for student affairs professionals and educators.

PlayWe’re living in a moment where the ground is shifting daily—from policy changes and legal battles to funding decisions and challenges to the very foundations of our work to promote equity and access. The news isn’t just headlines; it has real consequences for students, educators, and institutions.That’s why, starting next week, Student Affairs Now is bringing you a weekly, rapid-response conversation to break down the latest developments in higher education. Each Friday morning, we’ll release a brief but essential discussion featuring two experts - scholars and thought leaders - who are paying attention to the shifting landscape of higher ed. Together, we’ll discuss:What’s happening right now? The critical issues making waves this week.Why does it matter? The implications for students, faculty, staff, and institutions.What can we do? How student affairs educators and higher education administrator can respond, advocate, and take action within their spheres of influence.In a time when funding, equity initiatives, academic freedom, and institutional policies are in flux, staying informed isn’t enough. We need context. We need perspective. And we need to talk about how to move forward.So, whether you’re a campus administrator, faculty member, student affairs educator, or just someone who cares deeply about the future of higher ed, we hope you’ll tune in.Our first episode drops next Friday, March 7—stay tuned, and we’ll see you then!

Listen in on a conversation with the ACPA Asian Pacific American Network (APAN) Leadership Team. While at the 2025 ACPA Conference in Long Beach, host Glenn DeGuzman invited members of the APAN leadership team, Sam Thornton, Wilson Deng, Em Nakamura, IC Ulep, and Yi Xuen Tay into his kitchen for a sit down conversation on a variety of API related topics and issues currently on the top of their minds. APAN represents APIDA issues and advocates for programs, services, research, and actions within the leadership of the Coalition for Multicultural Affairs and ACPA: College Student Educators International. The APAN Leadership team brought their voices to the table to speak about and react to issues that are relevant to them and their work on APAN and on their respective college campuses.

Editors and authors of the new book Addressing Student Success at Small Colleges join to discuss the power of small colleges in their community, unique niches, and culture. They also discuss the challenges around changing students and families, staffing, financial viability and possibilities around innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

The team of scholars that researched and developed the Shared Equity Leadership model discusses the origins, applications, and emergence of this model. They discuss the personal journey, values, and practices and how they can support various ways toward helping all students succeed. They explain how distributed, embedded, and integrated responsibility and leadership can make a difference for all.

https://youtu.be/Glu7V0aro2g?feature=sharedEpisode DescriptionIn the midst of managing a campus hurricane evacuation during a pandemic, an administrator recounts a story of an escaped hamster lost in a hotel and his precocious 7 year-old daughter’s spirited campaign to find and rescue it.Suggested APA CitationSnipes, J.T. (Host). (2025, February 5). Here’s the Story: “The Hamster and the Hurricane.” (No. 243) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/heres-the-story-hamster/Episode TranscriptJ.T. SnipesWelcome to Here's the Story, a show that brings Student Affairs to life by sharing the authentic voices and lived experiences of those who are shaping our field every day as a part of the Student Affairs NOW family, we are dedicated to serving and furthering the people who walk the walk, talk, the talk, and carry the rock all of us who find ourselves serving students and their education in student affairs and higher education, we hope you'll sit with us every Wednesday where we'll laugh, reminisce, commiserate, maybe even cry a little, but always celebrate our own little corner of the college experience. You can find us at studentaffairsnow.com, or directly at studentaffairsnow.com/here'sthestory, or on YouTube and anywhere you enjoy your podcast. Today, we'd like to thank today's sponsor evolve. Evolve. Evolve helps senior leaders release fear, gain courage and take action for transformational leadership through a personalized cohort based virtual learning experience, and I'm your host. J.T. Snipes, my pronouns are he him and his? I serve as an Associate Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I'm trying my best to live as a free black man in a world that would have me live otherwise. I'm with you today from the ancestral lands of the Kickapoo and the Illinois Confederacy. My university resides on land seated in 1819 treaty in Edwardsville, and is now home to SIUE. I'm here with my wonderful co host, Helena.Helena GardnerI'm Helena Gardner, and my pronouns are she, her, hers. I serve as the director of residency, education and housing services at Michigan State University. I live my life as a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend and a mentor. I'm with you today from the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinabe, three fires, confederacy of Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on land seated in the 1819, treaty of Saginaw, and is home to Michigan State University.J.T. SnipesHelena. So glad to be with you today. And now I want to introduce my friend Neil, who has a story to tell. But first, Neil, I'd love for you to tell our listeners about how, here's the story podcast came into being and why we're doing this project.Neil E. GolemoY'all, I'm so excited that we're finally, after all the work we've been doing, that it's paying off our first episode. So first I want to say, you know, I'm coming to us from the lands for the COVID The atacap Ishaq and the Karen Kawa people once roamed where they thrived, where they built their lives and left their legacies. And so I'm super excited. I want to remember them for land I'm home. So about this? Okay, so we all know this is a new thing. It's a, you know, a project, this passion thing that we have. It all started, well, actually, it all started with the joke I used to tell about being the one white guy I know that doesn't have a podcast. And, you know, it really kind of comes from this idea that, you know, it's a tough world out there, and in student affairs, it's just one of those. It's not a, you know, it's a calling. It's not yeah question so much. And it's tough out there, you know, like we are problem solvers, and so often we're the ones who get called to clean up messes. Yeah? You know, it's one of those jobs where, like, when you're operating at peak, you know, and you're doing excellent, amazing work,

https://youtu.be/ZU3n1YBJfr0?feature=sharedEpisode DescriptionFaced with a difficult financial need and slightly overwhelmed with doubt, a single mom learns a powerful lesson about collective good and allowing colleagues and others to help with creative resolutions. Suggested APA CitationGolemo, N.E. (Host). (2025, February 5). Here’s the Story: “Leaning on Collective Good.” (No. 244) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/heres-the-story-leaning-on-collective-good/Episode TranscriptJ.T. SnipesWelcome to Here's the Story, a show that brings Student Affairs to life by sharing the authentic voices and lived experiences of those who are shaping our field every day as a part of the Student Affairs NOW family, we are dedicated to serving and furthering the people who walk the walk, talk, the talk, and carry the rock all of us who find ourselves serving students and their education in student affairs and higher education, we hope you'll sit with us every Wednesday where we'll laugh, reminisce, commiserate, maybe even cry a little, but always celebrate our own little corner of the college experience. You can find us at studentaffairsnow.com, or directly at studentaffairsnow.com/here'sthestory, or on YouTube and anywhere you enjoy your podcast. Today, we'd like to thank today's sponsor evolve. Evolve. Evolve helps senior leaders release fear, gain courage and take action for transformational leadership through a personalized cohort based virtual learning experience, and I'm your host. J.T. Snipes, my pronouns are he him and his? I serve as an Associate Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I'm trying my best to live as a free black man in a world that would have me live otherwise. I'm with you today from the ancestral lands of the Kickapoo and the Illinois Confederacy. My university resides on land seated in 1819 treaty in Edwardsville, and is now home to SIUE. I'm here with my wonderful co host, Helena.Helena GardnerI'm Helena Gardner, and my pronouns are she, her, hers. I serve as the director of residency, education and housing services at Michigan State University. I live my life as a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend and a mentor. I'm with you today from the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinabe, three fires, confederacy of Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on land seated in the 1819, treaty of Saginaw, and is home to Michigan State University.J.T. SnipesHelena. So glad to be with you today. And now I want to introduce my friend Neil, who has a story to tell. But first, Neil, I'd love for you to tell our listeners about how, here's the story podcast came into being and why we're doing this project.Neil E. GolemoY'all, I'm so excited that we're finally, after all the work we've been doing, that it's paying off our first episode. So first I want to say, you know, I'm coming to us from the lands for the COVID The atacap Ishaq and the Karen Kawa people once roamed where they thrived, where they built their lives and left their legacies. And so I'm super excited. I want to remember them for land I'm home. So about this? Okay, so we all know this is a new thing. It's a, you know, a project, this passion thing that we have. It all started, well, actually, it all started with the joke I used to tell about being the one white guy I know that doesn't have a podcast. And, you know, it really kind of comes from this idea that, you know, it's a tough world out there, and in student affairs, it's just one of those. It's not a, you know, it's a calling. It's not yeah question so much. And it's tough out there, you know, like we are problem solvers, and so often we're the ones who get called to clean up messes. Yeah? You know, it's one of those jobs where, like, when you're operating at peak, you know, and you're doing excellent, amazing work,

Lisa Gerber discusses her new book, The Power of Story. Lisa shares that stories can help us connect, relate, and build trust. She also shares the three keys to good stories. Dr. Neil Golemo joins to learn from Lisa as he and colleagues launch a new episode format for Student Affairs Now called Here's the Story.

Drs. Jorge Burmicky and Kevin McClure discuss their research on effective leadership in higher education. They bring quantitative and qualitative data to help us understand the challenges and competencies of successful college presidents. They discuss the seven interconnected competencies and ways to develop them for more effective executive leadership in higher education and beyond.

Authors of the new book Activism, Burnout, and Community in Higher Education: Narratives of College Student Activists, connect with Heather Shea to discuss the emotional and systemic challenges student activists face, the crucial role of collective care, and strategies for fostering environments that balance activism with well-being.This groundbreaking new book weaves together personal stories, research insights, and practical recommendations to offer timely insights into navigating the complexities of activism in higher education.

The skills to engage and bridge differences are needed in higher education and our world today. Kristi Clemens and Dr. Elizabeth Smith share about how the Dartmouth Dialogue Project emerged, how it is structured, and what they have learned through the process thus far. They discuss the key elements of relationship building and empathy, viewing dialogue as a practice, and yearning for and obstacles to dialogue.

Join Adam Jussel, Dimitri Topitzes, and Alberto Jose Maldonado from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee as they share about their trauma-informed practices and frameworks - how they came to be, how they have embraced them broadly, and the results. They share how an inclusive process surfaced the need for a trauma-informed approach and how centering relationships and connection has deepened understanding, empowered folks, and fostered engagement.

In part 2 of the "Tipped and Tested" series, Dr. Anne Hornak, talks further about her unique sabbatical experience, where she worked as a server at a restaurant while taking nine credit hours at a community college. As Anne shares her experiences in the service industry, she and host Heather Shea discuss privilege, empathy, and the importance of wraparound support for financially strained students. The conversation also explores the personal and family impacts of these experiences and the broader lessons they offer for understanding and addressing student needs.

Dr. Anne Hornak, professor at Central Michigan University, shares insights from her unique sabbatical experience, where she worked as a server at a restaurant while taking nine credit hours at a community college to better understand the experiences of financially strapped students. She highlights several challenges such as unexpected online textbook costs, lack of community, and the stress of balancing work and school. The conversation also explores the lessons for higher education institutions to provide more transparent and accessible support systems and the importance administrative empathy.

Drs. Colin Stewart and President Rob Kelly discuss their book, Disruptive Transformation: Leading Creative and Innovative Teams in Higher Education. They focus on challenging norms and perfectionism and valuing diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. They discuss how leaders can look inward to foster creativity and create organizational cultures that support innovation.

Drs. Jason Pina and Amy Hecht discuss their edited book, The Next Act: Realigning Your Mindset, Purpose, and Career. They share various paths within, beyond, and back to higher education for senior leaders. They discuss change, agency, possibilities, transition, privilege, and capacity.

In this episode, Dr. Kyle Reyes talks about his book, Lenses of Humanity, in which he explores how shifting our lens can reveal the deep humanity that reminds us of the shared connections that unite us all. He describes this book as part memoir, part academic investigation, and part public discourse- and as a gift and love letter to his children. Anchored in hope and possibility, this episode is the restorative moment you may not have known you needed.

Drs. Chris Linder, Niah Grimes, & Nadeeka Karunaratne join to discuss their new book, Thinking Like an Abolitionist to End Sexual Violence in Higher Education. They discuss abolitionist thinking, oppressive systems, liberation approaches, abundance, social change as inner work, and transformation around community, hope, and love.

In this special episode, we’re featuring Dr. Kristen Renn’s inspiring talk, The Futures of Student Affairs: Look Back, Look Around, Look Ahead, presented at the 75th anniversary celebration of Michigan State University's Student Affairs Administration (SAA) Master's program. Kris reflects on the history and values of student affairs, addresses current challenges, and shares her vision for the future, encouraging us to engage our values, embrace our unique strengths, become more multilingual and vocal, and make a compelling case for higher education and human thriving. At the end of the episode, host Heather Shea and SAA alum Brandon Arnold will join in a dialogue, offering reflections and insights to extend the conversation.

Jess Pettitt discusses her new book, Almost Good Enough, which explores the subtle shifts at the fulcrum between doing harm and doing good. She discusses compassion and humanity, best practices and intuition, and ways to foster innovation and description related to DEI and beyond. If we can be prepared, recognize what is going on beyond us, and move from reactivity to response, we can do more good, cause less harm, and learn and grow.

In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea welcomes Dr. Z Nicolazzo, author of the influential book Trans* in College: Transgender Students’ Strategies for Navigating Campus Life and the Institutional Politics of Inclusion, along with two of her doctoral students, Clar Gobuyan and Pin-Ru Su. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of support for transgender students in higher education, delving into concepts of kinship, chosen family, and institutional inclusion. Tune in as they share insights on how universities can better support trans students' academic success and well-being through innovative research and practice.

In this episode of Student Affairs Now, ACPA Presidents past and present—Jill Carnaghi (2000-2001), Paul Shang (2002-2003), Stephen John Quaye (2017-2018), Rachel Aho (current ACPA President), and Jonathan McElderry (President-Elect)—connect with co-hosts Gudrun Nyunt and Heather Shea (immediate Past President) to reflect on ACPA's growth and influence over the years. The panel explores pivotal moments from their presidencies, the importance of ACPA’s ongoing mission, and offer advice for future leadership. As ACPA celebrates its 100th birthday on ACPA Day (October 21, 2024), the conversation delves into how the association continues to influence the field and what lies ahead for its future. Don't miss this insightful discussion on leadership, legacy, and transformation in higher education!

This episode examines the current status, and future directions of race and indigeneity in student affairs and higher education. The episode offers a brief glimpse of the evolution of ACPA as an example of one professional association grappling with and addressing these complex issues.

In this co-hosted episode with ACPA our featured panelists discuss political and legislative advocacy in higher education. In an increasingly complex time in higher education, student affairs educators are faced with balancing navigating environments that are under greater scrutiny, supporting student well-being and success, and protecting their own personal well-being. Join our panelists as they share their guidance, pathways of discernment, and strategies for effective approaches to advocacy as educators and scholars.

In this episode, join Drs. Tanya Koroyan, Steve Sutton, and Jason Lynch join the podcast as they explore professional staff wellness for those who work in and around residential living and student affairs. This conversation brings together 3 professionals who each possess both research and practitioner experience in this topic. They will explore not only the conversations they are having with their peers, but also provide current research, practical strategies, and useful resources to build or enhance workplace wellness.

This episode discusses the identities and experiences of Jewish students on campus today.. Many Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe and traumatized amidst the rise of antisemitism on campus, in our nation, and across the globe. Our guest, Dr. Elisa Abes, offers a critical perspective to deeply examine the realities of anti-semitism on college campuses and its impact on Jewish students.

The leadership of Black women in student affairs and higher education is part of the essential story of the success and challenges of our colleges and universities. Unfortunately, these stories are often erased and thus their contributions minimized. Black women’s experiences as supervisors and supervisees is a key part of their leadership journey. It’s time for us to explore how the changing landscape affects the experiences and leadership pathways for Black women.

In this episode, we explore the power of grassroots voting initiatives on college campuses. Join host Heather Shea as she speaks with leaders from key organizations dedicated to mobilizing and empowering student voters. They share their stories, strategies for increasing voter registration and turnout, and practical advice for student affairs staff ahead of the national election. Tune in to discover how these initiatives are making a difference and what steps can be taken to engage more students in the political process.

In this conversation, we discuss the challenges, pride, and support for first-generation graduate students. Guests share their experiences, tips for others, recommendations and suggestions for faculty and staff working to support these students, and ways involvement and engagement with ACPA can help get that support and look to address systemic issues in higher education and society.

For over 4 decades, Harry Le Grande has been a student affairs senior leader innovating and breaking barriers through his no-nonsense and people-first approach philosophy. His career spans multiple institutions and holding senior executive positions at the University of California, California State University, and California Community College systems. His commitment to helping underrepresented professionals break through the glass ceiling, maneuvering the politics of higher education, and championing the values of our profession is well documented in his professional career. Listen in to a master storyteller as he takes us down his professional journey and shares a bit about his thoughts about the future of student affairs.

In this episode we are discussing serving minoritized students and the unique institutional types that focus on supporting minoritized students. Our hope is to focus on ways we can serve minoritized student populations at institutions that may not have been created with these populations in mind but are now playing an important role in providing access to higher education. By doing so, we hope to highlight what all institutions can learn about serving minoritized students and how professional associations, like ACPA, can better support student affairs and higher education professionals engaging in this important work.

Join Stefaan Van Hooydonk, author of The Workplace Curiosity Manifesto, and Dr. Hilary Lichterman as they make a case for the curiosity of a key capacity of leadership within and beyond higher education. This conversation covers everything from children's books to neuroscience. They discuss three key aspects of curiosity and three key pathways for practicing curiosity.

In this episode, we’re discussing how to support students' mental health and well-being during education abroad programs. Join us for an insightful discussion with experts Vernon Wall and Drs. Shayna Perry and Matt Rader as we explore the unique challenges students face, best practices for support, and strategies for faculty and staff to enhance mental health resources during international programs.

Join four game designers as they discuss the role of games and play in learning. Drs. Tricia Siefert, Colleen Smith, Tracy Fullerton, and Andrew Peterson challenge the misalignment of education as only linear and structured and explore the paradox of play - how games' mystery, rules, and openness can create space for creativity, connection, emotion, learning, and more.

The Racial Healing Project is a collaboration among Fernell Miller and Drs. Mollie Monahan Jen Self (Dr. J). In this conversation, they not only share but also model their approach, helping all of us bring our whole selves with authenticity in the context of systemic oppression related to race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, class, and more. They discuss education as caring for the whole person, the core skills of humility, curiosity, and care, and the intentional, purposeful, and mindful practice of humanity.

Two years ago, when SCOTUS released the Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, college students all over the U.S. mobilized to advocate for a variety of initiatives to address the concerns facing students in the wake of the decision. In this episode, we’ll meet five student activists from one campus and discuss their multi-pronged approach to supporting students’ sexual and reproductive health.

Dr. Gina Garcia discusses Hispanic Serving Institions (HSIs). The conversation ranges from the definitions of HSIs and moving from demographics to "servingness." She also shares what that servingness can look like on various campuses including compositional diversity of faculty, staff, and administration; curricular inclusion; connections to serving local communities; and policy development.

Black women working in higher education as administrators, faculty, and staff face daily harms and traumas that affect their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health and well-being. Black women are often hazed, shamed, and unsupported in myriad ways that put their health and their future at risk. Even when colleges and universities highlight their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, they rarely address the institutional and intersectional realities facing Black women. It is time for us to move beyond describing the problem and lean into discovering how to cope, survive, thrive,and embrace joy in our lives.

This podcast features a panel sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on topics in and around work modalities. Listen to their stories and hear about challenges of international work visas, the importance of finding work modalities that work for you, and reimagining ways to incorporate travel into your work and discover the joys of working abroad.

Comedian, keynote speaker, recovering student affairs professional, and author of The Humor Habit, Paul Osincup talks about humor as a skill you can develop to help with your personal well-being and to be more effective as a leader. He offers insights on the neuroscience of humor, helpful strategies to be funny (without being icky), and lots of laughs.

Join three leadership scholars and practitioners as they discuss the International Leadership Association's General Principles for Leadership Programs. They focus on international contexts, colonization, culture, and critical perspectives. This conversation is relevant to leadership educators and leaders within and beyond higher education. How do we cultivate leadership informed by context and an international perspective?

Studies have pointed to the emerging increase of student affairs professionals leaving their roles and even opting to leave the field entirely. While there is a growing number of studies and testimonials why student affairs professionals are opting to leave their roles, there are also reasons why student affairs professionals choose to stay. In this episode, a panel of guests share their perspective on this topic and the retention and departure of student affairs professionals.

NASPA President Kevin Kruger joins us to look back and look forward on higher education trends, students, student affairs, and student affairs leadership. He shares the evolutions he has witnessed, the trends emerging, as well as his worries and hopes for what is ahead.

Three scholars join us to discuss undocumented students' experiences and the implications for higher education. They begin by offering the sociocultural contexts and move into a more expansive understanding of who undocumented students are and their complex experiences. They also share the humanity, joy, and contributions of these students from their research.

Drs. Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas, Mimi Benjamin, and Jody E. Jessup-Anger discuss their new book, Living-Learning Communities in Practice which builds on their previous book Living-Learning Communities That Work. In this conversation, they discuss a revised model as well as new typologies and logics informed by practitioner input to help LLCs thrive in practice.

As ACPA celebrated its 100th anniversary as an association, this panel of four ACPA Presidents reviewed its history to inform its current context and its future. The conversation explores why ACPA's history matters, two themes of advancing our professional development and our with students on campuses, and bridging the past and the future.

For more than twenty years, Mia Nosanow worked as a therapist with college students. In her new book, The College Student’s Guide to Mental Health, she shares how college students can prioritize their mental health and thrive in college. In this conversation, she shares what she learned from students, sharing the heart of their experiences, the emerging themes, and the multiple ways to tend to these challenges for all humans. The book and this conversation are useful for college students, families, and student affairs professionals.

In this episode, we hear from scholar and educator Oiyan Poon. She talks about the inspiration and the journey of writing her book, Asian American is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family. This book is part love letter, part history lesson and academic research, and part memoir. Join us in this conversation where we discuss motherhood, solidarity, and hope for a better future.

At ACPA's 100th Anniversary Celebration held in Chicago, the hosts of Student Affairs NOW reflected on their respective journeys working together in developing, producing, and hosting a podcast as a form of public scholarship. The team shared behind-the-scenes stories of what it's like working together, discussed the expected and unexpected learnings during the growth of the podcast, and shared their reactions as Student Affairs Now reached the impressive milestone of 200 episodes in 2024. This episode was recorded at ACPA as part of a conference presentation.

Join three student affairs professionals as they share different paths to professional engagement, learning, and relationship building. Yasas Vithanage joins Drs. Amanda Knerr and Kelvin Rutledge to reflect on various professional engagement opportunities, lessons on getting involved, and the power of relationships.

Two-year colleges, including community, technical, and junior colleges, are focused on access, affordability, and equity; workforce development and career preparation; and serving their community's needs with agility. In this episode, two former chairs of ACPA's Commission for Two-Year Colleges and a current two-year college president discuss the growing student and institutional needs with limited resources and how associations like ACPA can better support professional development and student success in this critical higher education sector.

This episode offers a deep dive into the INSPIRES Index, providing listeners with valuable insights into fostering inclusive campus environments for students of diverse worldview identities. Panelists, which include researchers, faculty, and practitioners, examine the intersectionality of efforts to address religious, secular, and spiritual identities with broader diversity initiatives and explore how interfaith initiatives can contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for students with intersecting minoritized identities.

Chief of Staff roles in and beyond student affairs often fall under the radar, go by many different names, vary widely, and can be both misunderstood and full of promise. In this conversation, two folks who have served in this role in multiple iterations define the role, discuss the complexities, and offer insights for institutions, principals, and those exploring the role for themselves.

Join us for an overview of intergroup dialogue (IGD) in higher education, featuring expert perspectives from scholars and practitioners Drs. Ximena Zúñiga, Bridget Turner Kelly, Mark Kamimura-Jiménez, and Nina Tissi-Gassoway. Panelists explore the philosophy and practice of IGD, discuss a four-stage approach, the relevance amidst campus unrest and polarization, implementation in student affairs graduate programs, and considerations for effective facilitation. Whether you're new to IGD or seeking advanced insights, this episode offers valuable perspectives on fostering inclusive and intentional dialogues on college campuses.

This special episode focuses on the history, present, and future of LGBTQ+ people and issues in higher education. Panelists Jonathan Poullard, Dr. Becki Elkins, Cole Eskridge, and Dr. Quortne Hutchings join us to reflect on ACPA’s role in making higher education a more queer-friendly environment for students and practitioners alike.

In this conversation, Drs. Claire Brady and José-Luis Riera reflect on what they learned from planning, leading, and participating in the recent NASPA Institute for Aspiring Vice Presidents for Student Affairs. They shared exploring the realities of the current moment in higher education, holding space to consider if this role is really for them, and examining multiple pathways for transition and success. Themes of hope and healing are paired with the challenges of higher education and this leadership role specifically.

Marium Mohiuddin and Dr. Zack Ritter have been working to build bridges between Jews and Muslims on college campuses. In this conversation, they share the challenges of holding space, unpacking trauma, teaching conflict resolution, and working through complex and contested histories. They also discuss the commonalities and differences of navigating Islamophobia and Antisemitism in America.

The capacity to engage in difficult conversations across differences can be as challenging to develop as it is critical to learning, equity, relationships, and a functioning society. Many folks may be familiar with using "safe space" to frame these conversations. Today's guests have offered a "brave space" framework for co-creating environments for learning. Join Kristi Clemens and Dr. Brian Arao as they discuss the origins of brave space, putting it into practice, and cautions and complexities.

Join this important conversation among ACPA scholars and leaders, Drs. Leila Moore, Amy Reynolds, and Heidi Levine as they reflect on the roots of the counseling profession in ACPA and the vital role that mental health providers have played in ACPA, student affairs and higher education historically and today. This rich discussion also address the current mental health challenges facing college students today and the important role of student affairs professionals and campuses in addressing these issues.

Three scholars and close observers discuss major shifts in college athletics and their implications. Join Ron Wade, Dr. Susan Shaw, and Dr. George McClellan as they discuss name, image, and likeness (NIL), the transfer portal, equity, and the implications for student success across institutions, sports, gender, and more.

Appreciative inquiry shifts attention from problems and deficits to assets, strengths, and possibilities. Drs. Symphony Oxendine and Brian Gano discuss appreciative inquiry, how to use it in student affairs work, and their learning from the contributions of other authors to their new volume, Appreciative Frameworks in Student Affairs.

As we near the 2024 election, there’s a fair amount of talk about the apparent risks to democracy in the U.S.. As student affairs educators seek to engage students in discussing, dissecting, reinventing, and adopting principles of civic engagement, the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE) is unveiling “Democracy Re/Designed” a more aspirational version of democracy that we need today and into the future. Joining this episode are Drs. Adam Gismondi and Demetri Morgan to talk about democratic engagement in higher education.

Join the editors of a new book as they discuss student affairs and student services around the globe. They explore the assets and cautions around professionalization, including local voices in their context, and the future of student affairs and services globally.

Join these scholars and ACPA leaders, Drs. Z Nicolazzo, Antonio Duran, and Vasti Torres as they discuss ACPA’s contributions to research and scholarship. They reflect on what is included with research and scholarship and ACPA's historical, current, and future contributions. They also offer thoughts for those interested in contributing scholarship on why, how, and where to do so. This is part of a 13-episode series for ACPA’s 100th Anniversary and a partnership between ACPA and Student Affairs Now.

Episode DescriptionDr. TJ Stewart talks about his groundbreaking new book, “Sex Work on Campus” – recently recognized as the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Outstanding Book of the Year. Drawing on a study involving seven college student sex workers, Dr. Stewart delves into the experiences, motivations, and the impact of social identity on their engagement in college and university contexts. This previously absent conversation also unveils the complex intersections of education, equity, and justice, providing suggestions of what educators and university leaders can do to better support students engaged in erotic labor.Suggested APA CitationShea. H (Host). (2024, Jan 3). Sex Work on Campus (No. 185) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/sex-work-on-campus/Episode TranscriptTJ StewartOkay, people are entitled to their perceptions of virtually anything, then the question becomes is, why does your opinion of the thing mean that you get to develop law policy and discourse around it, in the sense that it would then impact that person's or that things in life experience existence. And so what I kept coming back to is this notion that people are uncomfortable, broadly, generally, with sex work, because they think it's unsafe. And there's this prevalent frame that they are selling their body, right, one of the things I push back on in the book is that they don't, you know, sell their body, particularly those that engage in direct forms of sex work or direct services, they sell a service.Heather SheaWelcome to Student Affairs NOW the online learning community for Student Affairs educators. I'm your host, Heather Shea. Today on the podcast. I'm sitting down with an author, scholar, faculty member, and also a colleague and friend from ACPA. Dr. TJ Stewart. We're talking about his new book Sex Work on Campus, which happened to be the Association for the Study of Higher Education outstanding book of the year. I got to hear TJ talk about his book at ASHE last month, and I cannot wait to get into this topic this complex, nuanced and before now, I think absent conversation today on the podcast. Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast and learning community for 1000s of us who work in alongside or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs. We hope you find these conversations make a contribution to the field and are restorative to the profession. We release new episodes every week on Wednesdays, and you can find us at studentaffairsnow.com on YouTube or anywhere you listen to podcast. This episode would not be possible without the support of our new sponsor, Routledge, Taylor and Francis publishers happens to be the same publisher of this book. And you can view their complete catalogue of authoritative education titles@www.routledge.com/education As I mentioned, my name is Heather Shea, my pronouns are she and her and I am broadcasting from the ancestral traditional and contemporary lands of the Nish Novick, three fires confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples otherwise known as East Lansing, Michigan, home of Michigan State University where I work in our gender equity center. So let's get to the conversation. TJ, thank you so much for being here today. Welcome back to Student Affairs NOW. You were on a previous conversation about labor relations, which I think like dovetail to the today's call. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So you are currently assistant professor of higher ed and Student Affairs at Iowa State University. I, as I as I said, as we were prepping today, I just finished reading your book on my Kindle. I brought it today as a little visual aid downloaded from for free. So thank you to that as well. But I'd love to just begin with a bit of your journey that brought you to your current role, and then how you're entering the conversation today.TJ StewartYeah so thanks so much for that, Heather.

Drs. Ana Martinez-Aleman and Susan Marine discuss their new book, Voices of Campus Based Sexual Violence Activists, based on their research with more than 22 activists at 14 institutions. They highlight a broadening view of activism, institutional complicity, deep intersectional analysis, generational characteristics, and a love of the campus community and wanting it to improve. They offer how practitioners can shift from adversarial or indifference to seeing, hearing, including, and engaging these activists as resources.

Dr. Beth Berila discusses her new fully revised book Integrating Mindfulness into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy. This conversation delves into the why, how, and cautions around mindfulness and somatics in teaching and learning about anti-oppression, liberation, power and privilege, and transformation. They discuss cultural appropriation, healing, radical imagination, and more.

This conversation discusses the report from The Hope Center on the implications of racial inequities on basic needs insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Frank Harris, III, Rjaa Ahmed, and Bryce McKibben discuss findings from a survey of almost 200,000 college students and numerous focus groups as well as implications for campus leaders and policy changes on and beyond individual campuses.

Dual enrollment is a growing sector of higher education. Join these experts as they discuss the possibilities for engaging more students and the challenges around support, access, and equity. This conversation explores the basics of dual enrollment as well as the complexities.

We asked ChatGPT to write a description of this episode and it came up with “Dive into the forefront of innovation as we unveil the power of ChatGPT and explore the dynamic landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Student Affairs. Joining the conversation with Heather Shea are Mallory Willsea, Ed Cabellon, Paul Gordon Brown, and Art Munin, offering expert insights on the groundbreaking potential, challenges, and ethical considerations shaping the future of technology in higher education.” Listen and find out if it’s accurate! (ChatGPT generated description)

Brian Rosenberg discusses his new book on the need for, resistance to, and possibilities for change in higher education. He discusses his experience, learning, and critical self-reflection as president of Macalester College, teaching higher education at Harvard University, and advising the African Leadership University. This is a conversation that will challenge and inspire higher education leaders.

In this conversation, Dr. Susana Muñoz shares the transformative experience of her sabbatical. She discusses her awakening, disconnecting her worth from work and productivity, listening to her body, and becoming more grounded and intentional with her energy and spirit. She also shares what this means for moving forward.

In this episode, we hear from scholar and educator Richard Reddick, author of Restorative Resistance in Higher Education. The book is a confluence of personal narrative and lived experiences, academic research, and hope for higher education to continue to lean into the messiness of human dignity and equity practices. Join us for reflection, laughter, and strategies for how we can all activate our commitment to equitable and inclusive practices on our campuses and in our communities.

Researcher, expert, and author Dr. Tricia Shalka discusses her new book Cultivating Trauma-Informed Practice in Student Affairs. Shalka shares the complexity of trauma experiences and offers guideposts for trauma-informed student affairs practice including being in relationships, policy development, and creating equity-based cultures of well-being.

We’re concluding our celebration of “Careers in Student Affairs Month” with a special episode featuring a large panel of current master’s students in student affairs, higher education, or related programs. Representing a diverse array of professional preparation programs and institutions across the U.S., the eleven panelists provide prospective graduate students with their insights and advice on pathways into the profession and the grad school selection process. We also discuss how graduate school is helping them address the challenges facing student affairs and higher education. You’ll finish this episode feeling inspired about the bright future ahead for the field.

Join two leaders in restorative justice, campus conduct, and addressing sexual misconduct as they discuss the cautions, possibilities, and imperatives of applying restorative justice to campus sexual misconduct from their new book. Drs. Erik Wessel and Kaaren Williamsen discuss the need for, case for, and how to of restorative justice processes to make possible healing, accountability, and learning and unlearning.

The Social Justice Training Institute was founded by four educators grounded in the hope of creating a learning community space where participants enhance and refine their skills and competencies to create greater inclusion for all members of the community. In this episode we learn from the wisdom of the current faculty of SJTI as a they reflect on the 25 year legacy of the institute, and their hope for the future.

Today on the podcast, we’re queuing up the next in a series of episodes for “careers in student affairs month.” We’re building on a recent episode, which answered the question “Is a Student Affairs Graduate Program Right for Me?” with some practical tips about the application process. Joining host Heather Shea are four coordinators of graduate programs in higher education and student affairs from across the U.S. to help demystify the selection and application process.

Today we’re launching “careers in student affairs month” with a two part series designed to demystify the grad school selection and application process. Today’s episode begins the conversation with an overview on motivations and purpose of graduate education. Then we discuss factors to consider when selecting a graduate program. Whether you’re an undergraduate student considering grad school or a professional looking to make a career change or go back to school. The decision of where to study can be overwhelming. Panelists offer guidance and expert advice to help prospective grad students research options as they consider a career in student affairs.

Join two innovative thinkers, Pavani Reddy and Dr. Brian Reed as they discuss applying john a. powell's framework of targeted universalism to student success. This approach focuses student success leaders on looking at the experience of particular groups and working with them to design policy changes and other systems changes. These leaders discuss a specific example of this application and broader implications for student success.

Many folks committed to racial justice and decolonization need help putting it into practice. This conversation unpacks the 3x3 Possibilities Model to help do this work at the individual, group, and systems levels through learning, doing, and being. Guests discuss how this project came into being, discuss the model, and walk through examples.

Based on an immersive, interactive presentation experience at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), today’s episode features co-presenters Krishanna Roberson and Marcus Moore as they talk with Heather Shea about the concept “How to Not” as a counter strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We explore this unconventional approach, learning about the work that inspired the session, their unique facilitation methods, and the contexts in which DEI work currently exists that led to the establishment of this counter-strategy to conventional “out of the box” DEI efforts. If you’re interested in not just “being” but actually “becoming” you should tune into How to Not!

Whether you found yourself enchanted by the Barbie movie's magic or felt it missed the mark, there's no denying the film’s monumental success. As with any major pop culture phenomenon, Barbie is poised to be a prime topic of conversation among college students this fall. In today’s episode Drs. Alex Lange, Rachel Wagner, and Keith Edwards sit down with host Heather Shea to unpack the complexities of Barbie. If you're not one of the people who contributed to its status as the highest grossing movie of 2023 and you plan to watch it, be warned—spoilers lie ahead!

On this episode, Dr. Amer Ahmed and Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington sit down with Heather Shea to explore practical and interactive techniques designed to effectively develop faculty competencies in the realms of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Often considered a challenging demographic to engage in meaningful DEI conversations, our panelists will discuss innovative methods to make these vital conversations both captivating and interactive. From syllabus backward design, to classroom environments, to attending to all students’ identities--our panelists contest that inclusive teaching is and should be fundamental in “good teaching."

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman goes to Comic-Con International in San Diego to meet up with student affairs professionals who regularly attend the convention as presenters, volunteers, and participants. This special edition podcast focuses on how student affairs and higher ed professionals connect their geek/nerd identity with their professionals roles on campus. Podcast is great, but recommend viewing this episode on YouTube!

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Affaf Waseem, Dr. Faran Saeed, and Dr. Noor Ali to examine the complex issues and future challenges facing muslim students on college campuses in the US.

Drs. Laila McCloud, Ericka Roland, Quortne Hutchings, and Ricardo Montelongo recently led the ACPA Faculty Racial Justice and Decolonization Institute. In this episode they reflect on the Institute experience and discuss love and wandering as pedagogy, freedom dreaming, ungrading, moving from docile bodies to critical spectators, and more.

Dr. Allison Vaillancourt is a higher ed leader, human resources expert, and a regular contributes thoughtful pieces to The Chronicle of Higher Education. In this conversation, she shares wisdom and insights on keeping things in perspective; organizing, structuring, and leading meetings; and reflecting on drains on our time, energy, and joy. This conversation is full of helpful invitations to reflect on and strategies to implement.

Dr. Keith Edwards talks with Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, author of Trauma Stewardship and The Age of Overwhelm, about how to navigate the challenging experiences and systems that we experience directly and vicariously as an individual, as communities, and organizationally. This conversation discusses Buddhism and neuroscience, self-awareness and self-management, and community care and sustainability. They also discuss the importance of creating organizations that are honest, realistic, allow space for emotional processing, and are strategic about rethinking how to move forward.

This episode was originally published on April 26, 2022.

Episode Description Critical Whiteness Praxis

Suggested APA Citation Edwards, K. (Host). (2023, July 12). Critical Whiteness Praxis. (No. 160) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/critical-whiteness-praxis/

Episode Transcript Zak FosteYeah, and I'm probably won't hold you to it, let's say your paraphrase, direct citation, but moving too fast, we risk not hearing anything at all. And I think about that a lot because of white person learning from close friends and colleagues like Tenisha, right? Like, in keep what you mentioned about sort of the workshops, like what do I do? What do I do now? You know, the title of Tenisha and my chapter is the enormity of whiteness, or on the enormity of whiteness on higher education. And so I know it felt like I dumped a ton on you in that first question. But our goal with those three guiding questions that guide critical whiteness practice is to get IT folks to think in in ways that move beyond individual white people or good and bad actors. And think more expansively about whiteness.

Keith EdwardsHello, and welcome to Student Affairs now I'm your host, Keith Edwards. Today I'm joined by the editors of the book Critical Whiteness Praxis in higher education considerations for the pursuit of racial justice on campus. We'll be discussing both theory and practice with these great folks. Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast and online learning community for 1000s of us who work in alongside or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs. We release new episodes every week. On Wednesdays find details about this episode or browser archives, it's studentaffairsnow.com. Today's episode is sponsored by Symplicity. A true partner Symplicity supports all aspects of student life with technology platforms that empower institutions to make data driven decisions. As I mentioned, I'm your host, Keith Edwards, my pronouns are he him, his I'm a speaker, consultant and coach can find out more about me at Keithedwards.com. I'm broadcasting from Minneapolis, Minnesota at the intersections of the ancestral homelands of both the Dakota in the Ojibwe peoples. Let's get to our conversation. Thank you both for joining us today. Let's start off with some introductions and Tenisha. We're gonna start with you.

Tenisha L. TevisAnd good afternoon here on the West Coast. Tenisha L. Tevis . She her are my pronouns. I'm an associate professor of Adult and Higher Education here at Oregon State University, which resides in the lands of the people. And I have the pleasure of studying for my research my research agenda, I look at students transition to college and the relationship between leadership and identity to really address patterns of inequality and exclusion. I also used to be a scholar practitioner, I was an administrator and faculty member for a number of years. And so it was in that role where I had a chance to observe what I now know as whiteness, and then all roads in academia lead to a conference and particular hotel, where you meet great people like Zak and so I had an opportunity to co edit this book, and other projects.

Keith EdwardsAwesome. Well, Zak, you've got already got a compliment, which we know you're a big fan of so tell us more about you.

Zak FosteSure thing. Hi, everyone. My name is Zak Foste. I use he him pronouns, assistant professor at the University of Kansas, here in Lawrence, which resides on the ancestral lands of the Osage and Shawnee people. I've been at University of Kansas now for going on my sixth year. A lot of my research explores issues of whiteness and higher education largely from two different angles, both which I think come through in the book and how the book unfolds. But the first being sort of how whiteness structures and underwrites can racially hostile, unwelcoming campus environment. And the second being sort of white students relationship to race and whiteness,

In this podcast episode, we dive into the complexities of college student success with the author of Administratively Adrift: Overcoming Institutional Barriers for College Student Success Dr. Scott Bass and Dr. Sharon Alston, former co-chair of American University’s “Re-Inventing the Student Experience” or RiSE project. Exploring common barriers, effective strategies, and the roles of students, administrators, and policymakers, we gain valuable insights on how to overcome institutional hurdles and create a supportive environment that fosters student success.

As resident and student staff needs have expanded, many housing and residence life leaders are rethinking the traditional resident assistant (RA) role. Drs. Paul Gordon Brown, Heather Kropf, and Glenn DeGuzman discuss shifting needs, explore possibilities, and share promising approaches and concerns. Join these three leaders, innovators, and changemakers for this exciting conversation.

Thanks to ACPA, we are able share our own Heather Shea’s presidential address as she assumed leadership of ACPA: College Student Educators International. Heather focuses on fostering critical hope for ourselves as student affairs educators and for students. You’ll also get to hear Kathy Adams Riester and Keith Edwards introducing Heather to the association membership.

What does it mean to lead with a moral imagination? In this heartful conversation with President Mary Dana Hinton of Hollins University, experience hope, joy, and a renewed faith in the future of higher education. President Hinton reflects on her life journey, and how her imagination of a brighter future in her childhood prepared her to be the higher education leader we all need right now.

In this episode, we delve into the realm of performance reviews in student affairs, exploring how these evaluations are conducted and how we might rethink this process. We discuss the influence of the recent Report on 21st Century Employment in Higher Education and other resources for shaping the approach to performance reviews, highlighting the specific recommendations implemented to foster a fair, supportive, and developmental processes.

Labor acknowledgments are similar and different from land acknowledgments. In this conversation, three scholar-practitioners discuss the purpose, history, practice, and complexities around labor acknowledgments, including moving beyond just acknowledgments to commitments. They discuss anti-Blacknewss, capitalism, ascendants, history and contemporary labor, and the diaspora of Blackness. Guests offer tangible commitments that could be made around labor related to recognition, ethical leadership, and resources.

Small colleges offer a unique experience for students and for student affairs professionals. Editors of the book Small and Mighty, discuss the unique opportunities and challenges of student affairs at small colleges. They discuss direct student engagement, relationship and community building, resource challenges paired with increasing student needs, and the importance of place.

This episode features a conversation about a newly published book, Unmasking: Toward Authentic Masculinity, by Dr. Keith E. Edwards PHD. Unmasking is a process by which men first become conscious of the masks they wear to conform to external expectations and then practice exploring their identity as men and becoming intentional about aligning their actions with integrity. Written for men and those of us who have men in our lives, the book offers student affairs educators a unique research-based lens on the issues, strategies, and engagement strategies for men on college and university campuses.

Three college presidents discuss their journeys through student affairs, transitioning to the presidency, and lessons learned. Join Drs. Lori White, Frank Shushok, and Rob Kelly as they share their journeys. They discuss their student affairs capacities, the critical role of mentorship and guides, authenticity as leadership, and finding the joys in leadership in service of others.

Critical hope helps educators navigate the both/and of criticality and possibility while avoiding the harms of deficit mindsets, toxic positivity, and cynicism. In this episode, leading scholars of critical hope, Jeffrey Duncan-Andrade and Kari Grain, discuss the what, why, and how of critical hope.

Rejecting outright the Student Affairs “Legend” title we ascribed to her, Susan Jones joins us to discuss her career as an award-winning professor, prolific author, and valued mentor to many in the profession. Listen in as she shares her hopes and fears for our future and the future of student affairs and higher education. BTW, we stand by our description of Dr. Susan R. Jones as a legend.

By definition, an ombudsperson is a role whose focus is neutral and impartial conflict resolution. They typically operate independently from the university and has no official or formal decision-making capabilities. Ombudspersons have been referred to as the “conscience of the university” -- working within campus communities to resolve conflict through identifying systemic issues and trends while focusing on fair treatment of individuals. These campus offices are also important partners with divisions of student affairs and college student educators. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea speaks with four folks who serve as campus ombuds to learn more.

Three student body presidents discuss their experiences and learnings. Jermaine Turner, Jael Kerandi, and Akheem Mitchell share the issues facing students, the critical role of making campuses inclusive for the success of all students, and understanding broader systems to navigate them as leaders effectively. They offer suggestions for student affairs professionals and current students considering pursuing this leadership role.

What happens when SA Professionals become parents of college students? Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with 3 parents who are also student affairs professionals to collectively reflect on their experiences of raising humans going to college. Join this lighthearted conversation with Mari Strombom, David Ruble and Dr. Shelah Crear as they share what they have been thinking about as their own kid(s) goes to college.

Meeting the needs of commuter students is much more complicated than simply directing services and programs towards those students who live off campus. On today’s episode, a large panel discusses the complexities of both identifying and helping commuter students succeed as well as innovative lessons for increasing commuter’s sense of belonging. Applying lessons from online learners and remote engagement during COVID, panelists provide resources for our listeners to better understand and support the commuter students on their campuses.

In this episode, you will get the dose of hope you need to remember your 'why' for working in higher education and student affairs. Reflecting on a life and career of service in student affairs, Mike Segawa reminds us that while the human condition may change, our profession continues to rise to meet the needs of our students. In a conversation grounded in critical and unflappable hope, fall in love with our profession again.

Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Hillel International is now the largest Jewish organization in the world. Hillel International exists on more than 650 college campuses across the world and is present on 4 continents. Millions of Jewish students have passed through the doors of Hillel facilities and interacted with thousands of professionals who have dedicated their lives to supporting Jewish identity on college campuses for generations. Now, as Hillel International celebrates 100 years since its inception, it is a time to celebrate as well as reflect on the impact of religion, spirituality, and Jewish identity in higher education.In an age when higher education believes itself to be “secular”, Hillel International and its on campus presence continually proves that religious and spiritual identities matter in several significant ways. Hillel International is arguably the most comprehensive “campus ministry” organization in the United States and has the ability to serve as a model for other religious communities seeking to deepen their engagement on campus and as a case study for why institutions must take religion and religious life more seriously at the systems levels of the academy.

Former ACPA President, senior administrator, and mentor to many across the field, Dr. Paul Shang joins us to share stories from his decades-long career at campuses across all corners of the U.S. working in student affairs. Paul talks about the ways the work has changed as well as officers advice for new professionals, and incoming ACPA President and episode host Heather Shea.

With increases in the legalization of gambling, particularly in sports, we see partnerships and endorsement deals between universities and gambling entities emerging. Today's guests bring expertise on gambling, the influence of money on athletics, and addiction and well-being. They discuss legalization, increased access to money and technology to gamble, and ethical institutional responses. The guests emphasize centering care for students, our role as educators and public health approaches to well-being.

The Student Affairs Now host community comes together to discuss crisis response, supporting students, creating communities of love and healing, and helping the helpers. In this deeply personal conversation, Heather Shea shares her experiences as a staff member in the aftermath of the tragedy at Michigan State University. Hosts offer Heather support and discuss ways to support students, lead campus response, and support our colleagues and friends. We hope you will never need this episode. If you do, we hope it is helpful.

In anticipation of the release of the 11th version, several members of the Council for the Advancement of Standards or CAS leadership join host Dr. Heather Shea to provide an introduction to this valuable resource in the field. Panelists share their perspectives on CAS through a broad overview as well as specific ways that the CAS standards might be useful in graduate preparation, student affairs assessment, and program development.

Former ACPA President, leadership scholar, senior leader, and senior scholar Dr. Denny Roberts joins us to discuss his career and life journey. Themes of connection, innovation, and learning emerge as Denny discusses those who influenced him and his paths, his experimentation throughout his career, and the learning he has done, has led, and is still doing today.

The Social Justice Education program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently had its 30th anniversary. In this conversation, a founding faculty member, Dr. Barbara Love, and two graduates, Michael Vidal and Dr. Tanya Williams, discuss this one-of-a-kind program and its role in elevating scholarship, teaching, and practice around social justice in many contexts, including student affairs. The guests explore content, process, pedagogy, self-awareness, being, skills, and liberatory consciousness.

Dr. Pat Hayashi has had an expansive constellation of lived experiences along his career and life journey. As we continue to think about our duty of care to equity and inclusion in higher education, it is moving to hear about how his perceptions of ordinary life moments led to extraordinary change in higher education. Pat’s professional experiences model living a life of courage in support of the dignity of others. In 1988, he became the highest ranking administrator in the UC system. In 1999 he joined the UC’s Office of the President where he served as associate president under President Richard Atkinson. After retiring in 2004, Pat took up art, and he continues to lift up people along his path.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with 3 leaders in collegiate e-sports to talk about the emerging complexities of competitive online competitions and gaming in higher education. Listen to Dr. George McClellan, Kaitlin Teniente, and Mike “Moog” Aguilar discuss a myriad of topics on the emergence, growth and future shifts of e-sports that college will need to be prepared for in the coming decade.

There is limited scholarship on Indigenous college students which reflects why finding belonging, engagement, and sovereignty is challenging for Indigenous students. Amanda Tachine is brilliant and uncompromising in her critical examination of what causes harm and the systemic barriers that make it difficult to create meaningful change in higher education. This episode will highlight the struggles and strengths of Native students and offer a path forward for colleges and universities to connect with these students in meaningful and Indigenous-centric ways.

We are in a time when we are all bearing witness to the intersecting social issues impacting our societies today. Responding to Grace Lee Boggs' question, 'What time is it on the clock of the world?" activist and scholar Deepa Iyer reminds us that our time is NOW. She reminds us that when we are part of a bigger strategy, we can create change. This episode puts a spotlight on Iyer's social change ecosystem framework, with an invitation to deepen our commitment, strengthen our focus, and elevate our interconnectedness as we collectively co-create a just and equitable world.

Three scholars and leaders share how they are reimagining social justice leadership in theory, in practice, and in their lives. Drs. Rachel Wagner, Rafael Rodriguez, and Kaleigh Mrowka explore proactive approaches to creating communities that foster equity and justice. They discuss anti-oppression and emancipatory approaches, restorative practices, skill building, ways of being, and strategies to integrate them into the residential experience.

Three innovative leaders discuss reimagining different ways of providing crisis response as effectively as possible as a community. Kate Baier, Steve Herndon, and Dr. Victor Arcelus explore models, roles, resources, scheduling, collaborations, and more for staffing crisis response and on-call as well as integrating after-hours crisis response with support during regular business hours in ways that center the students.

We are thrilled to welcome our newest host joining the Student Affairs NOW team, Dr. Mamta Accapadi! On today’s episode, Drs. Heather Shea and Keith Edwards chat with Mamta about her excitement for joining the team and the conversation and guests she is looking forward to hosting. The conversation touches on groundedness, consciousness blooms, healing, and timelessness.

This is Mamta Accapadi's first episode as a new host of the Student Affairs NOW team. Featuring five prominent South Asian/Desi women senior leaders, this episode is meant to be both a prayer and a beacon. It is an episode that honors the wisdoms, celebrates the triumphs, owns the privileges, and acknowledges the traumas of our lives and lineage journeys as pioneering South Asian/Desi women. We hope you enjoy our sacred stories.

Experienced residence life leaders Dana Olivo, Erin Simpson, and Dr. David Hibbler, Jr explore different ways of doing residence life work in our current and future contexts. They explore structural possibilities and methods of reimagining our day-to-day work. They discuss innovative ways to integrate the proactive work of student learning, community building, and belonging along with the reactive work of crisis response.

Higher education and student affairs has long needed to address attrition, retention, and leadership to create sustainable careers and better workplace cultures. ACPA President Dr. Andrea Domingue called for a Task Force on 21st Century Employment in Higher Education, which Dr. Roshaunda Breeden chaired. In this conversation, these two share the report from the task force, which describes the challenges, explores the roots in supremacist cultures, and offers recommended antidotes for action.

Editors and authors discuss practices, principles, and processes for being in our self work, relational work, and community work for transformation. Guests discuss the why, what, and how of the theory of Being in the contexts of practice, teaching, research, conflict, and even family. They share tools to help folks be more productive and effective in working toward transformation of individuals, communities, and systems.

Today’s episode directly challenges the media-created assumption that parents are “problems” to be managed by the institution and instead posits a model of parent and family engagement and connection. Particularly relevant as institutions seek to connect with parents and families of first generation college students during points of transition and orientation, seeking engagement and partnerships with parents is one core strategy for fostering student success. Today’s episode features a panel of administrators and scholars with deep appreciation for the contributions of first-generation students and their parents and families. The episode also includes several recommendations for campuses with established (or new) parent and family programs.

Despite their overwhelming success in higher education, Black women continue to be devalued, discriminated against, and harmed by the colleges and universities where they work or attend school. Their unique standpoints, epistemologies, and praxis have always challenged the standard white hegemony of higher education and yet never before in higher education have we had a text that highlights, explains, and uplifts the unique intersectional perspectives of Black women as scholars, activists, teachers, and leaders.

Guests discuss governance issues, including overreach, ethics, and effective board governance. We unpack recent events at Michigan State University as a case study to explore governance issues for higher education institutions across the United States. Drs. Brendan Cantwell, Felecia Commodore, Demetri Morgan, and Kris Renn discuss engagement vs. overreach, negative partisanship, board accountability, and the possibility of today's challenges being leveraged to create transformational change for reimagining boards for greater effectiveness for higher education as a public good.

This episode features a panel of scholars and practitioners as well as the executive director of the College Autism Network discussing how colleges and universities can better meet the needs of autistic and neurodivergent students on college campuses.

Student development theories and frameworks are foundational to the student affairs professions; however, there have often been concerns about their applicability to and effectiveness with marginalized college students. Square Pegs and Round Holes offers new perspectives to this important conversation by centering Critical Race Theory as a way to interrogate our understanding about the development of marginalized students.

Who are today’s college students, what do they need, and how can institutions rise to meet these needs? Today’s new episode brings together four panelists who contributed to a new book Multiple Perspectives on College Students: Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities. Combining thoughtful insights from higher education stakeholders -- including students, their parents, K-12 educators, faculty, and administrators -- with analyses by faculty/scholars, this book challenges us to update our understanding of today’ students from multiple vantage points.

This conversation features the two editors of the new book, Identity Interconnections. Lisa Delacruz Combs and Dr. Aeriel A. Ashlee discuss concepts and connections from their book, including compassionate cautions, liminality, threshold theory, healing and transformation, paradox and nuance, aspiring allyship, and even a Rihanna quote.

Today’s episode features three authors of chapters in a new book Becoming a Diversity Leader: Navigating Identity and Situational Pressures. While diversity leaders exist at all administrative ranks and levels across both academic and student affairs. Today’s episode focuses on the senior diversity officer role. Often a senior administrator or vice president or chancellor, senior diversity officer often wears a number of significant hats. They might be charged to lead university-level DEI strategic planning, to assess campus climate and implement equity initiatives within departments, and to respond to immediate DEI crises including bias incidents and hate crimes. Joining host Heather Shea are Raul Leon, Brighid Dwyer (Ajunwa), and Kelli Perkins.

Student persistence, retention, and success are the central roles of higher education. Many campuses are centering belonging in their efforts. This conversation brings together Drs. Erin M. Bentrim, Terrell Lamont Strayhorn, and Vasti Torres discuss insights from the new book, The Impact of the Sense of Belonging in College: Implications for Student Persistence, Retention, and Success. They clarify definitions, untangle related concepts, and explore individual and institutional responsibilities for creating belonging.

The guests on this episode move beyond restorative justice in campus conduct processes to talk about the proactive and responsive ways higher education can utilize restorative philosophy, practices, principles, and justice processes. Special co-host Jessi Benveniste joins Keith Edwards in conversation with Drs. Léna Crain, Desirée Anderson, Patience Bryant, and Valerie Glassman. They discuss restorative approaches to community development, the critical roles of both accountability and grace, and the complexities of restorative justice's history and implementation.

As we launch the fall semester, student activists will once again—as they have for decades—resume their work to address climate on campus as related to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression. In this episode, co-authors of the book, Identity-Based Student Activism: Power and Oppression on College Campuses, discuss ways that campus administrators can reflect upon our work with student activists and consider new ways to improve relationships, resulting in more hospitable campus climates for all students across identities.

So many candidates and so many hiring authorities share that traditional approaches are no longer working, and the issues they always elicited are worse than ever. We need new approaches to hiring processes. Today's guests were all recommended as folks who are doing hiring radically differently. They discuss people-centered processes that honor the humanness of all involved, retaining current employees as the best hiring practice, taking a recruitment mindset rather than running candidates through an obstacle course or gauntlet, and making the processes reciprocal for the mutual benefit of candidates and organizations.

Today’s new episode is all about promoting voting and democracy on college and university campuses. Many states have recently held primaries and midterm elections are right around the corner in the U.S.. This episode’s panelists are engaged—both inside higher education institutions as well as beyond—in exploring voting initiatives and increasing democratic engagement among college students. Joining host Heather Shea are Renee Brown, Adam Gismondi, Stephanie King, and Suchitra Webster.

Many student affairs professionals are considering leaving the field for so many reasons. In today's conversation, three folks who moved away from traditional student affairs roles, years ago, share their experience, transitions, and insights. They discuss disconnecting work from humanity, unlearning capitalistic mindsets, separating a work role from identity, centering our purpose to find clarity, and making sure that purpose doesn't keep us stuck in unhealthy situations.

How can hybrid in-person and work-from-home work arrangements help better meet the needs of both students and staff? In this conversation, the guests share what has informed their thinking, considerations, decision making, and policy making. The guests challenge some conventional norms, challenge the profession to be nimble and innovate, and offer some strategies and policies that have served their teams well.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with William Hsu, Robert Magdeleno, and Chelsea Whitaker to examine the current topics and future challenges facing Residential Life departments from the professional live-in staff perspective.

Each of today's guests was recommended as a great new professional. They discuss key lessons learned that helped them thrive as new professionals and some lessons they wished they had learned sooner. They discuss relationship building, professional development, navigating experiences with marginalized identities, curiosity, navigating politics, healthy discomfort, managing up, self-advocacy, mentorship, and more.

Today's bonus episode is our first ever in-person podcast recording for Student Affairs Now. Two career center leaders discuss reconnecting with students, with employers, and reconnecting them to each other. They discuss challenges and opportunities, staffing challenges for career centers, and how has recruiting changed. They also discuss innovation, relationships, purpose, data-informed practices, and equity in career center work. Thanks to Symplicity for making this conversation possible.

As the present and future of work continue to change toward increasing precarity, today's guests look to what career education can do to help students navigate careers well beyond their first job. Editors and authors of the new book, "Mapping the Future of Undergraduate Career Education: Equitable Career Learning, Development, and Preparation in the New World of Work," discuss the future of work, paradigm shifts need in career education, centering equity, and the potential of experiential learning as opportunities for praxis. Join Melanie Buford, Michael J. Stebleton, Michael Sharp, Heather Nester, and host Keith Edwards for this conversation.

With the June 24, 2022 Supreme Court of the United States decision overturning Roe v. Wade, campuses across the U.S. are scrambling to address students’ reproductive health needs and deal with underlying issues contributing to lack of access to care. As laws permitting or limiting abortion care are now decided at the state, campus policies, access to abortion care, student activism, and other forms of student engagement around reproductive health may vary drastically from one higher education institution to another. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea talks with Dr. Teresa DePiñeres and Dr. Carrie N. Baker about essential knowledge and skills for addressing reproductive health on college and university campuses.

We all mess up. Today's guests discuss the role of apologies in accountability, repair, and restoration. They explore responsibility, expectations, ego, and obstacles for making apologies as individuals, leaders, organizations, and the collective.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the new book, Reframing Assessment to Center Equity with four contributors; Drs. Gavin Henning, Divya Bheda, Joe Levy, and Ciji Heiser. They discuss the power of assessment to be more equitable as a process and to advance equity as a goal in higher education. Today's guests offer insights and reframing as well as tools, strategies, and tangible ways to examine power, privilege, and positionality to advance equity.

Dr. Keith Edwards talks with Dr. Kathleen G. Kerr, Debbie S. Deas, and Zachariah Brumfield about the challenges, skills, and art of leading up, down, and all around. The conversation explores curiosity, care, listening, feedback, power, and identities. The guests' insight and wisdom are helpful for leaders at all levels of the organization who want to be more effectively create change and lead others.

In honor of Father’s Day, we get the perspective from what it is like to be a student affairs professional and father for this special episode of Student Affairs Now. Dr. Glenn DeGuzman (father of a 16yr old daughter and 18 year old son) discusses the many challenges and joys facing fathers who work in, around and/or adjacent to the field of student affairs. Dr. Wilson Okello, Dr. Keith Humphrey, Donnie Brooks, and Dr. Kyle Ashlee join this panel to talk story and tell dad jokes.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses community board involvement with three senior-level student affairs leaders engaged with multiple boards. Drs. Alvin Sturdivant, Cheree Meeks, and Tanisha Price-Johnson discuss their participation, benefits and challenges, what they have learned, and considerations for what and how to pursue this kind of involvement for personal and professional fulfillment.

Episode Description Today, we celebrate our 100th episode with our special edition Student Affairs Now Social Hour. All five of our hosts and our production assistant Nat Ambrosey are joined by members of our learning community. The group discusses favorite episodes, other podcasts, pandemic lessons, summer plans, and what they are troubling now in student affairs and higher education.

Suggested APA Episode Citation SA NOW. (Host). (2022, June 1). SA NOW Social Hour: 100th Episode. (No. 100) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/100/

Episode Transcript Keith Edwards:Hello, and welcome to Student Affairs NOW. I'm your host. Keith Edwards. Today we're celebrating our 100th episode with a super fun, special student affairs. Now social hour, we've invited members of our learning community to join us. We also have all of our host joining us and our production assistant Nat Ambrosey. The gang is all here. We're gonna dive into some deep thoughts, some real wisdom and some rapid fire questions and hear from so many great folks who are joining us here today. This will be fast-paced and maybe a little chaotic, so buckle up, but first some business. Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast and online learning community for thousands of us who work in alongside or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs, we release new episodes every week on Wednesdays. Find details about this episode, or browser archives at studentaffairsnow.com. This episode is sponsored by LeaderShape. Go to leadershape.org, to learn how they can work with you to create a more just caring and thriving world. Today's episode is also sponsored by Simplicity. A true partner, Simplicity supports all aspects of student life with technology platforms that empower institutions to make data driven decisions. As I mentioned, I'm one of your hosts today. Keith Edwards, my pronouns are he him, his I'm a speaker consultant coach, and you can find out more about me. Keithedwards.com. I am broadcasting from Minneapolis, Minnesota at the end, at the intersections of the ancestral homelands of the Dakota in the Ojibue peoples welcome. Everyone. Let's get to this. I'm gonna turn it over to Nat Ambrosey our production assistant. Who's going to kick us off with introductions and our first questions over to you Nat.

Nat Ambrosey:I am so, so excited to be with our full team here of hosts, as well as all of our guests that have been on previous episodes. So welcome to all of you. To kick us off. Let's get started to the host. I want to send you off on a question, please introduce yourself as well as share a guest that you'd really love to have on the show. So if you could pick any colleague, any friend, anyone that you can just say like, hey you, who would that be?

Keith Edwards:Yeah, I'll go first. Keith Edwards, my pronouns, are he him, his. I'm a speaker and consultant. The guest that I always wanted to have on was Bell Hooks, who I had a fascinating airport ride with without really realizing it. But unfortunately, Bell Hooks or Gloria Watkins' past. So my new answer would be Adrian Marie Brown, who wrote emergent strategies and pleasure activism and some other things.

Glenn DeGuzman:Glenn DeGuzman associate Dean of students at UC Berkeley use the hehe pronouns recording this from Livermore and the unseated territory of the Pelman tribe of the Aloni peoples and the guest that I would've loved to have come on was my mentor, Dr. Keith Meiser. I think we did a couple episodes where we, we got to talk with just people who've been inspiring and Keith has been a big part of my professional career, so I would've loved to have had him come on, but he passed away not too long ago. In terms of who I would want to, that's a secret. I am not going to share that. So I'm going to pass it on

Raechele Pope:Right. I love the secret though. And now I'm going to be wondering forever. Raechele Pope,

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Kehaulani Vaughn, Dr. Leilani Kupo, and Sefa Aina to talk story about the Pacific Islander student experience and the obstacles and challenges facing this often overlooked student population.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses graduate student mental health, well-being, and support with Drs. Christina W. Yao, Lisa S. Kaler, Dave Nguyen, and Michael J. Stebleton. Each guest brings perspectives as a graduate student, supporting graduate and professional students, and their writing and research about graduate students. The conversation explores the challenges facing graduate and professional students and ways to support students holistically from the individual to institutional levels.

Trauma is omnipresent in the lives of college students despite receiving limited attention in student affairs literature. Whether sexual assault and intimate partner violence, campus shootings, or racial trauma, many students arrive on our campuses and have either experienced trauma before arriving or while in college. It is critical for student affairs professionals to increase their understanding of trauma and its effect on the mental health and well-being of students.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, we’re sharing perspectives of several mothers who work in or adjacent to the field of student affairs. This group, also known as S.A.M.S. or Student Affairs MomS, has an active community on Facebook, presence at national conferences, and beyond. In today's episode, Dr. Heather Shea (herself a SAM) discusses the many challenges and joys facing mothers in student affairs with the creator of the Facebook group, Dr. Alexandria Wright and three other SAMS, Dr. Kathy Adams Riester, Dr. Megumi Moore, and Kimberly Steed-Page. #momwin #MoreThanAMom #IMomSoHard #momguilt #workingmomlife

What current trends are shaping campus recreation, fitness, intramural sports, and wellness initiatives? How has the field of collegiate recreation been impacted by the pandemic? How do campus leaders advocate for facilities and new interests of students? Host Dr. Heather Shea connects with Dr. Cara Lucia, Mila Padgett, and Dr. Wendy Windsor, the current and incoming leadership of NIRSA, the leaders in collegiate recreation, to discuss these questions and more.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses many different perspectives, approaches, and strategies for student success with the editor and two contributing authors of the new book How College Students Succeed. Drs. Nick Bowman, Jodi Linley, and Mary Murphy discuss models, issues of identity, equity, institutional agency, and practical implications for student success.

Dra. Susana Muñoz interviews her dissertation advisor, Dr. Larry Ebbers, professor emeritus of Iowa State University, a pillar in the field of higher education. They discuss Dr. Ebbers' primary research area, community colleges. And, engage in great conversation about tenure and promotion, doctoral education, the challenges of the pandemic, and building communities of support in all institution types.

Dr. Keith Edwards talks with Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, author of Trauma Stewardship and The Age of Overwhelm, about how to navigate the challenging experiences and systems that we experience directly and vicariously as an individual, as communities, and organizationally. This conversation discusses Buddhism and neuroscience, self-awareness and self-management, and community care and sustainability. They also discuss the importance of creating organizations that are honest, realistic, allow space for emotional processing, and are strategic about rethinking how to move forward.

The term “anti-racism” has become part of the everyday lexicon in the media, organizations, schools, and higher education. Unfortunately, for many individuals and organizations, this has simply involved replacing the word diversity with the word anti-racism. What is really needed is for white individuals to more deeply understand their role and responsibility in first evaluating their identity, privilege, and power and then committing to creating anti-racist cultures, campus environments, and structures.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman talks story with 3 higher education professionals and their journey to becoming assessment experts in student affairs. Listen as they talk about the role assessment plays in their work, share advice, and their perspectives on becoming a data driven student affairs professional.

Join Dr. Heather Shea as she discusses disability in higher education with Dr. Amanda Kraus, Dr. Lissa Ramirez-Stapleton, and Autumn Wilke. This episode starts with a conversation about the difference between person-first versus identity-first language and then goes beyond the basics of language, compliance, and access and delves deeper into what our campus systems would look like if they were truly inclusive of disabled students.

Join Dr. Keith Edwards as he discusses legal issues in higher education with Jessica Salazar, Dr. John Wesley Lowery. and Dr. Ryan C. Holmes. These guests discuss foundational concepts; navigating the complexities of law, institutional context and culture, and people; various ways to work effectively with the general counsel's office; and emerging legal issues on the horizon. Today's guests bring different perspectives as a scholar of higher education law, a practicing campus attorney, and a senior student affairs practitioner.

Today’s new episode, right in time for convention/conference season, is a conversation between student affairs educators and current graduate students at Michigan State University about what to expect at professional association conferences/contentions this spring. Second year in the Student Affairs Administration MA Program, Josh Mosteart, hosted the conversation with Brian Hercliff-Proffer, Kirby Gibson, Dr. Kris Renn, and Dr. Heather Shea.

The Proud & Thriving Framework, a collaboration between the Jed Foundation and the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, was designed to equip administrators and stakeholders with the information and resources they need to strengthen campus support for LGBTQ+ college students. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea connects with Dr. Sofia Pertuz, Jesse Beal, and Chris Woods to discuss recommendations for creating affirming and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students with the aim of achieving better mental health outcomes.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Aja Holmes, Steve Herndon, and Crystal Lay to examine the current and future challenges facing Residential Life departments and in particular the role of professional live in staff- Resident Directors.

CJ Venable, Ariel Collatz, and Dr. Drew Puroway discuss all that is included in academic advising, different models, and challenges to professionals in this functional role with Dr. Keith Edwards. They also discuss how to center equity in academic advising work including challenging paradigms and institutional loyalty, navigating emotional experiences of resistance in the body, surveillance technology and predictive analytics, and how education might be getting in the way of freedom.

Three campus and professional association leaders join Dr. Keith Edwards to discuss the benefits, challenges, and future of fraternity and sorority life. Chris Graham, Michelle Guobadia, and Dr. Kim Monteaux De Freitas discuss the breadth and depth of fraternity and sorority life; benefits to students, institutions, and society; and the challenges around equity, critical issues, and staffing models.

As travel became nearly impossible in summer 2020, study abroad programs were one area of campus seriously affected by the pandemic. Some campuses canceled all programs in both 2020 and 2021, while others found ways to innovate through virtual international experiences. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea talks with Dr. Alex Akulli and Gabby Wahla about the many ways that campuses can expand access, reduce costs, and meet intended learning outcomes through virtual experiences.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman is joined with Drs. Cameron Beatty, Kathy Guthrie and Leonard Taylor to discuss their book Operationalizing Culturally Relevant Leadership Learning.

These scholar-practitioners join us to discuss the lessons learned from their four different research studies on a curricular approach to learning beyond the classroom. They discuss lessons and generously share resources on organizational change, learning organizations, organizational culture, staff members seeing themselves as educators, and the impact on learners.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the finance of higher education with three experts, Drs. Nate Daun-Barnett, Amy Li, and Kevin McClure. They cover the basics of the higher education financial models as well as cutting-edge issues. The conversation centers around how more equitable resourcing is needed to meet student needs as opposed to the status quo continuing to exacerbate the gaps between the "haves" and the "have-nots."

In this episode, we discuss a variety of career transitions including seeking a terminal degree, mid to senior-level, practitioner to faculty, student affairs adjacent roles, retirement, and more. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the role of identity, imperfect institutions, purpose, and transformation with an editor and contributing author to the book Managing Career Transitions Across the Lifespan for Student Affairs Practitioners.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman talks with Dr. Jason Lynch, Leah Ward, Jamarco Clark, and Dr. Molly Mistretta about combating trauma, burnout, & compassion fatigue among student affairs practitioners.

Authors Laura Hamilton and Kelly Nielsen discuss their book Broke: The Racial Consequences of Underfunding Public Universities. This conversation explores new universities, racial justice, austerity administration, tolerable suboptimization, and the implications for students, faculty and staff, and democracy.

The Proud & Thriving Framework, a collaboration between the Jed Foundation and the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, was designed to equip administrators and stakeholders with the information and resources they need to strengthen campus support for LGBTQ+ college students. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea connects with Dr. Sofia Pertuz, Jesse Beal, and Chris Woods to discuss recommendations for creating affirming and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students with the aim of achieving better mental health outcomes.

This episode focuses on increasing recognition of—and needed supports for—queer college students from rural areas. Building upon a recently released chapter in a new monograph, this episode brought together two authors/scholars and two practitioners to discuss the many ways that core aspects of gender and sexual identity intersect with location.

“Hello, my name is ___. My pronouns are___.” In this episode of the podcast, we go beyond the basics of pronoun sharing in every day conversation and talk about the deeper rationale of this respectful and affirming practice for all members of our campus community—but specifically for trans, non-binary, and genderqueer students/faculty/staff and community members.

The two editors and two of the contributing authors to the new book Critical Praxis in Student Affairs discuss ways to bring our commitments to social justice and the use of critical theory into our student affairs practice toward liberation. The authors don’t just argue for justice and liberation, they explore the reflexive, messy, courageous, personal, and beautiful ways they have worked at it.

This episode features an engaging in-class conversation about expectations and realities for the first student affairs job search. Facilitated by the course instructor and Student Affairs NOW host, Dr. Heather Shea, the panelists were directed questions crowd-sourced from students in the class. The six panelists, all alumni of the same program from the classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021, share their advice about navigating a complex job market, searching while finishing graduate school, and recommendations for negotiating the first job offer.

Dr. Keith Edwards explores design thinking as both a process and a mindset with two authors of the new book Design Thinking in Student Affairs and two students. The conversation explores wicked problems, learning from failure, empathy, assessment, equity, organizational change, and indigenous pedagogies.

Student transitions have often captured our attention as we consider the various interventions and opportunities for engagement with new students on campus. For many campuses, this year brought two groups of first-time-on-campus students. Dr. Heather Shea discusses with Dr. Jennifer Keup, Brian MacDonald, and Dr. Laura Randolph the unique needs of the two cohorts of college students arriving for the first time on college campuses and other complications of the pandemic.

First generation students are the first in their families to attend college. How has the needs of this student population evolved over the last decade? Listen in as Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice, Dr. Rashné Jehangir, and Dr. La’Tonya Rease Miles to discuss this topic, the latest research, and explore what campuses can do to support this vulnerable population.

They were first generation students and then first generation higher education professionals. Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Juan Guardia, Dr. Ray Gasser, and Dr. Daisy Rodriguez and talk about how their experiences as first generation professionals and how their lived experiences have impacted their career journey and professional identity in higher education. These educators also share some advice on how we can best support first generation Student Affairs professionals and practitioners.

Dr. Carlton Green talks with host Raechele Pope about how racism often manifests in a culture of nice in higher education where white individuals hesitate to discuss race and racism openly and directly thus reinforcing long standing harms and racial trauma for people of color. Fear of being called racist often becomes more important than the fear of actually acting in racist ways. They also discuss how to move beyond the culture of nice in student affairs and higher education.

The rise in the number of young people who identify as biracial or multiracial presents college campuses with an opportunity to expand their racial understanding to better serve this growing population and become more inclusive in the process. Improving the college experience for multiracial students will require modifying existing student data-collection methods and providing better resources and support to ensure their inclusion.

The panelists discuss how college and universities can move beyond land acknowledgments. They provide questions for student affairs leaders to consider as more higher education institutions adopt land acknowledgements as a common practice.

In celebration of our one year anniversary as a podcast, this episode features the voices and perspectives from across the field of student affairs. Joining Dr. Heather Shea are four incredible student affairs educators participating from coast-to-coast discussing all of the ways in which their lives and work coalesce in higher education in service of students.

Production Assistant Nat Ambrosey sits down with the hosts of Student Affairs NOW to take you behind the scenes. They discuss how the podcast started, episodes to listen to and more, all for the 1 year anniversary of the podcast.

To discuss how student affairs and higher education can better serve incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, Dr. Keith Edwards is joined by three formerly incarcerated individuals and two scholars who are researching and actively and directly serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. They discuss foundational knowledge, myths, strengths and contributions, and how student affairs professionals can better serve these students.

Leaders discuss innovative approaches to mental health and well-being for the most marginalized.

In this fast-paced and high-energy episode, you can learn about 12 awesome student affairs-related podcasts.

Dr. Susana Muñoz talks with authors of Identity-Conscious Supervision; Robert Brown, Dr. Craig Elliott, and Dr. Shruti Desai. Guests explore topics around power, identity, and courageous leadership.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the complexity of working with Boards and legislatures to advance student affairs priorities and institutional missions to foster equity, learning, and student success. Dr. Felecia Commodore shares her scholarly perspective and insights from her research and writing on Boards and governance. Former college president, Dr. Joe Sertich shares his experiences and suggestions for navigating politics, power, and governance for effective institutional leadership. Ardell Sanders shares his insights for his fellow student affairs professional as a current Board member at his alma mater.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Stacy Pearson-Wharton, Amber Ulmer, Dr. Kim Monteaux De Freitas to share their insights and strategies they are taking to support students this fall and address the Covid-19 and Delta Variant pandemic.

Many of the United State’s oldest institutions of higher education have their origins in Christianity. Today, even at public institutions, some campus systems (specifically university holidays and the academic calendar) are still very Christian-centric. And yet, with the influx of international students and faculty from more diverse religious backgrounds as well as an influx of secular identities, a system built on Christian supremacy may not be serving the needs of our entire campus populations. In what ways should student affairs educators consider religious, secular, and spiritual diversity as part of campus DEI efforts? What about the concerns of atheist, agnostic, and other secular-identifying students? On this episode of Student Affairs NOW we discuss policies and practices based in research with four scholars and practitioners whose work lies at the convergence of religion, secularism, and spirituality on campus.

The relationship between Higher Education and the U.S. Military has been both long and complex. The opportunity for student veterans to be afforded the opportunity for an education introduced rewards but new challenges in student services best effort to best support this population of students. Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Phillip Morris, Dr. Dani Molina, and Dr. Bruce Kelley to explore and discuss the challenges, implications, and practices that student affairs professionals should be aware of in order to best support our student veterans.

Student affairs workplace norms and practices have long needed updating and rethinking. Now is the time to address these long-overdue needs and innovate to meet this current moment for our profession and ultimately for students. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses challenges, opportunities, and innovative practices to transform the student affairs workplace for us all with Drs. Chris Conzen, Margaret Sallee, and David Surratt.

Dra. Susana Muñoz facilitates a critical conversation about the vital role that community colleges play with three scholars/community college leaders.

College students with experiences in the foster care system are often not central to institutionalized support within student affairs and higher education. Dra. Susana Muñoz meets with Angela Hoffman Copper, Dr. Royel Johnson, and Kenyon Lee Whitman about ways higher education and student affairs can better support college students with foster care experiences.

Many student affairs professionals engage in additional projects or offer their services outside their primary role within the University, often to pursue passion projects and/or to earn additional income. These sidehustles continue to be a part of the lives of even more professionals in higher education due to various reasons such as financial need and passion areas. Dr. Glenn DeGuzman meets with Dr. Joshua Moon Johnson, Marney Randle, and Nat Ambrosey as they share more about their experience with their sidehustles, “why” they believe other SA professionals are pursuing them in larger numbers, and lessons they have learned.

In this episode, we discuss a variety of career transitions including seeking a terminal degree, mid to senior-level, practitioner to faculty, student affairs adjacent roles, retirement, and more. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the role of identity, imperfect institutions, purpose, and transformation with an editor and contributing author to the book Managing Career Transitions Across the Lifespan for Student Affairs Practitioners.

In this episode, we discuss early to mid-career transitions for student affairs professionals including challenges around identity, institutional structure, power, community, purpose, role, and more. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses early to mid-career transitions with two editors and a contributing author to the book Managing Career Transitions Across the Lifespan for Student Affairs Practitioners.

College student mental health and well-being is a priority across the United States because of the growing demand and increasing severity of mental health concerns (i.e., rising anxiety, depression, and suicidality) on campus. Many college and university counseling centers have waiting lists and struggle to meet the needs of all students. Additionally, many students are struggling but not reaching out for help. These challenges have led to innovation and re-imagining the most effective ways to meet the mental health needs of college students. Student affair professionals are well-positioned to play an important role in addressing this campus challenge because of their extensive contact and relationships with students.

Case Studies as a tool for learning are ubiquitous in student affairs professional preparation programs. As faculty seek to provide theory-to-practice opportunities, case studies are often the tool.

ACPA and NASPA leaders discuss professional association involvement, ACPA and NASPA's similarities and differences, and benefits and ways to get engaged. These leaders also discuss the current and future challenges and ways forward for these associations, student affairs professionals, and for student affairs as a profession.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses how campuses and racial justice activists are grappling with issues of campus policing with four panelists who sit at various vantage points--scholars, activists, students--in the Black Lives Matter movement. Joining the conversation are Dr. Charles H.F. Davis, III, Dr. Erin S. Corbett, Jude Paul Dizon, and Jael Kerandi.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses college students in recovery from alcohol and substance use disorder with Drs, Becki Elkins, Penny Rosenthal, and Eran Hanke--three of the contributors to a New Directions for Student Services monograph. The conversation explores the complexities of the recovery movement, evolving definitions/language, and attends to issues of social justice and race. The episode ends with a discussion of recommendations for student affairs educators, faculty, and students in professional preparation programs.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman examines town-gown relationships with Ruben Lizardo, Suchitra Webster, and Dr. Stephen Gavazzi. This conversation delves into the unique relationship and responsibilities colleges have with their local community and explores the challenges as well as strategies to building successful and essential relationships.

Renn and Reason have once again brought us back to our roots by updating their vital text, College Students in the United States: Characteristics, Experiences, and Outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Raechele Pope discusses the ways we can study and better meet the needs of our students.

We are thrilled to welcome to Student Affairs NOW a scholar, an author, and a student affairs educator who truly needs no introduction, the newest member to join the host team, Dr. Raechele Pope! On today’s episode, Dr. Heather Shea chats and gets to know her, talk a bit about her pathway into and through various roles in student affairs, and look to the future about the various episodes she will bring to the podcast.

In higher education, we have been engaging in incomplete and short-sighted conversations about race and racism for decades. Many campuses have been discussing how to combat racism as if that is the final goal or destination. Never do we discuss what happens next or how to center racial healing or liberation in our work.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman discusses microaggressions in student affairs and higher education with an expert panel. Joined by staff from Western Washington University, they explore how microaggressions show up in our workplace and suggest strategies for moving forward.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses lessons learned over the past year and beyond on how to effectively engage students virtually. Rob Buelow, Dr. David Hibbler, and Alyssa Teubner share recommendations for those considering where and how to continue virtual student engagement beyond COVID-19.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses assessing student learning and development outcomes with four assessment experts, including the co-editors of the new FALDOs book from CAS. Panelists share ways to streamline the process through frameworks as well as learn what various campuses are doing to build a culture of assessment.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses sustainability in student affairs and higher education with three leading experts and practitioners. They discuss what sustainability means and how it can be integrated into campus operations and student learning.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses racist rhetoric in our culture, it’s impact, and solutions to move us forward with Dras. Lindsay Pérez Huber and Susana Muñoz, editors of the new book Why They Hate Us: How Racist Rhetoric Impacts Education.

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the future of off-campus housing with three experts; Dr. April Konvalinka, Dr. André Future, and Blair Boozer. These experts share their insights on enrollment futures, student needs, and ways to build partnerships, collaboration, and communication to better meet the needs of students living off-campus.

In this two part episode, panelists discuss past, current and ongoing issues and topics facing Asian Pacific and Desi American college students, staff and faculty. Listen in as the panel discusses and reflects on ongoing challenges.

Susana Muñoz reflects with panelists 5 years after the Undocumented immigrant Knowledge Community was started in NASPA. What has changed? What hasn’t?

Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the new book Creating Sustainable Careers in Student Affairs with editor Dr. Margaret Sallee and contributing authors Dr. Rosemary Perez and Ben Stubbs. Guests discuss attrition from student affairs, changing systems and structures to make sustainable careers possible, and the roles we all have in making these changes to benefit student affairs professionals and the students we work with in higher education.

Dra. Susana Muñoz interviews one of her mentors, Dra. Laura Rendón, a pillar in the field of higher education. They discuss her journey through the academy, validation theory, and navigating liminal, in-between spaces or nepantla in higher education.

This conversation is full of helpful framing, strategies, and tactics to improve virtual search experiences for candidates and those hiring.

We engage in a conversation with two GenZ scholars, about the defining characteristics, motivations, and misperceptions of the newest generation of student affairs educators to join our campus ranks.

Panelists discuss what about higher education should get restored to what used to be, what should evolve and improve, and what should completely be transformed with three student affairs innovators.

On this episode we discuss addressing college student basic needs with Kim Steed-Page, Clare Cady, and Ruben Canedo.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses the recently published book Inclusive Supervision in Student Affairs: A Model for Professional Practice with co-authors Drs. Amy Wilson, Carmen McCallum, and Matthew Shupp.

Dr. Heather Shea explores three interrelated themes--Resiliency, Crisis, and Conflict--with two senior-level student affairs administrators, Dr. Kathy Adams Riester and Dr. Glenn DeGuzman, as part of a professional development seminar.

Dr. Heather Shea talks with a panel of graduate students and student affairs educators about the ways in which imposterism shows up during the graduate school experience and beyond. Joining Heather are Eileen Galvez, Alex Lange, Katherine Lechman, and Dr. Megumi Moore.

Watch this special collaboration and crossover episode as NASPA SA Voices in the Field podcast co-host Dr. Jill Creighton joins SA Now co-hosts Dr. Susana Muñoz and Dr. Glenn DeGuzman to discuss the role of podcasts, professional development, and more.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman talks with Dr. Jason Lynch, Leah Ward, Jamarco Clark, and Dr. Molly Mistretta about combating trauma, burnout, & compassion fatigue among student affairs practitioners.

We discuss the new book Digital Leadership in Higher Education with the author and two digital leaders.

The four hosts of Student Affairs Now look back at what they've learned and taken away from the podcast in 2020 and what they are looking forward to from the podcast in 2021.

Susan Muñoz discusses the new book From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education with two of the authors.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses women and leadership development in college with Dr. Julie Owen, Dr. Jennifer Pigza, Dr. Aoi Yamanaka, and Sharrell Hassell-Goodman. Panelists are authors of the new book and facilitation guide to “We Are the Leaders We’ve Been Waiting For.”

Dr. Larry Roper discusses leadership, justice, parenting, and the changing nature of student affairs work over the past 30 years.

Dr. Heather Shea discusses assessment practices in student affairs designed to promote social justice with Drs. Gavin Henning and Anne Lundquist. This conversation will explore broad philosophical shifts as well as practical techniques to promote equity-centered assessment.

NODA Leadership discusses the challenges to orientation, transition, and retention work in 2020 and beyond.

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman discusses technology shift and its impact in higher education with Joe Sabado, Kristen Abell, and Dr. Sarah Gretter. Join this lively conversation as the panel talks story on the technological trends and explore the challenges connected to mental health, social justice, communication solutions, Covid-19, and more.

We discuss the new book Reframing Campus Conflict with co-editors and two of the contributing authors.

Dr. Keith Edwards interviews one of his mentors and student affairs heroes, Dr. Susan Komives. They discuss her career, thinking, reflections, predictions, and more.

Dr. Heather Shea engages with a panel of NextGen Institute faculty and student affairs educators about the many ways undergraduates and prospective graduate students can consider, plan for, and engage in professional preparation for a career in student affairs.

On this episode of Student Affairs NOW, our host has a conversation with filmmaker Teresa Delfin on her short film, "Daughter Sister Mother."

Dr. Heather Shea discusses the new book The Curricular Approach to Student Affairs with co-authors Drs. Kathleen Kerr, Keith Edwards, James Tweedy, Hilary Lichterman, and Amanda Knerr.

Join these scholars discussing white men on campus, privilege, race and racism, gender and sexism, social justice, resistance, and learning.

The panelists discuss how college and universities can move beyond land acknowledgments. They provide questions for student affairs leaders to consider as more higher education institutions adopt land acknowledgements as a common practice.

On this episode of Student Affairs NOW, our host Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Keith Edwards, Dr. Jayne Sommers, Dr. Amanda Knerr, and Steve Herndon to discuss the current impacts of trauma and burnout that many are experiencing on college campuses.

In our first episode, the four hosts of Student Affairs NOW will engage in an open conversation about the vision for the podcast.

Dr. Susana Muñoz talks with authors of Identity-Conscious Supervision with Robert Brown, Dr. Craig Elliott, and Dr. Shruti Desai. Guests explore topics around power, identity, and courageous leadership.

On this episode of Student Affairs NOW, our host Dr. Glenn DeGuzman engages in a fun and in depth conversation about our panelist's nerd identity and their personal and professional experiences with geek culture in higher education.

Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast, weekly web show, and online learning community for thousands of us who work in, alongside, or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs. Our first episode will air in October, 2020.