Staff & FaculTEA Sessions

In this engaging conversation, Chelsea, Ana, and their guest, Beverly Dines, explore the intersections of leadership, empathy, and the current challenges facing higher education. Beverly shares her career journey, highlighting the importance of community and connection in navigating the complexities of leadership. The discussion delves into the need for empathy in leadership roles, the impact of s...

In this solo episode, Ana explores the personal and political cost of silence in higher education and beyond. Through reflections on the genocide in Gaza, faculty retaliation, and the corporatization of colleges, she invites listeners to examine how fear has become a control mechanism and how reclaiming agency begins with truth-telling. Ana discusses the myth of neutrality, the emotional toll of s...

Summary In this episode of the Staff and FaculTEA Sessions podcast, hosts Chelsea and Ana, along with guest- Professor Walid Afifi, delve into the pervasive theme of uncertainty in higher education and its broader implications in society. They discuss how authoritarianism manifests in educational institutions, the chronic uncertainty faced by marginalized communities, and the physiological and psy...

"The only moral thing Palestinian civilians can do, apparently, is to die. The only legal thing the rest of us can do is to watch them die. And be silent. If not, we risk our scholarships, grants, lecture fees, and livelihoods." Arundhati Roy Staff & FaculTEA Sessions is back spilling the tea hotter than ever. In this episode, we spill tea with Dr. Sang Kil, a justice studies professor at San...

Tech issues? Delays? 👀 The powers that be don’t want y’all to hear this one… but we got it out anyway. 🔥🎙️ In this conversation, we have Zachery joining us to discuss the importance of resistance and ancestral wisdom in the face of capitalism and fascism. We also explore the dynamics of labor movements and unions, emphasizing the need for solidarity across communities. The role of students in ac...

In this episode of Staff & FaculTEA Sessions, Chelsea and Ana discuss their reflections on the summer, the importance of finding joy amidst challenges, and the ongoing fight for justice in higher education and beyond. They emphasize the need for hope and activism, the significance of truth-telling, and the role of community in resistance efforts. The conversation also touches on personal journ...

Summary In this episode of the Staff and Faculty Sessions podcast, hosts Chelsea and Ana delve into the systemic issues within higher education, particularly focusing on the exploitation of staff under the guise of community values. They share a compelling story of a university that prioritized extravagant spending over staff welfare during the pandemic, highlighting the disconnect between institu...

Episode 4: Performative DEI, Silenced Voices & Authoritarian Culture in Higher Ed In this fiery episode of Staff & FaculTEA Sessions , Ana and Chelsea spill the tea on how performative DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts in higher education have become tools of oppression, not liberation. We unpack how leadership gaslights staff and students, weaponizes inclusion language, and r...

You’re not the problem, the system is. In this episode of Staff & FaculTEA Sessions hosts, Ana and Chelsea, discuss the importance of activism, community solidarity, and the failures of leadership within higher education. They share personal stories that highlight systemic issues, the role of HR, and the need for accountability and vulnerability in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the i...

In this episode of Staff and FaculTEA Sessions, hosts Chelsea and Ana delve into the challenges faced by staff in higher education, particularly in Res Life. They discuss the inhumane living conditions, the blurred boundaries between work and personal life, and the exploitation inherent in the system. The conversation highlights the importance of transparency, advocacy, and community building, whi...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Staff & FaculTEA Sessions — your new favorite higher education podcast where we spill the TEA on what it’s really like to work behind the scenes in academia. In this first episode, "Fostering CommuniTEA and SolidariTEA: Meet Your Hosts," Chelsea and Ana share their journey as Latina women working in higher ed, the toxic systems they’ve navigated, and why they’re buildin...