Student Affairs NOW

Drs. Stephen John Quaye and Sumun Pendakur, editors of Student Engagement in Higher Education: Theoretical Perspectives and Practical Approaches for Diverse Populations, discuss the new edition of this foundational book, bringing together the work of 50 scholars and practitioners. Each chapter focuses on engaging a different student population and includes three new "Problems of Practice" chapters...

In this October edition of Current Campus Context, expert correspondents Dr. Kaleb Briscoe and Dr. Ethan Ris examine three pressing higher education issues: campus sexual violence and institutional accountability, federal investigations into the J-1 visa program, and widespread budget cuts and layoffs. Together, they explore what these developments reveal about institutional priorities, the tensio...

This conversation explores the nuances and complexity of AI beyond the binaries of "it's terrible" or "it's great." Three thinkers really explore the complexity of AI, data centers, teaching and learning, practice, and more. They explore the ethics and the environmental considerations, as well as a helpful metaphor about elevators. This conversation is thoughtful, critical, and hopeful. The post N...

Structured Serendipity explores how what feels like luck is often the result of intentional people, meaningful opportunities, and environments designed to help students succeed. In this episode, a current housing director reflects on the student job that unexpectedly became the foundation of a lifelong career in higher education. Through stories of mentorship, challenge, privilege, and perseveranc...

Many conversations about race in higher education begin with the assumption that students simply need more exposure to diversity or education about racism. But what if white students arrive on campus having already spent years learning powerful lessons about race through their families, schools, neighborhoods, and everyday experiences? Drawing on years of qualitative research, Drs. Zak Foste and L...

College student mental health continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing higher education. In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Alexis Redding, editor of Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students, along with contributors Bryan Ashton, Adrian Gonzales, and Dr. Adam Pierson Milano. Together, they explore the latest re...

In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, we explore the evolving field of Indigenous Student Affairs and Native student success in higher education through the lens of the recent volume Advancing Indigenous and Native Student Affairs: Evolving Knowledges and Practice. Joining us are editors Symphony Oxendine, Cori Bazemore-James, Deborah Taub, and John Garland for a wide-ranging conversation about...

In this episode of Current Campus Context, Heather Shea and a panel of experts discuss three significant policy changes affecting higher education this fall: new limits on international students, adjustments to graduate borrowing, and proposed accreditation reforms. They analyze these shifts' implications for access, belonging, and student success within colleges and universities. The post Current...

When a young white girl pointed at him and asked her father, "What is that?" and he responded, "I don't know," the storyteller came to understand how racism shapes the ways people are taught to see others. Rather than allowing that moment to define him, it became the foundation for a career dedicated to social justice, education, and helping others recognize the humanity, dignity, and worth in eve...

In this podcast episode, Heather Shea and her guests challenge the traditional view that success in student affairs is strictly tied to promotions. They discuss mid-level careers as intentional and fulfilling choices, emphasizing the importance of individual narratives over societal pressures. Participants share insights on navigating hustle culture, work-life balance, and fostering supportive env...

Like many social institutions, higher education has seen public trust erode. AAC&U recently released The Trust Agenda, a report on how higher education can advance trust through 5 pillars of practical shifts. In this conversation, two authors of the report join a senior student affairs officer to reflect on the erosion of trust in higher education, how it has fallen, and where we go from here. The...

This discussion centers on the emerging Generation Alpha, highlighting their unique characteristics shaped by technology and their Millennial parents. Key insights include the importance of hands-on, career-focused learning as college expectations shift, emphasizing critical thinking and real-world application. Educators are urged to adapt to meet the needs of these students who value resilience a...

A classroom emergency unfolded when an instructor lost consciousness, prompting students to exhibit remarkable compassion and leadership. This experience highlighted the importance of self-care for educators, revealing that they must prioritize their well-being to effectively support their students. The story underscores how community can flourish during unexpected challenges. The post Here’s the...

In this podcast episode, a panel of student affairs faculty shares insights for new graduate students in higher education. They provide practical advice on topics like mentorship, managing workload, and navigating challenges in the field. Emphasizing the importance of authenticity, community, and self-care, they aim to empower students as they embark on their careers in student affairs. The post B...

Hispanic-Serving Institutions enroll more than 4 million students, yet "serving" has largely meant enrolling. Dr. Gina Ann Garcia and grassroots leader Amber Gonzalez join us to explore what it actually takes to move an institution toward genuine servingness, drawing on Garcia's new book, The HSI Movement. The post The HSI Movement appeared first on Student Affairs NOW .

Drawing from her book Race, Class, and Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era, Dr. Park joins us for a timely and thoughtful conversation about the questions that continue to sit at the heart of higher education: Who has access to opportunity? How do race and class influence educational pathways? The post A Conversation with Dr. Julie J. Park: Race, Class, Affirmative Action: College...

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 experience...

In this episode of Student Affairs Now, Dr. Ralina L. Joseph discusses her book, "Racial Exhaustion," focusing on fatigue surrounding racism and DEI efforts. She emphasizes strategies like radical listening, discomfort, and reparative dialogue for navigating racial conversations in higher education. The episode highlights the emotional toll on students, staff, and faculty while advocating for a re...

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 intersecti...

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...

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...

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 re...

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...

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...