A Higher Education

Change is constant and transition (between roles, between institutions, and between seasons of personal and professional life) requires a careful balance of courage and patience to navigate well. At their core, our jobs are framed by the theme of transition as we work with students through one of the most significant transitions they'll go through during their educational journey. Join Dr. Mar...

In our last episode, we learned about faculty support of students from the Student Development side. This month, we’re exploring the idea from the faculty perspective. Welcome Dr. Rachel Hammond to the podcast, Dean of the Business Department at Calvin University. Rachel speaks with us about how problems in the student’s life often show up first in the classroom, and how faculty can walk with the...

Positive and mutually beneficial relationships between faculty and staff are essential to the mission of Christian colleges. We say we want to form and develop the whole student, and that type of holistic support is most effective when communication between curricular and co-curricular groups. But how do we arrive at that level of collaboration? Dr. Mark Muha's expertise in this area is featur...

Our guest this month wrote his doctoral dissertation around the year 2020, when our country engaged in a nationwide conversation about race and racism. While the social and political contexts are different from five years ago, Dr. Jarad Russell's research on the racial attitudes of white students remains relevant to our work today. Join us as we learn about three primary ways that white studen...

Initiated by the first "Dear Colleague" letter, what we now know as Title IX work, or the prevention of and response to sexual assault and sexual harassment, is both incredibly challenging and deeply good. Our guest was a VP for Student Development at the time of that first Dear Colleague letter. He describes the ways the work has changed since 2011, the value of campus prevention effort...

Have you ever been asked why college costs so much? Have you ever wondered about it yourself? In this month's episode, we ask Dr. Scott Moats, President of Anderson University in Indiana, this question. Beyond the costs to students, we also discuss how to be a better steward of your own budget, and how to identify and address mission drift within your Christian institution. EPISODE CHAPTERS 0:...

As much as we love our jobs, hobbies are crucial to a well-rounded life. In this month's episode, Mark and Kara explore the theories around why hobbies are so important while simultaneously sharing some recent hobbies of their own. Tell us in the comments what hobbies are giving you life this fall!

It's August! If you're in Student Life, you're likely shifting into a high work gear you'll be asked to maintain for several weeks through the start of your semester. This month, we're offering a 30-minute break in your day to reflect on the people who have shaped your career. This conversational deep-dive weaves together social theories and Mark and Kara's personal lives,...

This month we sat down with two university presidents and spent some time diving into their roles and how they support the work of student development. Dr. Robin Baker (George Fox University) and Dr. Barry Corey (Biola University) are legends in the field of Christian higher education and this hour+ conversation is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and the reflections of two friends and leaders t...

Today's episode is with Dr. Sharra Hynes, newly minted VP for Student Life at Baylor University, and we had a wonderful conversation that ranged from discussion student conduct to the differences (and similarities) to be found working in the many kinds of university contexts there are. As Dr. Hynes steps into the studio with us, you'll be encouraged by her wisdom and encouragement for the...

Many professionals in our field are somewhere on the continuum of considering doctoral work to completing doctoral work. We recorded this episode for you all. It features advice from professionals who work all over the country. At the end of the day, this is your journey and you get to choose what it looks like. But if you're asking, "How do I know if it's time?" or "How do...

This month we are joined by Delight Darenya, a MAHE graduate student at Taylor University, who shares about her experience as a student while serving as a Graduate Assistant in both the Taylor University Student Development department and honors college. We also hear from Delight a bit about the role of mentors in her journey, studying and leading in a different cultural context, and how a GA role...

This month we sit down with Dr. Jamie Johnson, Dean for Spiritual Life at George Fox University, to unpack the 2025 ACSD Conference Theme "Wonderfully Known". Along the way, expect to learn more about George Fox, Newberg, and other conference details. 0:00 Episode introduction 4:15 Guest introduction 7:35 Speed round questions 12:30 The Wonderfully Known theme 22:50 What it takes to plan the confe...

The career of Dr. Coba Canales has both breadth and depth in the field of Christian college student development, and this interview certainly reflects his variety of expertise. We touch on how Coba journeyed to the Dean of Students role at Azusa Pacific University, how first generation college students explore their career options, what it means to value hospitality in personal and professional li...

Pop quiz: how do you think your students would describe the way your campus looks and feels? Dr. Rahn Franklin Jr. serves at Bethel University in Minnesota as the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence where he works to ensure that the campus climate, composition, and character are diverse and inclusive. He is driven by a singular mission - that Bethel would look and feel like the house of God. J...

We are rounding out our two-episode mini-series about athletics with Eddie Shepard from Biola University. He brings to the pod an entire career in college athletics, previously as a coach and currently as an Associate Athletic Director. His experience more than qualifies him to describe how athletic programs elevate the college experience of the individual athletes and the co-curricular outcomes o...

Have you ever met a first year student athlete who is struggling with their sense of worth or wondering about their identity? We're thinking the answer is probably "yes". Craig Inglesby has spent a considerable part of his career helping new college athletes transition into college and helping retiring college athletes transition into the rest of their lives. His vision for our work is highly like...

Ever wondered what it is like to make the jump to a Dean of Students position? We could think of no better guest to answer this question than Larissa Lilly of Northwest University. Expect to learn the joys and trials of a DOS role, the privileges of raising a family on a college campus, and how collaboration can be the key to both successful leadership and fulfilling friendships. Episode Chapters:...

Our work can be a number of things; chaotic… meaningful… tiring… inspiring… wild… exciting… and that’s just before noon. This episode was recorded during a workshop session at ACSD 2024 to capture the stories that make our daily labor all these things and more. And through the sharing and hearing of these stories, we realize a restful sense of belonging and solidarity, knowing that we are not alon...

From 2020, this is episode four of the inaugural season of A Higher Education.

From 2020, this is episode three of the inaugural season of A Higher Education.

In the spring of 2023, Asbury University experienced a spontaneous spiritual revival that culminated in over 50,000 people visiting their small Kentucky campus over the following weeks. We sat down with Dr. Sarah Baldwin, Vice President for Student Life at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, to discuss her experience leading the campus through that season. We also spent some time hearing her s...

Are you anticipating that the 2024 US presidential election may bring tension to your campus? Do you dream of a world where your students have healthy and helpful political conversations that bridge gaps and consider alternative perspectives? Is there a part of you that wonders how to engage thoughtfully and faithfully in the current political climate? This episode with Kaitlyn Schiess, author of...

Building cultural humility is a communal effort, and there is no defined end-point of having arrived as a perfectly culturally humble leader. This month, Joel Pérez introduces the idea of cultural humility - what it is, why it's important, and how to grow it. He talks about his own racial identity development, and concludes the episode with advice for individual professionals and institutions...

Creativity is one of the most highly valued employee traits in today's work environment. Fortunately, creativity can be developed! Grab a paper and pen for this month's topical deep-dive into why creativity matters in our work, how it is possible to become a creative person, and what habits will grow your already creative mind. From the philosophical to the practical, this episode will enc...