Students’ Perspectives on the Purpose of Higher Education

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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.

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Hanging up the Cape (for now)

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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).

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Your Kid Belongs Here: Navigating Neurodivergence for Parents, Faculty, and Staff

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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.

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Here’s the Story: “Unraveling to Become”

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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.

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Twenty Years of the MSL: Leadership, Learning, and the Future of Expanding Leadership & Opportunity

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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.

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Current Campus Context: Chaos, Cuts & College Sports

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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.

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