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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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