Who Defines Poverty? Harvard Rejects Demands, & the Promise of American Higher Ed

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In this episode, Dr. OiYan Poon and Dr. Demetri Morgan join Heather Shea to unpack three pressing developments shaping the current landscape of higher education.

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I work(ed) at the Department of Education.

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In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Jason Cottrell, a longtime career employee at the U.S. Department of Education who was among the 1,300 staff members recently laid off. Jason shares insights into the role of the Department, how federal agencies navigate transitions between administrations, and what these layoffs mean for education policy. He also reflects on his own journey from higher education into federal service—and what’s next as he returns to the field of student affairs.

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Governance, Higher Ed Resistance, & Revoking Student Visas

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Dr. Demetri Morgan and Dr. Felecia Commodore join host Heather Shea to explore the escalating pressures facing higher education, including the lack of board engagement in defending institutional autonomy, rising federal influence, and the unjust revocation of student visas.

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Current Campus Context: Deportations, Faculty Voice, & Coalitions

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In the fifth episode of Current Campus Context, Heather Shea is joined by experts Dr. Felecia Commodore and Dr. Crystal Garcia to discuss the latest challenges facing higher education. They examine the growing threats to international students, including detention, deportation, and forced self-deportation, and the role of universities in protecting them. The conversation also explores faculty fears around academic freedom, the risks of speaking out in today’s climate, and the real dangers—beyond job loss—that educators face. Finally, they highlight the power of labor unions as a force for collective action against political and financial attacks on higher ed.

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Current Campus Context: Federal Student Aid, Institutional Autonomy & Associations’ Push Back

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Dr. Felecia Commodore and Dr. Demetri Morgan join host Heather Shea to discuss the latest threats to higher education and what comes next. This episode was recorded at 5:11 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 27th....

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Current Campus Context: Exec. Order Dismantling the Dept. of Education, Weaponizing Federal Funding, International Students & Scholars

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In this episode (recorded at 5:08 p.m. on March 20), Dr. OiYan Poon and Dr. Crystal Garcia join Dr. Heather Shea to discuss the executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the politicization of federal funding, and rising barriers for international students and scholars.

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Current Campus Context: Education Cuts, Student Detainment, and the Politics of Funding

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In this week’s rapid-response episode, Dr. Heather Shea is joined by Drs. Felecia Commodore and Brendan Cantwell to break down the latest developments in higher education policy and politics. They discuss the U.S. Department of...

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Current Campus Context: Dear Colleague Letter FAQ, “Illegal” Protests, and more

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In this week’s rapid-response episode, Dr. Heather Shea is joined by Drs. Brendan Cantwell and OiYan Poon to break down the latest developments—from the Department of Education’s uncertain future to new guidance in the form...

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Lori Patton Davis & Shaun Harper in Conversation

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Join us for a special episode of Student Affairs Now, recorded live at ACPA25 on Monday, February 17, where hosts Raechele Pope and Heather Shea sit down with higher education icons Dr. Lori Patton Davis and Dr. Shaun Harper. These lifelong friends and influential scholars reflect on their groundbreaking research, leadership journeys, and unwavering advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As we reflect on the current moment, this conversation offers timely insights and inspiration for student affairs professionals and educators.

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Coming Soon: Current Campus Context

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We’re living in a moment where the ground is shifting daily—from policy changes and legal battles to funding decisions and challenges to the very foundations of our work to promote equity and access. The news...

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