At ACPA's 100th Anniversary Celebration held in Chicago, the hosts of Student Affairs NOW reflected on their respective journeys working together in developing, producing, and hosting a podcast as a form of public scholarship. The team shared behind-the-scenes stories of what it's like working together, discussed the expected and unexpected learnings during the growth of the podcast, and shared their reactions as Student Affairs Now reached the impressive milestone of 200 episodes in 2024. This episode was recorded at ACPA as part of a conference presentation.

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Two-year colleges, including community, technical, and junior colleges, are focused on access, affordability, and equity; workforce development and career preparation; and serving their community's needs with agility. In this episode, two former chairs of ACPA's Commission for Two-Year Colleges and a current two-year college president discuss the growing student and institutional needs with limited resources and how associations like ACPA can better support professional development and student success in this critical higher education sector.

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Chief of Staff roles in and beyond student affairs often fall under the radar, go by many different names, vary widely, and can be both misunderstood and full of promise. In this conversation, two folks who have served in this role in multiple iterations define the role, discuss the complexities, and offer insights for institutions, principals, and those exploring the role for themselves.

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In this conversation, Drs. Claire Brady and José-Luis Riera reflect on what they learned from planning, leading, and participating in the recent NASPA Institute for Aspiring Vice Presidents for Student Affairs. They shared exploring the realities of the current moment in higher education, holding space to consider if this role is really for them, and examining multiple pathways for transition and success. Themes of hope and healing are paired with the challenges of higher education and this leadership role specifically.

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Appreciative inquiry shifts attention from problems and deficits to assets, strengths, and possibilities. Drs. Symphony Oxendine and Brian Gano discuss appreciative inquiry, how to use it in student affairs work, and their learning from the contributions of other authors to their new volume, Appreciative Frameworks in Student Affairs.

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As we near the 2024 election, there’s a fair amount of talk about the apparent risks to democracy in the U.S.. As student affairs educators seek to engage students in discussing, dissecting, reinventing, and adopting principles of civic engagement, the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE) is unveiling “Democracy Re/Designed” a more aspirational version of democracy that we need today and into the future. Joining this episode are Drs. Adam Gismondi and Demetri Morgan to talk about democratic engagement in higher education.

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In this conversation, Dr. Susana Muñoz shares the transformative experience of her sabbatical. She discusses her awakening, disconnecting her worth from work and productivity, listening to her body, and becoming more grounded and intentional with her energy and spirit. She also shares what this means for moving forward.

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In this episode, we hear from scholar and educator Richard Reddick, author of Restorative Resistance in Higher Education. The book is a confluence of personal narrative and lived experiences, academic research, and hope for higher education to continue to lean into the messiness of human dignity and equity practices. Join us for reflection, laughter, and strategies for how we can all activate our commitment to equitable and inclusive practices on our campuses and in our communities.

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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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Join two leaders in restorative justice, campus conduct, and addressing sexual misconduct as they discuss the cautions, possibilities, and imperatives of applying restorative justice to campus sexual misconduct from their new book. Drs. Erik Wessel and Kaaren Williamsen discuss the need for, case for, and how to of restorative justice processes to make possible healing, accountability, and learning and unlearning.

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