Episodes (List) - Student Affairs NOW

New Episode, Podcast, Raechele Pope, Social Justice and Inclusion

White Noise: Challenging Beliefs About Race On Campus

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:35 — 40.2MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

Many conversations about race in higher education begin with the assumption that students simply need more exposure to diversity or education about racism. But what if white students arrive on campus having already spent years learning powerful lessons about race through their families, schools, neighborhoods, and everyday experiences?
Drawing on years of qualitative research, Drs. Zak Foste and Lauren Irwin challenge this “Empty Vessel Hypothesis,” examining how colleges and universities can reproduce, rather than disrupt, the racial understandings students bring with them. Their work invites us to rethink how students learn about race—and the role institutions play in reinforcing or challenging those lessons.

Heather Shea, New Episode, Organizational and Human Resources, Podcast

Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:36 — 40.9MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

College student mental health continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing higher education. In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea is joined by Dr. Alexis Redding, editor of Mental Health in College: What Research Tells Us About Supporting Students, along with contributors Bryan Ashton, Adrian Gonzales, and Dr. Adam Pierson Milano. Together, they explore the latest research on student well-being, discuss how financial stress, institutional culture, and support for veteran students shape mental health outcomes, and share practical, research-informed strategies that every campus can use to create environments where students can thrive.

New Episode, Podcast, Social Justice and Inclusion

Advancing Indigenous and Native Student Affairs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:25 — 42.9MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, we explore the evolving field of Indigenous Student Affairs and Native student success in higher education through the lens of the recent volume Advancing Indigenous and Native Student Affairs: Evolving Knowledges and Practice. Joining us are editors Symphony Oxendine, Cori Bazemore-James, Deborah Taub, and John Garland for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, belonging, leadership, financial aid, professional networks, and culturally grounded student support for Native and Indigenous students. Together, we discuss how colleges and universities can move beyond deficit-based approaches toward practices that genuinely center Indigenous voices, strengths, relationality, and community, while also examining the realities Indigenous students and professionals continue to navigate across higher education today.

Current Campus Context, Heather Shea, Law, Policy, and Governance, Podcast

Current Campus Context: Who Belongs, Who Pays, & Who Determines Quality?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:32:05 — 170.4MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

In this episode of Current Campus Context, Heather Shea and a panel of experts discuss three significant policy changes affecting higher education this fall: new limits on international students, adjustments to graduate borrowing, and proposed accreditation reforms. They analyze these shifts’ implications for access, belonging, and student success within colleges and universities.

Here's The Story, New Episode, Podcast

Here’s the Story: “More Than a Question”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:25 — 22.6MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

When a young white girl pointed at him and asked her father, “What is that?” and he responded, “I don’t know,” the storyteller came to understand how racism shapes the ways people are taught to see others. Rather than allowing that moment to define him, it became the foundation for a career dedicated to social justice, education, and helping others recognize the humanity, dignity, and worth in every person.

Heather Shea, Leadership, New Episode, Personal and Ethical Foundations, Podcast

Mid-Level as a Final Destination

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16:16 — 52.4MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

In this podcast episode, Heather Shea and her guests challenge the traditional view that success in student affairs is strictly tied to promotions. They discuss mid-level careers as intentional and fulfilling choices, emphasizing the importance of individual narratives over societal pressures. Participants share insights on navigating hustle culture, work-life balance, and fostering supportive environments in higher education.

Keith Edwards, New Episode, Organizational and Human Resources, Podcast

The Trust Agenda: A Framework for Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:01 — 35.1MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

Like many social institutions, higher education has seen public trust erode. AAC&U recently released The Trust Agenda, a report on how higher education can advance trust through 5 pillars of practical shifts. In this conversation, two authors of the report join a senior student affairs officer to reflect on the erosion of trust in higher education, how it has fallen, and where we go from here.

Glenn DeGuzman, New Episode, Podcast, Student Learning and Development

The Rise of Generation Alpha: From Middle School to Campus

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:11 — 42.0MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

This discussion centers on the emerging Generation Alpha, highlighting their unique characteristics shaped by technology and their Millennial parents. Key insights include the importance of hands-on, career-focused learning as college expectations shift, emphasizing critical thinking and real-world application. Educators are urged to adapt to meet the needs of these students who value resilience and resourcefulness.

Here's The Story, New Episode, Podcast

Here’s the Story: “Teaching Everyone But Yourself”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:51 — 26.0MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

A classroom emergency unfolded when an instructor lost consciousness, prompting students to exhibit remarkable compassion and leadership. This experience highlighted the importance of self-care for educators, revealing that they must prioritize their well-being to effectively support their students. The story underscores how community can flourish during unexpected challenges.

Heather Shea, New Episode, Podcast, Student Learning and Development

Before You Begin: What Every New Student Affairs Graduate Student Should Know

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:38:08 — 67.4MB)

Subscribe to #SAnow RSS | Subscribe to #SAnow Podcast

In this podcast episode, a panel of student affairs faculty shares insights for new graduate students in higher education. They provide practical advice on topics like mentorship, managing workload, and navigating challenges in the field. Emphasizing the importance of authenticity, community, and self-care, they aim to empower students as they embark on their careers in student affairs.