Student Affairs Legends Then and Now: Paul Shang

Former ACPA President, senior administrator, and mentor to many across the field, Dr. Paul Shang joins us to share stories from his decades-long career at campuses across all corners of the U.S. working in student affairs. Paul talks about the ways the work has changed as well as officers advice for new professionals, and incoming ACPA President and episode host Heather Shea.

Universities and Gambling Partnerships

With increases in the legalization of gambling, particularly in sports, we see partnerships and endorsement deals between universities and gambling entities emerging. Today’s guests bring expertise on gambling, the influence of money on athletics, and addiction and well-being. They discuss legalization, increased access to money and technology to gamble, and ethical institutional responses. The guests emphasize centering care for students, our role as educators and public health approaches to well-being.

Learning in the Aftermath of Tragedy: Lessons from Michigan State University

The Student Affairs Now host community comes together to discuss crisis response, supporting students, creating communities of love and healing, and helping the helpers. In this deeply personal conversation, Heather Shea shares her experiences as a staff member in the aftermath of the tragedy at Michigan State University. Hosts offer Heather support and discuss ways to support students, lead campus response, and support our colleagues and friends. We hope you will never need this episode. If you do, we hope it is helpful.

Introduction to CAS in Anticipation of the 11th Version

In anticipation of the release of the 11th version, several members of the Council for the Advancement of Standards or CAS leadership join host Dr. Heather Shea to provide an introduction to this valuable resource in the field. Panelists share their perspectives on CAS through a broad overview as well as specific ways that the CAS standards might be useful in graduate preparation, student affairs assessment, and program development.

Student Affairs Legends Then and Now: Denny Roberts

Former ACPA President, leadership scholar, senior leader, and senior scholar Dr. Denny Roberts joins us to discuss his career and life journey. Themes of connection, innovation, and learning emerge as Denny discusses those who influenced him and his paths, his experimentation throughout his career, and the learning he has done, has led, and is still doing today.

Social Justice Education at UMass Amherst Celebrates 30 Years

The Social Justice Education program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently had its 30th anniversary. In this conversation, a founding faculty member, Dr. Barbara Love, and two graduates, Michael Vidal and Dr. Tanya Williams, discuss this one-of-a-kind program and its role in elevating scholarship, teaching, and practice around social justice in many contexts, including student affairs. The guests explore content, process, pedagogy, self-awareness, being, skills, and liberatory consciousness.

Pat Hayashi: Reflections on Circumstance, Courage & Healing

Dr. Pat Hayashi has had an expansive constellation of lived experiences along his career and life journey. As we continue to think about our duty of care to equity and inclusion in higher education, it is moving to hear about how his perceptions of ordinary life moments led to extraordinary change in higher education. Pat’s professional experiences model living a life of courage in support of the dignity of others. In 1988, he became the highest ranking administrator in the UC system. In 1999 he joined the UC’s Office of the President where he served as associate president under President Richard Atkinson. After retiring in 2004, Pat took up art, and he continues to lift up people along his path.

College Esports: The Complexities & Impacts for Student Success

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with 3 leaders in collegiate e-sports to talk about the emerging complexities of competitive online competitions and gaming in higher education. Listen to Dr. George McClellan, Kaitlin Teniente, and Mike “Moog” Aguilar discuss a myriad of topics on the emergence, growth and future shifts of e-sports that college will need to be prepared for in the coming decade.

Native Presence and Sovereignty on Campus

There is limited scholarship on Indigenous college students which reflects why finding belonging, engagement, and sovereignty is challenging for Indigenous students. Amanda Tachine is brilliant and uncompromising in her critical examination of what causes harm and the systemic barriers that make it difficult to create meaningful change in higher education. This episode will highlight the struggles and strengths of Native students and offer a path forward for colleges and universities to connect with these students in meaningful and Indigenous-centric ways.

The Social Change Ecosystem Framework: A Conversation with Deepa Iyer

We are in a time when we are all bearing witness to the intersecting social issues impacting our societies today. Responding to Grace Lee Boggs’ question, ‘What time is it on the clock of the world?” activist and scholar Deepa Iyer reminds us that our time is NOW. She reminds us that when we are part of a bigger strategy, we can create change. This episode puts a spotlight on Iyer’s social change ecosystem framework, with an invitation to deepen our commitment, strengthen our focus, and elevate our interconnectedness as we collectively co-create a just and equitable world.