COVID-19 Recovery Efforts

Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Stacy Pearson-Wharton, Amber Ulmer, Dr. Kim Monteaux De Freitas to share their insights and strategies they are taking to support students this fall and address the Covid-19 and Delta Variant pandemic.

Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities on Campus

Many of the United State’s oldest institutions of higher education have their origins in Christianity. Today, even at public institutions, some campus systems (specifically university holidays and the academic calendar) are still very Christian-centric. And yet, with the influx of international students and faculty from more diverse religious backgrounds as well as an influx of secular identities, a system built on Christian supremacy may not be serving the needs of our entire campus populations. In what ways should student affairs educators consider religious, secular, and spiritual diversity as part of campus DEI efforts? What about the concerns of atheist, agnostic, and other secular-identifying students? On this episode of Student Affairs NOW we discuss policies and practices based in research with four scholars and practitioners whose work lies at the convergence of religion, secularism, and spirituality on campus.

Veterans and Military-Connected Students

The relationship between Higher Education and the U.S. Military has been both long and complex. The opportunity for student veterans to be afforded the opportunity for an education introduced rewards but new challenges in student services best effort to best support this population of students. Dr. Glenn DeGuzman sits down with Dr. Phillip Morris, Dr. Dani Molina, and Dr. Bruce Kelley to explore and discuss the challenges, implications, and practices that student affairs professionals should be aware of in order to best support our student veterans.

Workplace Culture, Humanity, and Innovation

Student affairs workplace norms and practices have long needed updating and rethinking. Now is the time to address these long-overdue needs and innovate to meet this current moment for our profession and ultimately for students. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses challenges, opportunities, and innovative practices to transform the student affairs workplace for us all with Drs. Chris Conzen, Margaret Sallee, and David Surratt.

Critical Conversations on Community Colleges

Dra. Susana Muñoz facilitates a critical conversation about the vital role that community colleges play with three scholars/community college leaders. 

College Students with Foster Care Experiences

College students with experiences in the foster care system are often not central to institutionalized support within student affairs and higher education. Dra. Susana Muñoz meets with Angela Hoffman Copper, Dr. Royel Johnson, and Kenyon Lee Whitman about ways higher education and student affairs can better support college students with foster care experiences.

The Sidehustle Phenomenon

Many student affairs professionals engage in additional projects or offer their services outside their primary role within the University, often to pursue passion projects and/or to earn additional income. These sidehustles continue to be a part of the lives of even more professionals in higher education due to various reasons such as financial need and passion areas. Dr. Glenn DeGuzman meets with Dr. Joshua Moon Johnson, Marney Randle, and Nat Ambrosey as they share more about their experience with their sidehustles, “why” they believe other SA professionals are pursuing them in larger numbers, and lessons they have learned.

Student Affairs Career Transitions Part 1: Early to Mid-Career

In this episode, we discuss early to mid-career transitions for student affairs professionals including challenges around identity, institutional structure, power, community, purpose, role, and more. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses early to mid-career transitions with two editors and a contributing author to the book Managing Career Transitions Across the Lifespan for Student Affairs Practitioners.

Student Affairs Career Transitions Part II: Additional Transitions

In this episode, we discuss a variety of career transitions including seeking a terminal degree, mid to senior-level, practitioner to faculty, student affairs adjacent roles, retirement, and more. Dr. Keith Edwards discusses the role of identity, imperfect institutions, purpose, and transformation with an editor and contributing author to the book Managing Career Transitions Across the Lifespan for Student Affairs Practitioners.

Mental Health & College Students

College student mental health and well-being is a priority across the United States because of the growing demand and increasing severity of mental health concerns (i.e., rising anxiety, depression, and suicidality) on campus. Many college and university counseling centers have waiting lists and struggle to meet the needs of all students. Additionally, many students are struggling but not reaching out for help. These challenges have led to innovation and re-imagining the most effective ways to meet the mental health needs of college students. Student affair professionals are well-positioned to play an important role in addressing this campus challenge because of their extensive contact and relationships with students.