Director, Pathway Programs in Undergraduate Student Success
Michigan State University
Heather D. Shea, Ph.D. (she, her, hers) currently works as the director of Pathway Programs in Undergraduate Student Success in the Office of the Provost at Michigan State University. Her career in student affairs spans over two decades and five different campuses and involves experiences in many different functional areas including residence life, multicultural affairs, women, gender, and LGBTQA programs, student activities, leadership development, and commuter/non-traditional student services—she identifies as a student affairs generalist.
Heather is committed to praxis, contributing to scholarship, and preparing the next generation of educational leaders. She regularly teaches undergraduate and graduate-level classes and each summer she leads a 6-credit undergraduate education abroad program in Europe for students in teacher education. Heather is actively engaged on a national level in student affairs. She served as President of ACPA-College Student Educators International from 2023-2024. She was honored as a Diamond Honoree by the ACPA Foundation. Heather completed her PhD at Michigan State University in higher, adult, and lifelong education. She is a transplant to the Midwest; Heather grew up in Colorado, completed her undergraduate degrees and master’s degrees at Colorado State University, and worked professionally in Arizona and Idaho until 2013 when she and her family moved to mid-Michigan.
Heather’s Episode
In this special episode, we’re featuring Dr. Kristen Renn’s inspiring talk, The Futures of Student Affairs: Look Back, Look Around, Look Ahead, presented at the 75th anniversary celebration of Michigan State University’s Student Affairs Administration (SAA) Master’s program. Kris reflects on the history and values of student affairs, addresses current challenges, and shares her vision…
In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea welcomes Dr. Z Nicolazzo, author of the influential book Trans* in College: Transgender Students’ Strategies for Navigating Campus Life and the Institutional Politics of Inclusion, along with two of her doctoral students, Clar Gobuyan and Pin-Ru Su. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of support…
In this episode of Student Affairs Now, ACPA Presidents past and present—Jill Carnaghi (2000-2001), Paul Shang (2002-2003), Stephen John Quaye (2017-2018), Rachel Aho (current ACPA President), and Jonathan McElderry (President-Elect)—connect with co-hosts Gudrun Nyunt and Heather Shea (immediate Past President) to reflect on ACPA’s growth and influence over the years. The panel explores pivotal moments…
In this episode, we explore the power of grassroots voting initiatives on college campuses. Join host Heather Shea as she speaks with leaders from key organizations dedicated to mobilizing and empowering student voters. They share their stories, strategies for increasing voter registration and turnout, and practical advice for student affairs staff ahead of the national…
In this episode, we’re discussing how to support students’ mental health and well-being during education abroad programs. Join us for an insightful discussion with experts Vernon Wall and Drs. Shayna Perry and Matt Rader as we explore the unique challenges students face, best practices for support, and strategies for faculty and staff to enhance mental…
Two years ago, when SCOTUS released the Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, college students all over the U.S. mobilized to advocate for a variety of initiatives to address the concerns facing students in the wake of the decision. In this episode, we’ll meet five student activists from one campus and discuss their multi-pronged approach…
This episode offers a deep dive into the INSPIRES Index, providing listeners with valuable insights into fostering inclusive campus environments for students of diverse worldview identities. Panelists, which include researchers, faculty, and practitioners, examine the intersectionality of efforts to address religious, secular, and spiritual identities with broader diversity initiatives and explore how interfaith initiatives can…
Join us for an overview of intergroup dialogue (IGD) in higher education, featuring expert perspectives from scholars and practitioners Drs. Ximena Zúñiga, Bridget Turner Kelly, Mark Kamimura-Jiménez, and Nina Tissi-Gassoway. Panelists explore the philosophy and practice of IGD, discuss a four-stage approach, the relevance amidst campus unrest and polarization, implementation in student affairs graduate programs,…
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…
Episode Description Dr. TJ Stewart talks about his groundbreaking new book, “Sex Work on Campus” – recently recognized as the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Outstanding Book of the Year. Drawing on a study involving seven college student sex workers, Dr. Stewart delves into the experiences, motivations, and the impact of social…
We asked ChatGPT to write a description of this episode and it came up with “Dive into the forefront of innovation as we unveil the power of ChatGPT and explore the dynamic landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Student Affairs. Joining the conversation with Heather Shea are Mallory Willsea, Ed Cabellon, Paul Gordon Brown, and…
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…
Today on the podcast, we’re queuing up the next in a series of episodes for “careers in student affairs month.” We’re building on a recent episode, which answered the question “Is a Student Affairs Graduate Program Right for Me?” with some practical tips about the application process. Joining host Heather Shea are four coordinators of…
Today we’re launching “careers in student affairs month” with a two part series designed to demystify the grad school selection and application process. Today’s episode begins the conversation with an overview on motivations and purpose of graduate education. Then we discuss factors to consider when selecting a graduate program. Whether you’re an undergraduate student…
Based on an immersive, interactive presentation experience at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), today’s episode features co-presenters Krishanna Roberson and Marcus Moore as they talk with Heather Shea about the concept “How to Not” as a counter strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We explore this unconventional approach, learning about the…
Whether you found yourself enchanted by the Barbie movie’s magic or felt it missed the mark, there’s no denying the film’s monumental success. As with any major pop culture phenomenon, Barbie is poised to be a prime topic of conversation among college students this fall. In today’s episode Drs. Alex Lange, Rachel Wagner, and Keith…
On this episode, Dr. Amer Ahmed and Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington sit down with Heather Shea to explore practical and interactive techniques designed to effectively develop faculty competencies in the realms of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Often considered a challenging demographic to engage in meaningful DEI conversations, our panelists will discuss innovative methods to…
In this podcast episode, we dive into the complexities of college student success with the author of Administratively Adrift: Overcoming Institutional Barriers for College Student Success Dr. Scott Bass and Dr. Sharon Alston, former co-chair of American University’s “Re-Inventing the Student Experience” or RiSE project. Exploring common barriers, effective strategies, and the roles of students,…
Thanks to ACPA, we are able share our own Heather Shea’s presidential address as she assumed leadership of ACPA: College Student Educators International. Heather focuses on fostering critical hope for ourselves as student affairs educators and for students. You’ll also get to hear Kathy Adams Riester and Keith Edwards introducing Heather to the association membership.
In this episode, we delve into the realm of performance reviews in student affairs, exploring how these evaluations are conducted and how we might rethink this process. We discuss the influence of the recent Report on 21st Century Employment in Higher Education and other resources for shaping the approach to performance reviews, highlighting the specific…
This episode features a conversation about a newly published book, Unmasking: Toward Authentic Masculinity, by Dr. Keith E. Edwards PHD. Unmasking is a process by which men first become conscious of the masks they wear to conform to external expectations and then practice exploring their identity as men and becoming intentional about aligning their actions…
By definition, an ombudsperson is a role whose focus is neutral and impartial conflict resolution. They typically operate independently from the university and has no official or formal decision-making capabilities. Ombudspersons have been referred to as the “conscience of the university” — working within campus communities to resolve conflict through identifying systemic issues and trends…
Meeting the needs of commuter students is much more complicated than simply directing services and programs towards those students who live off campus. On today’s episode, a large panel discusses the complexities of both identifying and helping commuter students succeed as well as innovative lessons for increasing commuter’s sense of belonging. Applying lessons from online…
Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Hillel International is now the largest Jewish organization in the world. Hillel International exists on more than 650 college campuses across the world and is present on 4 continents. Millions of Jewish students have passed through the doors of Hillel facilities and interacted with thousands of professionals…
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…
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…
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…
We are thrilled to welcome our newest host joining the Student Affairs NOW team, Dr. Mamta Accapadi! On today’s episode, Drs. Heather Shea and Keith Edwards chat with Mamta about her excitement for joining the team and the conversation and guests she is looking forward to hosting. The conversation touches on groundedness, consciousness blooms, healing,…
Today’s episode directly challenges the media-created assumption that parents are “problems” to be managed by the institution and instead posits a model of parent and family engagement and connection. Particularly relevant as institutions seek to connect with parents and families of first generation college students during points of transition and orientation, seeking engagement and partnerships…
This episode features a panel of scholars and practitioners as well as the executive director of the College Autism Network discussing how colleges and universities can better meet the needs of autistic and neurodivergent students on college campuses.
Who are today’s college students, what do they need, and how can institutions rise to meet these needs? Today’s new episode brings together four panelists who contributed to a new book Multiple Perspectives on College Students: Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities.
While diversity leaders exist at all administrative ranks and levels across both academic and student affairs. Today’s episode focuses on the senior diversity officer role. Often a senior administrator or vice president or chancellor, the senior diversity officer often wears a number of significant hats.
As we launch the fall semester, student activists will once again—as they have for decades—resume their work to address climate on campus as related to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of oppression. In this episode, co-authors of the book, Identity-Based Student Activism: Power and Oppression on College Campuses, discuss ways that campus…
Today’s new episode is all about promoting voting and democracy on college and university campuses. Many states have recently held primaries and midterm elections are right around the corner in the U.S.. This episode’s panelists are engaged—both inside higher education institutions as well as beyond—in exploring voting initiatives and increasing democratic engagement among college students….
With the June 24, 2022 Supreme Court of the United States decision overturning Roe v. Wade, campuses across the U.S. are scrambling to address students’ reproductive health needs and deal with underlying issues contributing to lack of access to care. As laws permitting or limiting abortion care are now decided at the state, campus policies,…
Episode Description Today, we celebrate our 100th episode with our special edition Student Affairs Now Social Hour. All five of our hosts and our production assistant Nat Ambrosey are joined by members of our learning community. The group discusses favorite episodes, other podcasts, pandemic lessons, summer plans, and what they are troubling now in student…
In honor of the upcoming holiday, we’re sharing perspectives of several mothers who work in or adjacent to the field of student affairs. This group, also known as S.A.M.S. or Student Affairs MomS, has an active community on Facebook, presence at national conferences, and beyond. In today’s episode, Dr. Heather Shea (herself a SAM) discusses…
What current trends are shaping campus recreation, fitness, intramural sports, and wellness initiatives? How has the field of collegiate recreation been impacted by the pandemic? How do campus leaders advocate for facilities and new interests of students? Host Dr. Heather Shea connects with Dr. Cara Lucia, Mila Padgett, and Dr. Wendy Windsor, the current and…
Join Dr. Heather Shea as she discusses disability in higher education with Dr. Amanda Kraus, Dr. Lissa Ramirez-Stapleton, and Autumn Wilke. This episode starts with a conversation about the difference between person-first versus identity-first language and then goes beyond the basics of language, compliance, and access and delves deeper into what our campus systems would…
Today’s new episode, right in time for convention/conference season, is a conversation between student affairs educators and current graduate students at Michigan State University about what to expect at professional association conferences/contentions this spring. Second year in the Student Affairs Administration MA Program, Josh Mosteart, hosted the conversation with Brian Hercliff-Proffer, Kirby Gibson, Dr. Kris…
The Proud & Thriving Framework, a collaboration between the Jed Foundation and the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, was designed to equip administrators and stakeholders with the information and resources they need to strengthen campus support for LGBTQ+ college students. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea connects with Dr. Sofia Pertuz, Jesse Beal,…
As travel became nearly impossible in summer 2020, study abroad programs were one area of campus seriously affected by the pandemic. Some campuses canceled all programs in both 2020 and 2021, while others found ways to innovate through virtual international experiences. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea talks with Dr. Alex Akulli and Gabby Wahla…
The Proud & Thriving Framework, a collaboration between the Jed Foundation and the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, was designed to equip administrators and stakeholders with the information and resources they need to strengthen campus support for LGBTQ+ college students. In this episode, Dr. Heather Shea connects with Dr. Sofia Pertuz, Jesse Beal,…
This episode focuses on increasing recognition of—and needed supports for—queer college students from rural areas. Building upon a recently released chapter in a new monograph, this episode brought together two authors/scholars and two practitioners to discuss the many ways that core aspects of gender and sexual identity intersect with location.
“Hello, my name is ___. My pronouns are___.” In this episode of the podcast, we go beyond the basics of pronoun sharing in every day conversation and talk about the deeper rationale of this respectful and affirming practice for all members of our campus community—but specifically for trans, non-binary, and genderqueer students/faculty/staff and community members.
This episode features an engaging in-class conversation about expectations and realities for the first student affairs job search. Facilitated by the course instructor and Student Affairs NOW host, Dr. Heather Shea, the panelists were directed questions crowd-sourced from students in the class. The six panelists, all alumni of the same program from the classes of…
Student transitions have often captured our attention as we consider the various interventions and opportunities for engagement with new students on campus. For many campuses, this year brought two groups of first-time-on-campus students. Dr. Heather Shea discusses with Dr. Jennifer Keup, Brian MacDonald, and Dr. Laura Randolph the unique needs of the two cohorts of…
In celebration of our one year anniversary as a podcast, this episode features the voices and perspectives from across the field of student affairs. Joining Dr. Heather Shea are four incredible student affairs educators participating from coast-to-coast discussing all of the ways in which their lives and work coalesce in higher education in service of…
Production Assistant Nat Ambrosey sits down with the hosts of Student Affairs NOW to take you behind the scenes. They discuss how the podcast started, episodes to listen to and more, all for the 1 year anniversary of the podcast.
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…
Case Studies as a tool for learning are ubiquitous in student affairs professional preparation programs. As faculty seek to provide theory-to-practice opportunities, case studies are often the tool.
Dr. Heather Shea discusses how campuses and racial justice activists are grappling with issues of campus policing with four panelists who sit at various vantage points–scholars, activists, students–in the Black Lives Matter movement. Joining the conversation are Dr. Charles H.F. Davis, III, Dr. Erin S. Corbett, Jude Paul Dizon, and Jael Kerandi.
Dr. Heather Shea discusses college students in recovery from alcohol and substance use disorder with Drs, Becki Elkins, Penny Rosenthal, and Eran Hanke–three of the contributors to a New Directions for Student Services monograph. The conversation explores the complexities of the recovery movement, evolving definitions/language, and attends to issues of social justice and race. The…
We are thrilled to welcome to Student Affairs NOW a scholar, an author, and a student affairs educator who truly needs no introduction, the newest member to join the host team, Dr. Raechele Pope! On today’s episode, Dr. Heather Shea chats and gets to know her, talk a bit about her pathway into and through…
Dr. Heather Shea discusses assessing student learning and development outcomes with four assessment experts, including the co-editors of the new FALDOs book from CAS. Panelists share ways to streamline the process through frameworks as well as learn what various campuses are doing to build a culture of assessment.
We engage in a conversation with two GenZ scholars, about the defining characteristics, motivations, and misperceptions of the newest generation of student affairs educators to join our campus ranks.
Dr. Heather Shea discusses the recently published book Inclusive Supervision in Student Affairs: A Model for Professional Practice with co-authors Drs. Amy Wilson, Carmen McCallum, and Matthew Shupp.
Dr. Heather Shea explores three interrelated themes–Resiliency, Crisis, and Conflict–with two senior-level student affairs administrators, Dr. Kathy Adams Riester and Dr. Glenn DeGuzman, as part of a professional development seminar.
Dr. Heather Shea talks with a panel of graduate students and student affairs educators about the ways in which imposterism shows up during the graduate school experience and beyond. Joining Heather are Eileen Galvez, Alex Lange, Katherine Lechman, and Dr. Megumi Moore.
The four hosts of Student Affairs Now look back at what they’ve learned and taken away from the podcast in 2020 and what they are looking forward to from the podcast in 2021.
Dr. Heather Shea discusses women and leadership development in college with Dr. Julie Owen, Dr. Jennifer Pigza, Dr. Aoi Yamanaka, and Sharrell Hassell-Goodman. Panelists are authors of the new book and facilitation guide to “We Are the Leaders We’ve Been Waiting For.”
Dr. Heather Shea discusses assessment practices in student affairs designed to promote social justice with Drs. Gavin Henning and Anne Lundquist. This conversation will explore broad philosophical shifts as well as practical techniques to promote equity-centered assessment.
Dr. Heather Shea engages with a panel of NextGen Institute faculty and student affairs educators about the many ways undergraduates and prospective graduate students can consider, plan for, and engage in professional preparation for a career in student affairs.
Dr. Heather Shea discusses the new book The Curricular Approach to Student Affairs with co-authors Drs. Kathleen Kerr, Keith Edwards, James Tweedy, Hilary Lichterman, and Amanda Knerr.
In our first episode, the four hosts of Student Affairs NOW will engage in an open conversation about the vision for the podcast.
Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast, weekly web show, and online learning community for thousands of us who work in, alongside, or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs. Our first episode will air in October, 2020.
Student Affairs NOW is the premier podcast, weekly web show, and online learning community for thousands of us who work in, alongside, or adjacent to the field of higher education and student affairs.