Building a Caring University: Rethinking Employee Well-Being in Higher Ed

In a special episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field podcast, host Dr. Jill Creighton invites listeners to explore a vibrant tapestry of perspectives on reinventing student affairs for the future. Recorded live at the annual NASPA conference, this episode brings together over 60 passionate voices—from seasoned administrators to emerging professionals—all responding to the essential question: "If you could rebuild student affairs from scratch, what's one change you would make to impact student success?" What emerges is an inspiring collage of themes, united by a commitment to student-centered change and innovation. One theme that resounds across so many voices is the necessity to break down silos—especially between academic and student affairs. Over and over, contributors envision seamless, integrated models in which faculty and staff collaborate to bridge classroom learning with co-curricular development. As Brianna Morris so succinctly puts it, "One way I would rebuild student affairs is by bridging the gap between academic affairs and student affairs to better serve our students." Another powerful current is the call to prioritize belonging and community. Gada Endick suggests designing student affairs programs "around belonging and community as the core drivers of student success, rather than the outcomes of programming." This means intentionally crafting spaces and systems where every student—especially those from marginalized or non-traditional backgrounds—can forge meaningful connections and thrive. Equity, representation, and accessibility surface as central pillars as well. Contributors emphasize representation within staff, the elimination of barriers, and the use of data to assess and adapt to the changing needs of today's students. Paul Rossi advocates for "co-creation" with students so that systems and supports are built alongside those who use them. The episode also highlights professional development, support for entry-level staff, and the ongoing need to make student affairs visible and valued across campus communities. These perspectives, from institutions nationwide and around the world, remind us that the work of student affairs is never static. It's evolving, dynamic, and fundamentally collaborative. If you're passionate about education, leadership, and helping students find their path, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Tune in to this energizing episode and find out how you can help reshape the future of student affairs—one idea, one story, one change at a time.   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 14 continuing our conversation on the value of Student Affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. She her hers your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to another episode of Essay Voices from the Field. Today we're going to be featuring first of three episodes that we recorded live and in person at the annual conference. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:36]: We're so thankful to over 60 of you who shared your voices with us today. We were able to ask you three questions, one each on the conference focus areas and today's question is on the focus area of redefining the profession and student success. We asked you if you could rebuild student affairs from scratch, what's one change that you would make to impact student success? Here are your responses. Alan Thompson at the Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington Director of Academic and Career Advising One thing that I would change to have an impact on student success would definitely be making sure that the individuals, the professionals who serve the students reflect the population of students that they are meant to serve. That the faculty staff representatives mirror the student body so that the students who are coming to the campuses have a comfortable environment in which to be successful and ultimately thrive and graduate.  Hi everyone, my name is Enock Agyei. I am a second year graduate student of the Student Affairs Administration Program at Michigan State University. I'll be graduating in May and I am glad to share my perspective as a new professional and a new grad have a more integrated approach of how our profession collaborate with student affairs. I think the contemporary student come to a campus with more complex needs than academic affairs and student affairs to have individual outcomes and individual ambitions. I think if we we have a more integrated approach as to how both academic affairs and student affairs can collaborate and help students overcome challenges and do some proactive things to make student life better. I think that's what I'm going to do because from the inception of the profession, some of our founding documents just give the clear distinction between our field and academic affairs, which make field a bit subordinate to academic affairs, which is not meeting the need of our contemporary student. Mishka Murad [00:02:20]: My name is Mishka Murad and I have worked in student affairs as well as worked as an adjunct instructor. I'm originally from Pakistan and I've worked in Pakistan, Thailand, Mexico and the us. And for me, what's really crucial about this question is that I've heard over the number of years that I've been in this work, the frustration sometimes with the similar mistakes that students are making over and over again. And so if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, I think I'd like to remind folks that there is a life cycle for students. And so even if we're hearing similar things or similar mistakes, that they're coming from different students and that each student is experiencing it differently and that we should be experiencing it differently and remember to see that humanity in students as well. And so I think when it comes to student success, instead of labeling them as problematic or as repeating behaviors, we realize that with each of these behaviors that might be problematic is an opportunity for them to do better and be better and not to give up hope, because we might have been in the profession for really long and we might feel a certain way about it, and to maintain that ability to really believe that at any point a student can change and can make a difference in how they move forward into the world. Ghada Endick [00:04:00]: I'm Ghada Endick, and I'm the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life at Rutgers University. And we focus on creating an interconnected graduate student experience across our eight grad schools. So we're here to kind of improve the quality of life for graduate and professional students, serving their diverse needs, fostering a sense of belonging, and really helping them just make the most of the many resources Rutgers has to offer. So we do programming that's designed to connect students across their disciplines. We provide spaces for them to meet and gather, and we also focus on events and initiatives that celebrate their contributions or achievements and amplify their voices. If I were building a student affairs programs from scratch, I would design it around belonging and community as the core drivers of student success, rather than the outcomes of programming. So that means intentionally creating structures where every student, especially grad students, has meaningful connections with their peers, their mentors, and the institution. When students feel they belong, they're far more likely to persist, thrive, and fully engage in their academic journey. Adam McCready [00:05:29]: Hi, I'm Adam McCready. I use him his pronouns. I'm an associate professor in higher education programs at the University of Connecticut. So student affairs from scratch. I would recommend that if we could do one thing to impact student success, I think we need to combat it from a more of a community wellness approach. And part of that from a community approach means that we need to be. Historically, we've talked about collaboration in our field. I think collaboration and Community oriented approach requires folks really communicating at a professional level. I think it also requires engaging more holistically with students and their communities on campus and their communities outside of campus, families, friends and the like. If we really want to impact student success, we have to understand their realities, their communities and the like and move away from approaches that are really thinking about student success from an individualistic approach and come at it from a more community oriented mindset to support them in their wellbeing. Andrew Finn [00:06:07]: My name is Andrew Finn and I am the Assistant Director for Graduate Student Programming and Events in the center for Student Involvement at Northeastern University on the Boston campus. If I could rebuild Student affairs from scratch, something that I would really focus on is really building interdisciplinary community from the get go rather than having it be something that students are left to discover on their own over time. I find that the best and most meaningful connections that students often make, but not always, are those that are explicitly outside of their discipline early on because it expands the possibilities for how they view themselves and the way that they can impact the world through their professional development pathways. As such, students become more successful through a holistic lens rather than through a narrower and more carefully defined one early on.  Dillon Duermyer [00:07:36]: Hello, my name is Dillon Duermyer. I am from Angelo State University and I handle clery compliance and student conduct, including academic misconduct. If I was to read Rebuild Student Conduct and Student affairs from Scratch, ultimately what I would want to do is create a unit that has cross collaboration. I think it is oftentimes in our department where we're seeing that areas get siloed and ultimately we're not talking and communicating effectively across the departments. Although everybody answers to the vp, each of their sub departments can often not be collaborating in a full effort that helps us understand understand the problems that students are facing as a whole. Because often I think as we see as administrators in student affairs is problems in one area tend to lead to problems in another area.  My name is Kathryn DeMarinis and I am a residence hall director at Stony Brook University. If I could rebuild Student affairs from scratch, that could help change the impact of student success. I would want there to be more vulnerability in professional staff. I think that when students see us being level with them and breaking down barriers for ourselves, they find it easier to do it for themselves as well. Romando Nash [00:08:52]: Romando Nash Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Washington State University I think I would rebuild just how we approach everything. I think that there's a need for us to become a lot more realistic in the things that we do, how we do stop being as prescriptive as we generally have been and really begin to just move things forward in the way that we should have been doing over the years now. Hello, my name is Brianna Morris. I am from Richmond, Virginia and I currently serve as an assistant director for student conduct and academic integrity at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. One way I would rebuild student affairs is by bridging the gap between academic affairs and student affairs to better serve our students. I do feel that there is a gap in between and they usually work separately and not really together. And I do think that there is importance of both working together, especially to better help the student. We're all here to help students and so in order to make that transition more easy for the students, I think working together with academic affairs as student affairs will be perfect when it comes to the technology student affairs. Keren Gomez [00:10:04]: Hi, everybody. My name is Keren Gomez. My pronouns are they, she. I am a student program coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin. With the scholarship program titled UT for Me, powered by Dell Scholars, we are able to benefit all students from all backgrounds, regardless. Think of it as a holistic way of rebuilding it up because if we are able to support our most. Our students who have the most need just from the beginning, then we're able to execute better things in the future for all students. Michael Allensworth [00:10:58]: I'm Michael Allensworth from Michigan State University. When I think about rebuilding student affairs from scratch, one thing I would do is consider how can we bring vital resources to students, particularly in residential campuses, those who live on. So how can we have academic advising, health services, mental health services, right in the neighborhoods or the residence halls where students are living so that these folks can work with housing staff and other student affairs professionals to better support the students who are on our campuses. Hi, I'm Taylor Cercone. I work at Eastern Kentucky University as a residence hall coordinator and housing and residence life. One change I would make to impact student success would be bridging the gap between residence life and academics, student activities, anything like that that involves students on campus. As a residence hall coordinator, I believe that we have more of an impact on students success in college.  Mirela Mazalu [00:12:01]: Hello, my name is Mirela Mazalu. I'm the Secretary General of the European University College Association. We are based in Brussels in Belgium. It's a European network of universities, colleges and halls of residences doing work, trying to promote the student affairs profession in Europe. And I would say that if I could rebuild the student affairs from. From scratch, one change that I would do in Europe is to really have a holistic approach to building learning outcomes to think about the student experience. Have the student affairs professionals in the room promoting student affairs with our academic colleagues. Make student affairs part of the mission and vision of academic success. Hello. Jordan Peyton [00:12:50]: Jordan Peyton from Ohio State University, a third year PhD student in engineering education. I would allow students to really understand how their data is being used in student affairs to inform certain practices. And what I mean by this is when we look at collecting like Asian data, really disaggregating that and speaking to those communities about what kind of changes they see happening in their own data to best inform what changes are actually being made based on the data to help that community move forward in education, through education in higher education systems, really to impact positively the student success of those student groups. My name is Dan Maxwell. I serve as the Vice President for Student Success and Student Life at the University of Houston Downtown. To think about the future of the profession, if we could kind of take a step back and maybe begin from the very, very beginning, I would worry less about the silos and more about the blurring of the lines. I have the ability right now in my position to work with both academic support services such as testing and tutoring and supplemental instruction and success coaches, along with our testing center and accommodations, along with all the very traditional student affairs work. And so I approach this work at seamless for our students with the hope that we are making high impact practices both in the classroom, in support of the classroom and outside of the classroom. Diana Sims Harris [00:14:25]: Diana Sims Harris from IU Indianapolis. So if I could rebuild student affairs and make one change that would impact impact student success, I'm actually thinking about two changes I would make and one is more going back to the basics. As we started in student affairs, we started with much more generalist roles that have become more specialized over time. And I would love to see us continue to build those generalist roles that integrate both academic and student affairs into their work. I think especially as we move forward into the future, generalist roles are really able to be responsive to change even better. And that's going to prepare us more. I would also love to see Student affairs center assessment in our preparation programs even further. There's been a lot of progress in this area, but I think we need to do more to be able to tell our story, to tell the impact that we have in student success and then use that to even further our efforts. And especially in the next several years, being able to use data to tell our story is going to be critical. Dr. Meme Wren-Coleman [00:15:38]: Good afternoon. I am Ishanya Wren Coleman, better known as Dr. Meme, Vice President and Dean of Student at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. Well, I would like to start with the foundation. And what I mean about that is, how did we first plan the connection with student affairs and academic affairs? I would like to look at all the variety of students that come to our campuses. How are we creating the spaces? How are we making sure that all of our students belong when we are partnering or bridging academic affairs with student affairs? Academic affairs, of course, talks about the classroom. Student affairs, of course, talks about how to make our students feel like they're at home, away from home. But we're going to bridge that because we have to make the connection because we're all a part of their lives. Academic affairs are in the classroom. Student affairs is outside the classroom. But when we work together as partners, we can make sure that all is inclusive. And when I think about the success that we could build working together and creating spaces and places for our students to feel belonged and connected to our institutions, it would take both of us through academic affairs and Student affairs to do just that. Ray Handy [00:16:32]: Ray Handy, Associate Dean of Students at the University of New England in Portland, Maine. And I think as far as rebuilding student affairs from scratch, I would have it where there isn't this division of Student affairs and Academic affairs, that, that it's just all in the service of students. And so that there isn't this division and we're constantly working of how do we work with academic affairs? How does academic affairs work with student affairs? So I think if there is one entity versus these separations and folks going into their their own towers, I think that would be do us a good service. Brett Petersen Bruner [00:17:45]: My name is Brett Petersen Bruner. I serve as the Associate Virginia Vice Provost for Student Success and Persistence at Wichita State University. One change that I would make to impact student success if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch would be to explicitly incorporate student success in every single employee's job description. My name is Rachel Amaro. I am the admissions and academic advisor for the Department of Educational Leadership at Cal State State Fullerton. I think that I would change probably the or make improvements to the inclusion of more diverse students in the research of student development. I think student affairs, we've started with some grounding documents we call them, and we talk about how we can change them. But I think we need to start with all of those different students and really using information about them to really be able to hone in on what their true needs are. Haneesha Dushara [00:18:49]: Hi, my name is Haneesha Dushara. I am originally from South India, but went to University of Cincinnati to get my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Currently, I work as part of Business System Strategy team at naspa. So if I were to rebuild student affairs from scratch, the one thing that I would change is, is make the systems easier to navigate for both professionals and students. I think the systems and processes that we have right now, talking from a student's perspective, it is little harder to navigate. So I would focus on reducing these barriers in how these services are organized so that the professionals have more time actually supporting the students and less time navigating or explaining these complicated processes to the students or learning about it themselves. Hi, I'm Jeanna Masterdicasa and I'm Assistant Provost and Director of Institutional Assessment at the University of Florida. I think if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, I would really begin by connecting it to how academic advising and the academic enterprise work. Because there's so many other opportunities to intersect with students. I think overall we are missing the bigger picture of how supporting and challenging students really can be. A large, giant success effort across both academic and student affairs. Ethan Williams [00:20:10]: My name is Ethan Williams and I work at University of North Texas Health Science center in Fort Worth, Texas. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, well, I serve in the graduate and professional student space, a plug for the admin and graduate professional student services knowledge community, if you also serve in this space. But I think that my institution is unique in that we have centralized services for graduate students. And I think that that is something that I would seriously consider remaking from the ground because a lot of graduate academic programs are housed within a college. And often college colleges don't have the resources of centralized student affairs or the bandwidth to provide comprehensive programming for students in their programs. And I think that would greatly impact student success, having formalized staff members who are dedicated to serving graduate students, rather than, you know, faculty members who are already stretched with course load and things like that, who also have to plan orientation and also have to advise and do all of that kind of thing. So I think that would be a benefit to the field. Chris Hall [00:21:15]: Hi, I'm Chris Hall. I am the Director of Residence Life and Student Housing at Georgetown University Law Center. I think that that one thing that we could do to rebuild student affairs from scratch would be to actually make sure that we have people who understand student affairs in leadership roles. I find often you find people from the faculty coming into it, and while they may be excellent academics and they don't necessarily know student affairs, so I think that we want people who are coming up through the student affairs process to be the leaders of student affairs. Hi, I'm Tiffani Riggers Piehl, Associate professor of Higher Education at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. One change that I would make to impact student success would be to reconsider the visibility of student affairs as a field from even in students undergraduate education really having folks promote and help students understand that the work that they do as student affairs leaders on campus is actually field, not just jobs that people do to help them throughout their college experience. Jackie Yun [00:22:49]: Hi, I'm Jackie Yun and I serve as the assistant Vice President of student experience at Emerson College in Boston. So if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, a change that I would make to impact student success would be to rethink our categories of support at universities and colleges. For me, I think we need to be more integrated. So something I think about all the time is academic affairs and student affairs working together to advance student success. So I'm able to do this in that I oversee student engagement and student leadership and I think a lot about what students are doing in their co curricular life and how that impacts their professional development. And I really love that we work so closely with departments at Emerson to think about industry standards and how students are preparing for their profession. And to me that co curricular life is the practice ground. It's the laboratory for them to develop those skills and get really good at what they're going to do and to do it in fun ways with classmates and trial and error and be putting up the production, be making the film, be writing for the paper so that they can develop those skills alongside their academic curriculum. But I think typically in universities we're structured so separately that there's just not really good integration. So I'm always trying to figure out how we can partner with faculty, with departments, with curriculum so that because I don't think students see those lines, I think it's blurred for them. And I kind of wonder if we could make it even more blurred so that they're just the development and the learning is happening in all the spaces. Dr. Amy French [00:24:00]: This is Amy French from Bowling Green State University. And one change that I would make to impact students success is to ensure that when students arrive on campus that they have a clear path forward and an advocate that really values them, listens to them, checks in on them, similar to an advisor, but really kind of like what Bowling Green State University is doing right now with life design, where we're thinking about the current moment and needs of students, but also the future and where they're headed professionally and personally.  Dan Volchek, Harvard Griffin Grad School of Arts and Sciences I would look at student affairs from the lens of what we've done with other areas, and that is to combine and work closely with academic affairs and combine them, or not necessarily combine them, but bring them into a coordination. We've done that in the undergrad level with the first year experience type programs, and we need to start doing that in the graduate student level. However, it may be working from the other way, not student affairs approaching academic affairs, but academic affairs bringing the grad student student affairs people into their programs. Kathryn Hall-Hertel [00:25:51]: Kathryn Hall-Hertel, UNC Charlotte and if I could really address rebuilding student affairs, I think the thing I would most focus on is the importance of collaboration between academic affairs and student affairs for our students. They don't make a distinction about where one division or office ends or begins, and we need to be better about collaborating. Hi, this is Scott Peska, the assistant provost of academic and student success at Waubonsie Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois. You know, if I think about student success and one change that I would make, that if we're rebuilding from scratch, I would want to see us find ways to make the student success completely inescapable, not allowing students to have opportunities to fall through the cracks, mandatory orientations, mandatory advising opportunities where students have to connect and interact with us as the, I guess, wayfinding points as they go through the college experience.  Dr. John Gardner [00:27:51]: This is John Gardner from the University of South Carolina and from the Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, what's one thing to impact student success? I wish I had more time to think about all the three questions I've been given, so this is very much off the cuff. The student affairs profession was in effect, bolted onto a system that was already 300 years old, and some very early choices were made about where the modeling would take place for that work, namely in research universities. And I'm not persuaded now that that's where the model should be based. Other than that, you have a very complex division of labor there that shows how complex the challenges are of this profession. I'm wondering, if you were to rebuild it, would you supplement complement the graduate preparation in terms of credit instruction either elsewhere than colleges of education or in colleges in addition to the College of education? It seems that the issues that student affairs professionals are dealing with are so complex that students really require a broader and more interdisciplinary graduate preparation than they may be receiving, and one that could prepare them also to live a professional life where the work they do and the reward systems are so fundamentally different from the faculty, where the power and status still rests.  Katelyn Talbott, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign Assistant Director of Graduate Professional Programs for Bioengineering Rebuilding student affairs from scratch for me definitely would mean going slower, being intentional and considerate, making sure to consider all backgrounds and resources and needs to build what the students need. Programming, financial resources, student spaces, tutoring, free open air spaces, connections that really fit each person's specific needs to ensure all students are able to take advantage of the opportunities that lead to their success.  My name is Lori White. I am The President of DePauw University, I am a former NASPA Board chair, and I served as a Vice President for student affairs for 13 years. What change I would make to impact student success if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch is I would make sure that there was much closer alignment between academic affairs and student affairs. In fact, instead of having a hostile takeover from one of those divisions to the other, I would think about how could I build those divisions together from scratch such that they were equally working on all of the things that we know would positively impact impact student success. Karin Readel, [00:30:21]: Karin Readel, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign I'm the Assistant Director for Graduate Programs for Bioengineering. In a dream world, student affairs would be more integrated and cohesive across our large, decentralized university. Silos still exist and make it difficult to support students holistically in the manner that they deserve to be supported. Hi. Keegan Newkirk from the College of DuPage. I'm a vice President for Student affairs and if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, I think I would just give people time and space to be really creative. I have an incredible team and if they had time just to be creative, I think that would have the biggest impact on student success.  Marleigh McGechan [00:31:17]: I'm Marleigh McGechan. I'm the graduate Student Affairs Coordinator in Arts and Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. As someone who works in graduate student affairs, if I were dreaming big and rebuilding from scratch, I would bake in intentional graduate student success support from the very start. And that's not programs or initiatives that are just open to graduate students, but ones that are designed for them and that target the unique way that graduate students progress through academic milestones and develop relationships with faculty and pursue professional growth. Hello, my name is Serena Studivant. I currently serve as the Assistant Director for Commuter Student Cess at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Higher education is built on a traditional student model, so if I can make any changes, I would ensure that all institutions have Offices that support non traditional students from the beginning. So when I'm speaking about non traditional students, I would say commuters and adult learners are the first that come to mind. They have unique needs and most universities do not have offices for those two populations. So from the beginning, I would create offices that are supporting engagement for those students as well as continuing to keep the offices for residential students. O'Keeffe Johnson Rayner [00:32:23]: Hi, my name is O'Keeffe Johnson Rayner and I am the Assistant Director of Graduate Student Involvement at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, a change that I might make that impact student success is specifically investment in the student affairs professional at the entry level and mid professional level. Part of the reason that I think this would be wonderful is because even in going to different NASPA programs since I have been here, one of the things that a lot of us have acknowledged is the value of investment by a professional who is either older than us, more experience than us, whether as a student or as a professional. And I think that it would be incredible if there was a greater investment by different aspects of leadership, different levels of leadership. Recognizing that the investment in their new entry level employees as well as their mid level employees, and specifically recognizing that the retention of these employees, enabling them to become that same professional who can shoulder tap other students, other professionals into a field that can be so rewarding and so, so wonderfully vocational for work that needs to be done, could be incredible.  Jamie Washington [00:33:59]: Hello, I am Jamie Washington. Pronouns he, him and his. And I am the President Emeritus of the Social Justice Training Institute and the president of the Washington Consulting Group. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, I would rebuild it with a team of the members who make help students successful, the reason that they go to college and what it is that they're hoping for. And we would all look at what all of our responsibility is in student success. And I would have student affairs folks in everything from the classroom to admissions and careers because all of that work really matters in terms of of impacting student success. The use of technology is one of the things that we have an opportunity to consider right now and certainly.  Hi, my name is Lauren Zelinsky. I am the Associate Director for Student affairs in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Office of Graduate Studies. I would make all aspects of student affairs centralized for both undergrad and grad students to ensure the availability of equal resources for all student populations. I would also give student affairs administrators equal access to software and information that is shared with students so we know what information is being passed on to Them. Jeff Knapp [00:35:00]: My name is Jeff Knapp and I am at the University of Nebraska Medical center and I am the director of Counseling and Psychological Services. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch. Well, I guess it's not even student affairs. It's just I think the faculty does a great job of teaching the students the skills that they were asked to teach them. But I think how do we combine the skills that perhaps from an emotional intelligence standpoint or from a mental or just, you know, overall wellness and resilience standpoint, how do we intentionally teach those skills in combination with the faculty so that the students are successful as whole people? So I think I would maybe ingrain the faculty piece and the classroom instruction with student affairs more ingrained than it is now.  Michelle Burke [00:36:26]: Hi, I'm Michelle Burke, I'm the director of post secondary programs and partnerships with the Michigan center for Adult College Success based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I think it's to important, important to consider students from all backgrounds sometimes, at least in my initial training to be a student affairs practitioner, it was very much about the traditional age student and students who were going to college full time living on campus. And we need to change the mindset that students come from all ages, all backgrounds. They aren't always full time students, but they have a desire to learn and achieve with a post secondary education. So if I could change one thing from scratch, it would be just that mindset of serving every student and not just the stereotypical different subpopulations, but that we really think about the impact of all students on a campus.  Hi, I'm Dr. Ed Cabellon, interim Vice President for Student Experience at Frederick Community College College in Maryland. For me, I really think that student affairs would not be its own division but integrated throughout the institution for greater college wide impact. It would remove the silos and the silo mentality from our work. Tippo Carmichael [00:37:41]: Hello, my name is Tippo Carmichael. I work for the University of Texas at Austin. I'm the graduate program manager for the interdisciplinary life sciences graduate programs in cell molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology. If I could change something for student success, the thing I would most want to focus on would be transparency in accessibility. I think that a lot of universities and colleges have a lot of programs that already exist and doesn't mean there doesn't need to be more. But what I often find is it's just that transfer of knowledge that gets lost. People don't know what is even already available to them, let alone what things are missing that need to be filled. So I would love to have infrastructure for Communication to promote transparency and accessibility. So I guess, actually, I guess my answer is communication. And so, yeah, I would love to see that, you know, whether it's having websites, forms, whatever, that help, boilerplate presentations, or things like that to help. So that way information can just get disseminated a little bit more cleanly across programs, departments, colleges, because people just don't even know what things already exist to be able to take advantage of them.  Hello, I'm Dr. Brooke Hildebrand, clubs, and I am the program coordinator and assistant professor for our Higher Education Administration program at Southeast Missouri State University. I did sort of rebuild our program from scratch when I started my role five years ago. But if I could rebuild student affairs affairs from scratch, one change that I would make, and this is a change that I made in my program, is emphasizing communication, public speaking, intercultural communication, organizational communication, rhetoric. Because that is something that we do so much as student affairs professionals and we have so many different audiences to communicate with. And so I just feel like having a good foundation in that could have an impact on student success because we would be better able to communicate all of the things that we need to communicate to our students to educate the whole person. Olivia Callahan [00:40:36]: My name is Olivia Callahan and I'm the alumni manager for the Computer science, Science and Engineering division at the University of Michigan. I think that if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, one change that I would make to impact student success would be to make some sort of mentorship program for undergraduate students mandatory. We see from many student affairs researchers at events such as the NASPA Annual conference how impactful mentorship is on the student experience. Time and time again, we see how our student affairs professionals individually impact students on A mentorship level and how having an individual mentor can impact student retention. Some students are able to have this experience, but a lot of times students aren't. So having this mandatory experience I think would be one way to reframe the college experience for our undergraduates. Dr. April Perry [00:42:07]: Hi there, I'm Dr. April Perry. I'm a professor of Higher Education at Western Carolina University. And if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, the one thing that I would change to make an impact on student success is to make sure we elevate and highlight graduate and professional students equivalent to undergraduate student success. My name is Dr. Rolanda Horn and I am the Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, I would. One change that I would make is to ensure that the Department of Student affairs on all campuses had adequate resources to hire adequate staff to better support our students on a holistic continuum. Paul Rossi [00:43:09]: Hello, my name's Paul Rossi. I work at the University of the Arts, London and part of the Omoshi association in the UK for leaders in student services there. If we started student affairs from scratch, I think one thing we would do is probably involve students in the creation of the systems and processes and support that they might need from the very beginning. Make it a co creation, co production piece that would curate a set of provision that would actually meet the needs as they perceive them while also ensuring the institutions got out of those processes and procedures the things that they need. Hi, my name is Sam Miller, I'm the Assistant Director for Student Engagement at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. One change I would make to impact student success, rebuilding student affairs is to have a greater focus on mental health and campus counseling resources and making those available to our students.  Gianluca Giovannucci [00:44:26]: My name is Gianluca Giovannucci, I come from Italy, Europe. I'm the president of European University College Association, a Belgium based association that connects residential colleges universities in Europe. We are working in 18 European countries. So in this moment of the world, I think that one important change for the profession is that everyone who want to obtain their student success should be more intentionally working with a one to one relationship with students. So I think talk to them could be the motto for this profession in the future. So we need to approach every single student in the single situation in a one to one conversation. This is very important. I know this is difficult because we need many people working on this, but this the key from a real student success in this difficult moment with this new generation.  Antonia McFarlane [00:45:32]: My name is Antonia McFarlane, I am assistant Coordinator for our residential conduct and community Standards office at Stony Brook University. Change I would make is making it so that professionals take care of themselves so then we can take care of students and their success and know how to steward it and improve it. Sometimes that in student affairs we do not take care of ourselves and know how we can use processes to take care of ourselves. And then in that we don't have information that we can relay successfully to help with student success. So that's what I would do.  Dr. Kerrie Montgomery Orozco [00:46:15]: I'm Dr. Kerrie Montgomery Orozco. I'm an adjunct faculty member at the University of Florida's online Student Personnel in Higher Education program. I would definitely want to spend more time listening to students in rebuilding student affairs from scratch. I think that the student needs are changing so often and the political landscape and the social landscape are changing so much that it's hard to retro retrofit what we currently do to meet the needs of students now. And so we keep kind of being behind the curve. So I think we really need to stop and listen to what students need and start over with that at the front. Because not everything that worked when the profession began is necessarily still working for today's environment. Hello, my name is Trinity Miller and I am an assistant coordinator from Stony Brook University. One change that I would make for student affairs would be to be more visible. I believe a lot of the work that we do is behind the scenes and that can make it very difficult for students to reach out to support. I feel like we are a very much hidden resource, a hidden entity. So being able to be more visible to give students that opportunity to even explore this as a career path, I think would really help impact student success. Art Munan [00:47:20]: I am Art Munan, Senior associate Vice President at Liaison. Working exclusively with graduate programs. I would actually have all of our data systems be able to talk to one another another and create a unified data layer to be able to see how we can actually utilize our data to best suit students.  Dae'lyn Do [00:48:15]: My name is Dae'lyn Do. I use she her pronouns. And I'm the associate director for the Women in Science and Engineering Residence program at the University of Michigan. If I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, I really think I would center mentorship for first gen professionals. As a student, I felt like I had a lot of support navigating what it meant to be a first gen student. As I entered the field, I felt like there were gaps in areas that I continued to have challenges with. And so I think trying to really focus on what that looks like as a first generation professional and really what that means and how to navigate some of those barriers in the field and just as a professional and finding community in that space as well. Kimberly Goldsberry Vice President of Belonging, Engagement and Mission at DePaul University if I could rebuild student affairs from scratch, one change that I would make for student success, I would have from the beginning integrated academic and traditional student affairs UN units that could be serving in what has been traditionally both sides of the house. So whether that has some dual reporting accountability, but them being fully designed together from the get go. Hi, my name is Carly Matthews and I'm an area coordinator in Residence life at Rollins College in Orlando, Florida. If I had a magic wand or could rebuild the profession, something I would do is prioritize first generation students. I think that we are seeing a greater effort to support this group, but it should be a strategic priority for the development and longevity of the higher education field. Les Cook [00:49:49]: Les Cook Chancellor Emeritus, Montana Technological University so if I was rebuilding student education affairs from the ground up, one of the things that I would do is to try to figure out a way to incorporate student affairs student development training into everything that all of our faculty, our staff, everybody would have an understanding of the importance and value of student affairs to the organization, thinking about everything from people that work in facilities to all of your faculty to your donors. Everyone that is part of the organization knows and understands the importance of what student success looks like and is supportive of that.  Howdy. My name is Amarette Renieri and I am an assistant managing director at Texas A and M University working with Mays Business School. And if I could rebuild the student affairs professions from scratch, I think I would have career services integrated across student affairs and kind of make it a standard across student affairs for staff to be talking about career success and career development and the work that they do and kind of aligning it with career development. I mean, honestly, if I could redesign the university system, I would make career development something that reports directly to the president. But the question doesn't ask me that. But that's what my dream would be, is that career services comes from the institution top down and there would be like a VP that sits at the president's level in career services. Eddie Howard [00:51:26]: My name is Eddie Howard. I serve as assistant Dean for Student success and Enrollment Management at University of South Carolina Sackahatchee, which is one of the branch campuses of the University of South Carolina with a two year campus. If I could change one thing and student affairs from the ground up, I think it would be the relationship between academic and student affairs that I would create an environment where that is seamless and there wouldn't be any silos between the two divisions. That our goal would be to serve students in success beyond the classroom. That classroom would be limitless. And I believe that's some of the issues that we have is trying to get those individuals to come together. At the end of the day, when it comes to serving students, students, students don't really care who serves them, what title you hold, what position you have, how long you've been in the institution. What they care about is their individual success and how you can help them navigate that. Julie Payne Kirchmeyer [00:52:26]: Hi there. Julie Payne Kirchmeyer. I am president and CEO of Edgefield Group. And I would say the thing that would be central to rebuilding student affairs from scratch, if we're really going to impact student success, it's never one thing, right? It's so multifaceted. But I would say the first thing is we have to really know our learners. And it's not just about data points and it's not just about grouping them together. It's understanding who they are, the pathways that they follow and the friction that they encounter. And facing that boldly right now, we tend to hang on to legacy structures and legacy approaches. Julie Payne Kirchmeyer [00:53:03]: And then we group students together in these singular identities and create pathways for them, which quite frankly, what it does is increases the cognitive load on our students and it makes it frustrating for them. So that's one is to really know the student and know the experience. And the second is that it has to be made a priority and a structural priority by university leadership. Student affairs is not an add on. We are not the catch. All, we are a fundamental strategic lever for student success. And when we are treated that way and brought to the table in true human centered design work around student success, that's when we succeed.  Melinda Stoops [00:53:55]: Hi, I'm Melinda Stoops and I do coaching and consulting for higher education. I've worked in higher ed for over 20 years in Region 1, and my most recent role in a campus setting has been as AVP for Student Health and Wellness. I think it's interesting that we get caught up in sometimes in higher ed the way things have always been. And in thinking about looking at student success and how that has evolved over time. One thing that could be really helpful is to look ahead to ways in which we can have more overlapping functions within student affairs. So less siloed in terms of one person working in one specific department versus another department or a specific set of roles or another, but that at some level we all have to be generalists and we all have to really understand what other people in the division are doing and in the university, but also be flexible enough to be able to sometimes respond to a need that may be in another department. And so I think the flexibility and considering it less of siloed and more fluidity would be really, really helpful. I would remake Student Affair Centering the student we are often siloed in our departments and think of service to students this way, but I think that a model that centers students and provides a variety of services around that student is a better model. We can rethink our structure from departments, units and who are the students that are focused and served. Seth Matthew Fishman [00:55:33]: Seth Matthew Fishman, Villanova University I am a Professor of Higher Education Leadership and the Assistant Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Building a Student affairs program I'd really think about how we could consider student affairs in general, how to take care of ourselves first and teach self care, wellness and well being as part of the student experience in all preparation programs, but also how do we serve others. I'm James Quisenberry at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and if I were to make Student affairs new from scratch, I would connect the services that are related so our students don't have to go chasing them down all over campus.   Dr. Jill Creighton [00:56:42]: This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you're listening. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:57:07]: Special thanks to the University of Michigan, Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

In Season 14, Episode 6 of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, host Dr. Jill Creighton sits down with Dr. Kevin McClure, author of The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace After the Great Resignation. This candid conversation is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of higher education or passionate about changing workplace culture for the better. From the outset, Dr. McClure grounds his message in lived experience, sharing his journey from student affairs professional to department chair and faculty member. What becomes clear is that his new book—and this episode—are rooted in genuine care: for staff, for faculty, and for the systems in which they work. He makes a compelling case that prioritizing employee well-being in higher ed needs to be a fundamental goal, not just a means to an end for better student outcomes The conversation dives deep into the idea of "organizational care," contrasting it with the often isolating American emphasis on self-care. Dr. McClure introduces the lens of "squad care," asking listeners to reconsider how institutions themselves can become communities that collectively support employee thriving. He shares that although there are pockets of progress, the true "caring university" is still aspirational—requiring leaders to combine data, strategy, and a willingness to take bold action. A concept that resonates throughout the episode is the critique of "ideal worker norms." Dr. McClure unpacks how outdated expectations, rooted in gendered and ableist assumptions, persist in our workplaces—often dictating who succeeds and who gets left behind. He calls for challenging these norms and embracing more flexible, human-centered models of work. Listeners will come away with practical insights. The six pillars of the caring university—ranging from humanizing policies and prioritizing employee experience, to cultivating caring leaders—offer a tangible framework anyone can begin to explore. Dr. McClure emphasizes that meaningful change isn't about grand gestures; it's about taking swings, trying new things, and considering employee well-being as foundational to institutional success. For new professionals eager for a bright future in student affairs, and for seasoned leaders seeking actionable ideas, this episode is rich with hope, clarity, and direction. Tune in to hear why caring for "the people who show up for people" should be the next big priority in higher ed—and how we can collaboratively shape more humane, equitable workplaces. Ready to reimagine what's possible in higher education? Start by listening to the full conversation today! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Kevin, welcome to SA Voices. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:00:28]: Hello, I'm so excited to be here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:30]: You are another one of our conversations that we get to capture live and in person for SA Voices here at 2026 Annual Conference in Kansas City. So I know listeners, by the time you're hearing this, you're like, well, Annual was a while ago. We know, but we're glad to bring you these conversations. And so you, if you weren't able to be here, you get to be a part of it. And if you were able to be here, I know how ephemeral those spaces can be, and hopefully you can kind of revisit some of the information in Kevin's keynote speech. So Kevin, you have just spent an hour on stage, going through your new book, which is called The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace After the Great Resignation. You also did a book signing, so thank you for spending time with the members. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:01:09]: Yeah. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:09]: So we also know that you've been talking a lot, and we appreciate you spending one more hour with us. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:01:13]: Sure, absolutely. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:14]: We always like to start by asking our guests, how did you get to your current seat? You're both a department chair and a professor. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:01:20]: That's right. Yes, but I started in student affairs as a staff member, so origin story in housing, and then I transitioned into a living-learning program at the University of Maryland called Global Communities, and that was the best job I've ever had. So I peaked a little too early. That was my first professional job, and I absolutely loved it, loved every minute of it, and got to work really closely with students and do all sorts of cool programming with them. And as time went on, Maryland really wanted all of their living-learning programs to have a faculty director, and so I kind of got bumped out of my role as a faculty director came online, and it was a moment where I said, I might need to think about continuing my education. I don't know exactly where I want to go, but I don't want to be limited in what I can do, and I don't want it to be the case that I get bumped from another job by virtue of not having a terminal degree. So I entered a doctoral program, was finishing that. I was applying to higher ed staff jobs. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:02:23]: I was applying to a couple of policy jobs, and just kind of tossed my name in for a couple of faculty jobs. Jobs, not really thinking that that was going to be a thing. And I ended up getting this job at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and I've been there for almost 12 years now teaching in our higher education program, and then within the last 8 months stepping in to become the department chair. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:46]: I know this is terrible and it will show that I am an elder millennial, but my biggest association with Wilmington is Dawson's Creek. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:02:52]: Oh yes, Dawson's Creek, and also One Tree Hill was also filmed there. So it depends on what you watch, what you grew up on, but we still will have gatherings of people that come Wilmington based on their love of the show. Most of them are elder millennial women, and sometimes the stars will come back and do like events and that sort of thing. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:10]: Well, there you go, claim to fame, and of course a university in which you are. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:03:13]: We also have that. Yes, we have a beach. We have some other things too. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:16]: So I think that journey from practitioner to professor is one that a lot of new professionals or mid-career professionals are really interested in pursuing. Can you talk a little bit about that leap of faith from being a full-time practitioner to going, you know, I know I need this terminal for a job, but I also might need to not have a job while I get the terminal. Terminal? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:03:34]: Yeah, exactly. So I started doing my PhD while still working full-time, and I did that for a year, and it worked fairly well in the sense that I was keeping up with things. My wife was teaching at the time, and so we just were not seeing each other really at all. And as a consequence, we decided in the last couple of years of my doc program to move in and become house directors of a sorority house. And I also went from from being a full-time staff member back to being a graduate assistant. So we took on the financial loss of me not having a salary, but the trade-off was that I would be able to finish the degree faster because otherwise I think we were looking at a much longer journey as I was trying to kind of balance the two. And at the time we didn't have as many program options. Today there's a lot more program options for people who are working full-time. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:04:29]: And so that's how I made the decision to kind of step back and step into a graduate assistantship role again. And maybe not ideal from a career trajectory standpoint, but better for me to be able to finish my studies. And then we were off and racing from there. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:45]: So you finished the dissertation, you've got probably maybe an article or two under your belt at that time. Talk to us about going on the faculty search. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:04:53]: Yeah, I guess I had an article that I had published and I had dissertation stuff in progress. I was not prepared for a faculty job search. I had never done one before. I had never been a participant in one. I had done no programs for future faculty. I was in many ways what I would think of as kind of a long shot candidate. I got this interview at UNCW and I reached out to one of my mentors, Carrie-Anne O'Meara, and I had to basically say, I've got this interview, help me because I'm not ready for this. So she gave me kind of a crash course in the faculty hiring process and what I could expect and some of the questions that they might ask of me. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:05:35]: And I was very lucky in that they were looking for a particular type of person who teaches certain subject matter, and I was able to do that and apparently fit what they were looking for. I still tend to think they took a chance on me. I don't know that they would necessarily put it that way, but I was still very green in a lot of ways and certainly needed to do a lot of catching up to being a faculty member. So I spent that first year learning a lot of things the hard way and having to learn things that I think some of my peers were already up and up on by virtue of just having prepared for that type of job better than I did. But I got there eventually. I figured it out. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:14]: So what are some of those things that happen in faculty hiring that student affairs professionals might go, huh, I never thought about that before? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:06:20]: Well, for one thing, we do have typically some type of a teaching demonstration, something that would kind of signal that you're a good teacher, you've got some teaching experience. And so that can be a little bit different compared to other hiring processes that you might have been accustomed to. You're going to meet a lot of faculty across the entire department, and that doesn't differ necessarily from what you might experience in a staff role. But what is different is just faculty personalities, and you're going to meet a lot of different people, a lot of people who are not probably as professionally socialized in such a way that they know the types of questions that they ought to ask versus the questions they're not supposed to ask. And you're more likely to run into some folks that in the faculty world, we kind of over-index in neurodivergence. And so you kind of have to be prepared for all sorts of different types of questions and all sorts of different types of people. Beyond that though, I think the faculty job search, at least structurally, probably mirrors a lot of professional jobs. It's just obviously kind of what they're evaluating on is a little bit different. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:22]: So you're in this position and then you're developing as a researcher, developing as a scholar. COVID emerges in the world. And that kind of becomes the impetus for the book that we're talking about today, which is The Caring University. How did this experience that we were all having collectively inspire you to begin collecting the stories that would ultimately become this book? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:07:43]: One of the things that was a big motivator for me was I was seeing, noticing a lot of pain. There were a lot of people in our work that were really struggling, and we had folks that were being asked to work in dangerous conditions where they were really scared. We were losing good people. I had seen a whole group of students that we had educated in our program that were opting to step out of higher ed work, and I just felt that there was the need and really felt this with urgency, a need to put together something that could help so that we don't lose good people and that we were able to just ease that suffering that I saw. And so, yes, a piece of this for me was trying to capture people's experiences, trying to steward their stories, because I wanted people to be able to read the book and to say this is resonant, which is to say, this feels like higher ed. This feels like the people that I know. This feels like the experiences we've had. This doesn't feel like an academic book detached from what we're about and who we are. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:09:02]: And so there is throughout just a real conscious effort to try to weave those stories in as much as possible. And I wanted their voices to be part of this. I wanted it to be impossible for someone in a leadership role to look away or to brush this aside because it was written by a faculty member. I wanted them to read it and to say, these are the voices of the people in our world, and I need to give some attention to that. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:27]: If you're a doctoral student nerd, it's very ethnographic in its approach, or, and autoethnographic in places. It also has quite a few vignettes of stories. So as a practitioner, to read it, I do think you've met that goal of not feeling like, hey, this is a faculty member telling practitioners what to do. It's more of, here are the stories of real practitioners, and how can the institutions around us kind of meet some different goals around human-centered supervision, human-centered organizational structures, et cetera. But before we get into that, I'm going to ask you, if you asked an AI bot to summarize your book, what would the bot say? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:10:00]: The AI bot would say that The Caring University is about organizational change in such a way that we better prioritize the well-being of staff and faculty, full stop. It is not prioritizing the well-being of staff and faculty so that we can better serve students. It is somewhat transgressively suggesting that supporting faculty and staff by itself is a worthy goal that should be part of what we do operationally. And so I make the case for why I think we need change, why that change needs to be organizational so that it speaks to our underlying cultures and our structures. And then I try to suggest a set of 6 overarching organizational changes that I think will help us better prioritizes the well-being of our employees. It's not going to answer every question. I certainly have not included every solution under the sun in this, but it offers something of a menu that a leader could look through and to say, hmm, there might be something here that we could try or adapt. And that adaptation piece is really important because by design, I didn't want this to be a change checklist where someone says, this is exactly what I have to do in order to get this outcome. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:11:14]: It's going to take a little bit more work than that. Someone's going to have to kind of sit with this and to say, what piece of this do I I think could work here, or maybe we'll take a piece of this and a piece of that, and then together that could be beneficial. And so as much as it tries to be a resource and offer those examples, it does call on us to try to figure out how this would fit within our specific context. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:35]: One of the things you talked about on stage was this mission that we need kind of the collaborative lens of both self-care and organizational care. In American culture in particular, there's so much individualism wrapped up in the way that we're supposed to care for ourselves. We this with people who are parenting. We see this with people who are managing illness and a number of different things where taking space for being a whole human can often be seen as not giving enough to an organization. And that's a cultural challenge that we have in America. And that's not specific to the US. As many of our listeners know, I work in the UK and there's a different set of values around work that happen, but still that individualized perspective is fairly common in capitalistic structures in general. So I want to echo also something from Melissa Harris Perry. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:12:23]: Who's another wonderful author. She has a book out called Sister Citizens, 10 years old now, maybe? That book's been around for a while, but she talks about squad care instead of individual care. I heard echoes of that kind of mantra when you were speaking to us earlier today, but I'm hoping you can give us some examples of when you've seen universities engage in that organizational squad care that actually helps humans thrive. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:12:44]: Yeah, it's a great question, and I have seen it show up in in pockets in lots of different types of campuses. As of yet, I can't point to an institution that I feel is knocking it out of the park. And that's kind of reality of institutional life where at the same time we might be making progress on an initiative, we're also still struggling in some other areas. And so I just try to be real about that. The places though where I have seen progress What I can say is there are often a couple of factors involved. One is they often have already been doing some things. So even prior to the arrival of this book, before I was doing any of this work, they likely already had a level of attentiveness to the employee experience that meant when this came to them, this concept, they were ready to roll with it in a different kind of way. Some of that is about leaders And I don't love to, first of all, put the responsibility for this on all leaders. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:13:46]: I also don't like to say that a leader is the one that's gonna pull all this off. But the truth is that some of the places that have really made progress on it, it's because they've often had a really strong, caring leader that already values this. They want to invest in it. And so it just makes everything a little bit easier when you're not feeling like you're in the middle trying to push for this, but there's no effort then from folks above you. If you already got the folks above you saying, hey, let's do this, there's a different kind of propulsion to it. A couple of other things that I've noticed that can make a big difference when you've got some good data to support what you're trying to do. And so that's a struggle for us in higher ed. We don't have great data on the employee experience. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:14:27]: And then places that have figured out how to weave this into a strategic plan. I'm not typically an evangelist for strategic planning, but when done well, you can integrate what you are attempting to do as an organization for your employees. And then there's some accountability attached to that because you've put out there, this is going to be a thing for us, and you're more willing to invest in it. It isn't quite the hurdle that otherwise might exist because you've got this document that kind of says, this is something we're going to try to hang our hat on. So all of the examples I have in the book, you will notice, are places where you see kind of bubbles of this activity happening, and not necessarily examples of, here is the caring university, I have found this place. There are a couple places that I'll be visiting coming up that I'm very intrigued I can't wait to go because there are a couple of places where the president is really invested in this idea and is clearly trying to make this a thing on campus. So I'll be kind of curious to see like, what does that look like? Are the effects of it or the outcomes much more evident when you even have that level of executive leadership support for it? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:15:32]: You talked a bit about the realities of student affairs burnout and the great resignation. Alongside a sociological phenomenon called the ideal worker, which I think might be something that's new for a lot of student affairs professionals because our bodies of literature don't always intersect. And also in contention with, I suppose, a set of workplace expectations that cause burnout and stress for people. So can you tell us a little bit more about that ideal worker? Because I think it's echoed everywhere in student affairs and how we might push against that. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:16:02]: Yeah, so the ideal worker is based in research from feminist sociologists who were attempting attempting to better understand really the gendered nature of organizations and why it was the case that we saw, for example, men who much more likely to be promoted versus women, much more likely to get a raise versus women. And part of the way that they made sense of that was through this concept of ideal worker norms. And they were able to call attention to the ways that we have this vision of the perfect worker, and it is almost reminiscent of of like a Mad Men sort of scenario where you got the male ad executives, they drive to work from their suburban homes at 7 o'clock in the morning, they drive into the city, they stay there all day, they have no expectations of caregiving responsibilities at home, the domestic domain is left to somebody else to manage, they are expected to be organization men where they are at that place and loyal to it for a long time. If somebody calls The expectation is you answer, you show up. And it was their way of trying to show us that it is still the case in so many jobs today that we still operate from that as the norm. And deviation from that norm means that you're not able to be, you're less likely to be hired, you're less likely to be promoted, you're less likely to win an award. And it's not fair to people who may need to take a break in the middle of the day for medication. It's not fair to people who are giving birth, and it means that we are losing out, I think, on talent because we still hold on to those norms. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:17:39]: We kind of grip them too strongly. And so by taking a closer look at professionalism as a construct, I think it allows us to kind of pause and to say, yeah, why do we think that a professional dresses like this, looks like this, acts like this? And what problem does it pose for us if somebody's a little bit different? Moving from that? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:55]: I think the answer is the patriarchy, right? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:17:57]: Right. I mean, yeah, there's some of it. There's that. And but it's interesting because there's lots of people that can sometimes grip and hold on to those constructs even when it's not serving them particularly well. But that just goes to show that when you've been socialized to a particular system, the whole idea behind a norm is that it doesn't strike you as particularly unusual anymore. And so I suppose part of this for me is forcing myself to unsettle some of those constructs and to be willing to ask some questions around, well, why couldn't somebody work 3 hours in the morning, work another 3 hours in the evening? As long as they're still getting their job done, they're still present, they're engaged, what difference does it make to me if they need to take a break in the middle of the day because that's good for their health? Or what difference does it make if they need to be home at 3 PM for their kids to come home, get their kids settled, and then they I might still do a meeting or do some work later on. That flexibility doesn't seem to harm me, and it doesn't seem to prevent the possibility for great work to happen. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:55]: I hear that kind of a line within student affairs. We often say that quality assessment does not necessarily mean only counting who shows up to a program. Kind of the same thing, quality work doesn't mean who's sitting in their seat from 9 to 5. It's more about what was the impact of what was happening in that day or that event Right, absolutely. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:19:14]: Yeah, this idea of quality, effort, performance being a butt glued to a seat is something that we still, within higher ed, across higher ed, probably adhere to too much. And again, you know, I mentioned this on stage, I am not someone who's opposed to the power of in-person work, in-person experiences, opportunities for us to engage with each other. There is no substitute for that. And so I'm a full believer in that. I think we could hold two things at the same time, which is there's power in in-person gatherings and having us together in a space to think creatively, and we can have flexibility. And, and I don't think those things necessarily have to run crosswise. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:19:56]: Another thing you talked about in your conversation with José is this concept that you wished that universities would take bigger swings at things. Can you tell us more about what big swings you'd like to see institutions taking in order to support this caring university concept? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:20:10]: I am a big believer that the way that we enter into this work is that we have to start trying some things. And we have become somewhat accustomed in higher education to the idea that we never do anything for employees. We do very small things or tokens of appreciation. We've almost dialed down our expectations to zero. And what it means is there is an almost inbuilt defense mechanism where some folks, when they reach a level of senior leadership, almost say, I'm not even going to try because what's the point? And what I want us to do instead is to say we need to rediscover possibility and potentially start from a position of let's give this a try. So for me, a swing is not a preemptive no. A swing is a let's see what's possible. It doesn't necessarily have to be a huge thing. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:21:05]: Like, I'm not saying let's go give everybody a 5% raise. I'd love that. I'm also a finance guy. I understand that there are some real constraints against that. That doesn't prevent us from taking some other types of swings. Let's revisit our parental leave policy. Let's look at how much leave time we give someone for bereavement. Let's think about how we're understanding and trying to measure people's workload and figuring out what adjustments may be necessary. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:21:28]: Let's do an audit of our programs and initiatives and to say, Maybe we're doing too much for our current staffing level and we need to really better prioritize what we're going to work on. Maybe it's ensuring that we've got good recognitions for all types of contributions that we value and not rewarding the same people or the same type of work over and over and over again. Not all of these are going to necessarily completely transform somebody's experience, but they can make a difference. And so that's what I'd love to see is trying. Let's try some things and let's see where we land with it and what kind of difference it can make. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:21:58]: So let's get into the 6 elements of the caring university that you write about in your book, because it's really the roadmap that you're providing institutions to follow if they want to take a swing at this. So we have the areas of prioritizing employees' experience, empowering rights and voice, humanizing policies and practices, realizing equity and belonging, committing to growth and compensation, and cultivating caring leaders. Where would you like to start in this list? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:22:24]: One of the ones that I really like that people have really responded to is actually related to the idea of our campus strategy. And the whole premise of that chapter is we in higher ed have come around to this idea of strategic priorities. We see value in that, and we're going to engage in these exercises where we try to identify what our strategic priorities are. But what we don't ever do is follow that with a real consideration of labor. So who's doing this work? Are they trained for it? Are they going to be rewarded for it? Do we need to do some hiring into areas that are going to be necessary to pull this off? Have we really thought about our onboarding to enable this work and this type of hiring to happen? So outside of higher ed, much more so than within, we have the concept of talent management where it is possible for us to develop a talent management strategy that would feed into or map onto our campus strategic priorities. So that we can better answer those questions of like, who's doing this work? Who do we need? What challenges do we currently have in our capacity to pull this off? And a big piece of that chapter is also just thinking really thoughtfully about workload and trying to push us to really think a little bit more about are we getting a good understanding of how much people are actually working and what they are able to take on beyond what they might already be doing if we're going to try to achieve these bigger aspirational goals. So I like that change because it's one that I think we haven't really thought about a whole lot in higher ed. And there's a great chapter from Amarillo College, which is in the Texas Panhandle, and they offer an example of what it looks like for a campus to develop a set of values, for example, really, and a set of strategic priorities that are rooted in an ethic of care and enable enable us to really see what it looks like when a campus kind of takes its strategic planning and strategic priorities seriously in a way that's, I think, thinking about people and not just treating the people function as an afterthought. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:24:28]: How would you suggest that leaders in student affairs who are reading this book bring this forward to their senior administrations? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:24:35]: So I think that this is a delicate thing because it's already the case that student affairs Student Affairs can be somewhat maligned on campuses or already thought of as being a place that is kind of fluffy. And I think it can be very helpful if a student affairs leader could partner with a counterpart in academic affairs because the combination of those two together I think could be more compelling. Ultimately, the president or the chancellor speaks to the board or is responsive to the board. And so I think a savvy student affairs leader is going to have to think about how do we couch this and may be resonant with board members. One of the interesting ways that you could do that is to really try to call on the fact that some of this is not actually specific to higher ed, it's rooted in organizational management. We are in many cases outpaced by what they do in the private sector. And so if you've got a board, for example, that is lots of folks that are coming from the private sector, they may not find it that unusual some of the things that we're calling for here. By the way, that may require that they don't use the language of care care or caring because that's not the language that they speak. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:25:45]: It may be much more grounded in language of, this is how we are going to achieve organizational excellence. And so I think that's okay. It doesn't need to always use that language if that's not going to work. And so it might just be kind of thinking strategically in that way. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:02]: One of the things that struck me when we were having the conversation in the big hall was when the Q&A opened, 100% of the people that asked the question were a brand new professional and self-disclosed as such. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:26:12]: What do you make of There is a real curiosity on the part of new professionals and probably some concern because they're entering this work at such a strange time where we have had this pandemic experience, we had the Great Resignation, we're in the second Trump administration. It has been hard for us to find good news. We have been institutionally under attack, and I think new professionals are looking for some reassurance assurance that this is a viable future, that they haven't made a mistake, that there are still spaces where they can do great work and find joy and find other people that they're really going to connect with. And so it doesn't surprise me that they're coming forward with these questions. And part of me wonders if it's coming from a place of, I am stepping into this work, help me understand, help me prepare for, is this the right move? Should I be thinking about something else. And so one of the things I really want to always try to be clear on is that I still love this work. I still think it's a fantastic career, and our need for change, our need for improvement on some of these things doesn't negate that there's still so much opportunity for someone. And so that's part of the message that I try to convey. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:27:27]: For our VPs and our AVPs, deans who are listening, I really hope that we can take this information and digest it because it's clearly what matters to our entering professionals. And knowing that one of our goals right now in the profession is to draw pathways for persistence in the field. I think this is probably part of that recipe, along with compensation, which is a conversation we've been having in the field for a long time. We can't keep talent unless we're able to compensate talent for what people should be earning, especially with a master's degree as, you know, the entry point for our field and all of those things. We all know that, right? So I think the core message that I would give from sitting in that room and kind of hearing those new professionals come forward with curiosity, but also a little a little bit of anxiousness in their voices, is we need to read this and we need to figure out what is viable for our institutions in order to work on that retention model for our student affairs pipeline. And I know that our incoming NASPA Board Chair, Darryl Holliman, identified that pipeline as a big strategic priority for this year's board work. So I think this is all coming together at the right time. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:28:28]: Yeah, and as I've said, for me, I treat this very much not as a work that's designed to call us out, but as an an invitation to step into this conversation. And I think it could be really fun. I think it could be really rewarding. This isn't the sort of thing where, like, as a student affairs leader, I'm going to come in and be slapped on the wrist for things that are not going well or have not been great in the past. There's just a chance for us to say, as we are thinking about the future of our institutions, the future of our students, we should also be thinking about the future of our people. How are are we going to be leaders in that space? And student affairs, frankly, probably could be a leader in this work and thinking about how we design the best organizations for our employees so that they're able to do their best work for students. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:29:16]: I think at the core of it too, the work is clear and poignant, but it's not radical. And I think it's a bit telling that we haven't had a book in this framing in the, in the profession, at least that I'm not aware of. I haven't read everything, of course, but I think that is a moment that we're trying to meet. And we're seeing it in print and it gives us something to reference. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:29:35]: Yeah, I agree with you 100%. As I was writing this, I don't think anything felt particularly radical to me. It's probably only radical in the sense that these aren't things that we're doing and it makes us uncomfortable. But the ideas themselves, I think, are relatively basic. It's the stuff of good organizations. It's thinking about career pathways. It's thinking about whose contributions we're recognizing. Yes, it's about fair compensation. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:29:59]: It's about professional development. These are all things that we can get on board with. We just have to take that sentiment that we're all on board with this and then translate that into some actual tangible things. And I think if we could do that, if we could do that even on a small scale, it signals to people who are maybe in the first 4 or 5 years, I can build a career doing this. It's not going to be a career where I just have to persevere and I have to be resilient in the face of all this. It's a career that I could be supported and I can find community and I can grow and learn. And I think that would be a remarkable thing. Speaking of the pipeline, if we are able to send those signals through our actions, we're going to have more people that want to step in and we're going to have more people that want to stay. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:30:42]: Is there anything else about the book you'd love our listeners to know? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:30:45]: I do think that this is a book that you can choose your adventure. You may not need to read the whole thing. There may be particular chapters that really speak to your area or your interest, and I think you could choose accordingly. And the other thing is that although this is a book about organizational change, there is a role for each of us to play. And it doesn't mean that we have the same responsibility. Leaders are going to have a different kind of responsibility, but we can all be part of thinking collectively about how we challenge some of our norms. How do we ask some questions about our hiring processes? Could we expand some of our recognitions? Are there folks that we feel like are being excluded that we could make sure get an invitation? So there's a zone of action for each of us that I think can be very beneficial in setting some of the conditions to enable the change work to happen. So even if you're not in the cabinet making policies about compensation, there's still work here to be done. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:31:38]: And so it may be a good chance for someone who's reading it to kind of kind of pausing to say, where is my zone in this? And could I imagine trying to put some of these principles into practice in my work? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:31:48]: Kevin, I'm going to transition us into our season's themed questions. Our theme for this season has been on the value of student affairs, and we're asking all of our guests the same 3 questions on this theme. So our first one is, when you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first and why? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:32:02]: I think one of the very first things that comes to mind when I think about student affairs is this sense that these are folks that show up for people. And in the absence of that, in the absence of that richness, what even is the university? And in that way, the work of student affairs is crucial. It's crucial to the whole enterprise. It is not extra, it's not extraneous, it's not outside of the core work of the university. This is the work of the university. And so that's the first thing that comes to mind is just that, that showing up, that being there for people, but for students, and in many ways providing an example for the rest of us. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:32:46]: Question 2: Can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:32:52]: Gosh, just one. I mean, I feel I wouldn't be here if there weren't for those moments of mentorship, moments of modeling, moments where I was able to see a student affairs leader show me what it means to be an educator and what it means to be a leader. My work as a faculty member is informed by that. My work as a department chair is informed by that. My student affairs roots is probably more essential to what I do now than any of my academic academic training. And so I would point to that as, as kind of a collection of moments over my own pathway that has been just really kind of underscoring how important this work is. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:33:36]: And our third question: What do you think that student affairs needs to do to be better understood and better seen in today's educational environment? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:33:44]: I struggle with questions like this because there's a part of me that gently pushes back on the idea that we need to do a better job of telling our story, or being more visible. Sometimes I think the problem is that we need other people to pay better attention, and I'm comfortable calling that out. So as a slight tangent, for example, we put a ton of stock in public opinion polling right now in America about the value of higher education. And with all due respect to the public, sometimes they don't know what they're talking about. And it's okay for us to certainly try to pay attention to that, but the idea that we we should be shaping our practices around public opinion around the value of higher education when they just don't know is not necessarily the right approach. Now, I do often think about the fact that it is only beneficial to our institutions the more we can break down silos. I know silos get talked about all the time. The academic side is probably the worst builder and maintainer of silos that one can imagine. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:34:42]: It doesn't change the fact that we need to be operating collaborating and partnering more. We on the academic side hold a huge responsibility in that, and so I'm comfortable taking that on. But for student affairs, we have to continue working at that. We can't necessarily just kind of live inside the student affairs bubble. We do have to continue to work in partnership with the entirety of campus to the extent that we can, because I think the possibilities for change are only going to grow by virtue of that kind of partnership. And so if I were to point to anything maybe that could help, that might be something. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:14]: It's time to take a quick break and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the NASPA world. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:20]: Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the NASPA world, and there's a ton of things happening in NASPA. There are so many different NASPA events that are happening, whether you have ever visited the NASPA site and checked them out or not. Today is a great time to be able to do just that by going to naspa.org and clicking on events and online learning. You're going to find a plethora of activities, events, conferences, summits, and more, all listed in one place. Whether you're looking for a professional development for yourself or something for your staff members, there's something for everyone in one place. I highly encourage you to go and explore the wide array of opportunities that are available because you're going to be very surprised at the breadth and depth that you'll find find in there. There is a virtual summit coming up for individuals that are connected to community colleges. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:36:17]: A Community College Virtual Summit is happening on April 24th, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern Standard Time. In celebration of Community College Month, NASPA presents this dynamic experience which spotlights the transformative power of community colleges and the professionals who lead, support, and innovate within them. At this summit, you'll be able to explore how community colleges are not only responding to change, but actively shaping the future of higher education. Highly encourage you to check it out. Go to the NASPA website under events for more information. One of the things that you learned about last week in our episode was talking about being an engaged member in the association. For every one of us as members of this association, we have to decide what that engagement looks like and what that return on investment commitment and being a NASPA member means. For some of you, it may be getting involved with a knowledge community, and we just celebrated the 30th anniversary of knowledge communities being a part of NASPA. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:37:19]: If you have never been a part of a knowledge community, you're missing out because there are over 30 different knowledge communities that are available for individuals like yourself, and you can join any of them. It is super easy. If you go to the NASPA website and go under membership and communities, you're going to see that you can find out more about divisions and groups, knowledge communities, as well as regions and areas. I mentioned knowledge communities, that there are over 30 different knowledge communities in all of these areas. All of these knowledge communities are small communities within the larger NASPA. These small communities are based on functional areas and identities, and it allows you the opportunity to find your place of belonging within our larger organization. These knowledge communities serve as content experts and communities of support for student affairs professionals like you. I know one of the first ways that I ever got involved in NASPA was being a part of then the networks. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:38:15]: Well, the NASPA networks became the knowledge communities, and I've been involved with knowledge communities ever since. There are knowledge communities that are vastly different, and they range in scope from administrators in graduate and professional student services to the Black diaspora knowledge community to the gender and sexuality knowledge community to wellness and health promotion knowledge community to student affairs partnering with academic and more. As I mentioned, there are over 30 knowledge communities that will allow for you to be able to get more involved in some way. For some of you, that may mean just getting emails to allow for you to be able to stay informed. For others, it may be taking on a leadership role or getting more involved in some other way. No matter what way you want to get involved, I challenge you to find a way to get involved and take more out of the membership that you have within this association. Finally today, I just want to say congratulations to Dr. Lamar Hilton, who was named the board chair-elect for 2027-2028. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:39:23]: Dr. Hilton is the vice chancellor for student life at Indiana University Bloomington, and I'm super excited to be able to welcome him to the board chair role as he gets ready for that and will lead our organization in 2027 and 2028. Every week we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association. So we are going to be able to try and keep you up to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways because the association is as strong as its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether it be getting involved with the knowledge community, giving back within one of the, the centers or the divisions of the association. And as you're doing that, that, it's important to be able to identify for yourself, where do you fit? Where do you want to give back? Each week, we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, hey, I see myself in that knowledge community. I see myself doing something like that, or encourage you in ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now, to offer other things to the association, to bring your gifts, your talents to the association and to all of the members within the association. Because through doing that, all of us are stronger and the association is better. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:40:59]: Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:03]: Chris, thank you so much for always keeping us informed on what's going on in and around NASPA. And Kevin, we have reached our lightning round. I've got 7 questions for you in 90 seconds. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:41:13]: All right, let's do it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:15]: All right, number 1, since you were just a conference keynote speaker, what was your entrance music? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:41:20]: I don't even know. Were they playing music? I was not. I was apparently out of body experience. I did not even hear what that was. Hopefully they made a good choice. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:28]: To be fair, I don't I don't remember what song it was, but if you got to pick, what would you pick? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:41:31]: One of my very favorite karaoke songs is "Whatever You Like" by T.I., and so that might be one that I go with. Has nothing to do with me or my keynote. I just like the song. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:39]: Number 2, when you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:41:42]: I wanted to be a Disney animator, and then that transitioned into an author illustrator. So I kind of almost got there, just minus the actual art part. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:50]: Number 3, who's your most influential professional mentor? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:41:53]: Oh, I have benefited from great mentorship over the course of my career. I had some wonderful faculty at the University of Maryland. Maryland, and so they come to mind. I also had great student affairs mentors, including Dr. Steve Bassesi at the University of Richmond as an undergrad. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:07]: Number 4, your essential student affairs read. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:42:10]: I love Creating Sustainable Careers in Student Affairs, edited by my friend and colleague Margaret Salih. So I would want, I would check that out if you'd like the content of my book. That's another resource. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:21]: Number 5, the best TV show you've been binging lately. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:42:24]: We have been watching Shrinking on Apple TV. We like that. We watch Bridgerton. We like that. I watch Love Is Blind. My wife watches Love Is Blind and I pretend like I'm not paying attention, but then I kind of pay attention. I don't know what we're getting out of it at this point, but here we are. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:39]: Number 6, the podcast you spent the most hours listening to in the last year. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:42:42]: I listen to a ton of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, and I also really like Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:49]: And finally, number 7, any shoutouts you'd like to give, either personal or professional? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:42:54]: Oh man, NASPA, you're amazing. Thank you to everybody that welcomed me here. So many folks that honestly only knew me sort of, or knew me on socials, but they've greeted me like a close friend and it's wonderful. And so just thank you for the community that you all sustain here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:09]: Once again, the book is The Caring University by Kevin R. McClure, Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace After the Great Resignation. Kevin, it's been such a pleasure to get to know you a bit better. I know we've got some mutual friends in common, so I like expanding the circle. But if other people would like to expand the circle to include you in it, how would they find you? Where can people find you? Dr. Kevin McClure [00:43:26]: They can find me on LinkedIn. I'm told that I post a lot. I don't know if that's a compliment or not, but they can also take a look at some of my work on my website, which is drkevinrmclure.com. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:37]: Kevin, thank you so much for spending some time and sharing your voice with us today. Dr. Kevin McClure [00:43:40]: Thank you. It's been so much fun. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:46]: This has been an episode of Essay Voices from the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show was made possible by because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:16]: It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

In the latest episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field," Dr. Jill Creighton sits down live at the NASPA Annual Conference 2026 in Kansas City with Dr. Mike Christakis, Dr. Darby Roberts, and Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black to spotlight the launch of NASPA's new strategic plan. If you are a student affairs professional seeking to understand the direction of our field and NASPA's commitment to its members, this episode is a must-listen. Redefining Strategic Planning – With Purpose and Community This year marks a pivotal moment as NASPA introduces a three-year plan shaped by intentional listening, member engagement, and a forward-thinking approach. Dr. Mike Christakis walks us through the timeline and evolution, highlighting how NASPA paused its planning to let new leadership take root before embarking on a truly inclusive process, engaging members across regions and divisions. The driving force? Ensuring that every voice, from new professionals to seasoned leaders, informs and benefits from the association's direction. Five Strategic Priorities That Put Members First The discussion unpacks NASPA's five strategic pillars: Elevating the Value of Student Affairs: As debates about the relevance of higher education continue, the plan purposefully centers the impact of student affairs and the stories that shape our work. Enhancing Career Pathways and Wellbeing: Retention and growth of professionals—across all stages—receives renewed attention, coupled with a focus on wellbeing that mirrors today's complex campus realities. Providing Timely Advocacy and Resources: With shifting policies impacting each region and institution, NASPA is committed to actionable and relevant support for its diverse membership Strengthening Member Experience and Organizational Resilience: By modernizing technology and financial models, the association aims for seamless connections and equitable opportunities regardless of location or job title Advancing Inclusive and Impactful Governance: Leadership opportunities and transparent processes remain at the forefront, encouraging broader engagement and sustainable growth for the association Why Tune In? This episode is more than an announcement—it's an invitation to be part of NASPA's ongoing story. You'll hear firsthand how assessment, feedback, and continuous improvement shape the plan's "living document" status, and how every member, no matter your involvement level, stands to benefit from the next chapter. Ready to elevate, strengthen, and advance your student affairs journey? Listen now to understand how NASPA's new strategic plan is shaping the future—and how you can be a part of it. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to the annual conference 2026 here in Kansas City, Missouri, and it's always my pleasure to sit down with guests in real life. So today we have 3 wonderful folks with us who have been working so hard on NASPA's new strategic plan, which launches this month, March 2026. So our first guest, you heard from before, very proud to have you back, and you are now tied with Kevin Krueger for the most appearances on SA Voices. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:50]: We've got Dr. Mike Christakis, our outgoing board chair. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:00:52]: Wow, thank you, pleasure to be here, Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:54]: Next up, we have first-time guest Dr. Darby Robert. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:00:55]: Howdy, I'm Glad to be here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:58]: And finally, we have second-time guest Dr. Carnell McConnell-Black. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:01:02]: Hey, y'all. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:02]: So the three of our guests today have been at the helm of this redefined strategic planning process for NASPA, which is now live on the NASPA website. So Mike, I'm going to start with you. Can you tell us a little bit about how we got here? Why now? Why a new strategic plan? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:01:17]: Great question. So the association had a strategic plan for a period of time, actually leading up to when Dr. Parnell started as president, and the board at that particular time intentionally decided to push off the development of the next strategic plan to allow NASPA's new president to get started. And so when Amelia got into the seat, the board again took up the idea of what a new plan would look like. And that began when Ana González, who's chair, tapped Lincoln Johnson as the at-large member. And that's when the initial development occurred. And then last year in New Orleans, when I assumed the role of chair, is when things really got started and we launched the development, uh, of the plan. And that's where we're at now. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:02:00]: So that process between New Orleans and Kansas City has included serving our members, doing a lot of listening with our members at various convenings, regional convenings, divisional meetings, and the like that really began to help inform what the plan would look like. And that's what has brought us basically a year post-New Orleans to where we are here now in Kansas City. We're in the process of unveiling NASPA's new strategic plan that will take us from 2026 through 2029. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:26]: All right. And we've got, like I said, Carnell and Darby with us today. How did Darby and Carnell get involved in this project for us? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:02:32]: So Darby got engaged because when I became chair-elect, I had the pleasure of appointing an at-large member. And Darby and I had first met actually through our mutual involvement with the assessment, evaluation, and research knowledge community. And so when it dawned on me that the strategic planning process would fall as part of my charge as chair, Darby was one of the first calls I made. I will admit she didn't answer initially, but we finally connected and I shared with her that I wanted her to join the board as an at-large member, specifically to work on the strategic plan as a member of the steering committee in particular. And so that's how Darby Darby Roberts came to be a part of this process. Recently, Carnell was elected as a regional director, and so the representation of our regional directors, I think, was critically important throughout this process. So we invited Carnell as an important and strong voice among our regional leadership to also serve on the steering committee. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:19]: I'll say high five for Region 5, Carnell. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:03:22]: Region 5! Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:23]: I may be overseas now, but I'm always Region 5 in my heart. So very excited to have you all on here. So I'd love to hear from the two of you, Darby and Carnell. You come on board for this project. It's a daunting thing to say, please redo the strategic plan for NASPA and please lead this process, go. Can you talk about your process of moving forward from this idea to realization? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:03:44]: One of the things I appreciated about this process, it was very purposeful, very timely. We didn't want to rush the process and spend the amount of time we needed to talk about what's our future vision, what's our future mission. And then from there saying, if that's what we believe in and strive for, what are the things that we really want to do for the association and setting up the strategic priorities before getting into how we're actually going to do the strategic plan. And so I think it's been very enlightening to take all the feedback that the membership has given, working with the board, working with the staff to come up with a plan that is a really solid plan for us for the next 3 years. I would also just add the element of our members' experience was a key component. And as you look through all the elements, not just for the current day headwinds that we face within higher education, but also the day-to-day experiences that our colleagues are navigating on their campuses and in the world, that we have the opportunity to focus in on how they themselves are supported through the association. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:04:41]: I would also just add that the element of our members' experience was a, a key component. And as you look through all the elements, not only just for current day headwinds that we face within higher education, but also the day-to-day experiences that our colleagues are navigating on their campuses and in the world, that we have an opportunity to focus in on how they themselves are supported through the association. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:05]: It's also a very different thing to create a strategic plan for an organization, an association versus our campuses, I always think it's kind of interesting to try to refocus our brains on what do our members need as opposed to what do our students need or our staff need. So how did that play a role in this process? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:05:20]: Well, I will say as an initial starting point, again, we are thinking about what are the current day challenges, but also thinking about the future and how do we find the intersections of both what we need now and what we need in the future and to be prepared for whatever may come our way. But I think at the heart of it is our members are always, I think through this piece around feedback and getting feedback from the membership, there are clear elements around what's the value of their engagement or their value of being a NASPA member. And when we can focus in on that and strengthen that, I think that ultimately strengthens the experience for our own individual campuses as well. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:05:56]: So I think that a little bit to that is that we did talk about the students and where you should go, and our heart is with students. One of the things that I think about reflecting on this process is today, if we take care of our membership and we take care of the folks on campuses who are doing the work, and we do that really well, they will take care of the students and be better prepared to do that when we're providing the support for them in the association. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:19]: I had Dr. Parnell in a couple of the meetings I was in throughout the week this week, and one of the things she kept emphasizing is what's the ROI? What's the return on investment for a NASPA member in terms of our institutional dollars, our individual membership dollars, our travel and professional development experiences? I think it's been a theme since I've been a NASPA member, which is like 17, 18 years now, that, uh, travel budgets have been getting cut every year since my first year in the profession. So let's talk about how this strategic plan reflects this push for making sure that NASPA is engaged in a positive return on investment for our members? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:06:52]: I think this is an important question, and I think just to underscore some of what Carnell and Darby have been referring to, to this point, this is a little bit of a departure for us as an association to be leading a strategic planning process and articulating a plan that does begin with our members and our member experience. And so we can get into the priorities in a little bit, but at the end of the day, it's been informed by member feedback. So talking a lot this last year, year and a half about what career pathways look like. We've been talking about our employees' wellbeing across the association, across the profession. How are we providing our members with timely resources to help them do their work on their campuses and to expand on what we were saying, that how does their NASPA membership and their NASPA experience look and feel like given real resource constraints, both for institutions and frankly for members of our association. And so how we deliver on those promises, those practices, those programs, that's where I think Dr. Parker Arnell and the team right now are taking this plan and trying to realize and actualize how we can get it as close to our members as possible. Given that, again, we want to center their experience, we want to make it as enriching and as positive to their career trajectory as possible, regardless of what point in their career they're at. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:08:06]: The plan needs to be as relevant to the brand new professional who might have joined us for the first time last night at our opening reception, or to the senior student affairs officer who was at at their institute Sunday morning when the conference kicked off. We've got to be relevant for all those groups and all of our members, and I think consistent with the ROI for those members. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:26]: So this is supposed to be 2026 to 2029, so a 3-year arc, very achievable. When I look at the strategic priorities and long-term goals, I'm seeing a very clear member focus, which I think is always really important to NASPA, but also something that's quite flexible given that the times we live in continue to be unprecedented, and all of us would like to see some precedented times. But I'm going to talk through what these 5 points are, and then ask you to chat to us about how you got here, and also maybe anyone else who was on the team to help you get there. So the first one is to elevate the value of student affairs. Our whole podcast season, this season and last, have been on the value of student affairs. And if you haven't gone back and listened to the episode on the new report that's come out with a toolkit, please go do that. That featured a past NASPA board chair and a couple pillars of our profession. We also have enhance the career pathways and wellbeing of student affairs professionals. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:19]: Third is provide timely advocacy, policy, and practice resources, which we just did an episode on the NASPA Policy Hub with Diana Ali, who's one of our NASPA staffers. Fourth, we have strengthen member experience and organizational resilience. And finally, advance inclusive and impactful governance. So given all of those, let's take them one by one, starting with elevating the value of student affairs. What does this mean for the association and how is that going to affect our work for the next 3 years? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:09:45]: I'll dive in on that one because I think that increasingly in the higher ed landscape, we continue to be challenged in sort of the relevance in our work. Obviously, we talk a lot about student success, retention, persistence, completion, career outcomes, life and career outcomes, and the like. We've said, and Amelia has been good about saying to all of our teams on campuses, our work is critically important. And so we thought there was an opportunity through the strategic plan to articulate what we do what our members do on our campuses, and the impact it has in the broader higher ed landscape. That is as much about NASPA, that first priority, as it is about how we align with the larger, I'll say, presidential associations across the higher ed. And for this, for us, it starts with our members. It's the real stories, the real impact that we have, but it's taking those stories and making them aware to folks who are partners with us on our campuses. And again, importantly, across the higher education spectrum. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:10:38]: I would just also add in this space of student affairs and elevating the value of Student Affairs. Again, as we, as you mentioned, we are facing lots of headwinds around the value of higher education in general. And I wanna say that student affairs plays an integral part in that work to help educate not only our campus community, but also the communities in which our campuses operate within too. So the cities, the towns, rural communities, our small colleges, all of the places that we do, do this. And so for me, it's been, it was really important that we figure out how to articulate this and provide tools or philosophical frameworks for our campuses to be able to say, let's have a conversation about this at the highest levels of our institutional governance. How do we have conversations with lawmakers in our cities or in our states? And then being able to have, again, this common thread as a whole association about elevating this. And so again, at the micro level, but also at the macro level and having this integrated approach to be able to have one voice in a way to elevate the profession. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:36]: Our next section is enhancing the career pathways and wellbeing of student affairs professionals, which I feel like has always been at the core of NASPA's mission in general. So why this framing? And why now? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:11:47]: I'm really excited about this strategic priority because we have lots of conversation about how we recruit, retain, and grow staff in this profession. And in recent years, that has changed, and it's been a little tougher of an uphill climb. And so I really appreciate the thought about how we get staff into the profession, how we retain them growing from grad student to senior student affairs officer, that there's something for everybody. And we need to pay attention to that, which I think also thinking about when people leave the profession, are they doing that in their first 5 years and not staying in there? I think really focus on the value of being in the profession, as well as what variety of career pathways there are. And I think coupled with the wellbeing piece is so important because even back from when I was a new professional, I feel like it's so much more complex to work in the profession right now. And if our staff aren't doing well, then our students aren't doing well. And so focusing on the things that we can do to provide a supportive environment, to provide opportunities, to really focus on the joy that we find in the profession and building that through the pathways, through engagement with our members too. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:12:49]: I think you've really sold our keynote speaker that's coming up as well. We have Dr. Kevin McClure coming up in half an hour in real time, but you'll get Kevin McClure's episode the week after this one. His new book is called The Caring University, so stay tuned for that episode. Our third priority is provide timely advocacy, policy, and practice resources, which I feel like this one's really easy to say and really hard to execute. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:13:11]: I would just say around this space here is I agree in some ways that the, it's hard to think about the execution because again, when we think about not only just being a global association. The needs of our global members are very different than the needs of our members within the US. And then even within the US, within different states, different regions, their experience and needs are also vast here. And so while it's complex, I think it's also ambitious for us, and it's also a responsible thing for us to do, is to be able to give our members, again, the resources and tools that we need. I mean, NASPA is structured in a way that allows us to be able to respond to our members in different areas, in different regions, intentionally, because we are not a monolith. We are all bound by different limitations, barriers, where we may be. But I think at the heart of this, it is about what are the actionable and tangible tools that folks can actually utilize to be able to support, again, their overall institution and also the efforts that are centered around things that'll support students to get to graduation and have successful careers or just successful lives in general. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:14:12]: I also just wanna call out the great work of Janai Chandler, who is our Vice President for Policy and Research for NASPA. Obviously there's a lot happening at the federal and state level as it relates to, to policy. And I think that Dr. Chandler and her team have done some really, doing really great work already in providing resources to our members in this space. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:14:29]: If you haven't checked out the NASPA Policy Hub yet, I strongly encourage you to do that because there's a state-by-state tracker that you can check out, which we know that what's happening in Oregon State, where Carnell is, and where Darby is in Texas, and where Mike is in New York— very, very different policy rules applying to all three of those states. And some of us are affected by all three things. So at the table today, we've got four different institution types, three states, and two countries. And between us navigating policy in the profession is a little funky right now. The next one is strengthening the member experience and organizational resilience. So the member experience, again, I feel like the core and bread and butter of NASPA has been creating community for student affairs professionals to come together. Organizational resilience is a little bit of a new one. So let's dig into that part. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:15:13]: We have so many volunteer leaders, a part of the association, and because we are a member-driven, member volunteer association, we have to be mindful and thoughtful about, we got folks who their full-time most jobs are, they're on their campuses, and then they're doing this as a service to the profession and to their colleagues. And so I think it's important again, to reduce as many barriers for them to be successful in their roles as leaders in the association. And in some ways, this is like the organizational aspect. How do we support the folks who are helping to support the profession and their colleagues? So I think the other piece here is NASPA has so many offerings for our members. And so how do we, again, create clear and accessible ways for them to be able to get connected with that content in the right time, at the right point in time that they need it at the right point in their career. And again, thinking about it from that perspective. And then I think also at the end of the day, when we look at overall the association, the association also, like many other associations, are also faced with challenges and headwinds from many aspects. And so, this really gets to the mechanics of how we also run the association too. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:16:17]: And I think that's an important part of having a sound foundation in which we can actually do all the other work as well. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:16:23]: I would say from my experience throughout my years in NASPA, it's a huge organization and it's overwhelming to a lot of people to think about the opportunities available or coming to a national conference with thousands of their closest friends, as I describe it. But really thinking about how we're providing those smaller opportunities for people to get engaged. So I really came up through the knowledge community process and got involved in the assessment, evaluation, and research knowledge community as a member, and then took on leadership. And then that gave me a better perspective of what the organization was about and what different opportunities there were. I met a whole bunch of great people who then said, oh, you might be great at this, and then was on the mid-level steering committee. So I had the opportunities through that. But I don't know that in the past we've done a great job to really clarify some of those roles and opportunities that really helps a brand new member figure out where their place is, where their people are, and where their community is. That really helps them get engaged and be committed to the organization. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:17:16]: So I think this is a piece of that to say, we understand it's a very complex organization. Let's break it down and provide those opportunities for people to get engaged as they can and and as they're interested. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:27]: This year in Kansas City, we just had a conversation with José Luis Rivera, who is this year's conference chair, and he mentioned that a full 20% of our attendees this year are first-time attendees to NASPA, which is a lot of people who are trying to figure out what this big thing is. There's a couple of sub-bullets in here that I think are particularly interesting. The first one is about modernizing our technological infrastructure. I think we all have had moments of frustration with the NASPA website over the years. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:17:54]: No. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:54]: And that's something that we can acknowledge, and I know that NASPA has been thinking about this for for a long time, both with the website or other member connection points within infrastructure. Is there anything you can tell us in a preview about what we might expect from a technological update? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:18:07]: I can't give you a lot of the nitty-gritty, but I can tell you that Amelia Parnell has been zeroing in on this almost from day one. She has shared on several occasions with the board and other stakeholders of her vision for what she characterizes as a Netflix-like experience when you log Netflix, NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:25]: Okay. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:18:26]: What I really think it's trying to get at is a curated web experience based on what the members' interests are. We've got 13,000+ members of the association. There's 4,300 here at this conference in Kansas City. We certainly acknowledge the website needs work, and I think that Amelia and Amy Shophorn, who's our executive vice president, are very keyed into that. And I think that will be something that you'll see some changes in fairly quickly going forward. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:51]: The other piece in this area is to update and implement a new financial model model to ensure solvency, transparency, and impact. Now, I don't think the average NASPA member thinks a lot about the finances of the association. I've served on the regional board, and I'm in the global division, been in public policy, and so I have, I think, maybe slightly more awareness around the different funding models that feed divisions, knowledge communities, regional boards, national gatherings, all of that sort of thing. So why put this priority here, and what do you want members to know about the financial components of NASPA? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:19:23]: I'll take a first stab, and I think part of, of that piece that's there is because regardless Regardless of whether you are a global member and you decide that you're coming back to the US and coming to Region 5, that just for example, that you would have a seamless experience across that. So the idea is that regardless of where you're at, that again, this membership, it's, it's again connected back to the membership experience that we want to have consistent major milestone benchmarks, you know, demarcations about the experience that folks have while also recognizing that again, each area and each region will look different. But when you think about that from a financial standpoint, some regions and some divisions have different funds. And so how do we have some consistency in that while also at the same time keeping the quality of, of again, the programming at the same level? Again, when you think about resources, programs that have higher resources versus those that have lower resources does play into the, the quality of an experience that a member has. So how do we have that consistent regardless of whether you're in a division, whether you're, you're in a global, you know, the global, global division or even in the different regions. And so So again, Region 5 being very small in member numbers, but large contiguously, the largest contiguous space region, you know, it's important that we try to figure out how to make that work, knowing that again, our members are international. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:20:40]: Just to underscore what Carnell was saying, some of this is dollars and cents, but it's not the singular driver. It really is exactly what Carnell was getting at, which is how are we serving our members, which I think goes to the initial point we started with. There's a lot of entry points for the association. Darby alluded to her own entry point, to some extent my own as well, for the knowledge communities. Knowledge communities are funded a certain way. Carnell noted divisions are funded a certain way. Regions are certainly funded in, in a different way. And I think as the board was looking at this very thoughtfully, we were really trying to consider the best ways to make the best use of members' limited resources, the investment they're making both in their time and in the association. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:21:18]: So that's where this priority I really, really I really think does have tremendous potential for us in terms of the long-term trajectory and future of the association. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:21:25]: I'll also just say happy birthday, Knowledge Communities. Knowledge Communities are turning 25 this year, and we have Dr. Betty Simmons getting her Distinguished Pillar of the Profession Award. Betty, also fondly known in ASPA as the mother of the Knowledge Communities. Our last priority is to advance inclusive and impactful governance. So I think this is one of those things that could be read as a lot of buzzwords, but should have a lot of oomph and meaning behind it. What would a member want or need to know about this aspect? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:21:52]: So I think this one is in particular speaks to how our members beyond just their experience or experiences are positioned to help lead the association. And again, as I noted a minute ago, there's a lot of entry points. There's a lot of opportunities for volunteers to get engaged beyond just their engagement opportunities to lead. And so this particular priority really does get at some shifts we've made in a more consistent framework for governance across regions, divisions, knowledge communities, how we are recruiting, training volunteer leaders, how we're supporting them in their roles. This is an effort to to again enhance what that experience looks like as much for the member as well as for them, how the member is helping lead the association going forward. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:22:31]: And I do think taking the time to really think through this very purposefully is going to help members understand and want to be engaged and want to stay engaged, particularly in that involvement in leadership. Whether it's a knowledge community, it's really saying that this is a smooth process, it's well thought out, it makes sense, and the more that we can I think the more we can retain people interested in those leadership positions, interested in getting involved in knowledge communities or the small college division or the community college division to really say, this is a positive experience. I trust in the process. I'm engaged and satisfied, and I want to continue to do the things and grow in the association. So I think this too is really important time in the association. And it's a really important priority for us to move the association forward. Forward. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:23:17]: We've talked through what the priorities are. Now let's talk about how we're going to use them to activate the work across the next 3 years. What does that look like at the board level, at our regional areas, through our divisions, KCs, etc.? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:23:29]: So what happens next for us after we begin to introduce this plan this month is we'll begin, and we've already begun here at the annual conference, to have our various constituent groups take these priorities and see how they can see themselves in them. That's been a consistent theme throughout this process. And regions, our community's divisions, steering committees will all be in a position to consider how the work they're doing, the resources they're providing, the programs they're sponsoring, are helping drive the association's strategic priorities forward. The other part that I think is important is that the work that Dr. Parnell, NASPA's president, is, is doing now with the executive team and staff more broadly across NASPA. They have, even before we got to this point here in Kansas City, already begun looking at operationalizing action steps to help drive a lot of these things we alluded to. The website is an example. That's not one of those things that is volunteer-driven per se. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:24:24]: That's an operational function that, again, Amelia, Amy Shophorn, and the team are very aware of and cognizant of and are developing action steps to help improve and drive that forward. So it's as much about our volunteers and our various constituent stakeholder groups and how they're leading in this space as it is about how the staff has put together action steps over the course of the next 3 years. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:24:45]: I would just also add one of the other elements of this is is that this is one NASPA. And so as the Region V Director, one of the things that we'll be doing is actually taking, again, the strategic priorities and aligning our regional priorities to these. And it's an opportunity to also for us to refine that. So whatever we have been, it's not to say that we're just going to stop doing all the things that we've been doing, but we're going to say, okay, what is actually critical now? What is most important? What is in alignment with the strategic plan? And then also how is that connected back to our region? Because again, our region has specific needs as well. So again, that alignment piece is going to happen. For us where we're going to take what we've done, realign it, and actualize it on the other end. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:25:25]: If I'm an average member who's maybe involved in one knowledge community and I'm very busy on my campus, don't have a lot of time to be more engaged than that, or maybe don't want to be, either way is completely fine. How is the strategic plan going to play out in my member experience? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:25:38]: I like to think it'll provide a seamless opportunity for you to find the resources that you need. If it's a particular topic, a particular issue, a way to get involved, involved, to get information. I think they're going to see this as a very smooth process and that the information that they're going to get and the timeliness of it, the correct communication, that it's going to help them trust the organization to say it's moving in the right direction. I'm committed to it, even if I'm not completely involved in everything all the time, that it's of value to them as a student affairs professional to invest their membership dollars in the organization, to keep it strong, to keep it thriving, to ensure the long-term survival and thriving of the organization. Organization. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:17]: What haven't I asked you about regarding the Strategic Plan that you really wanted to make sure you got out to the members today? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:26:23]: We were really intentional in identifying 3 words that we thought really get at the core of what this plan is about. So as you see the various assets that will be going out that introduce this Strategic Plan, you'll notice that we're really zeroing in on 3 keywords: elevating, strengthening, and advancing. And we tie those words to the member experience. So it's elevating, strengthening, advancing your member experience is the tagline that we're— that's really what this plan is ultimately about. And as we've talked about over the last little bit, it comes in various forms, but we really, really do believe that this will help position the association for the next 3 years. But I think importantly, help strengthen our members, both in their experience and the association. Also importantly is in the important work that we're engaged in on our campuses. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:27:11]: And I will just add that while you may not see very clearly the element around community and connection, community is still at the heart of what we do. And so that interconnectedness of this, this is not done in a silo, that this is not done just individual groups, but this is all interconnected, that getting back to why we're here to support our students and support each other. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:27:32]: And I have to put on my assessment hat. Yes, please. With this plan comes assessment and to say, how are we doing the things we said we're going to do? How can we improve? How can we continue to hear the voices from our members? How are we making this a living document? So it's not just 3 years from now, we're going to assess how well we did. It's we're going to do it in a very focused, organized way to continually improve. It's not just something sitting on a shelf. It's actually meant to be a very living, very dynamic, and very purposeful in moving forward. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:28:04]: I love that you brought us there. So for our listeners who have not yet met Darby, she has a well-earned reputation for being one of student affairs' best storytellers through data. And so we do hope to have you on in the fall to talk a little bit more about data and storytelling, primarily because as we've gone through this season of The Value of Student Affairs, the one consistent thing is everyone has said we need to do better at telling our story as a profession. Every single person that's come on, and that is very telling that we all want to do that, but maybe don't know how to do that. So it'll be a good conversation. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:28:33]: I'm looking forward to it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:28:35]: Before we go to our break, is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for also serving on the working group that helped us get to this strategic plan. Dr. Mike Christakis [00:28:42]: I want to call out Ana Gonzales, who initiated this work, Lincoln Johnson, who was Ana's at-large appointee. Given that Ana knew that this work was coming up, Lincoln was great in helping to shepherd this effort early on and was a continued champion of this throughout the process. I'll also call out Darrell Holliman, our board chair-elect, who's been instrumental in this process and will take up the implementation of this going forward. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:29:05]: We'll give a special shout out to Lincoln, who has announced his retirement this spring. He's at his very last NASPA right now. He's been a pillar of the profession and a huge part of Region 5 and everything that's happened in student affairs and NASPA for the last several decades. So Lincoln, we're so proud of you. We're going to miss having you here every year, but we hope that you'll come back and hang out. It's time to take a quick break and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the NASPA world. World. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:29:31]: Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the NASPA world, and there's a ton of things happening in NASPA. For those of you that were able to join us in Kansas City, thank you. Thank you so much for coming out and being a part of the memorable conference that we had. Our president, Dr. Amelia Parnell, said at the pending KC Kickoff that the best place to be in good times, in challenging times, in okay times, in all times is together in community. And we definitely had that opportunity together at the NASPA 2026 conference. If you are not able to join us in person, I still would highly encourage you to get involved. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:30:11]: Find new ways to be able to connect with others, to engage with the association, engage with other people in the association, because by doing that, you continue to elevate, strengthen, and advance your own member experience, as well as providing you with an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to be able to be connected with others that are dealing with similar issues that you're dealing with on your own campuses. While it's still a ways away, I do encourage you to think about attending the 2027 NASPA Annual Conference. Put this on your calendar today. The 2027 NASPA Annual Conference is March 6th through the 10th in National Harbor, Maryland. So even if you don't know if you can go right now, put it on calendar, mark it off, because by doing that, you're taking the first step. And then you have an opportunity as the registration opens to be a part of the fun next year in Maryland. And next year's conference has a theme of We Are One NASPA. And there are 3 upcoming information sessions to find out more about the 2027 conference theme. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:31:19]: On Friday, April 10th at 1:00 PM, you can learn about the focus area, leveraging Changing the Business of Student Affairs. On Friday, April 24th at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, you can find out about the focus area, the Human-Digital Continuum: Leading with Intention in a Tech-Driven World. And on Friday, May 8th at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, you can learn about the focus area, Adapting with Purpose and Agency in the New Era of Student Affairs. All three of these sessions can be found in the NASPA online learning learning community, and you can find out more by going to learning.naspa.org. A recent email was sent out to all NASPA members about a follow-up brief on administration and governance. As you might remember, NASPA came out with a number of top issues in student affairs that were provided back in 2025, and administration and governance was one of the large areas that came out in the research. Some of the reasons for that is that compliance with federal, state and accreditation standards continues to be a top priority for senior student affairs leaders, with 68% of VPSAs ranking it as very important to their institutions in NASPA's 2025 Top Issues in Student Affairs survey. The follow-up brief that I mentioned builds on the findings from the survey, specifically focusing on issues within the area of administration and governance. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:32:44]: Key strategies for advancing administration and for governance included in this follow-up brief include embedding policy updates in regular meetings and professional development, creating rapid internal communication channels, developing talking points for students and campus advocacy, and connecting with faculty on applied governance simulations. You can find these follow-up briefs and other white papers that have been developed by NASPA for NASPA members by going to the NASPA website under Publications presentations, and then white papers. Finally, there's a new issue of the Leadership Exchange that was released right before the conference on assessment with purpose. If you have a true interest in assessment, this issue of the Leadership Exchange is definitely for you. Whether you currently do assessment in the work that you're doing on a regular basis or you want to get more involved, this Leadership Exchange issue delves deep into everything that you can think of in regards to assessment on your campus. I highly encourage you to take a look at it. You can to the NASPA website, go under Publications, and access the electronic copy of the Leadership Exchange today. Every week we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:33:57]: So we are going to be able to try and keep you up to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways because the association is as strong as its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether whether it be getting involved with a knowledge community, giving back within one of the, the centers or the divisions of the association. And as you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify for yourself, where do you fit? Where do you want to give back? Each week, we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to Hey, I see myself in that knowledge community. I see myself doing something like that, or encourage you in other ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now, to offer other things to the association, to bring your gifts, your talents to the association and to all of the members within the association. Because through doing that, all of us are stronger, and the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:18]: Chris, thank you so much for continuing to keep us updated on what's going on in and around NASPA at this very special Strategic Plan Edition. Now, Darby, as our first timer, you get the first crack at our lightning round. I've got 7 questions for you in about 90 seconds. Are you ready to go? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:35:33]: I'm ready. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:33]: All right, question 1. We're at a conference, so if you were at a conference keynote speaker, what would your entrance music be? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:35:39]: Oh my gosh, we had a question about this the other day when we were in a board meeting about our favorite song and why. And I chose Footloose from 1984 because that's about my age time growing up, but because it's high energy, it's about working hard, playing hard, and just a lot of fun. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:54]: Number 2, when you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:35:57]: I think I wanted to be a flight attendant. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:59]: Number 3, who's your most influential professional mentor? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:36:02]: Oh my gosh. I'm going to shout out to Gene Jarsky, who is retired, but he was my advisor when I was an undergraduate student and really exposed me to student affairs as a profession and has been a great colleague, friend, and mentor over the decades. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:14]: Number 4, your essential student affairs read. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:36:17]: Well, I might be biased, but there is a book called Student Affairs Assessment: Theory to Practice by Henning and Roberts. That's a wonderful book about assessment and student affairs. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:24]: Might you know the Roberts of that book? Number 5, the best TV show you've been binging lately. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:36:30]: I'm not a huge show binger, but I do like this show on PBS. It's called Miss Charlotte and the Duke, and it's about this woman who becomes a private investigator in the hundreds when that's not what women do. And it's a fun, witty show. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:43]: Number 6, the podcast you spent the most hours listening to in the last year? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:36:46]: Well, that's a great question. I'm a big podcast listener, and you know what, I'm gonna say The Happiness Lab is a really good podcast. I really enjoy that. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:54]: And finally, number 7, any shoutouts you'd like to give, personal or professional? Dr. Darby Roberts [00:36:58]: I'm gonna shout out to the assessment, evaluation, and research knowledge community because they have all my love, and that's where I really become good friends and colleagues with the folks who are doing the hard work of student affairs and assessment. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:09]: And our assessment KC co-chairs were just on last season. So if you want to listen to them, please go check out that episode. And Darby, you did great. You've reached the end, which means Carnell, it is your turn. And we have a different set of questions for you because you've been on before. So question number 1, the last time you were here, you got to answer what your entrance music would be. Would you like to change your song? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:37:29]: Yes, because I represented the region at the regional roll call, and it was Let's Groove Tonight. So that's going to be the entrance song. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:38]: Number 2, what was your undergraduate degree and do you use it in your work now? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:37:42]: My undergraduate degree was in communication and I use it every single day. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:46]: Number 3, your guilty pleasure TV show? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:37:48]: HGTV, all of it. And Bravo. So you said show, but I got channels. So the Bravo channel, all the Housewives, all of the Below Deck, all of those. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:59]: So I do miss having access to HGTV. Number 4, your city is Portland, so if anyone ever visits Portland, what's the one place they must eat? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:38:08]: Oh, my favorite place is called Nora's PDX. It is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, and they have the best vegan pad thai. And I love meat, and it is the best pad thai that I've ever had. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:24]: Number 5, your favorite work-related podcast. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:38:27]: Favorite work— it should be NASWA's podcast, right? But my favorite work podcast is probably actually On Purpose by Jay Shetty. And it actually was a good defining moment of like, again, alignment and all that good stuff. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:42]: Number 6, your favorite not work-related podcast? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:38:45]: Not work-related podcast. I feel like they're just all integrated. So I feel like I have the same, I probably have the same answer. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:52]: And finally, number 7, any shoutouts you'd like to give, personal or professional? Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:38:56]: High five, Region 5. And I would love to give a shoutout to my husband, Kelly, and also my alma mater, Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:06]: It's been a pleasure having the 3 of you live In person, thank you so much for taking an hour out of your really busy conference schedules to sit down and talk about this really important work. If anyone would like to talk to you after the show airs, how can they find you? Dr. Mike Christakis [00:39:19]: Thanks for having us, Jill. Let me contact Dee on LinkedIn. Dr. Darby Roberts [00:39:21]: Thank you, Jill. People can contact Dee by my email, [email protected]. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:39:28]: And again, thank you for having me as well. And you can contact me through Instagram. So you can find all the goodies and all the favorites that I visit. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:38]: Mike, Darby, Carnell, thank you so much for sharing your voices with us today. Dr. Karnell McConnell-Black [00:39:42]: Thank you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:49]: This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected]. Aspa.org, or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:11]: We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's Me, produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

We are taking a bereak this week while we are taking in all of the great conversations that we had with you at the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference. We will be back with another powerful SA Voices From The Field Podcast Episode next week!   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Hey, SA Voices listeners. For those of you who we met in Kansas City, thank you so much for sharing your voices with us. Chris and I are busy putting together the episodes that we recorded on site, so we won't have a new episode for you this week, but we'll have one very, very soon. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:39]: All the best. Talk again soon. This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:05]: We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Lewis. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:30]: Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

The latest episode of SA Voices from the Field, hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis, is a must-listen for anyone in higher education and student affairs! As they gear up for the 2026 NASPA annual conference, both hosts share their excitement about reconnecting with colleagues and gathering authentic stories from attendees. A unique highlight this season: Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis will be moving around the conference with recording devices, collecting answers to three carefully crafted questions tied to the event's focus areas. Can't attend in person? No worries! We will bring key conference moments and voices directly to the podcast, ensuring every listener can still benefit from the rich professional insights. Whether you're there in Kansas City or tuning in from afar, this episode is packed with community spirit and practical tips.  TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Hey, Chris. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:27]: Hey, Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:29]: It's been an incredible week of gearing up for annual conference. I hope everyone has enjoyed our annual conference episode with Jose and Mike. Chris, what are you most looking forward to? Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:40]: Well, our annual meetup, of course, is one of my most exciting times when we get to actually be in person and talking. But I love being able to talk with all of the people that are coming to the conference. I'm going to be recording questions questions with people from the conference, and I'm really looking forward to some of their answers. You know, we have 3 main questions that we're asking individuals, and we'll be walking around asking people. So if you see Jill or I with our recorders out, please come up to us, talk to us, because we would love to be able to have your voices as a part of this. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:19]: And even if you see us and we don't have our recorders out, but you'd really like to submit your voice for the podcast, we really want to hear from you. So Chris and I will be moving about with our handhelds asking you the 3 questions that we've got scripted for this year's conference focus areas that you heard about from Jose and Mike. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:37]: But Chris, I wish you all of the safe travels. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:40]: And just to let our listeners know, we're taking the week off from releasing an episode so we can be present at Annual. So we'll be back in 2 weeks with a new episode for you. We wish all of you safe travels. And Chris, anything else before we head out to Kansas City? Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:55]: No, looking forward to it. Safe travels to you, Jill, and safe travels to everyone else. Looking forward to seeing you all. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:02]: And if we can't see you there, we are going to be capturing some conversations with some key speakers as well as the voices of you all. So if you're going to not be able to join us this year, we'll make sure that you get to have some of that experience. So whether we'll be seeing you in person in Kansas City or whether you're going to be listening to the content from the podcast after the conference, we hope that it's an enriching experience and we'll be back with a normal episode in 2 weeks. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:31]: This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:00]: It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

Are you getting ready for the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference in Kansas City? Whether you're a seasoned attendee or venturing out for the first time, this year's event promises to be a transformative experience for student affairs professionals everywhere. The latest episode of the "Student Affairs Voices from the Field" podcast, hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton, dives into everything you need to know about the upcoming conference, offering behind-the-scenes insights and invaluable tips. In this special episode, Dr. Jill Creighton is joined by Dr. Michael N. Christakis, NASPA Board Chair, and Dr. José-Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life at the University of Delaware and the 2026 Annual Conference Chair. Together, they explore the vision and meticulous planning that goes into creating one of the most important gatherings for student affairs professionals. Conference Focus Areas: The conversation orbits around three core themes that will define this year's conference: Elevating Student Affairs: Embracing Our Impact – Discover how the profession leverages data, technology, and AI to demonstrate tangible outcomes and meet the growing expectations of students, families, and employers. Focusing on People: The Heart of the Profession – After several tumultuous years in higher education, there's a renewed emphasis on community, connection, and supporting the wellbeing of student affairs practitioners. From opening session changes to intentional networking lounges, the conference is designed with people in mind. Pathways to Student Success: Thriving in Higher Education – Despite shifting models, the heartbeat of student affairs remains centered on supporting student success. The conference will tackle who "owns" and contributes to this vital work as institutions continue to evolve. Why Should You Listen? If you're attending the conference for the first time (along with 20% of attendees!), you'll find actionable advice—from navigating the app to building meaningful connections, even if you're an introvert. The episode also gives a shout-out to Kansas City's vibrant culture, and how it will shape the conference experience, inside and outside the convention center. Whether you want to get inspired, feel prepared, or just find the best spot for barbecue or vegetarian fare, this episode is bursting with valuable tips. Don't miss out on hearing from the leaders who bring the conference to life and finding those nuggets of wisdom for your student affairs journey. Tune in now and take your NASPA conference experience—from both the inside and outside—up a notch! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Let's get ready for NASPA 2026's annual conference. Today I'm joined by both our board chair as well as our conference chair to tell us all about what to expect this year in Kansas City, Missouri. If you're a first-time attendee, we also spend some time talking about how to navigate this conference schedule that is incredibly rich but can also be a little bit overwhelming. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:46]: Our first guest is Dr. Mike Christakis, who is our NASPA board chair, and he's also the vice president for student affairs and enrollment at the University of Albany. We had Mike on last year when he took the board chair seat, so if you'd like to learn more about him and his background, I highly encourage you to go back and listen to his episode. Our second guest is a first-timer on the podcast, Dr. José Luis Riera, who's currently the Vice President for Student Life at the University of Delaware and also our 2026 annual conference chair for NASPA. With over 20 years of experience in student affairs and higher ed, José oversees a comprehensive student affairs division whose fundamental work involves advancing equity and inclusion, deepening student learning, and attending to the student's holistic development. José's vision is rooted in leading consequential student affairs work that leads to student flourishing and student success for all students. Since arriving at the University of Delaware in 2010, he served in several positions within student life, including Associate Dean and Dean of Students. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:38]: He's a frequent presenter at national conferences, an active contributor to the advancement of higher ed and student affairs, and is a member of APLU, ACPA, and NASPA. He is currently our 2026 conference chair, and he's put a ton of work across the last 18 months to make this experience happen for us in Kansas City. He's the author and co-creator of several articles and book reviews in professional journals, and he's the author and co-author of multiple book chapters focused on on the application of the social change model. Jose began his career in higher education as a student steeped in the liberal arts with a double major in music and biology at Muhlenberg College. He then earned a master's degree in student affairs and higher education from Colorado State University and a PhD in college student personnel from the University of Maryland, College Park. He lives in Newark, Delaware with his wife Kate, a faculty member in human development and family sciences at the University of Delaware, and they have 4 girls and 2 dogs. Welcome back to SA Voices, Mike. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:02:30]: Hey, it's great to be here, Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:31]: And Jose, first-time guest. Lovely to have you. Welcome. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:02:34]: Thanks for having me. Excited to join in on this episode. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:37]: We are recording just in advance of all of us descending on Kansas City, Missouri for the annual conference. This year we are thrilled to have Jose in the chair seat for the conference and Mike as one of his last things to do as current NASPA board chair. So before we get started with the preview of the conference, Mike, you've been on the show before. Do you want to remind listeners how you got to your current seat, both as NASPA Board Chair and at University of Albany. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:03:03]: Sure. Thanks, Jill. Yeah, so I'm at the University at Albany in New York State. I've been at UAlbany in my 26th year. Got to UAlbany, as y'all might recall, as a graduate student, had a graduate assistantship in student affairs, worked through residential life, and then have been at the honor of serving as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment here for the last 11 years. Have been involved with NASPA throughout most of my professional journey here at UAlbany, serving both as Regional Director for Region 2, co-chair of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community. And have the pleasure now of serving as chair. And as Jill noted, I will be concluding my chair service when the annual conference concludes in Kansas City. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:38]: Thank you. And Jose, first-time guest, your turn. How did you get to your current seat, both at Delaware as well as in the conference chairship? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:03:46]: Yeah, so I'll take on Delaware first. I've been at the University of Delaware since 2010, so just past 15 years here. And most of my earlier career was in residence life and housing and in student conduct work and spent 4 years at the University of Maryland College Park prior to coming here at Delaware, but came as the Associate Dean of Students, served as the Dean of Students here, and was very fortunate to be able to compete for the Vice President position. So I've been in that position formally since 2018. And then NASPA has always been central to my professional development. I would say most of my service has been in helping to contribute around professional development programs, most recently working on the faculty and then directing, co-directing the Institute for folks who are aspiring to be vice presidents of student affairs, which was a really fun opportunity for me. And then I was very fortunate to have Mike call me. I think it's one of the privileges of board chairs is to think through who they would like leading the conference that ultimately, I think, expresses and culminates their work at NASPA in the, in that board chair position. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:04:57]: And so, yeah, it's just, it's, it's been a really, really fun ride for 18+ months. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:05:01]: I will say, Jill, just to underscore Jose's point, it actually is quite literally the first major decision you take on as chair-elect. I mean, it really is like they call you to let you know you were elected, super exciting, and less than 24 hours later, they're like, and who's your conference chair? I'm very, very grateful that Jose, who I'd had the opportunity to work alongside in both NASPA and APLU circles, we're, we're both involved with APLU, agreed to take on this. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:26]: So Mike, you get elected, you say, Jose, please chair this conference. Jose, had you been in the NASPA conference circles before? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:05:34]: So actually, yeah, I've, um, under a very different model. Probably, I think, sometime around like 2009 or '10, I served on the Program Selection Committee, which back then was meeting at NASPA headquarters for a weekend with a lot of paper and going through program reviews. So that was my foray into conference and then volunteering along the way and doing those types of things. But yeah. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:59]: So what does the chair do? What is your job? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:06:02]: Yeah, that's a great question. And I would say under Amelia's leadership, one, that we've gotten to do two things, obviously plan the conference, but also refine kind of the organizational monster that is the conference. And the NASPA staff have been just incredible partners in, in working through that. I think the chair, and, and, and I think this is part and parcel to what drew me to say yes, you get to really think about and set vision for with, with the board chair around what's the conversation, that broader conversation that you want to have during those 4 or 5 days when you're on site. How do you build that conversation throughout the year? How does it fit into the work that the board that year is trying to push forward. So there are some specific things in that way. And obviously being responsive to, I mean, the vision is to create a really, really high quality, great professional development experience, which I think we'll certainly get into as we continue chatting. And so get to oversee what we call the CLC, the Conference Leadership Committee. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:07:02]: We have an incredible group of people that lead all the different subcommittees like volunteers and engagement. We have our onsite folks who are planning for our arrival at KC and and know all the wonderful things about Kansas City. I don't know if this happens for every conference and board chair and conference leadership committee, but I mean, we've certainly fallen in love with Kansas City. We've been there several times, likely not the most, maybe the top conference city you think of. And yet, as we've had the opportunity to be on the ground in the city, learn more about its heritage, its history, it's just been awesome. So, but I think at the, at the end of the day, it's really about what's the vision for the conversation that we wanna hold in that place for those 4 or 5 days. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:44]: I think as an as an attendee, especially if you're not volunteering or engaging and you're maybe your first-time attendee, it's really easy to think about the conference as something that just happens rather than something that people spend a year working towards to make this 4-day experience as intensive and learning-focused and magical as it can be. So, Jose, do you want to shout out your conference leadership team folks who have been putting in a lot of energy outside of hours to try to make this experience meaningful? Jose, it takes a village to create this conference experience, so I'm wondering if you just want to give a quick shout out any of the student affairs leaders that have been contributing their year to planning this conference? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:08:22]: Yes, absolutely. I would love to. Like I said, we have a number of subcommittees, but we have Talia Drummer-Ferrell and Danielle Nesselbush, and they're leading our volunteers and engagement opportunities. Shannon Gary and Gail Cole-Event, who are leading our extended learning sessions, which has been, I'm really excited for. Scott Friedman and Darlene Esparza, who are leading our essay series, which they've done a good deal of innovation there. Ryan Gove and Molly C.S. Pearson, and they are our hosts in Kansas City and leading a really, really exciting team who, who can't wait to welcome you. Jeanette Smith and William Hudson, who are leading all of our VPSA initiatives, and Mimi Benjamin, who has been working on our faculty initiatives as well as our scholarly papers, our posters, and other opportunities to engage in, in the literature and the research of student affairs. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:09:14]: So that's the mighty group. Right there. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:17]: This year's conference has 3 focus areas. I'm wondering if you can take us through each of those and how those focus areas played a role in curating the programming we're about to experience. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:09:27]: Yeah, absolutely. I think it's been really fun to sit down. You start working on these focus areas about 18 months before the conference. And so if you can think of what has shifted in 18 months, both in our country here in the United States, but even in the world, there's been quite a bit. And so you try to forecast what are the, the big things that are gonna resonate with folks. So first up, We have Elevating Student Affairs: Embracing Our Impact. And there we're really thinking about the transformative role of data in the higher education and student affairs sector, thinking about the return on investment that families, parents, students are looking for, employers, other constituents we have, and how to leverage technology and of course AI, which we can certainly talk about because that, that's gonna certainly be a feature topic for us at the conference. The second is focusing on people, the heart of the student affairs profession, and I I would say this theme elevated a bit as we went through our conference planning. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:10:25]: There is an incredible connection for us as we got to know Kansas City and really identify it as the heartland of the United States. And you see that reflected in the logo, which has the heart. And regardless of all the changes and issues that we're dealing with, the fun reasons we come together to see one another at the conference, but also the very passion-driven reasons around doing our work better, it's been been a 5, 6, 7 heavy years for our profession. And COVID certainly contributed to that. You know, you think about the murder of George Floyd and what happened there. We think about all the political turmoil in our country and, and our people are stretched, they're hurting, our budgets are constrained. I mean, it's clear higher education is going through a contraction period and all that brings different pressures. But what that kept coming back for us was how to elevate people. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:11:13]: And this ties into some of the agenda too of Mike's work this year in thinking about how we start focusing more clearly on that engagement experience for our people and that support that we have on our local campuses. So excited about that. And we can talk more about how you'll see that reflected in the conference. And then the last is the pathways to student success, thriving in higher education. I think lots of things are changing and yet, you know, the core of who we are and what we do is driven by student success. It always has been from the, what is it like 1937 Personnel Point of View that was written to now, you know, student success has always been primary for student affairs. And so those models are shifting. Are changing on campuses. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:11:53]: I think on many campuses, they're in a discovery mode. Who owns this? Who contributes to this? What are the coalitions that produce those outcomes that we're looking for? But it's still driven by a desire for our students to be successful. So those are the three really large themes that you'll see, I think, reflected throughout many, many of our programs. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:12:12]: And if I could just also add, as José noted, we started engaging in conversations about these elements 18 months ago, and when I was chair-elect, when José had just gotten into the seat, and when we were in Kansas City with the CLC for the very first time. What is so cool about where these three themes have sort of emerged and taken us to this point is that they all also connect pretty explicitly to the association's new strategic plan, which I know is not the topic of this particular pod, but will be for a subsequent pod. But I do really, really appreciate the CLC advocating and championing what has emerged several months later now as the association's sort of primary drivers, which do, I think, in a lot of ways help drive elevating student affairs, focusing on people and what our students' pathways to student success are. So I think that is super cool, at least from sort of my lens in terms of the alignment. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:13:03]: Jose, can you talk a little bit about how these three focus areas were used to inform any of the programs that were selected or any of our keynotes that are gonna be featured? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:13:14]: Absolutely. I think the first thing I'll mention is the design of the opening is gonna look and feel a little different, and we're experimenting experimenting with something, and we've spent a lot of time vetting that and thinking that through with the board, with the CLC, with membership in general, right? Talking to folks. So we are actually gonna start on that Sunday in regional receptions. And that is really, I would say, paying homage to the connection that we have with one another. We have heard for many years, it's not the easiest conference to be a first-time attendee, of which we have over 1,000 coming. And so what does it look like to welcome them into smaller communities with folks who are adjacent in the sense of a region versus a national or a global connection. And, and so our regions and our global division will have space to be able to gather together and, and just literally meet one another, reconnect with one another. And then that will spill into the opening session, which will not have a keynote during the opening session. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:14:14]: We'll really have some speakers who will frame what the conversation will be, but it's gonna again, really be what we're calling the KC kickoff, um, a little bit of like a tailgating theme to it. And it's gonna be about connecting with one another. So we'll frame the time that we have in Kansas City together, and then we're gonna spend a lot of time in community in a larger room. Obviously food is gonna be really important. The arts are gonna be really important. We're gonna be pulling in elements that are near and dear to the culture of Kansas City. So you'll see more about that. So a lot of that was fueled on this focus on people and how do we from the beginning center ourselves as individuals and within communities at the conference. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:14:54]: So super excited about that. We have over 635 programs 228 of those are around student success. So obviously that's coming in strong. Lots of folks are coming, I think, in so many different ways to talk about student success. So you're gonna see that. I'll get back to our keynotes and our speakers, which I'm super excited about. We are going to hear then on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, each of those days we'll have a keynote. Kevin McClure, who is the author of a newly published book, The Caring University. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:15:23]: Again, and really coming back to thinking about the enterprise of the people within our profession from a systems level. That's really what the book is about. How do we shape systems that can help our people thrive and specifically around our people? So really excited about that. Super excited. So one of the things that Kansas City, beyond culture and history, it's a really large sports town, which is really, really cool. It's not always cool with me. I'm a Philadelphia Eagles fan. So you'll, you'll know why that's not always cool with me, but in general, it's very cool with me. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:15:55]: But one of the incredible highlights for us has been getting to know the organization of the KC Current, which is the women's professional soccer team, which has the only stadium built for women's soccer in the world in Kansas City. And it's been really cool to go tour that, get to know a little bit more about the organization. But their president, Raven Jemison, is gonna be speaking to us. And I think it's gonna be a really neat opportunity to get an outside voice into our profession, but around issues that have so much resonance with who we are as a profession. And then we'll close with Amelia Parnell, We were really excited as a conference leadership committee to think about after last year and hearing Amelia speak, think about who better to send us off back onto our campuses and thinking about how to bring the conference together and bring these three themes back together. I won't go through all of them, but Mike, you might wanna talk about this panel we're doing with other higher ed associations, cuz I think it hits really right at both the student success piece, but also the elevating student affairs and embracing our impact. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:16:55]: Yeah, so as we were thinking about what our annual conference would look like in Kansas City, one element that Amelia had actually introduced when we were together in New Orleans, because she had invited some leaders from other higher ed associations, was how could we maybe further integrate in a real tangible way those leaders in our program? And as Amelia, myself, and José were thinking through this, one of the areas was really in the enrollment management space, which is on everybody's mind for obvious reasons in higher education, but which student affairs has a hand in, in a lot ways. And we were trying to make that connection a little bit more explicit. And so we've invited leaders from NACAC, AIR, and ACRO on a panel that I'll be moderating. And again, in my sort of daytime job on campus, I oversee both student affairs and enrollment. So sort of uniquely positioned to have a conversation with panelists from those three associations. And fortunately for us, Amelia Parnell, our president, highly regarded in the higher ed space, was able to make those connections with colleagues she has long worked alongside. So we'll have a featured session that'll really get at how enrollment management is a team sport. In fact, that's the title of it, to try to get at how we as student affairs professionals currently have a hand and how can we have more of a hand in how our campuses work in both recruiting and retaining students. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:18:12]: So I'm pretty stoked about that, that panel as well. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:15]: Mike, would you mind demystifying those acronyms you just threw out for this panel? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:18:18]: Yes, yes, of course. So we'll have leadership from the National Association of College Admission Counseling, so NACAC. We'll have the executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, so that's AACRO. And then we'll have leadership from the Association of Institutional Research. So we're really covering the span of where admission and enrollment begins to intersect on our campuses, and we're trying to elevate that conversation sort of nationally. Again, given the work that we're all doing in this space, but I think also demographic cliff, stresses around resources, where our students are coming from, who the students are we're servicing and the like. So again, really excited to be able to have that conversation while we're together in Kansas City. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:18:55]: Jose, you mentioned that there are over 1,000 first-time attendees coming this year, which is about 20-ish percent of our overall attendees. And I agree with the statement that if this is your first NASPA, it can be super, super overwhelming. I know we've got an app that has all the things in it. Even the app is a little bit overwhelming. So what is your best advice for how to approach this conference experience? If you're approaching it for the very first time, and particularly if you're an introvert approaching this for the first time? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:19:22]: I'm really thankful we've started having the regions on their own stepping out and doing some connection points for first-time attendees before they come, which is so cool. And I, I think next year we'll see more of that across the regions, which is just such a great opportunity. So the first thing I would say is breathe, and I both want to encourage first-time attendees to be thoughtful and purposeful around what your schedule is and how you balance that schedule so it's true to who you are. But at the same time, there's not a way to do the conference, right? There's not the one way to do the conference. And what I've learned certainly in my many years of going to NASPA is that what drives me to go to the conference has changed over time. And I'm at a stage in my career, Mike and I have talked about this a number of times, that one of the main driving things is seeing my colleagues and talking to them about, are you dealing with this? Am I dealing with it? And so just know that that's going to shift over time. So I would encourage definitely just some time before you leave for the conference, getting familiar with the app, there are some great ways to parse the programming. Either it could be where you are from an identity perspective in terms of I'm entry-level, I'm mid-level, I'm senior level. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:20:31]: It could be a functional area. You're working in leadership development or you're working in counseling and wellbeing, whatever it might be. And so the app really gives some ways to break it down. And I would suggest breaking it down is really helpful because to your point, Jill, if you look at the app and you look at all the programs, it gets really quickly overwhelming. I don't think you have to feel like you have to do a program every session. What I've generally done is said, these are two programs that are priorities for me on this day, and then I build the rest of the schedule around that. I would leave some time to connect with colleagues, and there's lots of receptions and mixers. And what are the spaces? And again, this is where you might want to pace yourself, right, based on your capacity to do that. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:21:12]: And that makes sense. And plan some alone time. I mean, I will say, Jill, I'm an extrovert. I've certainly, I would say, come a bit more to center post-college. I was a really off-the-charts extrovert, but I plan alone time for the conference. You have to, you have to plan some alone time. It might be a half hour by yourself in your room before you go out to dinner with a group, or it might be I'm just gonna take a walk, and that's fine. So those are some of the keys. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:21:36]: One of the unique elements of a conference like NASPA is you do get to meet people. So do plan time in for being able to have space and energy to do that. And the fruit of that is, at least for me, it's been incredible over the years. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:21:50]: And I I think that just to underscore Jose's points, I mean, we've got a really rich program offering for conference attendees. You are still in a position, particularly as a first-time attendee, to gain invaluable experience through those informal interactions that are not always necessarily in sessions. And so just to sort of double down on what Jose was saying, small bites of the apple. You're not going to make every session. You're not going to make every reception. Do what you're able to. We've tried to be very intentional. The conference leadership committee in focusing on our people and prioritizing their wellbeing and engagement while they're there. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:22:25]: And so you will note from the onset of the conference, we will be talking about you as an individual, you as a colleague, you as a professional. That is key. So whatever works for you at your pace is what we're hoping you get out of your time in Kansas City. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:22:39]: Just so you know, Jill, we have a number of lounges that we host, and many of them will be in one area together with some intention that there's kind of some shoulder rub in there. So we do have a first-time attendee lounge I'd really encourage you to use that as kind of a home base to meet other first-time attendees, but there'll be other lounges right in that area of folks that you can also meet that you may be drawn to as well. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:23:01]: I think my advice for first-time attendees would be to pick a mix of sessions that, one, focus on the job you're doing now, two, focus on the job that you might want to do in the future, and three, sessions that just are interesting to you, even if they're not necessarily directly applicable to your current position, because you never know where you're going to go in this field or in this career, and especially who you might meet at the conference. And we're kind of in this weird era where a lot of people do business cards, but a lot of people don't. So there are ways in the app to connect with fellow colleagues to get contact information exchanged that doesn't have to be physically exchanging a business card. But the best advice I got years ago is that if you do exchange a business card, immediately write on the back of that card why you connected with that person. So when you get back to your campus, you're not sitting there with a stack of cards going, I don't remember why I talked to them. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:23:47]: As an example, because I think Jill, that That is excellent advice, particularly in the area of if you're not comfortable or familiar with a particular area, this is an opportunity to get into a session that will begin to broaden your own personal and professional horizon. Artificial intelligence is an area that we've got a plethora of sessions being presented in, and we're super excited that we've got Claire Brady also joining us for some more featured sessions in that space. So if AI, as an example, is an area that you're just like, I don't know, give it a shot, take a listen, engage a bit, and see if you can go back to your campus with a broader perspective. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:24:18]: About that. Earlier in our conversation, José, you said that the Conference Leadership Committee and yourself had the opportunity to fall in love with Kansas City. I will be one of the first to admit when I heard we're going to KC, I went, oh, and I would like to not be that person. I would love to be more thrilled about physically being in the space. Most of the time is going to be spent at the conference venue anyway. But for those moments that we get to go out to dinner or those moments where we might have an hour or two free, help me fall in love with KC, please. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:24:44]: So I already mentioned it's a sports town, so there's lots of sporting. You collide with it all the time. Like, you can tell they're very committed to sporting. The Big 12 Women's NCAA Tournament will be happening while we're in town. And so that's kind of fun. And I think they regularly host lots of different sporting things. Incredible heritage and legacy. And we'll actually be working with some of this at the conference around Indigenous peoples. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:25:09]: I mean, I think it's somewhere north of 80 to 90 tribes were at some point considered Missouri and Kansas City home. And so one of the things we're trying to do is some place-based engagement sessions throughout the conference and thinking about reminding folks of the land, the labor that's behind the place where we are, but in a way that is a thread throughout the conference versus just, let's say, in an opening session is often traditional at conferences. Really, really long history of African American music in particular and art. Jazz is a big one. Blues is a big one. And there are some really cool museums that document that. There is a new light rail system that runs right through where the conferences and they'll take you kind of into the heart of downtown. Kansas City is also known as the City of Fountains. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:25:59]: I can't remember how many fountains. There's not a lot of fountains right around the conference area. So if you're looking for fountains, that's not where, but you can take that light rail, which is a really simple drive right down into like the shopping district. And to your point, Jill, I think many of us enjoy cuisine. And so that's another tip for a first-time or returning attendee is, is to do a little bit of maybe research there's actually quite a diverse palette of cuisine available in Kansas City. Barbecue is what it's very well known for. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:29]: I'm a vegetarian. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:26:31]: Right. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:26:31]: So maybe not. But nonetheless, they do lots of fun stuff. I'm trying to think, Mike, didn't we have, like, fried pickles or something like that? That's vegetarian. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:26:38]: Just to sort of really fall in love with Kansas City. There's energy when you're there. It's got sort of the Midwestern charm, but with the big city creativity, the art, the architecture, certainly the jazz. We really enjoyed it while we've been there. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:52]: What's one thing you want our listeners to know about upcoming conference that we haven't talked about yet? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:26:57]: I mean, we've been very intentional with the cadence of our featured speakers. That's by design. We were intentional in removing sort of the, what has maybe traditionally been viewed as the opening keynote on Sunday in favor of a more high-energy KC kickoff, more brief speakers, really highlighting members. And, you know, I, I would say that we're also celebrating the anniversary of our knowledge communities. Yes. 25 years of knowledge communities for NASPA. Which really just was very coincidental that we're celebrating KC's in KC. But as somebody who I think both of us, both Jose and me and others, have spent a portion of our professional experience in NASPA with knowledge communities. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:27:35]: I mean, for me, that was my first real foray into active association work at the national level with the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research KC. To be able to now celebrate 2 and a half decades of when the idea of KC's came about while we're together. And so we will, during that opening, during the KC kickoff, in addition to elevating our regions and our international global members who will be there, we're going to be celebrating our knowledge communities. And they're not all 25 years old, but they all have a really tremendous impact on our members' experience, on our association, I think on our profession. So that's, that's the one thing we didn't really touch on that I would just want to underscore. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:28:10]: And I'll give a shout out to Dr. Betty Simmons, who is receiving the Distinguished Pillar of the Profession this year. We had her on the podcast last year live in New Orleans, and She is, as she fondly calls herself, the mother of knowledge communities. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:28:22]: Yes, she is. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:28:23]: So it's a good year for all of that. Well, with all of that in mind, I'm looking forward to seeing you both next week in Kansas City. I've got a long flight ahead of me, and I'll be using some of that time to look through the app and pick out sessions that I'm interested in doing. And I also just want to say thank you to the conference committee for acknowledging that the global attendees need a space that's a little bit different than some of the US-based attendees. That's something that's been kind of evolving over the years for a long time, but it's really lovely to to know that those of us coming from across oceans are going to have a more dedicated place to be seen at opening. So thank you for that, Jose. I'm going to transition us into our theme-based questions for the season. Mike, you answered these the last time you were on, so I'll ask folks if they would like to hear your responses to go back to that episode. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:29:07]: Jose, we've got 3 questions on the value of student affairs, which is something we've been asking all of our folks that we've interviewed in this last calendar year. And our first question is, when you think about the value of Student Affairs, what comes to mind first and why? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:29:22]: Yeah, so honestly, I think the first thing that came to mind for me was just thinking this morning of that simple theory that so many of us are exposed to of challenge and support. The opportunities that there are for us to draw students in, engage students often around a passion area, often it's an extension perhaps of their academic inquiry, or it could be something that's highly personal that they are exploring, provide them opportunities to do that within community, learn more about it, be challenged about it. And then the other side I always think of student affairs is, is that support side, right? We're there when maybe that leads to an emotional corrective experience, or you're thinking about something that you've never thought about before because of the way sometimes our, certainly our residential campuses might put you in a very different environment than you were at home. That to me is the first thing I think about. Everything we think about is the co-curriculum and the power that that has to be so significant for students in the, in their experience. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:30:22]: Our second question, can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:30:28]: We went through some exercises, as many divisions do, some years ago to think about our values and our mission and our vision. And one of the things we identified is that one of our greatest tools for the work we do is community. And so that's what I would point to. You know, you see example over example over example, certainly on my campus, and I hear about this from colleagues around the way communities play a role. So I think about, we have a Dance Marathon. A lot of campuses have a dance marathon, and that's fresh in my mind because I met with the leaders recently as they're continuing to kind of embed that into the culture and the spirit of our campus. Uh, that started in 2012 with the fraternity and sorority getting together and having an event. It's now its own totally independent organization. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:31:13]: I mean, we literally have thousands of students involved and engaged over the year, not just on that one day. And then I think about all the things that go wrong with something like that and how the students learn about it, right? So incredible financial management that's happening in that space. I could tell you stories about how that's been great and also at times risky. The leadership, I mean, there's just dozens of teams that operate within that structure. So that to me, I think about how much community drives what we do. And it's certainly one of those contexts that I think it's transformative for folks. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:31:46]: And our third question, what do you think student affairs needs to do to be better understood and better seen in today's educational environment? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:31:54]: I know, again, we're wrestling with some of this on our our own campus. I think it's a simple and yet it's, it's complex around how we have to push ourselves to make connections with others on campus. I think there's a very easy entry point with faculty in many ways, which is those faculty who might be struggling in with a student, but they, they themselves need support in supporting the student. And we have a role there. And I think sometimes we assume that people understand what we do, or we assume that people understand the resources that are available to them. And when I say people, I mean staff, other than student affairs staff or faculty, other, you know, from the campus. And they don't, you know, we have, I mean, earlier in the podcast, you asked Mike to break down acronyms. We do have a vernacular, we have a language among ourselves, and we tend to use that quite a bit. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:32:44]: And that doesn't always make sense to other people. And it's no blame, but we have so many things going on that we don't always think about those deliberative ways to build bridges. So to me, For me, I think we have to get out there. We have to make relationships. We have to force ourselves. I mean, when I think of faculty, like pulling them into different efforts we're doing within student affairs, and some of our divisions are probably positioned where they can do that. You know, if you have a career center in your division, you can do a lot of that work. You know, I think in a, in a place like, like UAlbany where Mike has enrollment management, you have the ability to really, we have to think about that strategy and push into it hard. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:33:21]: 'Cause I think it's, it's ultimately super important for our students and their success. That's what it's about. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:33:25]: It's time to take a quick break and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the NASPA world. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:33:31]: Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the NASPA world, and there's a ton of things happening in NASPA. In only about a week, we're going to be in Kansas City for the NASPA Annual Conference. I've mentioned this in past weeks, but I want to make sure that you know that Jill and I will be at the conference and we will be collecting voices. We'll be collecting your voices as a way to be able to get your take on some of the big topics of the conference, but also big topics in regards to the themes of the conference itself and student affairs today. There are 3 questions that we're going to be asking people at the conference, and we're also encouraging you to submit your own recording. And if you are going to submit a recording not at the conference, please have these recordings in by no later than Monday, March 16th. The 3 questions that we're asking people to submit submit are: first, if you could rebuild student affairs from scratch, what's one change that you would make to impact student success? Second, how can student affairs use data and tech to better serve the profession? Third, what does a successful flexible work environment look like in student affairs today and in the future? We truly hope that you will consider sending in a response. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:34:49]: And if you see Jill or I at the conference, we are going to have our, our recorders with us and we your voice. We want to include your voice in answering these 3 questions. So we highly encourage you to think about your answers before you go to the conference. And if you see us, stop us, say hi, and make sure to have your voice recorded so that you're a part of the history of what is SA Voices from the Field. I want to be able to offer all of you the opportunity to be able to to answer these questions so that your voice can be a part of some upcoming episodes. There's a couple of ways that you can send us your recording. The easiest way is to record yourself answering those questions right on your phone, get an audio file, and email us the audio file at [email protected]. You could also record a file and upload it and email us the link. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:48]: That's another easy way to do it. A brand new follow-up brief was recently released on Top Issues in Student Affairs in Health, Safety, and Wellbeing. As you read through the top issues in student affairs in the findings from the NASPA's 2025 Top Issues in Student Affairs, they reaffirm that health, safety, that health, safety, and wellbeing, particularly access to basic needs, remain foundational to student success. Institutions continue to prioritize ensuring that students have reliable equitable access to essentials such as food, housing, transportation, and emergency financial support, recognizing that unmet basic needs, recognizing that unmet basic needs directly affect persistence, learning, and completion. This follow-up brief focuses on top issues in the area of health, safety, and wellbeing, and it highlights how colleges and universities are responding to needs with coordinated holistic approaches. If you have not yet read this addendum to this follow-up brief, I highly encourage you to do so, and you can find it on the NASPA website. All of you know that NASPA has a bookstore, and they have a number of books that come out every year. A book that came out a few years ago that is still very timely is Small and Mighty: Student Affairs at Small Colleges and Universities. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:37:11]: This book explores critical opportunities and challenges at higher education institutions with fewer than 5,000 students. The book was written by a diverse group of seasoned campus leaders, and it is a comprehensive text that offers a range of topics relevant to higher education and student affairs while providing detailed insights and actions to take for, in support of, while providing detailed insights and actions to take for and in support of and alongside students at small colleges and universities. Thriving in the small college culture requires flexibility, collaboration, and the ability to shift rapidly within the changing environment of higher education. This book offers thoughtful strategies and insights to help student affairs professionals identify innovative solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing small colleges and universities today. If you work at a small college, or if you are thinking about working Working at a small college, I highly encourage you to read this book. You can find this book in the NASPA Bookstore, in the NASPA Bookstore located at naspa.org. Also recently, a new issue of the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice came out. This Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice is one of the many journals that is provided to you as a member of NASPA. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:38:30]: Inside of this specific journal, the journal is looking at innovation in Research and Scholarship. It includes a few different articles that particularly jumped out at me this year, one called Leadership Forged in Struggle: Higher Education, Black Men, and Race by Spencer Dorsey and Jesse Ford, as well as Individual and Collective Learning Through Professional Learning Communities: Institutionalizing Student Success by Leanne Hippolyte, Ronald Hallett, Adriana Kazar, Zoe Horwin, and Mariama Nagabi. And finally, and finally, The Push and Pull Paradox: How Rural Transfer Students Experience Transition as Becoming by Sanja Ardwan, Tinsley Gilchrist, and Ryan Miller. All of these articles and more are a part of the journal issue, which is Volume 63, Issue 1. I highly encourage you to log in to the NASPA portal on naspa.org and check check out all of the journals that you have, that you have the ability to access to learn and grow in your own professional development. Every week, we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association. So we are going to be able to try and keep you up to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways because the association is as strong its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether it be getting involved with the knowledge community, giving back within one of the, the centers or the divisions of the association. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:40:07]: And as you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify for yourself where do you fit, where do you want to give back. Each week we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, hey, I see myself in that knowledge community, I see myself doing something like that, or encourage you in other ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now, to offer other things to the association, to bring your gifts your talents to the association and to all of the members within the association, because through doing that, all of us are stronger and the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:02]: Chris, thank you so much as always for keeping us up to date on what's going on in and around NASPA, especially as we come up to conference time. We have reached our lightning round segment of the show, and because Mike has been here before, he gets a separate set of lightning round questions from Jose. So we're gonna go with Mike. Mike, are you ready? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:41:19]: Let's go. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:19]: All right. Question 1, last time you had the opportunity to tell us what your entrance music would be, do you want to keep it or change it? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:41:26]: I don't even remember what it was last time, but this time I will say, because we do have entrance music for the annual conference, it will be Mr. Brightside. The connection there is that that is the Buffalo Bills sort of in-stadium theme song. And as some of you might know, I'm a pretty big Bills fan. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:41]: I'm a Seahawks fan, so it was a good year for me. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:41:43]: We're all Seahawks fans this year. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:45]: Fair play. Valid. Number 2, what is your undergraduate degree in, and do How do you use it in your work now? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:41:51]: I was a double major undergrad, history and political science. Political science, definitely, definitely. And I, I would actually say history as well. I think they've both sort of informed how I lead and interact with people. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:02]: Number 3, your guilty pleasure TV show binge. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:42:05]: I was thinking that the other day with my, we have 3 daughters and I basically am binging whatever they're binging at the time. And right now it's not so much a binge, but my kids are all into The Rookie on ABC. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:14]: All right. Number 4, if anyone ever visits Albany, where's the one place they must eat? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:42:19]: Oh, definitely in the Campus Center. Halal Shack is my favorite in the Campus Center. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:22]: Number 5, your favorite work-related podcast? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:42:25]: I really have gotten into, I don't know what the title of it is, but Brené Brown's podcast. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:29]: And number 6, your favorite not work-related podcasts? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:42:32]: One Bill's Live. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:33]: Number 7, finally, any shoutouts you'd like to give, personal or professional? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:42:37]: A shoutout to this guy, José Riera, who's been just a terrific partner as we've been pulling the, the conference together. Definitely did me a solid when he agreed to take this on. And to Dr. Millie Parnell, who has been just an exceptional colleague and leader for for our association. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:49]: All right, Jose, it's your turn. Are you ready? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:42:52]: I am ready. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:53]: All right, question 1: If you were a conference keynote speaker, what would your entrance music be? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:42:57]: Well, my entrance music at the conference will be a Bad Bunny song. I mean, like, how could you not do that? So maybe a little stereotypical, but— Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:05]: Number 2: When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:43:09]: I think either a doctor or like a priest. I think I messed with both of those when I was 5. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:15]: Number 3: Who's your most influential professional mentor? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:43:18]: I have a lot, so I'm really fortunate. Mary Beckwith I'm going to go with, she just retired from UMass Dartmouth, and she is the reason I'm in the field. She helped me see that this was a professional thing I could do, gave me a list of grad schools, and stayed in touch with me as I launched. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:33]: Number 4, your essential student affairs read. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:43:36]: So Radical Candor is a book that has totally changed the way I think about things. So I would, I would go with that. If you're going to be in management in student affairs, you should read that. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:45]: I'm using that one to teach supervision right now. Number 5, the best TV show you've been binging lately. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:43:50]: So it's funny, I am by proxy I'm currently binging Rookie because it's always on with my 13-year-old daughter. So that's very affirming to hear, Mike. High Potential is a Hulu series that we've been watching, and I just restarted, you know, Scrubs was relaunched and we have really good memories of watching it. And so far it's good. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:08]: Number 6, the podcast you spent the most hours listening to in the last year. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:44:11]: It's probably Adam Grant's podcast around rethinking. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:16]: And finally, number 7, any shoutouts you'd like to give, personal or professional? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:44:20]: I think Mike would say this too. Our families are huge enabling factor here when you do this, this work, particularly above and beyond your campus. Certainly my colleagues, I want to shout out my team here at Delaware. They have filled in a lot during this year when I've been, my mind's been elsewhere. And then I would echo right back, you know, I think the conference leadership committee, I think Mike's leadership, Amelia's partnership, all just critical. It's been really great. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:46]: If anyone would like to reach you after the show, either digitally or at the conference, how can they find you? Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:44:51]: LinkedIn is definitely the best way for me, and I would invite you to connect with me and or stop me Somewhere around the conference, would love to chat. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:58]: Mike, how about you? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:44:59]: Same. LinkedIn is, is always safe. Instagram, VPSA, Mike Vostakis, uh, or just at the conference. Would love to interact with you while we're together in Kansas City if you're there. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:45:07]: Thank you both so much for all of your work leading up to this experience and for so much for sharing your voices with us today. Dr. José-Luis Riera [00:45:12]: Thank you, Jill. Appreciate it. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:45:14]: Thanks, Jill. Appreciate it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:45:20]: This has been an episode of SA Voices. This is From the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:45:42]: We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:46:08]: Catch you next time.

Student Affairs professionals around the world are breaking new ground, and there's never been a better time to be part of the conversation. On a recent episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field," host Dr. Jill Creighton welcomed four visionary leaders who are at the forefront of reshaping how we think about student affairs globally. This dynamic episode shines a spotlight on NASPA's inaugural global division publication, "Creating a Global Community," which seeks to bridge knowledge and practice across borders. What makes this episode truly inspiring is hearing directly from the publication's curators: Omneya Badr, Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof, Dr. Brett Perozzi, and Dr. Heidi October. Their collective experiences span continents—bringing diverse insights from South Africa, the Middle East, the United States, and beyond. Listeners learn that student affairs is not just an "add-on" in higher education; it is essential and transformative, especially when professionals share knowledge and lift each other up. A recurring theme on the podcast is the importance of amplifying voices that are not always heard. Omneya Badr speaks passionately about the need to provide a platform for first-time authors and institutions outside the Western mainstream, emphasizing that "what you're doing is worthy of sharing." The team's vision for the publication is not only to showcase best practices but also to encourage practitioners everywhere, whatever their background or training, to contribute and see themselves as part of a truly global profession. Another powerful message centers on adapting student affairs to the unique contexts and needs of different regions. From showcasing non-English contributions to supporting professionals who may not have formal degrees in the field, the publication (and this episode) celebrate innovation and inclusivity. For those curious about what the future holds, the episode sets an optimistic tone. The intent isn't just knowledge sharing; it's catalytic—fostering networks, co-authorship, and a sense of belonging for professionals worldwide. Whether you're an experienced leader or just starting out, you'll find practical advice, encouragement, and an invitation to participate in the next wave of global student affairs scholarship. If you want to be inspired by stories of resilience, collaboration, and the boundless potential of higher education, this is an episode you shouldn't miss. Tune in and discover how you, too, can be a part of this exciting global conversation. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Today on SA Voices, I'm pleased to bring you 4 incredible guests who are here to talk about NASPA's newest publication that focuses on global student services all throughout the world. The 4 guests today were in charge of curating, editing, and ultimately producing NASPA's very first publication focusing on student affairs practices from around the globe. 2 of the guests we'll have on today you've met before, and 2 are brand new to the pod. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:50]: Our first returning guest is Omneya Bader. Omneya is an educator and student affairs professional who gained a culturally diverse higher education experience studying, teaching, and working in Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, the UK, and the United States. She currently serves on NASPA's Board of Directors and is the Director of NASPA's Global Division, past Director of the MENASA Region, and in the 2021 and 2022 years she served as the MENASA Conference Chair. She held teaching and academic advising positions at the New York Institute of Technology Bahrain, Bahrain Institute of Business and Finance, Qatar University, and Trinity University. She's a frequent presenter at NASPA conferences, and her research interests are culturally based academic advising, supporting first-generation students, first-year experience, and cross-cultural communication. She holds an MBA from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, a certificate of entrepreneurial and small business operations from the Academy of Arts in California, and a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She recently acquired a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace certificate from the University of South Florida. As an educator, Amnea enjoys giving back to the profession and is interested in creating the professional development opportunity space for global student affairs professionals and encouraging research and sharing knowledge amongst counterparts around the world. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:03]: For our next guest, we're pleased to welcome back to the pod Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof, who currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Ferris State University, where she joined in 2014. She has over 30 years of experience in student affairs and is currently responsible for the leadership, direction, supervision, and assessment of the Division of Student Affairs, which is inclusive of many, many student support services and departments. She's active in NODA, which is the National Orientation Directors Association and has held many positions in NASPA where she's been presenting and publishing on a myriad of topics throughout her career. At Ferris State, she's also the co-chair of the Ferris United Way campaign, serves on the President's Council, is the chair of the FSU Reentry Committee, and is a member of the Strategic Planning and Resource Committee, and serves as one of the advisors for the FSU Student Government Association. She earned her bachelor's degree in communication from Ohio University, a master in college student personnel from Bowling Green State, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Clemson. Additionally, she's received numerous awards, two of the most notable being the NODA Circle of Excellence in 2019, and in 2015, she was one of our very own NASPA Foundation's Pillar of the Profession. She spent her career working with college students and their families and can think of no better way to support student success than creating diverse and inclusive environments where students can explore their values and debate knowledge in a close community setting. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:22]: Joining us on the pod for the very first time is Dr. Heidi October, who hails from South Africa. Dr. October currently serves serves on Stellenbosch University's Student Affairs Senior Management Team as Deputy Director, Center for Student Life and Learning, and Head, Frederik van Zyl Stabbert Leadership Institute. She's responsible for the strategic leadership and research for student leadership programs for academic transcript recognition. She has extensive higher education experience spanning over 25 years and stakeholder relations benchmarking at more than 30 international universities. She's been awarded with the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Achievement. She has been awarded with Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellent Achievement as Student Leader and Leader staff member, an academic achievement award from the University of Pretoria, where she obtained her PhD in leadership studies, and has been awarded honorary membership in the International Golden Key Society for her contribution to leadership. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:12]: She has guest lectured at the Association of Commonwealth Universities Summer School, MCI Business School Innsbruck, Austria, and KU Leuven, Belgium, and regularly presents scholarly papers at international academic conferences in Europe, the United States, and Africa. She's the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Susan Comives Award for inspiring research in student leadership. Our fourth Guest today, also joining us on the pod for the very first time, is Dr. Brett Perazzi. Brett is the CEO of the Global Student Affairs Consulting Group, or GSA Consulting. He most recently served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Salt Lake Community College, which is 50,000 students across 8 campuses in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. He previously served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Weber State University and in senior administrative roles at Arizona State and Colorado State University. He holds a PhD from Indiana University and a master's degree from the University of Arizona, both in higher education administration, with a bachelor's degree in education from the State University of New York. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:08]: Brett has served as a faculty member in higher education graduate programs at 6 universities and co-founded the Higher Education Leadership Program at Weber State University. Brett has authored more than 50 publications, including 2 books on international student affairs and services. He's been an active volunteer with NASPA for more than 2 decades, helping explore and expand global impact and support for student affairs and services. Brett is a founding member of the International Association Association of Student Affairs and Services, or IASIS, and has been invited to assist and support Student Affairs and Services colleagues worldwide. He and his partner Terry enjoy traveling, eating, and creating delicious food, and experiencing all four seasons in their mountain location with their Siberian Husky Akira. I'm so excited to bring in members of our Global Division Board today, specifically to talk about the brand new and inaugural publication for the Global Division, which we're gonna talk all about today. So we've got a couple of guests on. Our first is Amneha. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:01]: Amneha, hello. Omneya Badr [00:06:02]: Hello. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:03]: And where are you today in the world? Omneya Badr [00:06:05]: I'm joining from Washington, D.C. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:07]: Excellent. Our second guest is Janine. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:06:10]: Good morning. I'm joining you from snowy Michigan. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:12]: And for our listeners who have been with the show a while, you might recognize Amneha and Janine from their past episodes, but it's been a couple of years since we've had them on the pod. And I'm also very glad to introduce you to a brand new voice, Brett. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:06:23]: Hi, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, folks. Good to be here. I am calling in from Salt Lake City, Utah, in the Mountain West in the US. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:33]: And the publication that we've got today is called Creating a Global Community. And this publication is really designed by practitioners for practitioners by looking at student affairs practices that are beyond the borders of the US, because we're all over the world. And it's a really exciting time to be having this conversation. Before we dig into the publication though, we always like to start with a question. How did you get to your current seat, both in your day-to-day job, as well as if in your NASPA board position or NASPA leadership position? Omneya Badr [00:07:02]: So I've been in higher education for a long time, and part of it was teaching, part of it student affairs. And I've been working in Egypt, in Qatar, in Bahrain, and then now in DC. So it's a matter of always student affairs, but changing institutions and changing countries. In terms of my volunteer work, I have been volunteering with NASPA for a long, long time, and it started with being part of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia chapter of NASPA. Started as a supporting the PD, time and efforts and so on that led me to being the conference chair and then the director of the region. And then later on to this position, the global division director. Which gives me a really a great opportunity to work with great colleagues. I have a position on the board of NASPA Board of Governance, so it gives me a chance to hear what all my colleagues are saying and to work on a publication like this one. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:07]: And Amna is our current and outgoing chair of the global division. We've just thrived so much under her leadership. We are so excited to welcome Pilar, but also we're gonna miss you. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:08:17]: And so in my journey, this is Janine. I have been in higher education my whole life. I'll share a story later later if we have time about how I got here, but I came to Ferris State, where in Michigan in the United States, in 2014, and I've been serving as a Vice President for Student Affairs. Prior to that, I worked at Florida State, and I worked at Clemson University and the University of Findlay. So for the most part on the eastern side of the United States. And NASPA, I was introduced as a young professional through a mentor, and it's really become a professional home for me for decades. So I've had the opportunity to serve in roles such as this in the global division and started out working with exchanges that we were doing and then have done a variety of different things. So kind of my world opened up and so to speak from some different roles. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:09:04]: Also had the opportunity to serve as a regional director, which included a seat on the national board. So that was an exciting year. And then other regional roles, including a regional conference host and the secretary treasurer, and then currently now also serve on the Scott Academy board. So I really have a great time learning from others and learning what's happening in the organization. So look forward to today. As well. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:09:25]: That's great. Nice to be reminded of folks' pasts. But yeah, I've worked in higher ed for many years, various administrative posts. I've always called myself a higher education administrator who happens to work in student affairs. It's been a great career. I've spent the last 8 years as a vice president at 2 different institutions. With NASPA, I actually started helping with NASPA's global outreach, I guess, in 2002. We used to do master's and doctoral student exchange programs, and that's kind That's kind of how I got started, and I helped do the administrative exchanges later, and I was actually the first chair of the International Advisory Board, which eventually now is the Global Division and is appropriately placed in the organization with the kind of leadership that we need from other countries. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:10:12]: Anyway, things have gone pretty well, and it's really been a great experience to be able to work with so many great people like some of the folks who are here today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:19]: And we are so thrilled that Heidi is able to join us. And Heidi, where are you joining us from today? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:10:25]: Hi everyone. So I'm Heidi October. I am based at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. I am the head of the Leadership Institute, the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Leadership Institute, and do a role as Deputy Director for the Centre for Student Life and Learning. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:38]: Wonderful. And how did you get to your seat on the NASPA Global Division? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:10:42]: I think I have just always had an interest in the internationalization of student affairs. Started to present more at international conferences and presented also at NASPA. So I also became the institutional coordinator for our University to review organizations where our student affairs practitioners would be able to really be able to have a lot of opportunities for staff development. And I then recommended that we join NASPA. I was then approached to join the NASPA global board, and I immediately jumped in and said, I'd like to be part of the scholarship team. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:18]: And that leads us, I think, wonderfully to the question I'd love for you all to take a shot at, which is how did we decide this was the time for the global division to introduce a publication? It's been a working board, it's been a board bringing the global perspective to NASPA, but it hasn't necessarily done research practice scholarship in the same way before. So why this? Why now? Omneya Badr [00:11:39]: So thank you, Jill, for this question. It's really, let me tell a, like a bit of a story. About 4 or 5 years ago, I met Brett for the first time at the NASPA conference, and I think it was the first time we meet, and I was telling him how around the world, all the 3 countries that I worked in, affairs is not seen as a profession. There are no degrees, no certificates, no proper formal education, and therefore people don't see it as a career. There is no research, or limited— let's not say no, but limited research and so on. There is research out there, but it's difficult to find. So I'm having this conversation with Brett. I'm thinking, do you think there is a space where we could provide, try to compile these resources, try to provide the way for people to quickly have access to these resources. Omneya Badr [00:12:31]: Some of them are not in English, but still. And he said, definitely, I think that would be wonderful for make it easier for people and also encourage others. Fast forward to the time I find myself being the global division director-elect, and then I'm thinking, okay, let's talk Brett. So I'm talking with Brett, I'm thinking, how about a publication? NASPA already has a bunch of publications that are very different. Then, so I'm having this conversation and he's saying, definitely, yeah. And then let's form a team. Brett becomes the team lead, and then we have wonderful Janine, wonderful Heidi who are joining us. And the objective was at the beginning, and it still is, how can we encourage people from around the world who have never written an article, who have never shared what they are doing, who maybe are not thinking what they're doing is worthy of sharing. Omneya Badr [00:13:24]: How can we support first-time authors? And at the same time, we're not looking at it as a lens of we know better, but student affairs professionals around the world could benefit from someone who has developed or applied a solution, a program in South Africa, in Egypt, in Australia, here and there. So this was the, the starting point and we're almost there. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:13:49]: The only thing I might add to that is in these conversations that we were having, I'm sitting there thinking, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Because I had done some research a long time ago, like 2013, I think, that indicated most student affairs practitioners around the world were doing professional development by reading. And so the more information that we could get out in publication format, the better we are to help support the profession. So I'm super excited it's coming together. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:14:18]: So Brett and Amna, you two were kind of the germinators of this idea, and then it evolves into having a team of four who are kind of creating this vision. So how did Janine and Heidi come on board? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:14:29]: So for me, it was a phone call. It was an email saying, hey, do you want to join us? And you never say no to Brett and Amna. I mean, you're like, yes, I'm there. So it was an automatic yes. And the other part too that was really exciting is I recall in my NASPA experience, I never had thought I would be outside of the United States. I thought, you know, my world was growing up in Pennsylvania, and, and so education just expanded my opportunities. And then NASPA expanded my world, and I was able to do things globally that I had not been able to do before. And so I felt like it was a great opportunity to be able to share some of that experience and some of the awareness that I gained and thought, gosh, if other people can do that too, wouldn't that be amazing? So it was an honor to be asked, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:15:11]: I was thinking about this question in my first conversation with Omnia and Janelle when they reached out. Out to me to join the advisory board. They've asked where would I like to participate, and I immediately mentioned that I have done my research and I have noticed that there is a gap in terms of global perspectives, specifically around the work that we do in student affairs. Many of the journals are still Western-based. We have a couple of journals that are now popping up in other parts of the world, but I could also see from my own perspective and the South African lens that there are a lot of student affairs practitioners doing amazing work, but we need to share these best practices and not only in South Africa. So immediately I said yes, and I also became somehow the main driver and stalker for colleagues here in South Africa and really pushing them to submit. And so I'm really, really happy to be part of this very rewarding experience. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:16:08]: So what we've ended up now with is a monograph. And so it's not a research-based journal, it's a practice-based journal that talks about all sorts of different things, and it's structured in a few different parts. The editorial team has done an incredible job of selecting a diversity of authors. Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I think there's almost 50, a little over 50 authors. Omneya Badr [00:16:27]: Yeah, almost. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:16:27]: Yes. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:16:28]: Many of whom they're publishing for the very first time, or some folks who are like me, who I just don't have time to do mega research as a full-time practitioner, but there's a lot to talk about in terms of practice. But it's organized in a couple of different ways. Student Learning Development, Social Justice and Inclusion, Technology Advising and Supporting, and Personal and Ethical Foundations, Values and Philosophy. Governance is a section. So I want to know, how did you go about the application selection process, deciding out of the many, many submissions you received how you were going to organize and how you were going to choose what fit into this inaugural monograph that, because it's never been seen before, you really got to structure from scratch? Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:17:11]: All of us were involved in some way. In trying to provide some sort of structure for the monograph. And it wasn't long before we settled on the NASPA ACPA competencies as a guide. And Heidi, I know, has used those extensively and helped us get organized around those. We didn't necessarily use those to screen manuscripts that came in. We fit them in afterwards and we actually asked authors, where do you think yours best fits? And they fell out naturally. We didn't have to really force any of them. So we have some pretty clean sections for 1 and 2, and then even The third encompasses two, and then the fourth does encompass a number of different competencies. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:17:51]: It was kind of interesting to see how they fell out, and it gives you a little bit of an idea of some of the trends also globally, given the subjects that were submitted. Omneya Badr [00:18:01]: If you allow me, before receiving the abstracts, we had no idea what's going to happen. This is like an inaugural project. We didn't know. So we were just ready for different scenarios, but I think it's worthy to mention the effort that has been made to reach out to people around the world and to tell them about this. Because often if someone who has never written before, who has no formal student affairs education, when they see this in an email, that is an inaugural publication, when they see a LinkedIn post, they just scroll. They don't see that that's for them. So a big effort has been made. No, please. Omneya Badr [00:18:43]: Personally, I have connections in the Manassa area and Janine has connections. Brett has connections, Heidi as well., but it's just the effort to let people know this publication, we wanna hear from you. And then once we started receiving the abstracts and then later on the manuscripts, we were so pleasantly surprised by the variety. And then comes the editing team where we support people. We don't wanna say no to anyone, but we want to ask you to do this, do that so it comes in the best format possible. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:19:15]: There's a number of authors from outside of the US, which I think is an incredible feat for this publication, the first of its kind that now NASPA has ever seen. So just scrolling through the author list, I see Brazil, I see South Africa, I see the United Kingdom, I see India, I see Egypt, I see Qatar. The list is vast and broad. There's also a fair number of American-based authors in the publication, but I know that we're also hoping that this will be something that is shared widely, not only within the US NASPA members, but that we can get it out to our colleagues around the world. I would love to know a little bit more about the writing process in terms of how authors submitted things, how they went through editing cycles with you. And I ask this because, A, I know we're A, we're hoping to do this again, and so we might have future authors listening, but also B, I think writing is super intimidating for a lot of people that have never done it before, especially who maybe haven't done that terminal degree yet. And so what are those kind of advice pieces for people who want to take their first attempt at writing and what you all are looking for? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:20:11]: So I'll start and just come up with really big broad strokes. So the intent, I remember the conversations that we had were really around how do we provide a format for people to share the things that they're doing on their campuses without all the intimidation of doing something that is really prescribed. So creating an environment where people can say, hey, I've got this program or this resource or this policy, and this is how we've implemented it, and it's worked well, and these are the resources or things that you might want to take. It might be scalable. It might be something that can transcend boundaries. And that was how we started in a really global sense. And then it was a lot of, okay, well, we think this will work, and then if it didn't work, we pivoted and did something else. And so there were a lot of changes along the way, and we were actually just talking before we started this about finding time if we're all going to be at NASPA to just sit for a minute and process through what should we do differently next time. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:21:03]: But it's been when you have really good colleagues who are willing to help others, you saw that throughout this. You saw people reaching out to others to write together. You saw people who had not written before saying, hey, can you help me with this? So it was really a very exciting process. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:21:17]: Jill, I think there's one thing that we should also not forget that many of the authors, English is not their first language. And so I think the writing process for all of us was also a learning curve in the way that the writing style differed from one person to the next. And I remember even internally, there were a couple of emails coming from my side to say, colleagues, is it a geographical approach the way that we even write student affairs and services? And I remember there was a lot of explanations back and forth, but I'm using that particular example because it depends on where you are based. Even a simple phrase like 'sess' could be written in different ways. And so it was really important for us right from the get-go that when we do give feedback to colleagues, that they don't feel overwhelmed by the task at hand. I remember I had two sessions with colleagues here in South Africa. First one was just explaining the, the basic introduction of what it is that we want to achieve. And then secondly, I followed up with some of them individually who really felt quite intimidated by the writing process because they I've never submitted a formal research paper. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:22:27]: And I said, tell your story or write your story as if you're telling or sharing with a friend what it is that you do. And so the moment they started to make that connection, it's almost like if the doors of writing started to open and people felt more free to share and less intimidated and threatened by the feedback. So it was a learning curve, not only for us as the editors, but also amongst the colleagues themselves, because we have colleagues colleagues, entry-level in student affairs and more established scholars in the field. And it was lovely to see some of the partnerships of colleagues just wanting to help one another in doing that. So, a last point I want to make is that there was also a decision we had to make around, is a particular style of writing, does it suit this publication? And so, in the end, we realized that some of it might be a better fit for a storytelling type of writing, which might not fit for this particular round of the publication, but it opened up opportunities for us just to explore what could be next or what could be different for, for, for the next edition. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:23:37]: We are gonna launch this publication at Annual Conference. So we're recording this in February, so we're just a couple of weeks away from Annual Conference. You'll be able to check that out as a NASPA member. So for our NASPA members who are going to read this publication, many of whom will be US-based professionals, what do you want them to take away from the publication or what might be a great mindset approach to reading it? Omneya Badr [00:23:58]: Personally, I would say have an open mind. Try to understand the context and why this program or practice is being adopted. And with an open mind, you will learn a lot. For me, reading this publication, it's not that I'm going to adopt this on my campus. It's not necessarily that, but it's like Jeanine was saying, just open the world. You understand more about why this is happening and why is this working or not working, because we are not going to try to have the universe in international student affairs practices. So I would say have an open mind, even try to reach, reach out to authors. Finally, if you are at the NASPA conference, come and see us at the global division reception, and we'll be celebrating the publication and the authors that will be there. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:24:46]: I think the other thing I would add is like everything that you read and do, there's so much that proliferates our, our world right now in terms of data. And information. But the thing that I felt when I read through these is there's so many nuggets of information and things that can transfer culture. But there's also the interesting part of the cultural relevance of what the person is writing about. So it's really interesting to define what might be relevant or something that's occurring in one country is occurring in a different country, but it's a different way. They're looking at it from a different side. They're implementing it in a different way. So it was really exciting to think about how all things happen. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:25:26]: Happen in higher education, but depending on the country you're in, there's just a slightly different tilt. And it was just nice to be able to get the definitions and the understanding and then see all those nuggets in how we do our work. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:25:37]: Well, my two cents would be that I hope that when they do read this, that they really feel inspired to participate in the next edition and to never underestimate the value that everyone can really contribute to the scholarship of student affairs, wherever you are, whatever your role is, whatever seniority level you have in Student Affairs, it is important to share our work globally. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:26:02]: I'm excited that there are so many newer authors, Jill, as you mentioned, there are folks who have published before who are part of this, but there are a ton of new folks and it's going to be great to meet them. A number of them we know are coming to the annual conference, which will be exciting. I've seen it before. I work with a group of folks I've researched with before, and one of our specialties is how do you help people get published? And as Amnia was about the thrill when people see their name on the finished product. It's really exciting on a personal level. And at the macro level, I like looking at the trends and things too, so that people can see, oh, this is what people are writing about, or hey, we do this too. Maybe we could write about how we do this next time around. Some exciting things. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:42]: What's something that you would like future readers to know about the publication that I haven't asked you about yet? Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:26:47]: I think to tag on my prior comment, it's accessible. Again, as Amnia mentioned, we tried to accept every submission we could, but that meant some very heavy editing. And if they could rise to the occasion of the heavy editing, it made it into the publication. So it was kind of like anybody can make it in as long as you're willing to do the work. Omneya Badr [00:27:07]: Yeah, that's gonna be probably encouraging for the second edition. People who we have reached out to and couldn't make it, now they'll be a bit jealous and we wanna be in the second edition, but also it's accessible to people to read. So we are, we are hoping that this will go around the world, maybe will have its viral moment so that people can have access to it. And I'm really thinking that we talk a lot to our students about the importance of being a global citizen, and we deal with international students, study abroad programs, and all of that. But us as professionals, we need to also make an effort to be kind of a global citizen. I think this, I'm humbly saying, this publication is a resource resource, like my colleagues have been saying, the resource to know about what's happening around the world and not dismissing like, oh, that country or that institution, nothing important could help me. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:28:04]: I would say two things, and it's about referencing. So while this is an augural publication, it was important for us to make sure that there are standards in terms of referencing an API, APA referencing So it is important from a theoretical perspective that we do refer to theory, but there's also scope for more conceptual frameworks and the introduction of conceptual frameworks that is contextual. And so there's a big gap, I think, for all of us within the student affairs practice area that we can really explore more opportunities to collaborate and to do comparison studies. So I think this really lays the foundation for future research and co-authoring partnerships for future publications. And it would be wonderful in the next edition to see two authors from different regions working together and participating in unpacking a new conceptual framework. So I'm really excited about that foresight for the scholarship section. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:29:06]: And I'll just say one piece is, just as Heidi mentioned, it is a really good publication that looks at theory. It does— theory is throughout it, but it really focuses on the practice. It focuses on what people are doing on their campuses. So it is just a really good publication to think through how you might do this in a different country, how you might define this term in a different country so that as you're sitting in your seat, you can look across the world and say, how is this happening in other places? And the other piece is I think it also gives people the opportunity to learn from a different lens. So it really is a way to understand a different viewpoint just in a brief article. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:29:44]: And once again, the monograph is called Creating a Global Community, and it'll be launched at NASPA's annual 2026 conference in Kansas City. I'm going to move us into our theme questions for the season, and these These are the questions that we've been asking every single guest we have on. Knowing that there's a lot of you, we're just going to make sure that we try to get through all of them as timely as we can, but also there's a lot to say on these. So just trying to balance all of that, but we've got the first question, which is, when you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first and why? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:30:13]: So I'll share this. I appreciate the opportunity to think about the question for a minute. So thank you for giving them to us before, but our role in student success is what comes to mind the very first thing in student Affairs. Everything that we do supports the success of students, their access to education, the development of their engagement, their community, their belonging. And as I like to share with our parents at orientation and have done throughout my career is the student's journey in their adulthood internship. I mean, they're really learning how to practice and to skill build and to hone the things that they're going to be doing throughout their life. And we get to be a part of that. We get to walk alongside of them when they invite us and help them to think through what's what's the next step? So it's exciting. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:30:52]: It's a wonderful field and it's a wonderful way in our world to make the world a better place. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:30:57]: It really is a super altruistic and exciting way to look at our work. I might have to check myself a little bit because I have a slightly different perspective on it, just because recently I was turned away from a higher education journal because we submitted a piece on student affairs and services. And the statement was, sorry, we only publish things that are higher education related. I thought, whoa. So yeah, this was, it was an international journal in higher education. And as Heidi and some others mentioned, we're just not understood globally. And so my colleagues and I got a kind of a good chuckle out of that, but a lot of wasted time too. But anyway, I just wanted to share that quick anecdote. Omneya Badr [00:31:39]: Not surprised. I come from a world and worked in countries where certainly student affairs is seen as like a side thing that could easily be removed because students are there to go to classes. And success is about the grades and the certificate. So I, I understand that, but it does hurt because I see student affairs professionals as educators and we are part of the journey. And I value some institutions who have introduced like a second transcript for the student where they can list the different skills and activities and so on. That is part of showing the value to the student and also to our own institution. So the value of student affairs, we have to promote it within our own institution before promoting it to students and parents. And I would say we have to be self-innovative because our student population and demographics change, and not all institutions have 18, 19-year-olds. Omneya Badr [00:32:36]: So we have to be adaptive. And the last thing is never to forget proof, data. That is where the institution is going to understand that there is a difference being made, and then you're— we hopefully, we're going to get the credit that we deserves. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:32:50]: Well, I'd like to add from a perspective of the transformative student experience. So at Stellenbosch University, we refer to student affairs being at the heart of the transformative student experience. And I'd like to add that it's also part of the transformative staff experience. And so if you take student life in general, it really, it's an extension of the academic project. And so we've worked really, really hard intentionally to partner with the academic project exactly for that reason, Omnia, to have our work on the academic transcript and to show that there's academic rigor in the work that we do from student leadership work and student leadership programs where I am particularly involved in, that there is real academic rigor in the work that we do. When we speak about student success, there is student development principles, there's theory behind the approaches in student affairs. Across, whether it is health and wellbeing, it is the recreational sport aspect of it, where we talk about the sense of belonging, inclusion, et cetera, and taking it all the way back into how do we then equip our students to leave as graduates with certain attributes and then to transcend into the world of work where we can see the real value of having an enriched student life. And student affairs is really at the heart of that. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:34:13]: And so I actually had a conversation within this week with Some professors in academia visited us from other countries, and I had to do a presentation on the importance, the significance of having an enriched student life. And the end of my presentation, I said, well, we all know that there wouldn't be universities if there were no students. There wouldn't be universities without the academic project. So it's really a case of the universities in itself would become irrelevant if there's no service to society and the relevance of what we are gaining collectively in terms of knowledge, skills, competencies and where do we fit the student affairs practitioners? And it's basically horizontal. So it's, it's a lot of cross-cutting factors within the ecosystem of higher education that you cannot deny the value of it unless you really think in terms of either/or. And I'm hoping that in the year 2026, we have moved way beyond the either/or approach in higher ed. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:35:15]: Our second question, can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:35:21]: So as a first-generation student in higher education, I now know my experience was fairly typical, but I didn't know the path I was supposed to take or what I was supposed to do. And so I was very fortunate to have a lot of people guide me. So I was an RA and I was an orientation leader. I was on the yearbook staff and student organizations and a sorority, involved in student alumni groups and all of that. But I didn't understand the construct behind all those opportunities, all of that engagement. So prior to my senior year, I always thought I wanted to be a journalist. I'm dating myself. I was going to be Barbara Walters. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:35:51]: That was my, my goal. But after an internship, I realized that that's not what I wanted to do anymore. So I went back to school for my senior year and I talked to all of those people in my life that I now know are student affairs people, my hall director, my director of residence life, the student activities director, the dean of students, my advisor. And I was introduced to this field called student affairs. And the awareness I gained, I would liken to the first day of spring after a long winter. It was filled with opportunities that had always been there. They were always there under the snow, but I was seeing them differently. Intentionally for the first time. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:36:25]: And so as I pursued my master's and studied in higher education, I had the opportunity to study with these amazing people like Dr. Sattelmeyer and Dr. Strange and Dr. Renz and Dr. Coombs at Bowling Green State in Ohio. And I learned how we could intentionally orchestrate moments for students to learn and to grow and to discern their values and to practice the art of communications and to make mistakes with cushion, but also explore their careers and who wanted to be and who they wanted to be. So I was hooked. And since that time, I am honored to have been invited in so many students' journeys and to help them where they needed to celebrate with excitement, to craft their opportunities, to wade through difficult situations, to listen, and to cheer them on as they negotiated their adulthood internship. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:37:08]: So student affairs just kind of blossomed, and it's— I can't think of anything else to do. I couldn't think of any other career. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:37:14]: I really like this framing of the university environment as internship for adulthood. I've never heard that phrasing before. I'm going to, I'm going to hang on to that one. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:37:22]: Please do. Omneya Badr [00:37:23]: Fun. So I'm gonna share a story about a student while I was working as academic advisor. One of my probation students who was like semester after semester, like there's no progress in terms of grades or engagement on campus. And then one day comes to my office and says, did you check my midterm grades? And then I'm looking like, oh my God, how did you, do you have these Bs and B pluses? Like what's happening? And then he adds, and I'm running for the student government as well. Long conversation with the student. I told him like, you need to sit down. I I need to know what's happening. So I don't have time to tell the whole story, but basically what he said, all of a sudden, all these conversations I had with you as my academic advisor, and I had with the counselor, and I had with the career advisor, all of a sudden, it just like a puzzle that fitted. Omneya Badr [00:38:14]: And it just dawned to me like, I have to do something. It's my career. I have to take these steps. So I'm glad, this is what he said, I'm glad that you never never stopped calling and emailing and sending these tips and remind me of the resources. So to me, this is a story of graduated with a 3-point-something GPA and doing very well. So this is something that I always remember that we don't give up, we just go on and remind students and talk to students because story like that could happen again and again. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:38:45]: Heidi, how about you? Can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:38:50]: At the moment, it's my 25th year in higher education, and I was very lucky to have worked in different areas within higher education. So prior to joining student affairs, I worked for about a couple of years as the manager for alumni relations, and I traveled extensively to the top 10 countries where most of our alumni resided outside of South Africa. And at all of these events, I came back and it was very clear to me that our alumni alumni have done degrees at different universities, so not necessarily at the same university, but what really makes them loyal towards Stellenbosch University is the reminiscing way that they were talking about the student life back when they were students. And they could tell stories about staff members who assisted them in residence life from a commuter student perspective, how staff members in student affairs made them aware of all of the opportunities to really immerse themselves in the student life or colleagues who assisted them through mental health challenges. And so when I reflected on the question, it made me realize that if it was not for those colleagues who really walked the extra mile to support the students during times when they felt incredibly vulnerable in achieving their goals, they probably never would've participated in alumni events or coming back for homecoming reunions because there would've been no sense of belonging that was created for them and a smooth transitioning from student life into graduates and then into the alumni, and then again completing the circle by paying it forward and also then encouraging their own children to come back to the same university because of that rich student life experience that they have experienced. So I can't think of a better story to share than those particular examples, and I am just incredibly grateful that I can also be a small play a little part in creating that just feeling of belonging for our students. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:52]: Our third question in our theme is, what do you think that student affairs needs to be doing to be better understood or better seen in today's educational environment? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:41:03]: So I think we need to remember to boldly tell our story, to illuminate our student experiences, to provide opportunities for them to share their experiences in their own ways. And then help people remember that it's about the students. This is all about the students. And we have vast amounts of data that we can use to illustrate all those awesome positive effects around engagement, belonging, community, and just the awareness and all of those things. If we do that, if we keep telling that story, we're gonna show nothing but student success and nothing except the ways that student affairs help to augment that. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:41:38]: From my side, I would say get rid of limiting beliefs, get rid get rid of the feeling that we are less than in an academic space. The moment we are more intentional with the work that we do and showing the relevance of that with clear data, just to add on to what Janine said, it becomes undeniable that the work adds value. So less anecdotal examples, being clear-cut with our case studies that we share. And also another piece of advice that I'd like to share is that I have been sharing with colleagues in own space, go to the academic conferences, submit your abstracts, go and present your work at specifically the disciplines, but the academic type of scholarship conferences. And the other part also is join or create partnerships with our learning and teaching colleagues in Academic Affairs. There are many overlaps in the work that we do from a student success perspective. And I think the more collaborative we become and the less competitive for retention or trying to get more space in the playfield, field, the more relevant we become because then you are making yourself undeniably relevant to the needs of not only the organization or the institution, but also to the student and broader university community. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:58]: And Amna, how about you? What do you think that student affairs needs to be doing to be better seen and better understood in today's educational environment? Omneya Badr [00:43:05]: I think we need to partner with academic affairs and raise awareness among ourselves within the institution about the value of the work we are doing. I have worked institutions, and I'm currently working in an institution where we have non-traditional students, and those have different needs. So we need to be innovating and moving with trends. So the value of student affairs is going to be seen with proof that we provide, with raising awareness among other departments of the value of what we're doing, partnering with academic affairs. So we are in the classroom and outside the classroom, and we show that what we're doing makes a difference as as well as changing our tactics. Engagement doesn't have to mean the same thing. An older student needs different things. A student who is studying online needs different things. Omneya Badr [00:43:55]: A student parent, a student who has a full-time job, and so on. So we have to be innovative and change. And cooperating with also the industry is always has been, but it's much more important now. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:07]: It's time to take a quick break and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the Naspa World. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:44:13]: Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the Naspa World, and there's a ton of things happening in Naspa. Really excited that the Naspa Annual Conference is coming up March 7th through the 11th in Kansas City, Missouri. Soon we're going to be coming together in Kansas City, and I hope you're going to be planning to join us and the thousands of other professionals traveling to Kansas City from all over the world. The event is going to be an amazing event, and there are going to be a ton of ways for you to be able to engage with others. And if you are a first-time attendee, make sure that you check out a few of the different first-time attendee sessions. There is a first-time attendee orientation webinar that is available. There are some sessions right at the conference that you can go through, and with the new online app You can search for programs that align with being a first-time attendee or other programs that you just have an interest in. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:45:12]: I do encourage you to explore the conference app that is available now. And through that app, you can set up your own schedule and allow for you to be able to find all the type of programming that you want to attend, whether you are a first-time attendee or a person that has been attending for many, many years. I've said this before, but Jill and I will be at the conference. And as always, we are going to be asking some questions of people at the conference. And I want to be able to offer all of you the opportunity to be able to answer these questions so that your voice can be a part of some upcoming episodes. The 3 questions are as follows. If you could rebuild the student affairs from scratch, what's one change that you would make to impact student success? The second question, how can student affairs use data and tech to better serve the profession? And third, what does a successful flexible work environment look like in student affairs today and in the future? There's a couple of ways that you can send us your recording. The easiest way is to record yourself answering those questions right on your phone, get an audio file, and email us the audio file. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:46:33]: At [email protected]. You could also record a file and upload it and email us the link. That's another easy way to do it. But all in all, we would love to include your voice as a part of this, even if you can't attend the annual conference. If you are attending the annual conference, please look for Jill or I because we would love to capture your voice. And if we ask you, don't find it weird. We're going to have our recorders and we're going to be asking people to be able to answer questions for us. Another event that's happening on May 8th, 2026 is the NASPA 2026— is the 2026 NASPA Civic Discourse Virtual Summit. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:47:12]: As colleges and universities work to support student learning and engagement amid an evolving landscape around free speech, academic freedom, and political expression, the need for thoughtful, principled approaches to civic discourse has never been greater. The 2026 Civic Discourse on Campus Virtual Summit. The 2026 Civic Discourse on Campus Virtual Summit brings together higher education leaders, student affairs professionals, student affairs professionals, and dialogue practitioners to explore the evolving landscape and share evidence-informed strategies for cultivating healthy campus climates. Inside of this virtual summit, there are 9 different areas that will be covered, and I highly encourage you to check out all of the different areas and consider joining for this inaugural summit. You can find out more on the NASPA online learning community at learning.naspa.org. Another event that is coming up is the NASPA Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Virtual Summit. The 2026 NASPA Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Summit will provide you with the opportunity to be able to, to gain knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to drive meaningful Change: Meaningful Campuswide Change in Sexual Violence Prevention and Response. This summit features expert-led sessions and evidence-based practices. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:48:38]: The summit will equip you to advance holistic approaches that center prevention, elevate survivor support, strengthen equitable services for respondents, and embed equity, safety, and wellbeing into the fabric of campus life. This summit is happening in May 2026, and you can find out more also on the NASPA Online Learning Community website at learning.naspa.org. What if the very thing that makes student affairs professionals so effective—their empathy, their care, their deep commitment to students—is also what's putting them at risk? In a brand new featured research article entitled "Caring for the Caregivers: Identifying and Addressing Compassion Fatigue in Student Affairs" by Alexa Wesley Chamberlain. The article takes a hard look at compassion fatigue in student affairs, often described as the cost of caring. In a time when professionals are repeatedly supporting students through trauma, crisis, and uncertainty, the emotional toll is real. Anxiety, exhaustion, isolation, and burnout aren't just individual struggles; they're systemic challenges. They're systemic challenges, and the article makes a compelling case that self-care aware alone isn't enough. What makes this piece especially important is that it moves beyond awareness to action. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:49:58]: Drawing on research and national data, it outlines 5 concrete organizational-level strategies institutions can implement, from strengthening mentorship and structured debriefing to expanding mental health access for staff to being more transparent about emotional labor in recruitment. It also highlights how belonging and feeling valued matter even more than pay when it comes to retention. If you care about staff wellbeing, student success, leadership culture, or retention in higher education, this is a must-read. It challenges us to rethink what a true culture of care looks like, not just for students, but for the professionals who serve them every day. You can find this article on the NASPA website in the NASPA blog. Every week we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association. So we are going to be able to to try and keep you up to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways because the association is as strong as its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether it be getting involved with the knowledge community, giving back within one of the, the centers or the divisions of the association. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:51:15]: And as As you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify for yourself, where do you fit? Where do you want to give back? Each week, we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, hey, I see myself in that knowledge community. I see myself doing something like that. Or encourage encourage you in other ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now, to offer other things to the association, to bring your gifts, your talents to the association and to all of the members within the association. Because through doing that, all of us are stronger and the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:52:09]: Chris, thank you so much as always for giving us another great informative episode of NASPA World. We always appreciate you keeping us informed on what's going on in and around NASPA. And now we have reached our lightning round where we have 7 questions for you to answer in about 90 seconds. Now, because Amnea and Janine have been here before, they have a different set of lightning round questions than Brett and Heidi. So we're going to start with Brett and Heidi. So I'm going to ask you question 1, Brett, you're going to answer, then Heidi, you're going to answer, and then we'll go to question 2, etc. Are Ready to go? Okay. Yes. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:52:39]: All right. Question 1, if you were a conference keynote speaker, what would your entrance music be? Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:52:44]: Happy. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:52:44]: You know the song, I'm not singing it. My colleagues and my students would say I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:52:52]: Number 2, when you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:52:55]: Wow. I've thought about that and I actually don't know. I've thought about what did I want to be when I grew up and I didn't know until I got way past 5 years old. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:53:05]: Doctor. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:53:05]: That was my ultimate goal. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:53:07]: Number 3, who's your most influential professional mentor? George Kuh was my advisor in my PhD program, and he is a super impressive, knowledgeable person who has helped me and mentored me throughout my career. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:53:20]: I would have to give credit to my PhD supervisor, who is also a director of a leadership institute at the University of Pretoria, Professor Derek de Jong. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:53:28]: Number 4, your essential student affairs read. The book that I just started reading is amazing, The Caring at university that I can't even— Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:53:37]: so let me just leave it at that. Without a doubt, Susan Comey, there's John Dugan and Al, all of them around the social change model. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:53:45]: I thrive on their work and I applied a lot. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:53:48]: Number 5, the best TV show you've been binging lately? Old episodes of The West Wing. I love it. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:53:54]: To reference an Afrikaans one in South Africa called Skimmer Grounder. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:53:59]: Number 6, the podcast you spent the most hours listening to the last year? Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:54:02]: It's called Bigger Pockets. It's a real estate podcast with all manner of information about different types of real estate. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:54:10]: I have to say the AVZ is Unplugged on Spotify with a lot of interviews with newly appointed vice chancellors in South Africa. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:54:20]: Thank you so much, Brett and Heidi. You have survived our lightning round. It's now time to bring back Amneha and Janine for their lightning round questions. We have a different set of questions for second time guests. So here we go. Question number 1: the last time you were here, you got to talk about your entrance music, and I want to ask you, do you want to keep your original entrance music song, or if you could change it, what would it be? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:54:42]: So to be honest, I don't remember what I said last time, so I don't know if I want to keep it. But I was thinking about that when they answered it, and I said, gosh, nowadays I'm not sure what it is, but I still think I'd want to do something dramatic like Over the Rainbow or something like that. Was just like all about dreams and wishes and Nope. I'll trust myself. Omneya Badr [00:54:59]: I don't remember as well, but I would say yes, keep it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:55:03]: I didn't go back and listen. I'll do that. Number 2, what was your undergraduate degree in and do you use it in your work now? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:55:09]: So my undergraduate degree was communication and I use it every day, every single day. Omneya Badr [00:55:14]: My undergrad was in business administration. That was called back then, moved to being called management, and I certainly use it every day, managing up, managing down, Everything. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:55:26]: Number 3, your guilty pleasure TV show binge. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:55:28]: I have a couple, but the favorite one right now is an older episode set of series about a family called The Middle. Omneya Badr [00:55:36]: It just is dysfunctionally humorous. I recently watched Abbott Elementary and I find it very nice. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:55:43]: Number 4, if someone ever visits your city, what's the one place they have to eat? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:55:47]: So in Big Rapids, it's a small town in Michigan. There are several fun restaurants, but the one I would suggest is a little place called Crankers, which is this brew pub. That has a lot of different food, but if you love breakfast, it is the place to go. Omneya Badr [00:56:02]: So there is a place by the waterfront. I'm forgetting the name, but a very nice place for brunch, Georgetown Waterfront. It's hard to miss. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:56:10]: That's where you need to go. Number 5, what's your favorite work-related podcast? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:56:14]: I have to admit, I don't have a favorite one. I listen to a lot of them, but I've kind of still been in the groupings of Audibles, like finding books and spending a little more time delving into topics. So I don't really have a favorite one. Omneya Badr [00:56:26]: I just have lots that I listen to? Not because it's you, Jill, but I do listen to your podcast all the time, as well as Adventures in Academic Advising. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:56:35]: That one I like very much. It's NASA's podcast, but I appreciate the privilege of hosting. Number 6, your favorite not work-related podcast. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:56:42]: And I don't have a favorite one, but I tend to look at just of things, topics that I don't normally do within a day. So gardening or something about the stock market or something that's gonna give me some knowledge or something that I don't have to think about in my daily work? Omneya Badr [00:56:55]: Yeah, I don't have a favorite one. It's more like would be music and try to listen to music from back home. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:57:03]: And finally, number 7, any shoutouts you'd like to give, personal or professional? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:57:06]: There's so many. You know, it's funny because I just celebrated a birthday, so, you know, and you always get these great wishes from people. And as I wrote to my colleagues and said, thank you so much, I really just want to say to all of the people who helped me get to the seat I'm in, thank you, because I am just so honored to have had all that help and that guidance. And I could give you hundreds of names, but I will do that personally as I continue to see them just to say thanks. Omneya Badr [00:57:29]: I would like to thank the group of wonderful people on the Global Division Board and specifically the smaller team on the Publication Board because we are all volunteers. And to put all that effort to have this, it's really a dream come true for me. So I think everyone on the board very much. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:57:51]: It's been such a joy to have all 4 of you on the podcast today. I'm sure people will want to connect with you about the publication or Global Division after this. How can people find you? Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:58:04]: So the best way to connect with me would be email, and so that would be using my name. So it's Januar, J-E-A-N-I-A-R, D-R-O-O-F at Ferris. Omneya Badr [00:58:18]: The easiest way to find me is on LinkedIn, exactly like my name, O-M-N-E-Y-A-B-A-D-R, uh, and I check it every day. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:58:29]: Definitely LinkedIn, Heidi October, H-E-I-D-I-O-C-T-O-B-E-R, or my email address, [email protected]. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:58:39]: One of the best ways to reach me is through my profile on LinkedIn. My last name is sometimes hard. Brett, first name. And I'm also at [email protected]. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:58:52]: I just learned I've been saying your name wrong for years. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:58:56]: Sorry. No, it's totally fine. I wish I had gone by Perozzi for years, but it's too late. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:59:02]: I'll correct that. I'm so sorry, Brett. I've been literally introducing you as Brett Perozzi for like— It's fine. Dr.  Brett Perozzi [00:59:07]: 5 years. Omneya Badr [00:59:08]: Yeah, it's okay. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:59:09]: Thank you so very much for sharing your voice with us today. Thank you. Thank you. Omneya Badr [00:59:13]: Thank you for having us. Dr. Jeanine Ward-Roof [00:59:14]: Thank you for having us. Agreed. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:59:21]: Thank you. This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:59:43]: We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan-Flint for your support as we create this project. Dr. Jill Creighton [01:00:10]: Catch you next time.

What does it take to inspire the next generation of student affairs professionals? In the latest episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field," host Dr. Jill Creighton sits down with a dynamic team—Dr. Brooke Paradise, Sohan Daniel, and Anthony Froelich—who are shaping NASPA's Undergraduate Student Conference (USC). If you're passionate about developing young leaders, building inclusive communities, or just curious about meaningful ways to support undergraduates, this episode is for you. A Unique Space for Aspiring Leaders Breaking the mold of traditional conferences, the Undergraduate Student Conference is crafted not just for those considering student affairs as a career, but for any undergraduate eager to build leadership and transferable skills. Attendees come from diverse backgrounds and majors, from "diehard student affairs" hopefuls to business majors looking to expand their horizons. The common thread? A genuine curiosity about leadership and life after graduation. Mentorship and Networking in Action What makes the USC experience stand out is its intentional focus on mentorship and reflective engagement. As Dr. Brooke Paradise shares, the conference blends mainstay features—keynote speakers, concurrent sessions—with hands-on, small group breakouts led by graduate students and professionals. These mentor-led groups offer undergrads a supportive, approachable space to ask questions, reflect, and make lasting connections—a practice that Sohan Daniel credits with propelling his own career journey from attendee to committee leader. Accessible Professional Development The panel highlights the accessibility of the conference and its value for both undergraduates and professionals. Faculty and staff can support students in attending—whether by navigating travel logistics or encouraging independent growth. As Anthony Froelich notes, volunteering as a small group facilitator is an "easy entry point" for professionals looking to give back to the field. The Bigger Picture: The Value of Student Affairs From powerful personal stories about overcoming first-generation struggles to reflections on how mentorship and community can be a "life vest" for students, the episode underscores the broader impact of student affairs. It's about creating space, fostering belonging, and ensuring every student feels seen. Ready to be inspired and learn how you can make a difference? Tune in to this episode and discover why the Undergraduate Student Conference is a launching pad for tomorrow's change-makers—and maybe even get involved yourself! Catch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts—don't miss out on these fresh perspectives shaping the future of higher education!   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Today on SA Voices, we're bringing you 3 guests who are currently planning the undergraduate student conference for 2026. Our first guest is Dr. Brooke Paradise, they/them, who is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Inclusion and Engagement at Skidmore College, where they provide strategic oversight for campus life and engagement and supervise functional areas including leadership activities, religious and spiritual life, and student diversity and equity. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:49]: With 15+ years of experience across higher education, Brooke is known for building student-centered systems that strengthen belonging, equity, and student success including developing a comprehensive residential curriculum from the ground up and facilitating a learning community that bridges faculty and staff partnerships. Brooke's scholarship and professional practice center neurodivergence and inclusion in the workspace, translating research into actionable strategies that support cognitive diversity and sustainable culture change. They regularly deliver national trainings and presentations, including a NASPA national conference session on the lived experiences of neurodivergent student affairs professionals and inclusive workplace practices, as well as professional leadership development programming. Brooke has also facilitated DEI trainings for the NCAA Division I student athletes and coaching staff and led DEI-focused training for resident advisors. In addition, they serve in the National Association leadership roles with NASPA, including positions supporting assessment, learning outcomes, and undergraduate pipeline development. Our second guest is Sohan Daniel, who is a coordinator at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or UTK, in the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, where he supports students through accountability-centered practices that emphasize learning, growth, and personal development. Prior to joining UTK, Sohan completed his master's degree at the Ohio State University, where he was introduced to student conduct work while serving as an assistant hall director. Through this experience, he developed a strong belief in accountability as a powerful tool for student learning and transformation, and he values the opportunity to help students navigate challenges while building skills for both personal and academic success. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:18]: In addition to his role as coordinator, Sohan serves as the chair-elect for NASPA's Undergraduate Student Conference, or USC. He pursued this opportunity after witnessing the impact USC can have on launching attendees' careers in student affairs. Sohan earned his Bachelor of Science in Sport in Exercise Psychology from West Virginia University and his Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University. Our third guest is Anthony Fralick, who has over a decade of experience within student affairs, having explored the various areas of the profession at public and private four-year universities and two-year community colleges. Anthony currently serves as an academic advisor at the Lone Star College System's Tomball campus, where he has spent the last 3.5 years establishing its career services. As an advisor, he supports students as they pursue competitive health science programs or transfer to university partners. He's worked with several graduate students in higher education and student affairs programs, allowing them to see the inner workings of both community colleges and advising, career, and transfer services during their internships. Anthony is a native Houstonian and has a long history with the college dating back before his time as a student. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:22]: He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a math and science concentration from Houston Baptist University, now Houston Christian University, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Sam Houston State University. Welcome back to our next episode of Student Affairs voices from the field. I'm glad to have 3 guests on today, all who are working with NASPA's undergraduate conference. So first, I'd like to welcome Brooke. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:03:45]: Hey folks, Dr. Brooke Paradise, they/them/their pronouns. Nice to meet you all. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:49]: And now we have Sohan. Sohan Daniel [00:03:51]: Hey everyone, uh, Sohan Daniel, he/him/his pronouns. Great to meet you. Great to chat with you today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:55]: And finally, Anthony. Anthony Froelich [00:03:57]: Howdy, Anthony Freilich from Houston, Texas, he/him pronouns. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:00]: So we have folks from 3 different institutions across the US today. Again, we've got New York State, we've got Texas, and we've got Tennessee. So we always always like to start our episodes by asking you, how did you get to your current seat? And Brooke, we'll start with you. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:04:13]: To my current seat, I've been in student affairs for 15 years, and then this job popped up. And throughout those 15 years, I've worked at a multitude of institutions, and I love the small liberal arts. And this job came up and I was like, their mantra is creative thought matters. I love that. So I applied and here we are. I got lucky. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:31]: And Sowen, you're pretty new in Tennessee. How did you end up there? Sohan Daniel [00:04:35]: Yeah, I just graduated from my master's program back in May, and I was looking all over the place, had no idea where in the United States I would end up. But I was very passionate about land-grant institutions and the missions they hold. And University of Tennessee had an opening with Student Conduct and felt the desire to apply. And now I'm here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:52]: Congratulations on making your transition from student into professional. And Anthony? Anthony Froelich [00:04:57]: So for me, as I'm similar to Brooke, as I've had over a decade of student affairs experience in different areas since I was an undergrad student, I worked at both 4-year and 2-year community college institutions. And the community college institution really fit my, what I felt like as my personal needs for helping students prepare for those long-term, both academic and career trajectories. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:18]: All three of you are helping to lead the Undergraduate Conference for NASPA, which is coming up this spring. For our NASPA members who have never heard of this, or maybe didn't do the NUFP program, what is the Undergraduate Conference? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:05:30]: So the undergrad program is exactly what it sounds like. It's for undergrad students coming, wanting a leadership experience. It's an introduction not only to the student affairs profession, but leadership in general, and we're really trying to hone in on transferable skills and what does leadership look like beyond college. So it's just, it's a beautiful time to network, learn, engage, and sort of get a feel for student affairs. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:54]: The framing that it's not just about potentially joining the profession of student affairs, but it's more about leadership skills that you're building as an undergraduate student that you can take forward to the next step. Who are you seeing come to the conference? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:06:05]: So granted, I have, this is my second year within the conference, but The students that I talked with last year, some of them were diehard student affairs and they were like, this is the path I'm going into a higher ed profession for my master's degree, and this is what I want. And others were like, I'm actually majoring in business, but I was curious about like the leadership opportunities. So I would say it's honestly a mix of students who want that professional networking experience, want to go to a conference and sort of network and engage, and then some who just want to understand what life looks like beyond college, whether that is grad school or whether that is a career. So it's, it's a beautiful mixed bag. Sohan Daniel [00:06:42]: Yeah, and to add on to that, Brooke, I completely agree with you that there's such a wide array of students that we have at the undergraduate conference. In addition to that, some students are just trying to figure it out. They're trying to figure out what those next steps look like, and maybe this is that opportunity for them to think through what does, what does life after college look like. And for some of our students, like you said, USC is that sticking point for maybe I can have a career in student affairs. I'm meeting a lot of professionals, have done I'm interested in and have a successful career, or it might be something else. But it's a great opportunity to have that networking experience, to expand your networks and try and get a better feel for what next looks like for you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:22]: Graduate student travel is not particularly common for higher ed institutions, and sometimes it's really tricky to fund. Sometimes university travel policies require that there is a professional staff member that attends alongside of those students. So if I'm a professional and I'm thinking about wanting a student to go or supporting a student to go, what should I be thinking about for getting that person from my campus to the conference? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:07:47]: I love that question and actually engaging with that a little bit here at Skidmore because we haven't brought a student before, but we are looking to bring one this year. So, there's a couple of different things. When you think of a college student, you're like, oh my gosh, they're still in school, but they're adults, right, for all intents and purposes. So, they can travel and they can do their own thing. So, like, what do those logistics look like? How are we supporting them, but how are we allowing them to authentically grow and be their own professional? And so, like, blending those two together, and I kind of explained it to our VP as, like, we have clubs on campus and organizations that travel and go to tournaments and things of that nature. Think of it as that. Think of it as an event that they are doing off campus. How do we support them with funding? And are there grants that they can apply for as a student? And what does that look like? Do you, as the professional, have to travel with them? No, not necessarily. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:08:35]: Is it a good opportunity for you to connect and say you are sharing a flight? Absolutely. But does that have to be the case? This can really be a learning and growth opportunity prior, understanding how you prep, how you plan, how you organize and get yourself sort of situated for that. So navigating and understanding what the bigger conference looks like and then how to support the student, that's part of the educational process too. And it's gorgeous. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:00]: Let's talk about conference format for a moment. I know that I've never been to the undergraduate conference personally. I've been to, you know, our NASPA annual, I've been to a couple of other different versions of smaller NASPA conferences like regional and topical and things like that. And so I kind of have a vision of what to go into in terms of like, you know, I have to pick my concurrent sessions. There's going to be keynote speakers. There might be some reception events. And, you know, I'm planning my day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:27]: for 3, 4 days in a row. Is the undergraduate conference adopting a similar format or something more unique for the audience? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:09:35]: I can jump in and start a little bit. We do a mix, so it's a gentle bridge. We have a bunch of sessions that are happening concurrently at the same time. We have the keynote speakers, some traditional things that you would see at a conference, but we also have what are called small group breakouts, and they have a mentor-esque, and that's an opportunity for you to ask some more in-depth questions, get some hands-on sort of feedback, meeting with your small groups a little bit. So I would say it is a mix of like the big national and with a little bit more hands-on. So you're really getting the support that you need. So that's from my perspective, we try to blend those two. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:09]: This aspect of adding a mentor component into these small groups, I think that's something that we I could probably adopt at other professional conferences, to be honest. What are the mentors doing? How did they get selected? What are they offering? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:10:22]: So, we're in that process right now. We just put a call out for small group mentors, and they can be graduate students or professional students— or professionals, excuse me. And so, the beautiful thing about it is they come with a range of experience, and it's sort of just who you get assigned with, and you get to understand a little bit of the nuances of their work, how they got into the field, what they're doing, and it provides a little bit more of an in-person person sort of networking moment where you're not in a larger group and you are free to have a dialogue and free to ask questions. So we're actually, we put the call out now and really excited to see what this year brings. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:58]: Talk about that call for a moment because I think this is going to be released before that call expires. So let's talk about that detail. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:11:05]: So if you go on to our Instagram, our Instagram is live and running and our social media team is crushing it. We put a call out there and we're going to do another bump very shortly if you want be a small group mentor, that is where you can sign up. So there will be two different ways where you can get involved. An email will go out in the NASPA sort of agenda that gets sent out via email, and then through our USC undergrad Instagram platform. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:30]: And that handle, I believe, is @NASPAUS. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:11:34]: Yes. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:34]: Anthony, you look like you're going to jump in. Anthony Froelich [00:11:36]: Yeah, so my actual start with the USC Planning Committee was actually in '23 for Boston as a small group facilitator. It was a great opportunity that as a professional who wants to give back to the field, but also who's looking to be in leadership or faculty roles to invest in aspiring professionals, the small group facilitator is just an easy way to kind of ease into that contributing to the field. So I just wanted to give that plug for people who were interested in the small group facilitators, that, that is a very easy role to jump on that has a lot of collaborative work with it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:12:12]: I love that you mentioned that, Anthony, because when we have the NASPA board chair on annually, I always like to ask them how they got involved with NASPA. What is that kind of entry point? NAPSA is so big that it can be really intimidating to take the first step into wherever I want to give my time or attention, and this feels really, really accessible. So if I am applying for and selected as a small group mentor, what should I expect to do? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:12:36]: So if you are selected to be a small group mentor, you would get a list of students, attendees that are coming, and there's this sort of rudimentary introductions, a couple icebreakers to get them going, sort of things to sort of break the ice and get them Talking and chatting, but then really we walk them through sort of guided questions of like, what do you want to get out of this conference? So the first time you sort of meet with your small group, you do the icebreakers and then looking at the day ahead, how do you want to map out your day and what do you hope to get from it? At lunch, we then come back together and we do small groups too. And it's like a lunch and learn. We're doing box lunches this year and it's like a really, we're, we're honing in on the learning and not missing an opportunity for that. So like at lunchtime, what are your goals and where do you want to be at? What are some things you want to reflect on? And then throughout throughout the rest of that time, when they meet up at the end, okay, what did you learn overall? So it's sort of like this reflective journaling throughout the day where you're sort of understanding the conference itself, how you're sort of fitting into it, what you're learning, what you want to get out of it. So yeah, it's just, it's a beautiful space. Anthony Froelich [00:13:39]: I'll also add, it's also just kind of a really cool opportunity for students that have always just networked within their own social circles or within their own campuses to meet someone who is not necessarily tied to their institution. And who has the opportunity to build a network kind of starting with someone that's there specifically for them. I know that as aspiring professionals and students, kind of the, sometimes the assumption is, oh, I'm only supposed to network with people that are directly related to my career path or who there's a mutual give and take from. And I think the student affairs profession is kind of a beautiful place. And so is the undergrad conference of we're here for students. In any capacity. And that's what networking's all about, is to meet people who share similar goals or who just want to invest and see you be successful. Sohan Daniel [00:14:32]: One part to that that I want to add is I remember my first undergrad student conference when I was a student and I was thinking about pursuing this career in student affairs. And outside of my mentor in undergrad who went to his master's program maybe 20 years ago, I didn't really have anyone else around my age that was interested in student affairs. So I met these small group mentors and a lot of them were younger people, either in grad school or fresh out of grad school. So as a student, it was a really cool opportunity for me to connect with those people. Years passed, I still remember most of those people, still talk to them here and there, hopefully at annual conference again this year. But the impact really did mean a lot to me, and I know the impact of those small group mentors means so much to our student participants. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:15:14]: So, and I love that you attended as an undergraduate and now you're on the other side helping curate the experience for the attendees. Can you talk about about your journey from attendee and kind of the experience you had now to being on the planning side? Sohan Daniel [00:15:27]: Yeah, so it all started in 2022. We were in Baltimore. The Undergraduate Student Conference was virtual that year, so I didn't really resonate with that conference that much that year. But then in 2023, it was in person in Boston. During that year, I really felt that call towards student affairs, and at that point, I already agreed to pursue my master's degree. So knowing how much the Undergraduate Student Conference meant for me and how much it shaped my vision for how I want my graduate experience to look like. While at Ohio State, whenever I started grad school, I saw the call out for committee members. And I told myself, you know, I know how much this conference meant for me my senior year. Sohan Daniel [00:16:03]: I would like to apply and try and give back to students that are also interested in it. And that's pretty much where it all started. I just applied, saw what happened, and just tried to do my part to make a difference. And this day for students, it is just one day, but it's so meaningful for so many of our participants that if they go in student affairs, if they go out of student affairs, it's just a memorable experience to be together. Learn together about a different topic or what you may not know and connect with people. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:16:29]: Is there anything specific that happened in the year you got to attend that you want to make sure you're replicating for those who attend this year? Sohan Daniel [00:16:35]: I would just say probably the group portions of it. I think over the past 2 and a half years that I've been a part of the USC committee, I've been a big fan and a big proponent of saying, hey, let's have small group sessions or let's have table sessions where your students are talking with people and not just sessions where they're just sitting behind listening to someone, though there is benefit in that. As a participant, I saw the most benefit when I was able to engage in dialogue with VPSA's directors, grad students, mentors, anyone across the board where I'm able to get out my ideas and hear what they have to say. And as a table, we're able to work together and talk through these issues and get answers that we really want and need to help us and make us benefit of the conference. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:18]: I think that leads to another great moment of insight for both you, Anthony, and Brooke, about what what makes you passionate about coming into the undergraduate student space with leadership and mentorship? Obviously, for, for Soan, it, it was a very natural evolution of attendee, but for the two of you, what's your journey into the space and what makes it joyful for you? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:17:38]: Gosh, I think it started when I was writing my dissertation, and I did my dissertation on retention and attrition rates in student affairs profession, and they opened up about some really vulnerable stories in their student affairs journey and what that the impacts that the work had on them personally and professionally, and being newer in the profession, it shed light on things and it made me understand like the depth of the position and things that were being brought into the position. And I said, we could do a lot better. And so like, what does better look like? And how do we mentor younger students? And how do we cultivate a positive affirming space where learning can take place and where leadership growth can happen? And so instead of sort of jumping on like a negative bandwagon or seeing things this is like, um, a struggle. I was like, how can we make it better? And kind of like someone said, the call came out and I didn't participate at the undergrad student conference as an undergrad. This is— this was not my career path at all. I didn't know about student affairs. And so now, as I was professionally in it, I was like, oh my gosh, how do we get folks to come into this profession? And then how do we retain folks? Like, what does this professional development look like? So I really focus on like retention and what it means to bring joy to the work and how you can find joy in the work. And I'm hoping that students get out of USC conference. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:18:58]: I'm hoping that they see that. So that's kind of what drew me into it and why I really wanted to be a part of USC. Anthony Froelich [00:19:04]: I think for me it was just kind of a natural progression of my career trajectory that started in my undergrad experience. So I was not an undergrad student conference attendee. I graduated, I think, the year it first happened with NASPA. And so at the time, NASPA wasn't even on my radar as an undergrad. But once I was pointed to the direction of working with college students and being in student affairs, I got to a point where it was the realization that the great experience I wanted to provide students had to also be modeled for other professionals to be able to take those experiences to further simulate or adapt to their institutions. And so when I saw the call for the Undergrad Student Conference for, in fall of '22 for the Boston conference in '23, I was like, oh sure, why not? You know, sounds super cool. We're gonna do it. I got exposed to NASPA through my graduate studies, a couple years prior, and it was probably like one of the best professional experiences I have participated in because it has further affirmed and even evolved kind of what I want my career outlooks and kind of my career goals for myself, for investing in other professionals and for students, and even showing, um, in my case, like community college is an option for individuals. Anthony Froelich [00:20:24]: It's not just about finding the 4-year university home, but community colleges and 2-year institutions are reliable and solid options for employment and national participation in associations like NASPA or NCADA or any of the other ones that are present in the field. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:20:40]: Talk about the keynote speaker lineup for the conference. Who's coming? What are they talking about? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:20:45]: So we have the VP of Student Affairs that is joining us from UMKC. He's absolutely fantastic, and I am pulling up his bio right now, but his name is Don, and he's just the most personal individual I have ever met. Reaching out and figuring out what school we were going to, I was like, I'm going to start with Residence Life. Residence Life has all of the answers. And so I reached out to them and they were like, we're going to loop in a few other people. Don jumped on the call. And when I say he was just the most approachable, humble, kind, enthusiastic, and invested individual, I was like, oh my gosh, I have a VP of Student Affairs talking to me about this undergrad conference and he wants to be involved. So he is coming and I'm hoping that he sheds light on transformative leadership and how to sort of navigate the profession and what that looks like. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:21:37]: But he has been so involved and supportive with this process. And I was like, oh my gosh, I would've never started there. So thank you so much for jumping in. But he's just been wildly receptive to the idea of it being hosted at his institution. And grateful is just an understatement. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:21:52]: When we think about the undergraduate conference, a lot of people are not aware that it is attached to Annual. So there's an opportunity that if you're attending Annual and you wanted to encourage any undergraduate students to go and you're also going to Annual, there there's some natural connection there. It's not overlapping with Annual, but it is attached. So any other things that you'd like people to know logistics-wise about making this happen if they'd like to support a student to go? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:22:17]: I would say since the USC conference is only one day, you don't have to register for both. So you can just register for the undergrad conference and you can have a, a shorter stay in Kansas City. If you want to register for both, you can. And then the logistics of just doing and registering for both. So once you register for one, you do have to register for the other if you want to. So just the technicalities and the logistics of registering, but it's certainly worthwhile just to go for the undergrad student portion of it if that is what you want to do. And if you want to take a deeper dive, absolutely stay for the annual. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:22:49]: It's not a pre-con, I think is the most important message there. It's not a pre-con. Are there any other thoughts that any of you wanted to share about the undergraduate student conference coming up or any other tidbits about experience getting involved, et cetera? Anthony Froelich [00:23:03]: I would just add that for anyone who's looking, kind of like you said earlier, Jill, just for an easy way to start participating in NASPA kind of on a national scope, or even anyone who's looking to mentor, coach, or just give back to the profession somehow, the undergrad conference has a variety of opportunities to do that, not just in small group facilitation or the ed sessions that our submissions just closed yesterday, but even for next year's planning committee. Or in my experiences, it's been such a cool opportunity seeing everyone bring in their own experiences and really contribute their own thoughts and skill sets to making things happen. For just for a fun fact, because I know Charlie included this, but the text to Brooke and Charlie was just a, hey, have we ever thought about pitching USC for a podcast? And now here we are. And so no idea is, is a bad idea when it comes to the Undergrad Student Conference because the field and our students are constantly changing and evolving. So this is a great way to kind of meet those needs for each generation of professionals. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:24:09]: I think the Undergraduate Student Conference is such an embodiment of our podcast season theme, or this, I guess it's a year arc theme that we're doing this year, which is on the value of student affairs and the value of student affairs kind of supporting undergraduate students and graduate students through their journeys, but also potentially in their journeys to become part of the cohort of professionals that, that we all occupy. So with that in mind, I'm going to go ahead and transition us into our theme questions. And our first one is, when you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first and why? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:24:42]: So I just took my kids to Great Wolf Lodge over New Year's Eve, and I have a multitude of ages, 4 all the way up to teenage, and the 4-year-old isn't quite brave enough, but sees the older siblings diving in and doing all of the adventurous things. And we had to have a conversation about like what it looks like to be brave, but also how to be safe. And she put on a life vest and then she was able to take it off at some points. And so when I was thinking about this question, I was like, oh my gosh, it's just like the conversation I had with my 4-year-old. It's a choose your own adventure. What does being brave look like? And where does that support come in? And I kind of view student affairs as a life vest. It's like you put it on, it fits what you need. You can take it off when you don't need it, but like it's, it's there for that additional support to help you be brave. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:25:28]: You put it on and you're able to go and do the things that might be a little bit out of your league. So she was able to go down some bigger slides because she had that extra life vest on. She wouldn't have been able to do that if she didn't. And so I was just thinking how sort of serenity that is. It's like a life vest. We jump in and we help. We're always there for support. We can sort of meet you where you're at, but you don't need to utilize us all the time. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:25:52]: We're just like the silent supporters and cheerleaders allowing you to be brave and authentic and live your truest self. And so that was just really cool to sort of understand and watch my 4-year-old do that and be like, hang on a second, I do that with big kids too. Sohan Daniel [00:26:05]: Whenever I think about the value of student affairs, I actually think about a number, 168. The reason I think about this number is because my Dean of Students and my undergraduate institution would always say that you have 168 hours in your week. 15 hours you're in class, maybe another 15 you're studying, hopefully more, but that leaves about 138 hours left in your week. So what happens the rest of that time you're in college? That's where Student Affairs comes into play. We are here to walk beside you, we're here to follow behind you, we're here to lead the way and sometimes get in your way. We're here to make the experiences that you need to be successful in college, maybe to make your college experience, but we're also here to support you to ensure that you're able to get that point. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:47]: Some super sage advice. So, and do you want to give a shout out to that Dean of Students? Sohan Daniel [00:26:50]: Yeah, I'm actually going to give a shout out to two different Dean of Students. The first one I'm going to give a shout out to is my undergraduate Dean of Students with the 168. That is Corey Ferris. And now my current Dean of Students, who I stole the quote from him about the walk behind you, Dr. Byron Hughes. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:27:03]: And Anthony, what's your take on this question? Anthony Froelich [00:27:05]: Honestly, probably the most simplest way of saying for the value of student affairs is there's a place and a space for everyone. I talk with professionals all the time about the idea of creating space or finding a seat at the table. A table, but a table is not necessarily just a conference table. It can be a dinner table or a place to share meals. It can be a place to— a board game table where you're gathering for socialization with others. It's a place to strategize, to think through stuff, to study, to build the long-term supports or establish your routines that are going to carry you throughout life. There's always a seat that you can pull up or find at any of these spaces or tables, and the student affairs profession does a great job of making sure that it is accessible and there is opportunities for everyone to participate as much or as little as they want to. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:27:53]: Our second question in our theme is, can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:28:00]: So I think it was for me in undergrad, and I'm going to give a shout out to my previous Dean of Students, Dennis Pru. I was a first-year, a first-gen college student, and lost was an understatement. I didn't register for housing, and so I didn't know that that was something separate that you had to do. I was accepted to college, I thought that everything else was taken care of, and so I show up and I don't have I don't have housing and things are late on my bill and I am a wee bit of a disaster. And I was like, oh my gosh, I thought once I got in, I was good to go. And he saw me struggling immensely. And I was like, I don't have housing. Housing has passed. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:28:35]: Do we have housing for me? And I was like, I can't afford to live off of campus. And he was like, we're spiraling. And he was like, we're gonna, we're gonna find housing for you and you're gonna have a roommate and we're going to figure this out. And I was like, someone just swooped in and said, not a problem. I see you're in a crisis. Here are a couple of options. What's gonna make you feel good. And I was just sort of taken aback that I was getting that support that I needed in that moment. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:28:58]: And I was like, wow, gosh, if I had that all along, I wouldn't, I wouldn't quit. Like folks wouldn't quit if they just had that silent cheerleader in the background. And so that kind of always stuck with me. I showed up thinking that I was, you know, fabulous, accepted to school, doing the great things and missing every possible deadline and really having that sort of hit me in in the face, and he kind of swooped in. He was like, let's navigate this together. And so I've never forgotten that live in-person navigating in the moment of solving a problem that I caused, and it ended up okay. Sohan Daniel [00:29:31]: I don't think I have a specific story, but like Brooke, I think I really saw the value of student affairs through residence life. Whenever I was working in residence life in grad school, I didn't have that res life experience in undergrad, so never really saw that side of things. Didn't know what to expect when I first started, but throughout the weeks there would be times where I'm dealing with crises, working with students, trying to support them. Their world is ending and just trying to do the best we can to get to tomorrow. And then maybe 2 hours later, we're just celebrating with other students. Maybe there's a program going on. Maybe we have something going on with our living learning community. And I was just able to see this dynamic of you have such a wide spectrum of some of the toughest days going on for our students and some of the most exciting, memorable moments that students will ever have. Sohan Daniel [00:30:15]: And we are just in this continuum where it's just we need to be available at both ends. We need to be able to be there to ensure students are having those great moments, celebrating them, giving them those learning opportunities, but also supporting them and holding their hand and making sure they get the support they need to make it to tomorrow, to make it through the week so that they're able to be successful while they're here with us. Anthony Froelich [00:30:35]: I think mine, like Sohan's, is came from my time in res life, being a professional. And I just remember after a very hard week telling the student workers and the RAs about like making space for one another and what do we need to do to relieve stress and make sure everyone's good with one another. And one of the RAs pulled me a sign and was like, you are the first supervisor who's ever given us a space to be good with one another, not just as colleagues, but also as like students. And just, you have no idea how refreshing that is because that is the first time anyone's ever put, looked at us and seen us as students, not just as resources or employees. So for me, that was kind of like that moment. That was the aha, like student affairs is where I'm supposed to be for a career. And this is kind of like where this work kind of comes to life is making those differences. And giving students the space to not just be developing professionals, but also just to be students, just doing the college thing. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:31:33]: That's so powerful to hear that that's the first time that someone felt seen as a person in that environment. Our third question is, what do you think student affairs needs to do to be better understood and better seen in today's education environment? Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:31:45]: Risking sounding like a broken record and realizing and recognizing that this has been said at multiple institutions that I've worked at, I'm going to say it anyway. I would love for the silo between academic affairs and student affairs to be broken down. I think that there's like this mystical thing that sort of looms and stops us from collaborating and sort of coexisting in a really healthy space. And it always just blows my noggin a little bit because the work that we do with students is beautiful, but it's different, but it's still beautiful and we're still here to support it. So I really wish that student affairs and academic affairs would be a little bit more blended. What does that co-curricular aspect look like? How is leadership in a club helping in a business class or as an head major. What does that sort of look like? I think we're still like missing the key to what college really could be if we unlocked the full potential of those two sort of realms playing together a little bit more. There's less of a divide there, and sometimes it's not as strong, and there are points for collaboration, but I think that we're missing where some of that magic could happen. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:32:50]: What would it look like if we had a first-year experience seminar being co-taught by a student affairs professional and a faculty member? How beautiful would that be? What would that look like? What if we had a faculty member come and lead a pre-orientation program, something that student affairs folks normally would do. So what would that look like if we blended our world a little bit more? That's just, that's where my brain always goes. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:33:12]: Gonna shout out Dr. Marcia France on this one, because she and I got to do exactly what you're talking about. We co-developed the first-year seminar course for a university that we were working at. She was the AVP and Dean of Undergraduate Studies. I was the CSAO, Dean of Students at that institution. And we broke it down and said, what are the competencies that we want to see first-year students gain in their first 6 to 8 weeks of their university experience. What does that look like? How do we help students culturally immerse? And how do we want them to come out the other side knowing each other as people? And we completely revamped that first-year experience course in a way that the students came out the other side with much more positive course reviews than previous iterations and just a way of being together. And then the other shout-out I'll give is to Dr. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:33:55]: Chris Lewis, who is our co-producer on this podcast, who is the chair of the SAPA Knowledge Community here at NASPA, which is the Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs. This is a that he has been ringing for like 20 years, and he's actually the founder of the SAPA Knowledge Community. So he'd be so glad to hear you say that, Brooke. Sohan Daniel [00:34:11]: I completely agree. I think we need more partnership across the entire university, not try to recreate what some people are already doing across the board. And in my eyes, how we do that is by sharing our stories better. I've heard a lot, and I imagine you all have also heard before, that some people think Student Affairs is the party planning committee. And as you all know, there's so much more that goes into Student Affairs than just that. So how do we effectively share our story, what we're doing, But how do we intentionally make those partnerships and go to other people across the institution to share, hey, this is what we're doing, this is how it's impacting our students, this is how we hope to grow, and then lead to that conversation of, hey, can we look for partnership in maybe this direction? And how can we collaborate so both of our programs can grow from here? So I think being open to partnership, collaboration, but also understanding how do we share our story with one another? How do we engage in proper assessment habits to be able to share those stories effectively with both people across the institution, student affairs partners across the nation, and our students and their families to show that what we're doing is supporting students in the best way possible. Anthony Froelich [00:35:17]: I'll echo what Brooke and Sowon both talked about, about partnerships and just all the opportunities and stories. And I kind of go two ways with this question. And one is from the community college standpoint is just helping students tell their stories about how student affairs has helped them transition from one institution to another and seeing a consistency in experiences supports and things like that for ultimately what is their post-college life. On the other side, from someone who's a former career services professional and knowing that the scrutiny of higher ed and career readiness is kind of a big thing right now, is helping others realize how much student affairs does to prepare students for employment and life beyond college. So while we know a lot of people are aware that the college education is designed to give them those like technical and those informational-based skills, so much of student affairs work is helping them develop their interpersonal skills that they need to navigate team settings, company environments, social gatherings that they otherwise don't get. And just helping student affairs highlight that work more, I feel like is a great way to help people realize just how much our field is important for just the higher ed experience, as well as just employability. Across the board. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:36:41]: It's time to take a quick break and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the NASPA world. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:36:47]: Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the NASPA world, and there's a ton of things happening in NASPA. There is a new virtual summit, NASPA's Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Virtual Summit, that'll be happening. The 2026 NASPA Sexual Violence and Prevention Response Summit will provide campus and organizational leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to drive meaningful campus-wide change in sexual violence prevention and response— in sexual violence prevention and response. Featuring expert-led sessions in evidence-based practices, the summit will equip participants to advance holistic approaches that center prevention, elevate survivor support, strengthen equitable services for respondents, and embed equity, safety, and well-being into into the fabric of campus life. This virtual summit will happen on May 19th between 11 AM and 5 PM, and there are a number of different specific topics that are being, that are being covered, including persisting through unrelenting times, recognizing and responding to harm, invisible yet invincible, empowering multicultural and global students, and more. The early registration deadline for this Phasing Summit is on April 7th, 2026. I highly encourage you to go to the NASPA website to find out more. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:38:08]: NASPA has submitted comments alongside the American Council on Education and 28 other higher education associations to the Department of Education in response to the proposed revisions to the Accreditation Handbook. The comments urge the Education Department to adhere to the Higher Education Act, protect the integrity of the accreditation process and the program integrity triad and avoid using accreditation to impose federal student outcome metrics, expand state authority over institutional eligibility for federal student aid, or treat the handbook as having the force of law. If you'd like to read the entire comments that were provided, I encourage you to go to the policy center on the NASPA website to find out more. I know I've been talking about the NASPA Annual conference, but NASPA provides so much more training and professional development for people, even if you can't attend the annual conference. If you've never visited learning.naspa.org, you definitely should. On that site, you are going to find all of the different learning opportunities that are coming available to you, and this includes webinars, it includes summits, it includes all types of different types of opportunities, short courses, certification courses, and more. All of these are developed to help you in the work that you're doing on a daily basis, and the cost of these are kept low to help you to be able to afford these for you and for your teams. Again, if you've never been to this before, I highly encourage you to go to learning.naspa.org to find out more. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:39:48]: Another great book that NASPA has just released is called Well-Being Leadership in Higher Education: A Guide for Successful Well-Being Programs. This was written by Thaddeus Montero, Ryan Traviah, and Associates. Well-Being Leadership in Higher Education is a groundbreaking guide that reimagines how colleges and universities can center well-being as a strategic priority to enhance student success and institutional effectiveness. Blending theory, research, and practice, this timely volume brings together a wide range range of voices from across the higher education spectrum—student affairs leaders, chief wellness officers, clinicians, and faculty—who all share powerful insights and actionable strategies for leading transformative well-being initiatives. Readers will find field-tested approaches for assessing and evaluating outcomes, creating integrated models of care, and engaging students as key stakeholders in shaping campus cultures of health and wellness. As higher education continues to respond to Growing mental health crisis, this book offers a compelling call to action and a clear roadmap and a clear roadmap for embedding well-being into policies, programs, and daily practice. You can find out more on the NASPA website. When you get there, go to research and publications and click on books. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:41:11]: Every week we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association. So we are going to be able to try and keep you up to date on everything everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways. Because the association is as strong as its members, and for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether it be getting involved with a knowledge community, giving back within one of the, the centers or the divisions of the association. And as you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify identify for yourself where do you fit, where do you want to give back. Each week we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, hey, I see myself in that knowledge community, I see myself doing something like that, or encourage you in other ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now to offer other things to the association, to bring your gifts, your talents to the association and to all of the members within the association, because through doing that, all of us are stronger and the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:31]: Chris, thank you so much for kicking off our 2026 with another great segment of NASPA World. We always appreciate you telling us, telling us what's going on in and around NASPA. And for our trio of undergraduate student conference leadership members, we've got our lightning round. So I've got 7 questions for you to answer in about 90 seconds. Are you ready to roll? Getting some thumbs up here. All right, here we go. Question number 1: If you were a conference keynote speaker, what would your entrance music be? Sohan Daniel [00:43:00]: Final Countdown. I feel like it just gets everyone hyped. Anthony Froelich [00:43:03]: I would probably say Meet You There by Arizona. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:43:05]: Oh my gosh, anything by Taylor Swift, specifically The Man. Swift, specifically The Man. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:10]: Number 2: When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Sohan Daniel [00:43:13]: Pretty sure a doctor. Anthony Froelich [00:43:14]: I didn't have a career title, I just wanted to build Buddy the robot from the Jetsons so mom could play with me more. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:43:19]: Oh my gosh, I wanted to be an OB-GYN. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:22]: Number 3, who's your most influential professional mentor? Sohan Daniel [00:43:24]: Dr. Tame Lee. Anthony Froelich [00:43:25]: I would say my most recent supervisor, Dr. Sarah Peña-Ho. She just helped give a lot of tangibility for the evolution of career paths. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:43:33]: Previous Dean of Students Dennis Pru. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:35]: Number 4, your essential student affairs read. Sohan Daniel [00:43:38]: I like A Legal Guide for Student Affairs Professionals. I feel like I open it up pretty often. Anthony Froelich [00:43:43]: I would say my most recent one I've recommended to students is probably Engagement and Employability. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:43:48]: White Fragility. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:50]: My favorite moment when I ask this question is I immediately see everyone's heads turn towards their bookshelf. I know we don't air the visual, but it always gives me a moment of joy. Number 5, the best TV show you've been binging lately. Anthony Froelich [00:44:01]: The Pit was phenomenal. I just finished season 1 last week for next week's season 2 to air. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:44:06]: My gosh, Landman. Sohan Daniel [00:44:08]: Lately, Stranger Things. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:09]: Before we go on, someone, I have to ask you, do you believe? Sohan Daniel [00:44:12]: I think we will know on January 7th at 8 PM, given beliefs that there's a new episode dropping. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:19]: Number 6, the podcast you spent the most hours listening to in the last year. Sohan Daniel [00:44:22]: Modern Wisdom. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:44:23]: Oh my gosh. The Kelsey Brothers because of Taylor Swift. Anthony Froelich [00:44:26]: It only beat SA Voices in the Field by 7 minutes, but the Adventures in Advising podcast. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:44:31]: Maybe we'll have to do a crossover with that one. And then finally, number 7, any shoutouts you'd like to give, personal or professional? Sohan Daniel [00:44:37]: A professional shoutout to Joseph Ballard, Brandon Jones, and Dr. Tain Lee, mentors of my life in student affairs, always pushing me forward, and my partner Olivia Deller. Anthony Froelich [00:44:47]: For me professionally, I already talked about Dr. Sarah Peña Ho. She's phenomenal. But Dr. David Davis and Krista Nix, they were the first two individuals to give me a chance with student affairs work as an undergrad student. But on top of that, I also want to give a shout out to last year's chair, as well as the person who brought me on to USC, which was Jillian Strong. So her work with USC has been phenomenal, and she has been a great connector to bring in a lot of talent over the years. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:45:14]: Shout out to two of my biggest mentors, Dennis Pru and Victoria Angus. They've really shaped my professional life. And then honestly, Anthony and Sohan, and to the entire USC committee that's working on this with me, I, I couldn't do it without you all. So I'm so grateful. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:45:29]: I have a cousin who's currently an undergrad student at the University of Southern California, so I'm having to like retool my brain every time you say USC to mean Undergraduate Student Conference. But if you'd like to find more information on socials, again on Instagram, it's @NASPAUSC. But if any of our listeners would like to reach you individually, how can they find you? Sohan Daniel [00:45:47]: You can find me on LinkedIn at Sohan Daniel, or by email, [email protected]. Anthony Froelich [00:45:53]: I'm open to connections on LinkedIn. So it's LinkedIn, the URL, and then Anth Fralick, or you just search Anthony Fralick on the search bar, or you can shoot me an email at [email protected]. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:46:06]: If you want to connect, you can find me at [email protected]. Anthony Froelich [00:46:12]: Thank you so much for your time, Jill. This was an awesome experience and I'm very excited to see kind of what happens from here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:46:18]: Thank you all so very much for educating us on the undergraduate conference. For sharing your voices with us today. Sohan Daniel [00:46:23]: Thank you, Jill. Dr. Brooke Paradise [00:46:24]: Thank you, Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:46:30]: This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field, brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:47:00]: It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.  

The latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field kicks off Season 14 with a truly inspiring conversation with incoming NASPA Board Chair, Dr. Darryl Holloman. Hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton, the episode dives deep into the evolving landscape of higher education and what it means to work in student affairs today. Dr. Holloman brings over three decades of experience to the table, spanning roles at HBCUs, PWIs, and across governance, academic administration, and talent management. His journey to Vice President for Student Affairs at Spelman College is a testament to the power of mentorship, professional exploration, and seizing unexpected opportunities. The conversation focuses on the value and challenges facing student affairs professionals, particularly in a period marked by ongoing turmoil—post-pandemic disruption, shifting enrollment, and threats to DEI initiatives. Dr. Holloman emphasizes the need to move beyond accepting the "new normal" and instead frame current challenges as "new possibilities," encouraging professionals to be both forward-ready and future-ready. At the heart of his vision is the "North Star Project," an initiative designed to reclaim public trust and redefine the purpose of higher education. This multifaceted endeavor includes three key arms: Rebuilding Public Trust Survey: A national study examining how those outside higher ed perceive colleges and universities, pushing for deeper understanding beyond the usual Gallup poll data. New Professional Task Force: A focus on early-career professionals, listening deeply to their needs, and developing skill-building opportunities—like real-time badging systems—to help retain talent and strengthen the student affairs pipeline. NASPA Commission on HBCU and Community College Pathways: An effort to amplify the voices of HBCUs and community colleges within NASPA's governance, reflecting their crucial roles in access and mission-driven education. Dr. Holloman's personal values—knowledge, God, family, humility, and hard work—shine throughout the discussion, reinforcing the importance of aligning purpose and professional philosophy. If you're looking for insight into the future of student affairs, practical strategies for professional development, and a fresh take on the value of our field, this is a must-listen. Tune in to hear how Dr. Holloman and NASPA are charting a new course, and discover ways to get involved in shaping the next chapter. Listen to the episode and join the conversation! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to Student Affairs Voices from the Field. We are thrilled to kick off our current season with Dr. Darryl B. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:33]: Holloman, who is a distinguished leader in higher education with over 3 decades of experience in student affairs, academic administration, institutional advancement, governance and board relations, and human talent management. Dr. Holloman has worked at several regional and nationally recognized higher education institutions where he supervised collectively over 300 employees and overseen budgets of over $300 million. Dr. Holloman's extensive experience strategically vision and unwavering commitment to student success and institutional excellence make him a transformative leader in higher ed. He currently serves as the VPSA at Spelman College, but he's held senior-level positions at Georgia State University, Columbus State University, and Rutgers University-Newark. He's held faculty appointments at each institution, including full-time faculty appointments at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and the institutions aforementioned. His contributions continue to inspire and shape the future of academic communities. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:23]: Dr. Holloman has several articles and book chapters to his credit. His research examines the way that disadvantage manage groups, develop, and demonstrate their agency in educational systems, particularly within urban school settings. He's the co-editor of the book entitled From Boyhood to Manhood: Deconstructing Black Masculinity Through a Lifespan Continuum through Peter Lang Press. His most current manuscript is entitled In the Middle: Leading as a Mid-Level Professional in Student Affairs, which was published by NASPA. He's an active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and he lives in Atlanta with a spouse of 32 years, Glenn Williams, and their two sons, Delbert and Delvin. But most importantly, and why we have him on pod today as he is our incoming NASPA Board Chair. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:04]: We hope you enjoy this conversation. Darryl, welcome to SA Voices. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:02:08]: Thank you so much. I'm glad to be here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:11]: We are absolutely honored to have you as our season premiere for this season of SA Voices here in spring of 2026, and you are joining us in a long and illustrious line of NASPA Board Chairs-to-be. It's one of our favorite episodes to record in the springtime. Last, last year we had Mike Christakis on who is just finishing up his full year as Board Chair. And in just a couple of weeks now, that gavel will be passing your way. So this episode is one where we like to introduce you to the NASPA membership, what you hope that your leadership will bring to the association over the next year, and messages for our NASPA membership. So before we get into all of that, our favorite question to start the show off with is how did you get to your current seat, both at Spelman and at NASPA? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:02:59]: Well, I got to Spelman. It was a really interesting journey because I was serving on the board of a local charter school. And the guy that we hired as a CEO said, hey, I really want you to meet my mom. And his mom works at Spelman. She's still on my staff at Spelman. And he's, you know, we just, let's go to lunch. And so we went to lunch. And at that time I was AVP Dean of Students at Georgia State University. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:03:23]: And I was starting to think about, you know, where would I go to be a vice president for student affairs? I have this lunch and at the end of the lunch, my colleague said, "Hey, you should apply at Spelman. We have an opening." And at that time, I said, "Oh, okay, sure, I'll look at it." But, you know, Spelman is an all-women's HBCU in Atlanta. I've not ever worked at an HBCU. I've not worked at a liberal arts college, small college, and definitely an all-women's college. And so I applied. I applied with 6 very wonderful women. Half of them I knew very personally. And then I got the call that I had the job, which totally caught me off guard because it was— was not in the trajectory of where I thought my career was going. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:04:07]: I had worked— done most of my work at large, larger public institutions, predominantly white institutions. And so I got the job. I have had a tremendous, tremendous experience here. I got to NASPA 30 years ago. I had a dean of students, Dean Curt Kepler, who hired me. I was a student worker, and then he hired me on as a staff. And he said I should go to this thing called a new professional institute. And at that time, NASPA had this nationwide platform, onboarding new professionals, and it was at UGA, and it was so impactful that it led me into a lifelong volunteer commitment with NASPA, and it's been extremely rewarding, and I've, I've just done so many things, have so many opportunities, have an upcoming book in the middle, co-edited with Gigi Segubin and Spencer Platt, that'll be coming out in the spring. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:04:57]: So there's so many wonderful opportunities to NASPA, so I've just been really blessed professionally and in my volunteer activities. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:04]: What have you done in NASPA in terms of volunteerism, leadership, contribution before deciding to run for board chair? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:05:12]: So I had a wonderful opportunity from one of, one of my colleagues, Danita Brown-Young. And Danita, she called me, she said, hey, I think I want you to be my member at large, and I want you to focus on how can NASPA better support HBCUs. And so I joined the board. We did surveys, like some really great work around that, but that really gave me gave me some great insight into how NASPA runs as an organization, the work that it does, the commitments that it makes, and, you know, kind of the engine in the car. And so that was very powerful for me to be able to have that experience as a member board chair. Prior to that, and this was really a great experience for me, I had joined the NASPA Foundation Board, and those two in tandem have been really helpful to help me understand not just in NASPA, but how organizations run, how nonprofits run, how boards run, the decisions that have to be made. And so it's just been a wonderful experience. And outside of presenting and doing some of the other stuff, those have been the most significant governance opportunities that I've had at NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:19]: And now let's think about what is ahead. So again, in just a couple of weeks here, we'll be seeing you in Kansas City. The board will be convening, the membership will be convening for our annual learning opportunity at conference. What are you thinking about going into this transition? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:06:35]: So, you know, we are in such turmoil right now in higher ed. You know, we followed the pandemic. It was very, very much a disruptor. And then now we're just faced with a lot of challenges, enrollment cliffs, DEI leaving many of our institutions that have become such a part of our fabric, funding in so many ways, federal funding being taken. So it's a real difficult time. And I think I keep hearing people talk about this is our new normal. This is our new normal. And I want to really challenge us to start to think beyond that and to think, how do we turn our new normal into new possibilities? And how can we be more forward-ready and future-ready? And I think the best way for us to do that as an association is to really lean into our memberships. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:07:23]: I think sometimes when you work in student affairs, we have such an emphasis on students, and that should be, that's important. That's, that's our lifeblood. But if we are not in really good spaces in terms of our our own professional development, our own training, our own understanding, if we are not having holistic wellness, then we can't do the work that we need to do. We don't have the capacity to do it for students. And so my idea is kind of wrapped into what I'm calling the North Star Project. The North Star historically had been seen as a symbol in African American communities as that guiding point, that place that took you from oppression to a place of freedom and enlightenment. And so, um, The North Star Project is all about reclaiming the purpose and public trust of higher education, because I do believe there's a lack of trust in higher education. And so I have three arms of the North Star Project. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:08:17]: One is a national study that is being conducted by Tim Bono, who is my member at large. And we really, through the Rebuilding Public Trust national survey, we want to get an understanding of how people outside of higher ed view us. And so we're kind of expanding upon the Gallup poll. The Gallup poll tells us there's a lack of confidence in higher education, but we want to drill down a little bit deeper and know why. Because I think a lot of times in higher ed, we preach to the choir and we're talking to one another and we really don't know often what are the perceptions of individuals who maybe not have even attended college. And so to be stronger, I think we need that information. And so Tim Bono will be doing that national survey. Survey on the trust in higher education, the confidence in higher education. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:09:07]: Very excited about that. I've seen the survey a bit to get the results and see what happens. The next thing is, as I mentioned earlier, something that impacted my career. And so I'm really looking to bring together a group of people under the new professional task force to get a better understanding of professionals that are coming in with 1 to 5 years of experience. And I think we have a flood of new professionals that think differently about the work, that perceive the work differently. In my generation, I'm a Gen Xer, my generation has a tendency to keep saying like, why don't they just do like we did? But it's a different time. They're presented with way different challenges, having to make decisions in a very different way and under a lot of pressure. And so I'm really interested in seeing how our association can pour into our new professionals. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:09:57]: And so the New Professional Task Force is all about strengthening the student affairs pipeline because what What I'm hearing now are senior-level people who are just really, really burned out. I jokingly say we're all a lottery ticket away from not being vice presidents of student affairs. And then I think you have mid-levels who see the stressors that the VP does and they don't wanna do it. And they're like, I'm fine. Like, I'm, I'm gonna stay in this role. I'm good. I don't need to be the vice president. And then you have new professionals who are coming in with a different set of expectations. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:10:32]: And so I think starting at the front end of the pipeline will help us to guide people to those senior-level positions. And the last thing is a NASPA commission on HBCU and community college pathways, because I think these institutions provide a lot of opportunities for students. Many are access-driven, deeply mission-driven. And I think what I'm seeing definitely at HBCUs is a resurgence of high school students who are interested in HBCUs. They're kind of seeing some of the ultra micro-aggressions the oppressions that are occurring in society, and they're looking for space that affirm them and validate them. And so HBCUs play a critical role in being able to do that. And so I think it's critically important in the alignment with HBCUs is really focusing also on community colleges. Our country is really beginning deep discussions about affordability and what that means. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:11:28]: And we've been talking about that in higher ed for like the last 20 years of affordability. And you can't have a conversation about affordability and being able to manage loan debt in higher education without also thinking about community colleges and the works that occur within community colleges. I'm extremely excited about this initiative because I think our association has an opportunity to better understand the needs and the engagements at HBCUs and community colleges and really figuring out how we not only have these members as participants, but how do we get them as well into governance structures. Cultures. I'll use, for example, HBCUs. I don't always want to be the only HBCU voice in the room because we're all so very different. About 103 HBCUs, all institutions with different types, different missions, and that brings a different type of voice into the room. So the North Star Project really is comprised of three arms. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:12:29]: It is rebuilding public trust survey, trying to gather and gain information about how people view us on the outside. Pulling together a group to look at the new professional task force, which is about strengthening student affairs pipeline. And the last is the NASPA Commission on HBCU and community college pathways. So we get a better understanding of how we can support this sector of our field. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:12:53]: I really like your theme of it being the North Star and being our guiding light for the profession and helping us find some direction as professionals. And I'd like to take these one by one. The first project being that external survey, who are we surveying to ask about the perceptions of higher education? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:13:09]: So we are specifically looking for folks who are— that don't work in higher education, that may not have attended higher education. And so it is the segment of the population that probably have the most questions about higher education and the value of higher education. But we're also in that survey will be included people who graduated from colleges. And so I think there are segments of our population who have— we've been required to get graduate degrees. And I think there's some frustration about that, right? You've gone to college, you've spent a lot of money, and then you're not working in your major. You're not working in the field that you thought you were, and you have all of this college debt and this degree that you may not be having the best usage of. And so it's gonna be a combination of people that are completely outside of higher education. So it won't be us speaking to us. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:14:05]: It will be really gathering the ideas and perspectives of people outside. So for one of the questions that I can remember, we are looking at college presidents asking the question about senior leaders in higher education. Do people even know what a college president is supposed to do? Do you have perceptions about that? But I think we may be— college presidents may be out of sync with what society is expecting of a college president. And so we just want to get some cleaner insight, deeper insight into the work that we do. It's almost like a 360 for higher education. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:14:40]: I think that's an interesting statement that maybe the general public doesn't know what a university president does, but I also wonder often if internally within our organizations, we all know what a college president does, especially if we're several hierarchical layers removed from that position. We've talked to several college presidents on the pod who have been former VPSAs, and I think our student affairs folks, we all know what a VPSA does, but that college presidency is a little bit mystical sometimes. And some of the presidents that we've spoken to are focused on fundraising, some are focused on legislative action, but almost all of them seem to be externally focused more than internally focused right now. And I think that's an interesting shift. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:15:19]: And I was talking about this with a friend that, you know, probably 50 years ago, people talked about— they were— I'll use Georgia State as an example, right? Not, not to say that the Georgia State president says this, but, you know, they would say, I am Georgia State's president. Right? But now I think people think, I am the president of XYZ institution. And it's a small nuance in the differences of that. But saying, I am Georgia State's president, or I'm said institution's president, puts the president really in the center of the mission, that they are part of the community. But when you start to say, I am the president of X, it almost makes it it feel as if, you know, and you rightfully so, the leader, but you're in this kind of real corporate leader mind, you know, kind of mindset and running. And I think just over time, the idea of what it means to be a college president has changed so drastically that I wonder sometimes if some college presidents even— I think they get surprised when they get into the role and they figure out it is not necessarily what they may have thought it was going to be, because it's a definite difference in being a college president today. You're running more of an enterprise now than just a college. And I think that sense of higher ed being an enterprise is where I think communities are feeling like, well, I don't understand, like, what does the college president do? And so getting information on the outside, I think helps to inform and align the expectations of what college presidents are doing in society today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:16:54]: Absolutely. I'll be very much looking forward to learning what we learn, because I think we have kind of our own narrative. Our own communities about what we hear from friends, family, social spaces, what, you know, what we do at universities and especially in the American context right now, there's a lot shifting about higher education and the perception of higher ed. Let's go to that second part of the North Star Project, which is the new professional pipeline. That 1 to 5 year space, I think is incredibly critical as we're seeing a generational shift of who's occupying that 1 to 5 year space. We're seeing the last of the millennials come through the early stages of Gen Z coming into student affairs. And you mentioned that we're seeing seeing different value set come forward from this generation. And one thing that I have noticed and very much appreciate is a focus on work-life balance from this generation. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:17:42]: And I don't mean work-life integration. I truly mean balance of people that are much more comfortable advocating for that balance and maybe shouldn't have to advocate for that balance because we need to do a better job of modeling it as the senior leaders. But the space that's occupied has also consistently been one that requires a master's degree to enter, which I think is an ongoing conversation in student affairs as a profession. But what else are you thinking about as you look at what is affecting new professionals and their retention into the field? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:18:10]: I think we have to, to listen deeply to our new professionals, which is a part of this task force. We haven't quite determined how, how we're gonna gather that information, but I think you, you know, right now my generation, which is the Gen Xers, are senior VPs and in these senior level roles, and we were horrible horrible at work-life balance, like horrible, like wasn't even a concept. And so we had a tendency to just grind ahead. Many of us were first generation. And so we just have this idea of forging ahead and then we're looking at the generations behind us and we're saying, well, why don't you just do the work that the way that we did it? But the way that we did it wasn't always as perfect either, right? Like we, my generation, I think opened up a lot of access to us, right? You know, and folks are calling us at 3 in the morning and 4, you know, and we are just forging right ahead. I'm really interested to see what new professionals need from us versus us trying to train them to be the way my generation saw it. And I think that the generations that follow us are just so amazing and so creative and really able to think about problems in a very different way. But if we keep beating them over the head saying, well, you're not doing it the way that I think you should do it, I think it's making them leave the profession. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:19:36]: Like, I think these generations are also very easy to just say, I don't have to do this, and, and, and will leave after a year or two. And what that means is there's a lot of talent that leaves the room. And leaves the space. And so I'm interested in this because I think at most college board level and president levels, I don't think they really recognize the crises that student affairs is in right now, just in terms of human capital and talent. And I think that has a large part to do with my generation just always being there, always being available. And I don't think they are thinking very deeply about the void that could be created coming behind. I also think I want the task force to focus on what are some kind of badging skills that we can present to new professionals. How do you deal with conflict? How do you deal with protest? How do you problem solve? How are you being a critical thinker? I envision maybe not the kind of new professional institute that I had when I came through, but something that's more real-time, more vibrant, where if I'm a supervisor that has a new professional that I don't think is really handling conflict well, they could go to some kind of workshop, virtual workshop, and almost get that skill set after, you know, 5 series or something. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:20:59]: I don't know what that looks like, but just some kind of way that new professionals can go or their bosses can send them to enhance whatever challenges they may be facing and, and do it in somewhere that's not necessarily, they gotta go and go to a conference, but something that's more accessible and that can really be more like a badging system, right? I think that's really, really important. Not a certificate, but just a badging. And you can choose that level of professional development as you go through your journey, your tenure. So that's what I'm thinking about in my head, but I really want the task force to pull together to give some good recommendations to our association. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:21:35]: I think our pod audience is more of that new to mid-level professional. And so I would imagine we have listeners who are really excited to hear that their voices might be able to be included in a project like this. Do we have any idea yet how I might be able to express interest in participating or ultimately apply for selection or something like that? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:21:53]: I'm gonna— I am meeting with some of the members at NASPA, so to begin to really talk about, so I don't have a definitive answer now, but we're meeting to, to really talk about the projects and the scope of the projects and what could be done. And I think what I would encourage is if I reach out to you as a new professional, 'cause you can't have a task force without new professionals on the task force. That will probably be what I can definitively say. I want to not have this task force just filled with senior and mid-levels who are going to provide direction. I really am looking for new professionals to serve on the task force as well. Now, the size of the task force, you're on a large task force, you can't get anything done, but it will be a good mix of new professionals on the task force. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:22:39]: And then your third arm is this inquiry into the new resurgence of interest for both HBCUs and for community colleges. Can you talk a little bit more about about what we're hoping to discover from this inquiry. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:22:50]: So what I want to see as an output of this is how our community colleges and members of HBCUs pulled even more deeply into the governance structures. And they each have roles on the board and the foundation board, right? You know, we have community college members on our board, but how are they really getting into the mainframe, the organizational structure of NASPA, besides just attending the conference? So sometimes I'll go to the conference and, you know, I'll see some of my colleagues I know very well, very talented, and they come to NASPA, they maybe do a presentation, but then they're not really in any of the governance structure. And I think that voice for community colleges, HBCUs is critically important. And so I wanna learn more deeply about how we are engaging them outside of just, you know, inviting them to the conference, right? What, what are the things that are needed for, from our association that helps to support them as they go through work that they're doing. And we're doing some work around that, like NASPA is definitely doing some work around this, but I wanna pull all of that together under a commission. And I think a commission really is charged with being very clear about that and what we need to do as an association to continue to support HBCUs and community colleges. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:24:09]: And kind of the same question here, if I'm currently working at a community college or an HBCU and this is piquing my interest, how do I express interest in being considered as a voice. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:24:19]: The one way that I can say the most is I am going to be looking for a co-chair, and I'm looking for the co-chair to be one from an HBCU and one from a community college. And so that would be the first thing that I reach out as looking for volunteers for that. And I have some idea around the community college. I know someone that's out there who is just really amazed. I worked with this person before. I won't put their name out there yet. I won't get ahead of myself. And then I have some ideas of some folks at HBCUs. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:24:49]: So for both of these initiatives, when I come a-calling, answer the call. That is probably what I could share the most. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:24:56]: Darryl, is there something that you would like the NASPA membership to know about you that is not on your resume, not in these initiatives? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:25:04]: I have 5 values that I think is critically important. I was actually doing a webinar. I was on a panel yesterday, a NASPA webinar with the Black Diaspora Knowledge Community. Community. So shout out to that. Shout out to Lisa and Miracle for pulling that together. And my colleagues, Dr. Younger, and for being on— serving on the panel. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:25:24]: My 5 values are knowledge, God, family, humility, and hard work. And those are the things that drive me every day, personally and professionally. And they're so intertwined for me. I don't distinguish between the 2. They all rely on one another. So much so that it's wrapped into like professional philosophy, which is good work stands. And I think for me, demonstrating good work is the culmination of all of these values working in sync. And I think it's so important to understand your value system because that really helps you to survive the times that we're in now. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:26:01]: When you hold your values, you know your values and they can help define who you are. It helps you to manage where higher ed is in this current space of new possibilities. I think it's critically important. For that. My husband and I just last week celebrated 32 years of union, and, and who would have known? We met in college, actually. I was a student at Georgia State and he was at Atlanta Metropolitan College. And so that has been phenomenal. Anybody that knows me knows I am a dad above everything. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:26:33]: So I have two wonderful boys, Obert and Delvin. They will be turning 16 in a few weeks. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:26:39]: Twins. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:26:39]: Twin boys, and so they are just learning to drive and doing all that. And for me, having children has just been an amazing opportunity and experience. And as an openly queer man, there was a time that I didn't think, you know, we would be able to have children, and now look at us, right? We have kids. And so it has been the joy of my life. I don't regret it one moment. I have some really phenomenal kids. They're getting getting ready to go on a— they're in the Junior ROTC and they're getting ready this weekend, hopefully if the weather holds, to go on this robotics tour. They're going through confirmation at church. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:27:16]: So I could talk all day long about my kids. Everybody knows that. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:27:18]: Best wishes for the driving journey. You gotta be, I think, a parent made of steel to get through that one. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:27:24]: I— that's all of my hair fell out. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:27:25]: Well, Darryl, I'm gonna transition us because we're talking about values into our theme questions for the season, which are on the value of student affairs. So these are questions that we've been asking all of our guests over the course of the season, last season and this season. The first one is, when you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first and why? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:27:46]: What is important to me is that student affairs has to first understand that it has value. And I believe we've been spending too much time thinking, I'll be very honest, I think we often think we're second-class citizens in higher education, that we have this perception that other other aspects of the institution have more value. And so we've got to determine what that value is and how, more importantly, we articulate that value so that people not just continue to see us as problem solvers, but begin to really deeply see us as strategic thought partners. That's huge for me. And I don't think that our institutions always think of us as strategic thought partners. So I think knowing your value and what you bring to the table and being able to articulate what you bring to the table is very helpful. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:28:41]: Our second question, can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:28:49]: I hate to refer to such a dark period, but I think the value of when we were seeing the most, I believe, strategic partners was during the pandemic. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:28:59]: Yeah, I hear you on that. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:29:01]: And I know that that was a bad time, but I think that presidents and boards really saw the work that we do and how strategically we do the work, that we are able to gather data, that we make data-driven decisions, that our decisions aren't just in a snapshot way or roughshod way, that we really are very intentional about what we do. And I think I think, you know, we probably got the most kudos during that time than, than anyone else. And I think during that time, people saw that the impact that we have as a profession on our students as they navigate the campus isn't just in the residence hall, it's in the classroom, it's in their extracurricular activities, it's in the co-curriculum design. And so I think that fortunate global pandemic really placed us centrally in the mission. I think it was one of the clearest times that student affairs is a central, uh, integral part of colleges and universities' mission. I think that was most, on a global perspective, was the most significant time. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:30:11]: I feel like for all of us, time broke during the pandemic. And so I think we're also in a situation now where we are half a decade removed from that time, which means an entire generation of students removed from that time. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:30:26]: Absolutely. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:30:27]: So we've got some interesting work ahead of us on how we harnessed our value from then to apply it to now and to go forward, because the students we have now were in middle school during that era. So very, very different. And our final question in our theme is, what do you think student affairs needs to do to be better understood and better seen in today's educational environment? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:30:48]: So this really builds upon what you were just saying, right? The pandemic was almost a decade away and our memories are short-lived and it was a traumatic dramatic time. And so people want to put a lot of that behind. So we can't keep celebrating, right? We were great in the pandemic, right? So I think the best way to be able to do that is how do we tell the narrative of the impact of our work that isn't as qualitative as we've always relied on? You know, we are, we are a belly kind of profession, right? We, it feels good in the belly, right? And so we make, you make these decisions. And I think I was talking about this with a colleague at coffee this morning. I think that when we come to our boards and sometimes, and when we come to our cabinet-level tables, I think people don't always recognize how strategic and deliberate we've had to make a decision, that we are really strategically thinking about a decision. It is just not how we feel about the decision, but it really is how we've analyzed whatever was the problem. So what we've got to figure out how to do is how we turn this language of student success and tie it to the work of student affairs. And the best way that we can do that is through the development of legitimate KPIs and legitimate return on investments. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:32:08]: And so if we are saying, if you participate in student Greek life, you're going to be a more well-rounded student, well, now we have to demonstrate that. And we have to do it in a way that is through trend and longitudinal data. We just can't keep keep coming to the boards and to our cabinets with this snapshot kind of, this is what happened this semester, this is what happened with this particular incident. We need to be talking about and demonstrating more ability to show longstanding data because that's truly what board of trustees are looking for. They don't want you to talk about, but they don't want you to just focus on what happened in that semester. They wanna know how has has that problem been impacted over the last 3 years, 5 years, 10 years? And so I am very proud to say at Spelman, we, I think, oh my God, I'm so excited about this. I think we're on the cutting edge of being able to manage and demonstrate that of student success. For the last 4 years, I've led my team through looking deeply at what I call student success pathways, which are community belonging and wellbeing. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:33:19]: And that simply means if a a strong sense of belonging, they come to a place, they feel valued. If they also come and they're able to connect with other folks that reinforce that value, and then if they are ultimately able to navigate the whole spectrum of holistic wellbeing, these are all things that we do every day and that we control. I'm hopeful to present next year with some data. I just hired a data analyst. I got good word today that he will be starting February 2nd. Yay. And we are about to do some phenomenal work. So I am excited. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:33:54]: I'm telling everyone, keep your eye on student affairs at Spelman College because we are gonna give you a pathway that I think will make our profession very successful. And I'm excited to do that. And I'm excited to be able to do that as a member of an HBCU community. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:34:08]: It's time to take a quick break and toss it over to producer Chris to learn what's going on in the NASPA world. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:34:14]: Thanks, Jill. So excited to be back in the NASPA world, and there's a ton of things happening in NASPA. Just last week, you should have gotten an email if you are a current NASPA member inviting you to vote in the open volunteer leadership positions within the association. The email provided you with a custom link for your ballot, and it allows for you to be able to vote for any individual that is running for a volunteer leadership position, including the Board Chair position, Regional Leadership positions, positions and Knowledge Community leadership positions. Voting is open from February 5th to February 19th. All you have to do is, in that email, you can cast your ballot at any time by clicking on the link that states click here to cast your vote. I encourage you to review the candidate information as many times as you want to be able to get a better chance of understanding why people want to be in these leadership positions. This is a great opportunity for you to have your voice heard on who you want representing you in these volunteer leadership positions. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:19]: So have your voice heard today and make sure to vote. You can still attend the NASPA Annual Conference that's coming up March 7th through the 11th in Kansas City, Missouri. If you haven't registered yet, now is a great time to be able to join all of us attending in Kansas City, because I know Jill and I are really looking forward to being able to talk with all of you. As we mentioned in the opening episode for the season, we talked about the fact that we are going to be at the conference again, and we're going to have some specific questions that we'll be sharing with you in an upcoming episode so that you can think about it. Even if you can't attend, we'd love to have your voice connected with that specific— connected with those upcoming episodes. Again, the conference is March 7th through the 11th in Kansas City, and I hope that you'll be able to attend. If you see me walking around the conference, say hi. I would love to be able to meet people that listen and be able to hear some about your own experiences, not only with the podcast but just in general. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:36:20]: If you've not already heard about it, inside of the NASPA website is our NASPA Bookstore, and inside the NASPA Bookstore we have a ton of great books that have been written specifically for NASPA by NASPA members. And every once in a while, I love being able to share with you some of the different books that are out there. And one today that I'm going to share with you is called Dismantling Hazing in Greek Letter Organizations: Effective Practices for Prevention, Response, and Campus Engagement. This was written by and edited by Jason L. Merriweather and Associates. Dismantling Hazing in Greek Letter Organizations offers practical practical strategies to address the complexities of hazing culture and the challenges associated with recruitment and initiation in varying contexts. If you work with Greek letter organizations, this book is a must-read. So if you've never read this, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy for yourself. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:37:17]: You can find it in the NASPA Bookstore. Earlier this month, a follow-up brief was presented by NASPA on the top issues in student affairs. In the most recent brief that was released, a new analysis from NASPA's 2025 Top Issues in Student Affairs survey came out, and in it, it showed a clear rise in the prioritization of issues in the area of assessment and evaluation to demonstrate impact and inform decision-making. 5 of the overall top-ranked issues for the 2025 survey data fall within this area, pointing to institutional commitments to strengthen capacities to collect and communicate data to tell a more complete story about student experiences. This follow-up brief highlights practitioner insights about next steps, state policy trends, and NASPA resources all related to strengthening assessment and evaluation efforts across institutions. If you've not read this brief yet, I highly encourage that you do. Go to the NASPA website, go under under Research and Publications and down to Reports and Issue Briefs. And you'll find the Top Issues in Student Affairs Assessment and Evaluation Follow-up Brief listed right there. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:38:30]: Every week we're going to be sharing some amazing things that are happening within the association. So we are going to be able to try and keep you up to date on everything that's happening and allow for you to be able to get involved in different ways. Because the association is as strong as its members. And for all of us, we have to find our place within the association, whether it be getting involved with a knowledge community, giving back within one of the, the centers or the divisions of the association. And as you're doing that, it's important to be able to identify for yourself, where do you fit? Where do you want to give back? Each week, we're hoping that we will share some things that might encourage encourage you, might allow for you to be able to get some ideas that will provide you with an opportunity to be able to say, hey, I see myself in that knowledge community. I see myself doing something like that. Or encourage you in other ways that allow for you to be able to think beyond what's available right now, to offer other things to the association, to bring your your gifts, your talents to the association and to all of the members within the association, because through doing that, all of us are stronger and the association is better. Tune in again next week as we find out more about what is happening in NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:39:56]: Chris, thank you so much for kicking off this season with another great segment of NASPA World. We always appreciate you sharing with us what's going on in and around NASPA. And Daryl, we have reached our lightning round where I've got 7 questions for you in about 90 seconds. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:40:12]: Okay. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:13]: You're ready. You're ready. All right, here we go. Question 1, if you were a conference keynote speaker, what would your entrance music be? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:40:19]: Ooh, They Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:21]: That Super Bowl halftime show was epic. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:40:23]: Epic. He's my favorite artist. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:26]: Number 2, when you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:40:30]: A pediatrician gynecologist. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:33]: Number 3, who's your most influential professional mentor? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:40:36]: I actually have what I call my ancestral mentor, which is Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays. I love and follow his work and he's very influential. And then Laurie White has been phenomenal and Pam Whiteley have been just amazing people in my life. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:40:53]: Number 4, your essential student affairs read. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:40:55]: That's a good question. Right now I'm reading this really great book called The Turning Point by this author named Howell, and it's essentially, it's talking about how civil civilizations reboot themselves every 100 years. And it's just a really great critical read at this time because I think we are rebooting into a new civilization, and it's really helping to guide me through. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:14]: Number 5, the best TV show you've been binging lately. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:41:17]: Ooh, Abbott Elementary. Oh my God, that thing is hilarious. I love it. I try to catch it every Wednesday. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:41:22]: I took the WB studio tour a couple of years ago, and I got to go to the set, just like the exterior set. That was very cool. Number 6, the podcast you spent the most hours listening to in the last year. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:41:33]: Okay, so I am a, a huge history nerd. And so there is this— it's actually out of Britain. It's this podcast that looks at the history of Europe. And I just finished listening to this really wonderful series on the rise of the Third Reich. That was just phenomenal. And so I'm really new to listening to podcasts, and I do it when I'm walking. I found that I can really lean in and glean information while also exercising. So yeah, that's my favorite right now. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:04]: Finally, number 7, any shout-outs you'd like to give, personal or professional? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:42:08]: My goodness. Of course, my good brother, Michael Christakis. That's my dude. We banter a lot, and it's been such an honor and privilege to work with him. Emilia Purnell has just been phenomenal. I look forward to working with her. And then it's just beyond that, I'm going to get in trouble. And so it's just all of the people that have come into my life. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:42:27]: There is one person I do want to give a shout out to, my girlfriend, Donna Lee, because she is so universally grounded. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:35]: Grounded. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:42:35]: And every time I'm in her presence, I don't care how disturbed I can be, she really calms me. And I just really love her. So shout out to Donna. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:42:44]: Darryl, it's been wonderful to get to know you a little bit better and to hear more about your vision for where NASPA will be going in the '26-'27 year. If anyone would like to reach you after we air this episode, how can they find you? Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:42:55]: So you can find me on LinkedIn. I got off of Instagram, y'all. I couldn't take it. It was too much for me. Got tired of it, but I am definitely on LinkedIn and it's just real easy. Darrell Holloman. You can look me up and from there we can set up a time to talk or meet. Try to be very accessible. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:11]: Darrell, thank you so very much for sharing your voice with us today. Dr. Darryl Holloman [00:43:15]: Great. Thank you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:20]: This has been an episode of Essay Voices from the Field brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. Listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:43:42]: We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton— that's me— produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

Welcome to Season 14 of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field," the essential podcast for higher education professionals eager to connect, learn, and grow! Hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis, this season dives deeper into the evolving value of student affairs, exploring both the challenges and opportunities shaping our profession right now. Right from the start, Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis highlight what's in store: an impressive lineup of guests from across student affairs, "mini grand" opportunities at the NASPA annual conference, updates on strategic planning, and in-depth conversations about how NASPA is moving forward as an organization. If you want to stay in the loop on what's really happening in the field—and hear voices from every corner—this is the podcast to keep on your playlist. Excitingly, the season kicks off with Dr. Darryl Holloman, the incoming NASPA Board Chair, who will discuss his inspiring "North Star Project" and vision for 2026-27. As Dr. Jill Creighton notes, this season is "quite a bit more NASPA as an organizational focus than we've had in [the past]," all while maintaining those meaningful interviews with practitioners you know and love. Longtime listeners will appreciate that the beloved theme—"the value of student affairs"—continues, now for the third time, as it transitions from fall to spring, building momentum and relevance as the profession evolves. Whether you're tuning in for insightful strategy, conference updates, or authentic practitioner stories, you'll find inspiration and practical takeaways in every episode. And if you're heading to the NASPA Annual Conference in Kansas City, don't miss your chance to share your voice—Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis will be on-site collecting mini-interviews! Join the conversation. Subscribe, listen, and become part of a passionate community shaping the future of student affairs. [Student Affairs Voices from the Field] is where your story matters—tune in and be heard! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:07]: Seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:12]: For higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:15]: This is season 14, continuing our conversation. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:18]: On the value of Student Affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. Sheher hers your Essay Voices from the Field Host Happy February, Chris Happy February. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:29]: Glad to be back in season 14. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:31]: It's 2026. We are just a couple of days from Super Bowl Sunday. As we're chatting today, I have a lifelong Seahawks fan, so it's hopefully going to be better matchup than the last time the Seahawks and the Patriots were in the super bowl together, but that remains to be seen. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:46]: You never know. And I think the Seahawks have a good chance because they have a good. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:51]: Team this year, knock on all sorts of wood. But here we are recording because we're really ready to talk about season 14. Season 14 is coming at you starting next Thursday, the 12th of February. Chris, what do we have in store for season 14? Wow. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:07]: We've got an amazing lineup of individuals from across the profession and we've got a number of really exciting things that we're gonna be talking about in regards to what's been happening in naspa. There's some specific conversations that we're gonna be having about strategic planning and some specific work group NASPA's been doing to really look at a number of different areas in the profession. We are going to be speaking with a number of different people at the conference this year and being able to bring their voices to all of you as well. There's some mini grand opportunities. There's a lot going on. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:41]: We're also kicking off our season with Dr. Darrell Holloman, who is the incoming NASPA Board Chair. We always love to feature the NASPA Board Chair as we head into our spring semesters. Can learn from Darrell on what he is hoping to do in his tenure as Board chair. Just a brief he's got a direction for us called the North Star Project, and I think you'll really enjoy listening to where the association is hoping to go in the 2627 year. I can't believe we're already saying 2627. I know we just started 2026, but we've also got a lot of things coming around in terms of how NASPA'S moving into the future. We've got our second year under Dr. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:16]: Parnell and her leadership as president, and I think NASPA's really starting to move and shake in some really interesting ways. So our season ahead is actually quite a bit more NASPA as an organizational focus than we've had in. But also we're gonna keep bringing you those rich dialogues with individual practitioners as we go along as well. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:34]: I'm really looking forward to this season. It should be an amazing season and I guess I'll put out a last call that, as we've said in the past, that if you have people that you wanna hear from in the future, send us an email savoicesaspa.org we would love to hear from you. We always love hearing from our listeners to be able to hear more about what you like, what you want more of, and to gain some perspective. So talk back to us. We'd love to hear more from you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:59]: We have a colleague who hosts a different higher ed podcast and she liked to say talk to us, we talk back. So I think that's very applicable here. And we are also only a couple weeks away from Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. Like previous years, Chris and I will be at the Annual conference collecting small interviews and hoping to feature your voices on questions related to the conference themes. So we will be moving about the conference with our mini recorders and hopefully if you find us, you'd be willing to share your voice. We'd love to feature you. We with all of that in mind, season 14 is going to be bringing another set of episodes that are focused on the value of student affairs. We loved that theme for the fall. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:37]: This will be our third time moving forward with a theme from fall to spring and we've heard that is a great format that you all as listeners are enjoying. So we're excited to keep it going forward. Chris, anything else on season 14? Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:03:49]: No, just excited Excited to share this great season with you all and we're looking forward to a continuing with the amazing guests, but also the amazing conversations and continuing the dialogue of moving our profession forward once again. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:03]: We're planning to drop our first episode on Thursday, February 12th right in this feed. The Essay Voices from the Field feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, whatever podcast player you might have on your Android phone or you can also find us right on the NASPA website if you just look for Essay Voices or NASPA Podcast. We thank you so much for spending your time with us and we're so happy to bring you another great season. We will see you on the 12th. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:32]: This has been an episode of Essay Voices from the Field brought to you by naspa. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:43]: If you'd like to reach the show. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:44]: You can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always. We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:12]: That's me, produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan, Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.