SA Voices From the Field

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Leadership in Action: Dr. Michael Christakis on Longevity, Vision, and Impact in Student Affairs Mar 02, 2025

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Harnessing Professional Longevity and Growth Dr. Michael N. Christakis's remarkable twenty-six-year journey at the University at Albany showcases a rare career longevity within a single institution in the realm of student affairs. From his early beginnings in housing and residence life to becoming the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Dr. Christakis exemplifies staying power through adaptability and curiosity. He credits his mentors, diverse professional opportunities, and openness to roles outside his comfort zone—such as spearheading student learning assessment initiatives—for his upward trajectory. For student affairs professionals aspiring for growth within one institution, Dr. Christakis recommends saying yes to new challenges, pursuing intentional professional development, and embracing adaptability in the face of the ever-evolving needs of the student body and higher education. Maintaining a strong connection to institutional community and family priorities was also key to his decision to stay. A Vision for NASPA Leadership As the incoming NASPA board chair, Dr. Christakis aims to redefine how the field communicates its value. His focus? Ensuring student affairs professionals are positioned as pivotal leaders across crucial domains such as student health and well-being, belonging, diversity, equity, inclusion, career readiness, and social justice. Reflecting on the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, he underscores the importance of advocating for student mental health and well-being. Yet, he voices concern about the profession's tendency to take on an ever-expanding workload without prioritizing its own balance. Dr. Christakis encourages leaders to use data and strategic thinking to demonstrate their impact effectively, ensuring critical student success metrics, like retention and graduation rates, tie back to student affairs. Future Challenges: Balancing Policy and Wellness In light of turbulent political shifts, including policies affecting diversity efforts and marginalized communities, NASPA must remain proactive and informed. Dr. Christakis highlights NASPA's commitment to equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge to navigate these volatile times. Additionally, he believes the profession must address its own sustainability by centering the health and well-being of student affairs practitioners. With professionals at the forefront of addressing wide societal challenges, their mental and emotional wellness becomes essential to their ability to support students. Conclusion: A Call for Strategic Advocacy Dr. Christakis's leadership philosophy emphasizes the opportunity to reframe student affairs as a transformational force within higher education. Through intentional data-informed storytelling, commitment to personal and collective health, and adaptive leadership, he invites the field to seize its moment to lead. As he steps into his new role, the NASPA community can expect a purposeful and forward-thinking year ahead under his guidance. 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 ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs. I'm doctor Jill Creighton, sheherhers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on Essay Voices, we're pleased to bring you our annual episode with the incoming NASPA board chair. This year's board chair will be doctor Michael N. Christakis, and he is the vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at the University of Albany. Christakis was named VP in May of twenty fifteen. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:42]: And since his arrival to the university in 1999, he served in numerous positions in student affairs, having served as AVP for student affairs prior to his appointments as VP. As a member of the vice president's staff since 02/2007, Christakis developed assessment and evaluation practices, improved the effectiveness of divisional planning, professional development, communications, and risk management, and provided oversight to critical campus life areas. He was elected to be our NASPA board chair in spring twenty twenty four, and we'll assume his full role as NASPA board chair in New Orleans at our annual conference this March. Additionally, he's most recently served as chair of the Association for Public and Land Grant Universities, APLU's, Council on Student Affairs. Previously, he served as regional director for NASPA region two, while concurrently serving on NASPA's board of directors. He's a past national president of Omicron Delta Kappa's National Leadership Honor Society and past national cochair of NASPA's assessment evaluation and research knowledge community. He currently serves as the president of the board for the University of Auxiliary Services at University of Albany. A fellow of the State Academy for Public Administration, he was appointed for public service professor in 2013 and teaches undergraduate courses in public policy, public administration, and political science for which he was honored with Rockefeller College's Outstanding Teacher Award in 2010 and the University of Albany's student association's outstanding teacher in 2014. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:59]: Mike, welcome to SA Voices. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:02:02]: Hello, Jill. Thanks for having me. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:03]: Good to see you again. It's been a minute probably since last annual. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:02:06]: Annual is always a reunion for me. So getting a chance to see you and so many others at the annual meeting is is always a treat. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:12]: Yes. And we are recording this in early February. By the time listeners do hear this, you might be on a plane on the way to New Orleans or Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:02:20]: Heading to NOA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:21]: Or watching through virtual sessions or however you're accessing conference content this year. But, Mike, we're thrilled to talk to you today about your role as incoming NASPA board chair. You will take over the gavel, in just a couple of weeks here. We know you've been preparing thoroughly for this as the year has gone by as the chair elect seat. But we always like to start our shows by asking our guests, how did you get to your current seat at Albany as well as your seat in the NASPA board? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:02:46]: Yeah. What a ride it's been. So to the seat that I'm in now, I've been at the university at Albany. I'm actually in my twenty sixth year, celebrated twenty five years in the fall. I got to UAlbany as a grad student in the fall of ninety nine studying public policy and did not think then that I would be in the VP for student affairs seat here, but things happen. And so Albany has been very good to me and my family, and and I'm a two time alum having my master's degree and my PhD here. But I started in housing. I was a housing guy through my undergraduate time. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:03:19]: I was an RA for three years. My undergraduate institution, I did my undergraduate work at Alfred University, which is really where I got first exposed to student affairs or to understanding that student affairs was a thing. I'm a first gen college student. My parents are both immigrants from Greece, and so I was the first of my family to go to college. Didn't think working at a college was something you could do in this kind of way. And so had some really great mentors at Alfred University, including the vice president for student affairs and dean of students, Jerry Brody, at the the time, who mentored me throughout. And had residence hall directors who were supervisors of mine, had mentors in student activities. Shout out to Trish DeBertelis, who was very instrumental in her role as director of the campus center at the time at at Alfred in exposing me to what you could do in student affairs. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:04:03]: And so when I was about to graduate, was looking at grad programs, but was also sort of conscientious to the fact that I could maybe work in student affairs as a graduate assistant in this case and help pay for school, quite honestly. And so that's how I sort of entered the field, for lack of a better way of framing it. And then one thing led to another. I was a graduate hall director for a couple of years here, got my master's degree, ended up becoming a full time hall director for a year, led our first year experience program in the early 2000s, which feels like forever ago. In some ways, maybe before it was a thing. And then transitioned to leaving our apartment housing and actually building a 1,200 bed apartment complex in 02/2001, '2 thousand and '2. Did that for about five or six years, and then there were some transitions in the vice president's office in terms of leadership and was called by, at the time, the interim vice president on a Friday afternoon, I remember fairly vividly, inviting me to come to the office. And I remember my assistant at the time, Linda Rogers, says to me, you're gonna get an opportunity. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:05:06]: And I was like, I don't know I don't know why you're thinking that. And she was like, well, you know, why would they call you on a Friday afternoon to go to the VP's office? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:12]: There's really only two reasons there. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:05:14]: Yeah. I know. I know. It's I something's with the promotional opportunity. But, you know, Linda was right. And Chris Bouchard, who I'm I'm continue to be grateful for, offered me an opportunity to come to the VP's Office as assistant vice president. She was about to become interim VP, and she asked me to sort of lead couple of initiatives. One was assessment, which is really when I got sort of cut my teeth on assessment and student affairs at the time. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:05:33]: This was in 02/2007. One was risk management, and the other one was in communications. And so made the move to the VP's office in 02/2007. And then, you know, one thing sort of led to another and was assistant to the VP for a while, became an assistant VP. And then we had some retirements, and I was asked to take on the associate VP role, which I did for, I think, maybe two months before Chris announced she was retiring. And Robert Jones, at the time, who was president at the University of Albany, invited me to serve as interim VP, which I happily accepted. You know, at that point, I was completely drinking the purple and gold Kool Aid here at U Albany and was deeply committed to our students and our team in student affairs. And so did that on an interim basis for a few months, and then fairly quickly, Robert was gracious enough to to offer me the full time opportunity, and that was in 02/2015. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:06:19]: And so I've been in the c for ten years now, which is also a little bit like, is it really ten years? Because a lot's happened in ten years at UAlbany, but in higher education in general. That's sort of the the student affairs, UAlbany path. My next path actually replicates some of that because in o seven so before I actually moved to the VP's office when I was in housing, I had approached Betty Simmons and Charlie Fay at the time, both who are leaders in Region 2. And at the time, I think they were still regional VPs. This this goes back to previous governance models. But I had approached them both during the annual conference in Washington, DC, which I think was in o six, and had said to them, hey. You know, I'm Mike. I'm an assistant director of housing at UAlbany. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:07:06]: I'd love to be the two thousand seven region two conference chair. And they're both like Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:13]: Whole noob. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:07:13]: Like, who is this guy? And so they didn't accept the offer immediately to their credit, but I made a case. We made a proposal. I had a couple of colleagues here at Albany who I was working with. We had a team of of four or five newish professionals who were into getting involved with NASPA. We were, I think, hungry for that connection for the field outside of just the University of Albany. And Charlie Fay, who ultimately ended up being the the incoming regional VP or regional director, was like, yeah. Let's do this. And so my opening salvo into NASPA work was as chair of the regional conference, which I I don't necessarily recommend as the place to start. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:07:50]: I think there's other ways to get into this without having to go to be the regional chair of the conference, but it was a great way to sort of expose to get exposed to everything that the region was doing and the regional board and the programs we were doing for mid level mid level managers and NASPA undergraduate fellows and SSAOs. And we had a very successful conference, I'm proud to say, in Albany, Two Hundred plus participants, and it continues to be a highlight of my career. And so that was how I got into the NASPA sort of ecosystem as a volunteer. And then I stayed on the board after I rolled off as as NASPA regional two conference chair, did corporate relations for a little bit in terms of getting sponsorship for the conference, was the regional NUF coordinator. So was was very committed to the NUF program, continue to be. Look. I've got a NUF fellow again, this semester, and then we're hosting three NUF interns again this summer. That's been a big part of what we do at UAlbany. Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:08:47]: And then had eased into a couple of other roles, including MMI, the Mid Managers Institute, which I helped co facilitate with Lynette Cook Francis at the time, who was a colleague, and then became regional director, which was also just a real highlight for me. And then, you know, sort of eased out of it was past regional director, SSAO liaison for the region for a period of time. And then the NASPA board chair sort of arose and was really honored to be considered and thrilled to have been elected to this. I'm deeply, deeply humbled by the opportunity. So that's sort of the story. They're they're sort of concurrent tracks, though, I think, in a lot of ways. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:19]: I think it's pretty rare in student affairs to spend your whole career at one institution, maybe within one region or within the same state or major metropolitan area, but same institution, we really don't see that often. Can you tell us why and how you were able to choose to stay? Because I think a lot of us in the field have kind of adopted the mantra of to move up, you have to move. Yeah. But you were a bit of an anomaly that you didn't have to do that in some ways. Sounds like you said yes to a lot of things. But what do you have in terms of advice for people who want to have that longevity of career with also growth elements attached to it? Dr. Michael N. Christakis [00:09:53]: Yeah. Great question. And it's funny. There was a book that is coming out or just came out that Jason Pena and Amy Hecht were editors for. And one of the chapters I wrote with a number of colleagues, including Pat Whiteley, who's also a long term serving VPSA at Miami. And when Jason had reached out Jason is a friend. He reached out about me writing the chapter. He's like, hey. Dr. Michael N. Christak…

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From Novice to Leader: Navigating AI Adoption in Student Affairs with Dr. Claire Brady Feb 20, 2025

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Bridging the Past, Present, and Future of Student Affairs with AI In the constantly evolving landscape of higher education, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a potent tool for student affairs professionals. In the latest episode of the "Student Affairs Voices from the Field" podcast, Dr. Jill Creighton spoke with Dr. Claire Brady as she shared her insights on how AI can be harnessed to streamline operations, free up time for deeper human connections, and enhance student success. Anchoring her discourse around the recently published NASPA AI report, Dr. Brady provides a roadmap for AI integration, framed through four crucial phases. Rapid Implementation: Where to Start Starting Small for Immediate Impact Dr. Brady emphasizes the importance of initiating AI integration through readily available solutions that address immediate challenges with minimal disruption. This phase centers around adopting free and low-cost tools that can yield quick wins. For instance, Kellogg Community College began using a CRM with embedded AI tools in their admissions department, which gradually expanded across the institution. This approach allowed them to showcase the value of AI incrementally while building momentum for broader adoption. Resource and Capacity Building: Strengthening Foundations Enhancing AI Literacy and Competence The second phase involves building the necessary infrastructure and expertise for more sophisticated AI applications. Nashville State Community College serves as a model, implementing a year-long AI training program funded by a state grant. This comprehensive program combines interactive learning with critical analysis of AI's practical applications, helping to foster a campus-wide culture of AI literacy and competence. Such initiatives are crucial for developing the foundational knowledge and skills required for future AI endeavors. Scaling Solutions: Expanding AI's Reach From Departmental Pilots to Institutional Integration Scaling successful AI initiatives across various departments and functions forms the core of the third phase. Georgia State University's chatbot, Pounce, exemplifies this phase. Originally designed to reduce summer melt, Pounce has evolved into a comprehensive student support system. By leveraging AI to improve engagement with first-generation and underserved students, Georgia State demonstrates how a focused pilot project can scale into a broad institutional strategy that significantly enhances student experiences. Strategic Transformation: Towards Comprehensive Integration Aligning AI with Institutional Goals The final phase, strategic transformation, envisions a comprehensive integration of AI fully aligned with broader institutional goals. This phase anticipates creating an ecosystem where all technological components work synergistically. The University of Florida's "Building an AI University" initiative exemplifies this stage. By embedding AI education across disciplines and emphasizing ethical guidelines and accessibility, the university ensures that AI integration supports their mission holistically. Moving Forward: Centering the Human Element Enhancing, Not Replacing Human Interaction Dr. Brady highlights the essential role of human-centered AI integration, stressing that AI should augment rather than replace human interactions. AI can alleviate the laborious aspects of administrative tasks, allowing student affairs professionals to focus more on meaningful, human-centric activities. This perspective is crucial as the field navigates the integration of emerging technologies. Conclusion: Embracing the AI Frontier The transformational potential of AI in student affairs is vast, and as Dr. Brady emphasizes, now is the time for institutions to start exploring and implementing these tools. By following the structured phases of AI integration outlined in the NASPA report, student affairs professionals can strategically harness AI to enhance their work, support students, and ultimately drive institutional success. As we embrace this new frontier, continuous learning, ethical considerations, and a commitment to human-centered practices will be key to thriving in the future. 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 ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs. I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on essay voices, we're bringing the conversation back to artificial intelligence in student affairs. We welcome Claire Brady, who is a first generation American and first generation college graduate who has built a distinguished career at the intersection of digital transformation, organizational excellence, and higher educational leadership. A seasoned executive consultant and national thought leader in AI adoption, Claire specializes in helping organizations harness AI not just to streamline operations, but to free up time for deeper, more meaningful human connections. Through glass half full consulting, Claire helps organizations scale their AI integrations strategically and substantially. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:02]: Sorry, Chris. Starting that, paragraph over. Through glass half full consulting, Claire helps organizations scale their AI integrations strategically and sustainably, enabling teams to amplify their impact while staying true to their core mission and values. The firm specializes in creating customized AI adoption road maps that align with organizational goals, ensuring technology serves as a catalyst for meaningful growth and enhanced human connections. As a sought after speaker and trainer, Claire is dedicated to equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in an AI enhanced world. She is the author of The Transformative Potential of AI and Student Affairs, Recommendations for Student Affairs Leader, a national report developed in partnership with NASPA and the Strata Educational Foundation, which is also the topic of our episode today. Claire has held executive leadership roles as vice president for student affairs at Lake Sumter State College and Anna G. Mendez University, serving both Florida and Puerto Rico. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:55]: Her career also includes leadership and teaching roles at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Michigan State University, and Alma College. A committed mentor and thought leader in higher education, she's contributed to NASBA as a faculty member and co director of the Institute for Aspiring BPSAs and New Professionals Institute, as well as a frequent contributor to Leadership Exchange and Colleague Conversations. Beyond her professional work, Claire is an active member of regional and national associations and serves on various community boards in Central Florida. She and her partner, Ben, and their son live in Orlando where life is filled with Lego builds, Minecraft discussions, and Broadway show tunes. When she's not exploring new AI tools or traveling, she enjoys reading, great TV, and time with family and friends. Claire, welcome to SA Voices. Dr. Claire Brady [00:02:37]: Thank you for having me. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:38]: Lovely to see you again with many connections in NASPA. I always like to clue our listeners in. Claire was one of my faculty members at the NASPA AVP Institute. Oh, gosh. I think that was five years ago now. Dr. Claire Brady [00:02:51]: A time ago. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:53]: And and so it's lovely to reconnect. We're gonna be spending most of our conversation today talking about the authorship of the AI report, which was just released by NASPA just before the winter break. So if you haven't had a chance to check that out, it is freely available actually with or without your NASPA membership. If you're just a higher ed community member and wanna check it out, it's, freely available on the Internet. But Claire, you're off and running into the consulting world now after have having spent a long time, as a senior student affairs officer at VPSA. We always like to ask our guests how you got to your current seat, and I'm so curious about your journey. Dr. Claire Brady [00:03:27]: As you can imagine, a lot of people have questions about moving from full time staff into consulting. So I'll I'll definitely share some of that as well. So I'm a very traditional higher ed student affairs. I mean, my twenty fifth year, I started as a student leader. Most folks know my origin story. I immigrated to The US when I was in high school, and I'm a first generation college student. I was absolutely in love with the college experience at Michigan State University, very involved student leader, and applied for graduate school and got denied. And it was actually the best thing that could have happened to me. Dr. Claire Brady [00:04:00]: I went and worked full time at a small liberal arts college, Alma College in Michigan, and really honed my craft and really figured out quickly that this was the profession I wanted to pursue. Went on to graduate school, went on to some great positions at Michigan State, the University of Illinois and Lake Sumter State College and eventually Ana G. Mendez University. So I've worked at Big Ten, I've worked at community college, I've worked at a Hispanic serving bilingual institution, and I really started off in generalist, roles. Then I moved to some specialist roles, eventually into AVP, Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs. And all throughout that process, I always was a regular good human in the professional association space. I did a lot of speaking and presenting, and then eventually I did some consulting on the side. And in 2023, kind of the stars aligned for me. Dr. Claire Brady [00:04:49]: I was about to renew my contract as a vice chancellor of student affairs. My chancellor announced he was leaving to go to a different presidency. And I saw an opportunity to really throw my hat into the ring and become a full time consultant and start to really pour into myself instead of into an institution or into a system. And I had been doing a lot of work around strategic planning and other areas, but artificial intelligence wasn't even something that I was doing professionally. It was just something that I was doing personally. I was really interested and curious about it. I love anything that helps me save time and do things more effectively, faster, that that frees up time for me to do the things I really love to do. And I had a client who said, I really don't understand this entire world. Dr. Claire Brady [00:05:34]: Can you help me? Can you coach me? And that was a launching point for me and I have been full time consulting with my firm, Glass Hospital Consulting ever since. And about 70% of my business now is completely focused in the area of AI. It's really wild. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:47]: What a shift. We weren't even talking about this in higher ed, like, eighteen months ago. Dr. Claire Brady [00:05:51]: Absolutely. And when I say consulting with AI, it's everything from I do about 10 to 12 keynotes kind of keynote speeches a month, either in person or virtually. But the bulk of my business around AI is actually really focused in the actual AI integration, helping institutions scale, how to take that individual person in admissions or advising or career services who's using a tool like ChatGPT or insert whatever your favorite tool is, to taking it and actually scaling it at the division or departmental or institutional level. How to do the governance work, how to do the policy work, how to increase AI literacy. So it's really layered. It's really interesting. It's different every day. And I'm on about 30 campuses a year. Dr. Claire Brady [00:06:33]: That's about the max that I can do at this point. So I get to see lots of great campuses all around the country. I have, many wardrobes, and I spent a lot of time on planes and in airports. But wherever I go, I have this incredible community of student affairs folks, either with the institution I'm working with or in the surrounding area. So that's also been a really great way that I've stayed connected in the field while kind of working mostly from home. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:56]: I appreciate you sharing what that consulting actually looks like. I think it's such an enigma that we see senior leaders move into their own consulting space all the time, but I think a lot of people don't really know what that means. So it's great to hear. Dr. Claire Brady [00:07:07]: I feel like it's like the celebrity or the actor who, like, finally wins the Academy Award at the end and everyone's like, oh, you were like an overnight success. I really think two things really helped me be successful in the space. I was a really good professional for twenty five years. Right? And I built up this network of people who trust me and know me and know that I give up my time and my effort. I'm also a mentor and a sponsor to a lot of people, but I've also been mentored and sponsored by a lot of people. And from that, I was able to grow a business. So a lot of times I have folks asking me, like, what's your best advice for becoming a consultant? It's to be a really great professional and to be really engaged and and invested in our field. And then also, I have kept up all of those professional volunteer association work roles. Dr. Claire Brady [00:07:50]: I was a co director with my friend Jose Rivera for the aspiring vice president's institute. I continue to do all kinds I I review programs and I review awards and I do all the things. Right? And then also, the second piece was I'm an opportunist. And AI right now, there's just not a lot of folks doing this work in higher ed. And here I am saying, I'm gonna plant my flag along in this case with the report with NASPA, and we're gonna help you. Because no one knows what they're doing and everyone is a novice. And I will tell you that our field as a whole are not used to being a novice at anything. And so this has been a really, transformational moment for a lot of folks to have members of cabinet come to me and say, I don't know how to lead in this area. Dr. Claire Brady [00:08:35]: What do I need to know to build my basic competence, let alone my confidence? Right? So that's been a really interesting space to be. And I'm not a super techie person. I often need help with my slide deck. So that's also helped a little bit that I'm relatable and approachable, and then I'm learning alongside all my clients as well. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:53]: This is a really important component of this AI learning space, which is that we're all learning together. I'm teaching European master's course. I'm teaching the technology module. We did a whole four hour session on AI integration. And what I said to the students in the class is I'm not an AI expert, but what I am is a dabbler and a tinkerer. And I think that's what you really need in order to experiment with how does AI actually serve you in your day to day work. Whether it be something simple like Microsoft Copilot, which a lot of universities have for free with their Microsoft Office licenses or three sixty five or whatever the heck it's called now. ChatGPT, which is free, Omni, all these AI generated imagery components. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:32]: And there's eve…

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Navigating Grief and Supporting Colleagues in Student Affairs with Dr. Melinda Stoops Feb 13, 2025

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In the demanding world of student affairs, professionals are adept at supporting students through crises, but often overlook the need to extend similar care to each other. In this week's "SA Voices from the Field," Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Melinda Stoops delve into the complexities of navigating grief and loss within the field, offering strategic insights for supporting colleagues during challenging times. Understanding the Impact of Grief in Higher Education Grief is a ubiquitous human experience, but its management within the professional environment, especially in student affairs, can be particularly delicate. Dr. Stoops emphasizes the significance of acknowledging grief and understanding that everyone processes it differently. She encourages a culture of empathy and grace, suggesting that it's critical to check in with colleagues and provide space for them to express their needs without imposing judgments or preconceived notions. Core Principles for Supporting Colleagues Dr. Stoops and Dr. Creighton highlight the importance of treating individuals as whole beings, which is fundamental both in student interactions and among colleagues. This holistic approach considers physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, recognizing that well-being is multifaceted and interconnected. Dr. Stoops shares practical strategies such as simple breathing exercises to help manage stress. Techniques like "rainbow breathing" and "box breathing" can be powerful tools for grounding oneself in the present moment, which can be crucial between back-to-back meetings or during particularly stressful periods. Practical Strategies to Recenter and Refocus Returning to fundamental wellness practices can significantly benefit professionals in student affairs. Dr. Stoops suggests incorporating short walks, breathing exercises, and even hydration breaks into the daily routine to maintain focus and manage stress. These strategies are designed to be quick and easily integrated into a busy workday, offering immediate relief and aiding in long-term well-being. Supporting Supervisees and Supervisors The relationship dynamics between supervisors and supervisees can play a crucial role in managing grief. Supervisors are advised to adopt a compassionate and flexible approach, allowing space for supervisees to express their needs and emotions. It's important for supervisors to be vulnerable and share their experiences appropriately, while maintaining professional boundaries and focusing on the needs of their team. Similarly, supervisees are encouraged to check in with their supervisors, acknowledging the power dynamics but also offering support. This can help create a supportive and empathetic office culture where everyone feels valued and understood. The Importance of Peer Support Peer-to-peer support is equally vital. Colleagues should feel comfortable checking in with each other and offering help, understanding that different individuals may need varying levels of support. Simple gestures of checking in can make a significant difference, reinforcing a sense of community and collective care. Moving Forward with Compassion As student affairs professionals, it's essential to foster an environment where everyone feels supported, especially during times of grief and loss. By adopting these strategies and understanding the profound impact of empathy and compassion, the field can not only navigate the challenges of today but also build a resilient and caring community for the future. Emphasizing the importance of holistic well-being, strategic check-ins, and compassionate support, this episode of "SA Voices from the Field" provides invaluable insights for higher education professionals striving to support each other through life's inevitable challenges. 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 ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs. I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay Voices from the Field host. Just a quick note that we recorded this episode prior to Melinda announcing her departure from Boston College. So while she references her work at BC quite a lot, she just wanted to let you know that she has moved to a new professional opportunity. Today on SA Voices from the Field, we're going to be having a conversation with one of our colleagues about how we navigate tragedy and loss amongst ourselves. We spend so much time doing this work with students that we often don't stop and think about how to support each other in the process or when things happen that are just part of the human experience. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:58]: So I'm pleased to welcome Doctor. Melinda Stoops. As a licensed psychologist, she entered higher education over twenty years ago as the director of a college counseling center. For the past fifteen years, she's served in various administrative roles in student affairs, including as dean of students, associate vice president for student affairs, and deputy title nine coordinator. Melinda prioritizes student well-being in all of her work and is particularly interested in increasing cross campus partnerships to achieve a collective impact on student health and wellness. She earned a PhD in counseling psychology from Indiana State University and an MA in counseling psychology from Radford University, as well as a BA in psychology from Smith College. Melinda, welcome to SA Voices from the Field. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:01:37]: Thanks so so much, Jill. I'm excited to be here. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:39]: We are very glad to be talking to you today about the very important topic and probably under discussed topic in our field around how we support our colleagues going through trauma and tragedy because we know that in our profession, we're seeing an increase in that. We've been seeing that for quite a few years now. But before we dive into our main topic today, we always like to get to know our guests by asking you, how did you get to your current seat? Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:02:02]: Oh, that's a great question. I entered higher education as a director of a counseling center. I'm a psychologist. And so when I graduated, I worked in a couple of different settings and just really missed higher education and was fortunate to be able to be hired as the director of a counseling center and then over time was promoted and ended up making my way back into the mental health focus through my work with student health and wellness. And so I've been serving as the associate vice president for student health and wellness at Boston College for a number of years and really find it's a nice combination as a psychologist and as a higher ed administrator. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:43]: What does your portfolio currently include? Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:02:46]: Right now, I oversee the areas related to student health and wellness, which includes university health services, primary care sports medicine, the counseling center, the center for student wellness, and I also work closely with a care team that works with students impacted by sexual violence. And I also serve as the university deputy title line coordinator. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:08]: That's a lot on your plate right now. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:03:10]: It is. There are some days where it feels like more than others, but that's the nature of the beast, I guess, in higher education. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:16]: And eventually, we'll do another episode on the title nine updates. It's been a minute, but I would imagine that we're gonna see some additional changes to the proposed rules at some point very soon, and that will be another set of challenges for us to navigate as a field. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:03:31]: Definitely. That feels like it's a constantly moving piece of work that we need to adjust to. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:36]: Yeah. For about the last twenty years or so, I think there's been a rule change every time there's been an administration change. But with all of the kind of well-being components on your plate right now, our profession is really wholly and solely focused on the weld wellness and well-being of our students, which is where we've been focused and where we should be focused. But oftentimes, we don't necessarily translate or apply that same care or those same strategies of care to our teams or our staff members or those of us that interact regularly with trauma. And that happens for a lot of us in student affairs. But also we have our own worlds that are going at the same time as we're exhibiting care for our students. And I know personally we've had quite a bit of loss in the field as of late, loss and tragedy, and just people navigating their own personal needs around, trauma and grief. And so I'm looking forward to talking to you today about how we can translate some of that work, and apply that to, the people that we work with day in and day out. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:36]: So why don't we start with what are some of the core principles that you think are most critical when we're working with students in a care setting, not from a psychological perspective? Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:04:46]: Not from a clinical perspective. So in terms of our work with students, I think we look at student and well-being as as a whole person, that well-being encompasses many different elements. So a lot of times we think about that as a physical element of well-being, but also emotional, spiritual. There's a lot of different dimensions of well-being, and we'll see different models for that. Some have seven dimensions, some have nine. But the bottom line is they all recognize that we have more than one way of being healthy. And so it's really when we look at an individual's wellness, whether it's a student or an individual who's not a student, we really wanna look at it in terms of the whole person. And also, really, as much as we can from a prevention framework and and not waiting for things to escalate it and get to the point where it becomes an emergency, but really look at it early on. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:05:38]: If if someone's not doing well, what can we do to help them take care of themselves and and learn good self care as a foundation for everything moving forward? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:48]: You mentioned there's a couple of models with varying dimensions. Do you have any models that you particularly rely on in your day to day practice? Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:05:55]: Well, here at Boston College, our Center for Student Wellness does a great job of prevention work, and they really simplified it into just keeping it in three areas. And so they drill down from from other models, but basically trying to get students to think about wellness in terms of mind, body and soul. And so it's an easy way to just zoom in and make it simple rather than having to remember seven to nine different areas. And so if you think about the mind can be stress management, it can be self talk, mental health, things you do, the body, of course, it's a physical body, and then the soul, what nourishes your soul, whether it's something spiritual or whether it's something like being with your friends can nourish your soul as well. And so we keep it very basic in terms of those three things, and it's really easy to keep those in mind as as you're thinking about self care. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:46]: Are there any tried and true practices that you have in the wellness space and the prevention lens that have served you really well over the years and through generations of college students? Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:06:55]: I think the things that serve us the best are the most basic, most simple things. The the more complicated you get, like anything, it's it's harder to pick up and harder to carry on and continue with. So one thing that I think is a good tried and true that is really helpful is the idea of breathing and doing this and teaching it in different kinds of ways. So there are something very simple called rainbow breathing, where you picture almost moving your finger along a rainbow and that you breathe in as you go up the rainbow and then breathe out as you go down, if that makes sense, the arc of the rainbow. And so you can do that where you follow each color on the rainbow and then repeat it. And the idea is it's having you sort of slow your breathing and focus on your breathing. There's a technique called box breathing, which is also very popular right now. And it's the idea of picturing a box and you breathe in on one side, breathe out on the other, and hold your breath at one point. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:07:54]: And the bottom line is the idea of having people really focus on their breathing and controlling your breathing can be really helpful in a couple of ways. One, it makes you focus on the present. So you're not distracted by everything else that's going on, what's bothering you at the moment, but just really being attuned to the moment. And, also, it can be really helpful in managing anxiety, for example. Sometimes when you're anxious, your breathing can be affected. And so, again, slowing your breathing, relaxing can help you calm down in the moment. So I think that's something that you see a lot of people doing is a lot of practitioners focusing on breathing exercises. And, again, even thinking of simple things you can do with movement, we're not focused on go out and run that marathon or go out and run three miles. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:08:41]: It's like just move, go for a walk in between classes or just get up and stretch or and be you know, the things that you can do that are short and sort of get you moving and help you feel better in the short run. So I think there are more complicated things that that we can do, and and there are things that certainly, we teach our students in lots of different ways. But the idea of just these short things that can make you feel better in the moment can go a long way. Also, one thing that we do here at BC, and and I know is becoming increasingly popular, is the idea of health coaches, but not like you picture a coach at a gym or where your team, but student peer coaches that can talk to you about nutrition, exercise, stress management, and short, like, half hour sessions and give you some tips peer to peer on it. And students have really found that helpful. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:34]: Would you mind taking us through a rainbow breathing exercise? I think that might be really valuable for our listeners. They can probably do this wherever they're listening. Sure. Dr. Melinda Stoops [00:09:42]: I'd be happy to do so. So one thing you can do, if it's helpful for you, is to actually take a pencil and piece of paper and draw a rainbow. And so I would suggest if you're doing that, that you picture maybe five arcs on the rainbow just to keep it simple. So five lines if you picture. And if you don't draw it out, just picture the five lines and picture how at the top of the rainbow, the top one is bigger than the one below it if you picture and so the how it goes smaller. And so what you're going to do is take your finger, and in a minute, we'll do this together. But you're going to start at the bottom left corner of the rainbow, and you're going to trace the arc of the rainbow and trace it all the way…

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Global Insights on Student Affairs with International Master's Students Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Exploring Student Affairs with International Grad Students The field of student affairs is continuously evolving, adapting to diverse educational landscapes worldwide. In this week's Student Affairs Voices from the Field, hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton, we delve into the experiences and perspectives of six master's students from the hybrid master's course offered in collaboration with the European Council on Student Affairs (EECA) and NASPA. These students, hailing from various parts of Europe and beyond, share their insights on the past, present, and future of student affairs. Embracing the Past One recurring theme in the discussion was the value of preserving certain elements of student affairs' history. Simone Cameron Cohen emphasized the indispensable role of student voices in shaping university policies and support structures. She highlighted Ireland's robust student union organizational structure that ensures student representation in university governance, a system embedded in the nation's legislation. Jake McGrew and Giacomo Bacarelli, on the other hand, pointed out the need to dissolve the silos between academic and student affairs. Jake stressed that combining these areas is crucial for holistic student support, a sentiment echoed by Giacomo who reflected on his personal experiences in Italy's developing student affairs landscape. This theme underscores the necessity of integrating student welfare into the broader educational framework, fostering an environment where academics and student services support each other. Current Trends in Student Affairs Currently, student affairs professionals worldwide are paying increased attention to student mental health and well-being. Simone noted that institutions are now better equipped with specialized services, from counseling to academic advising, emphasizing a holistic approach to student support. Jake expanded on this, mentioning the positive shift in student attitudes towards utilizing mental health services, even in regions where stigma was historically prevalent. Federico highlighted the importance of etiquette and institutional engagement in student affairs, advocating for attention to individual growth and freedom of thought, which is crucial in nurturing well-rounded individuals. Envisioning the Future Looking ahead, the consensus among the guests points towards increased collaboration and resource sharing across institutions. Simone and Giacomo both stressed the value of international cooperation, sharing best practices, and codifying these for broader implementation. This approach not only enriches the practices within individual institutions but also fosters a global network of support and innovation. Jake suggested that for regions like Continental Europe, there's a growing recognition of the importance of student affairs, leading to a greater acceptance and integration of these services within the educational framework. This trend is promising for the future development of student affairs in areas where the field is still emerging. Conclusion The insights from these international graduate students paint a picture of a dynamic and evolving field where student voices are paramount, mental health is at the forefront, and collaboration is key to future success. By learning from each other and breaking down traditional silos, student affairs professionals can better support the holistic development of students worldwide. As these emerging leaders in student affairs continue their journey, their experiences and innovative approaches will undoubtedly shape the future of the profession. 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 ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 12, continuing our journey through the past, present, and future of student affairs. I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay Voices from the Field host. Welcome to a very special episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field. I'm thrilled today to be joined by six master's students who are currently enrolled in the hybrid master's course in collaboration with EECA, which is the European Council on Student Affairs and NASPA. This course is taught with the the great collaboration of LUNA University in Rome, and it's been my great privilege to teach the technology module for this course. As we're on the theme of past, present and future of student affairs, I wanted to introduce our listeners to the students who are taking this course and get their perspectives on what's important in student affairs today and why they're learning in this program. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:07]: So I'm gonna introduce our students one by one as I see them. And so I'd love for you to tell us your name, your pronouns, and maybe where you are on planet Earth, including what you're doing for work right now. So, Jake, we'll start with you. Jake McGrew [00:01:18]: Hello, everyone. My name is Jake McGrew, hehim. I am American from Oregon, but I am currently living in Kyiv, Ukraine working at the student life office at American University Kyiv. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:29]: And we'll go to Simone. Simone Cameron Cohen [00:01:30]: Hi, everyone. My name is Simone Cameron Cohen, sheher. I'm based in Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, and I am the student welfare and support officer for the School of Medicine. Giacomo Bacarelli [00:01:39]: Giacomo. Hi. I'm Giacomo Bacarelli. I'm currently in, Terni, close to Rome, Italy. I work for the European University College Association where I am a project officer. Laura Malakowski [00:01:50]: Laura. Hello, everyone. I'm Laura Malakowski. I pronounce it differently. I'm from Lithuania, from Lithuania, Yale Science University, and now I am the Dean of Students. So mostly in my office, the students appear the main task, what we are working on and and looking for. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:08]: Federico. Federico [00:02:08]: I'm Federico. Hello, everyone. I take care of cultural activities in the Cuir College in Rome. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:16]: And Lorenzo. Lorenzo Caffurini [00:02:17]: Hi to everyone. My name is, Lorenzo Caffurini. I am the head of the secretary of the co Leukini College in Brescia, Italy. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:27]: Thank you all so much for agreeing to share your voice on the show today. Since we're on this theme of the past, present, and future of student affairs, I always love featuring current master's students because you're the future of the profession. You're here because you wanted to learn a little bit more to bolster your professional identity and development. I'm hoping you can tell us why you chose to take this one year master's program and how it's changing the way that you look at your work. And anyone can jump in on that. Go ahead, Jake. Jake McGrew [00:02:56]: So my background is actually in teaching in high school and middle school teaching. I did that in The US as well as in Bulgaria. And so I moved to work at this university, American University, Kyiv, and I was put in charge of the student life office without having anyone around me who works for student life and no background in student life besides the normal student life you do as a teacher. So I really wanted some extra education, extra support, and more importantly, a network of other like minded student affairs professionals who I could work with and talk with and kind of bounce ideas off of. So that's mainly why I chose to be in this program for the education since I've never been in this position before as well as the network. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:36]: Simone, how about you? Simone Cameron Cohen [00:03:37]: Similarly to Jake, I'm kind of a new post holder. So while I've worked in the university for a lot of years, I have a background from some time ago in student support. This role is the first of its kind based in a school within the college. So, again, I was a little bit peerless. There are a few people obviously, there are several people doing student affairs, but the specificity of what I'm doing, it's not there yet. It's growing now. But to have a network of people at a European level, at international level is fantastic. Like that to be able to learn a little bit more of what's possible in terms of supports and procedures and ways to do things. Simone Cameron Cohen [00:04:15]: It's really great. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:16]: Yeah. I Giacomo Bacarelli [00:04:17]: am very young, so I start to work, like, one year and a half ago. So for me, this world is completely new. In Italy, the stress Fuelsa First is not so developed. So most of students don't know what student services mean. So for me, since I start to work in IUCAA, I started to read books about Fuelsa First, be updated to learn, but a master, I think it's very important to have a basic knowledge, know where to build your profession. So this is why, and also I'm involved because I'm one of the organizers as part of YUCA. This is why I'm the tutor. So it is a great opportunity to participate in the master, be involved in, in the organization. Giacomo Bacarelli [00:05:00]: And this is the motivation. Laura Malakowski [00:05:02]: Laura. I would say that in Lithuania, in a lot of our universities, we do have that support and advising of students, but we do not have that, like, evidence based. So this is, like, the chance, for us to get really good background, good knowledge all the practices, all the communication between different countries, universities, so it's a great value of if we want to flourish this help of our students. And the Master, the modules, it's like support, first of all, for those who are next, who will help our students. So it's a good chance for us. Federico [00:05:36]: This is my first work experience before I was a university student. I chose to train and work in this field because it's simply the most beautiful job in the world, and I want to grow for the guys I am lucky enough to work with every day. Also, my English is not very good, and this is a chance to learn by working. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:00]: I'm always incredibly impressed by anyone who can earn an educational degree in their second language. It's it's just amazing. Lorenzo. Lorenzo Caffurini [00:06:07]: For me, this master degree is a great opportunity. It allows me to know new realities and organize new cultural activity also from an international perspective. I have a degree in law, and the law the world of student affairs is new to me. It is agreed to be able to work every day in a college and to be able to deepen my knowledge with master degree of this level. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:35]: Now all of you are working at universities that are not based in North America, and most of the NASPA members are either in The US or Canada. So I'm wondering if you can share maybe one element of student affairs that is happening in the country where you're living and working that might be unique or might be much different than, what somebody working in North America might be experiencing. Jake, let's start with you. Jake McGrew [00:06:59]: So I come from The US, of course. So I have that background in interacting with student affairs as an American student. I never worked in the student affairs as an American, but as a student, I had a good feeling of what student affairs was. And in Ukraine, as I think in a lot of Europe, but even to, I think, to a higher extent is student affairs isn't really a thing here. It's very common just for students to go to class, do your classes, learn, and then go home. So that's been a challenge for me to not only and I have all Ukrainian students and Ukrainian staff. So I, as the sole person in the student life office, the director and the sole person, I've had to explain not only to students, but to staff and faculty the importance of student affairs and the reasons why we need to have mental health supports or reasons why we need to have strong student life. It's been fairly easy. Jake McGrew [00:07:53]: It hasn't been that much of a challenge. My university has been pretty open to that, which is good, but that's been a challenge. Not to mention, of course, the war and everything, but that's a completely different thing that is just always there for us. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:05]: Limon, what's going on in Ireland? Simone Cameron Cohen [00:08:07]: So I suppose what I find, having been sort of been to The UK and Europe a bit, our student union organizational structure in Ireland is really, really strong and is very student led, and it is essential to how we govern our universities. They are there to challenge and push us, which is fantastic, and they're there to support their students. And it is written into our legislation that they must be on the governing bodies of our universities and must be allowed to contribute in a very real way. And for us, I think it's wonderful that that they really do still embrace that sense of the importance of organization in that kind of nineteen sixties sort of organization, protest, but also engagement, real engagement with the issues that are affecting them as students, either within the college, but also in the wider society and how they react to that and push issues forward. So that is something that is still really strong here, which we're quite proud of. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:10]: That co governance being actually baked into laws and policies in the nation is incredibly meaningful. And I I wish that more more governing bodies would make it a priority to put students in positions to be driving decisions about their education. That's really special. Simone Cameron Cohen [00:09:25]: It is. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:25]: I'm gonna go to Laura next. We'd like to know what's going on in Lithuania because our other three guests are all from Italy. So let's go to you first. Laura Malakowski [00:09:32]: Yeah. Thank you. I would say that we are trying to do as much as possible, like other countries or American universities are doing. I know that, when we were, inventing this student's appearance in in my university, I was told that, Laura, you know, students' dean office was established in American part of university. So I wouldn't say that we are doing something new and something unique. It would be unique because, my university is more a medical university. So some specific things are really specific for our students, their health, their mentality, their problems will be some kind of different. But, you know, everything that that support, that, trying to give the hope for them, I think it doesn't matter. Laura Malakowski [00:10:15]: Are you in US? Are you in Ireland? Or some work. Our students' fears, questions, challenges, they are almost everywhere the same. We have to work together for the flourishing of our students, so it doesn't matter. But Lithuania is doing, I think, the best of what what we can. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:31]: And finally, let's move over to what's going on that's unique in Italy. And any of the three of you, please feel free to chime in. Giacomo Bacarelli [00:10:37]: If I can permit, I'm live in Italy, and I work in Italy, but I work in a European association. So for me, it could be better to talk about Europe because Europe is, you know, several countries. So every reality is different, but we have a unique situation where to move from o…

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Exploring the Evolution of Student Affairs: Past Lessons, Present Challenges, Future Opportunities Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to 2025! As we usher in a new year, it's essential to reflect on the whirlwind that was 2024. In our latest episode of SA Voices from the Field, hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis, we delve into the rapid changes that shaped the past year. From the tumultuous political climate to personal and professional upheavals, 2024 was a year of significant transition for us all.

Season 12: Continuing the Conversation With Season 12, we're committed to continuing our deep dive into the past, present, and future of student affairs. Our aim is to provide fresh perspectives and engaging conversations that resonate with higher education professionals globally. Expect insightful narratives from the upcoming annual NASPA conference in New Orleans and beyond. We're keen to explore uncharted stories within our field and amplify voices from all corners of the world.

Engaging with the Community We thrive on your input and encourage you to connect with us. If you'd like to share your story or suggest a guest, email us at savoices@naspa.org. Seeing listeners at the conference brings our mission full circle, turning interactions into valuable, featured content.

Your Role in Our Journey Our podcast flourishes because of your continued support and engagement. We invite you to leave a 5-star review on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as your feedback helps us to grow and reach more professionals. Let's continue to chart the evolving landscape of student affairs together. Thank you for being part of this journey with SA Voices from the Field.

TRANSCRIPT

Jill Creighton [00:00:00]: 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 ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 11, the past, present, and future of student affairs, and I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay Voices from the Field host. Happy New Year, Chris.

Christopher Lewis [00:00:28]: Happy New Year, Joe.

Jill Creighton [00:00:29]: Welcome to 2025. What a ride it has been. 2024 flew like that.

Christopher Lewis [00:00:35]: It truly did. I look back and I am still amazed that we're in 2025. It definitely went by really, really fast with everything that happened in the year, in the US, at least, in regards to the crazy political environment. But but I'm excited about a new year.

Jill Creighton [00:00:52]: And with that new year, we thought a lot about the theme, and we announced this actually at the beginning of season 11. So as we enter season 12, because of the transition point we find ourselves in as a profession, we wanted to continue to have this conversation about the past, present, and future of student affairs. So as we continue forward this season, we're gonna stick on that same theme, but we hope to bring you some new perspectives on it. Hoping to bring you some conversations from all over the world, some amazing and insightful conversations from our annual conference coming up in New Orleans. And as always, if you see either Chris or myself wandering around that conference space, I know it's, you know, so 8 weeks from now, we would love to hear your voices. And as this season arises, we also continue to want to hear from you if you have guests or topic suggestions. There's so many stories in student affairs that have yet to be told, and we want to feature you. So, Chris, if someone would like to appear on our show, how can they do that?

Christopher Lewis [00:01:53]: Easiest way to get on the show is to email us at savoices@naspa.org. And as Jill just said, it is really exciting to be able to walk around the conference and to be able to just talk with people and to be able to get some of your own voices on the show. So you will see myself, Jill walking around the conference. And if we ask you, hey, will you lend your voice to an upcoming episode? Please say yes and know that we're not just some strange people walking around the conference recording voices, but we're actually collecting your voice to be a part of that upcoming episode. So it is always exciting to be able to meet people. And if you want to be on a episode when we're in, you're going to be at the conference, you can always reach out as well and we can find a time to be able to connect and get your voice that way as well.

Jill Creighton [00:02:46]: We are so very much looking forward to bringing you another season of SA Voices from the Field. Thank you again for continuing to listen to us. We are only made possible because you choose to listen to us and share the podcast with your colleagues. So if you find our show valuable to you, we would be very grateful if you would leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. It really does help people find the show and helps us figure out what it is that you wanna hear. So thank you so much for continuing to be a listener. We look forward to bringing you another season of content on the past, present, and future of student affairs. This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field brought to you by NASPA.

Jill Creighton [00:03:30]: This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email us at sa voices atnaspa.org or find me on LinkedIn by searching for doctor Jill l Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions. 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 truly does help other student affairs pros find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by doctor Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by doctor Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint for your support as we create this project. Catch you next time.

The Evolution of Student Affairs with Cherry and Kat Callahan Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of NASPA's Student Affairs Voices from the Field podcast, hosts Dr. Jill Creighton dive deep into the evolving landscape of student affairs. Joined by Dr. Cherry Callahan, former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her daughter, Dr. Kat Callahan, a Senior Lecturer in Leadership Studies, the episode unveils diverse career pathways and shifting priorities within student affairs. Accidental Beginnings and Varied Career Paths Dr. Cherry Callahan's entry into student affairs was anything but traditional. Originally aiming to be a high school counselor, her career trajectory shifted after accepting a counseling position at Delaware State College. Her involvement in orientation programs led to a formal role as the Director of Orientation, marking the start of a venerable career. Interestingly, Cherry never worked in residence life, a conventional entry point for many professionals in the field. Similarly, Dr. Kat Callahan's path was unplanned. Without specific career goals during college, she found herself teaching high school and coaching basketball until gravitating towards higher education. Dr. Kat's focus on leadership education showcases the versatility within student affairs, highlighting the various ways professionals can contribute to holistic student development. From Emotional Development to Student Learning Throughout the episode, the Callahans emphasize a significant shift in student affairs from focusing solely on social and emotional development to incorporating student learning and out-of-classroom experiences. This evolution underscores the importance of preparing students not just academically but as well-rounded individuals equipped for life beyond college. Holistic Student Development and DEI A consistent theme in Dr. Kat Callahan's work is the focus on holistic development and leadership education. Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles, Kat's approach ensures that student affairs professionals consider the identities and purposes of students, promoting a comprehensive developmental framework. This paradigm shift is critical in preparing students for leadership roles and fostering a sense of community. Lessons from History: A Forward-Looking Perspective The Callahans also reflect on the influences of civil rights and women's movements on student affairs. Dr. Cherry Callahan recounts her experiences fostering positive student engagement amidst historical turbulence. Both guests acknowledge the increased emphasis on mental health and business-like operations in contemporary student affairs, suggesting a mixed yet hopeful outlook for the profession's future. Empowerment and Mentorship Empowerment is a central theme in the Callahans' discussion. Dr. Kat Callahan leverages her mother's extensive knowledge, bringing her into classrooms to share insights with students. This intergenerational dialogue enhances learning, bridging historical perspectives with current practices. Such mentorship underscores the familial bond within the student affairs community, vital for professional growth. A Vision for the Future As we look ahead, the Callahans advocate for prioritizing student well-being, understanding systemic issues, and continuously adapting educational programs. Their insights remind us of the enduring impact of student affairs on shaping resilient, socially conscious leaders. In conclusion, this episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field" brings forth invaluable lessons and reinforces the importance of diverse pathways, holistic development, and inclusive practices in student affairs. With professionals like Dr. Cherry and Dr. Kat Callahan leading the charge, the future of student affairs looks promising, well-equipped to tackle modern challenges while nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:00]: 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 ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 11, the past, present, and future of student affairs, and I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on our season finale of Essay Voices From the Field, we have a very special look into the past, present, and future of student affairs. And for the very first time, we're featuring a mother and a daughter, both professionals in student affairs who can share the arc of their careers as well as the arc of the profession. So it's my sincere pleasure to welcome doctor Cherry Callahan and doctor Kat Callahan. Doctor Cherry m Callahan served as vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro until December of 2017. Upon her retirement, Cherry received the order of the longleaf pine, among the most prestigious awards presented by the governor of North Carolina, recognizing extraordinary service to the state. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:10]: Her first professional position was at Delaware State University where she served as a counselor and director of orientation followed by a brief period as an elementary school counselor before moving to UNCG where she assumed progressively responsible roles culminating in the vice chancellor position. Cherry has been very active and professionally served as president of NASPA in 1998 to 1999. She more recently served as the chair of the NASPA Foundation board of directors and was the recipient of the John l Blackburn Distinguished Pillar of the Profession Award in 2024 and the Fred Turner Award for for distinguished service to NASPA in 2006. Doctor Callahan has served as an elected officer for the board in numerous community and civic organizations. Her primary current community service is with the American Red Cross in which she serves as the North Carolina region training lead for disaster services and also an instructor for disaster classes. Cherry has presented dozens of programs and speeches at professional meetings, served on accreditation teams for SACS and review teams for other colleges and universities, and authored and co-authored several articles and chapters in various publications. She's married to her husband, Mike, who taught history in the Guilford County School System for 30 years, and has 2 daughters, Megan, who's an attorney in Greensboro, and Kathleen, who's on the faculty in the department of leadership and American studies at Christopher Newport University. Our second guest is Doctor. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:24]: Kat Callahan, who is currently a senior lecturer in Leadership Studies at Christopher Newport University with expertise in education, student affairs and higher education, and internationalization of higher ed. She earned a PhD in Higher Education from Florida State University, an MED in College Student Affairs from the University of South Florida, and a BA in sociology from NC State University. Doctor Callahan has developed leadership curricula, advised students, and served in academic and administrative roles at institutions, including William and Mary, Florida State University, and Winthrop University. Her research and teaching focuses on cultural relevance in leadership education and development and the internationalization of the history of student affairs in higher education. She is published widely, contributed to global leadership initiatives, and held leadership roles in NASPA, the International Leadership Association, and IACIS. Doctor Callahan is the director of the IACIS Student Leader Global Summit and an experienced keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I loved having it, and we'll see you next season. I'm very excited to have our our very first parent child student affairs professional duo on the show today to talk about the past, present, and future of student affairs. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:31]: So first, let me welcome pillar of the profession, doctor Cherry Callahan. Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:03:35]: Hi, Jill. It's really my pleasure to be here with you today and my daughter. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:39]: And also Dr. Kat Callahan. Dr. Kat Callahan [00:03:41]: Hi, everyone. Thanks for having us, Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:44]: When Chris and I were incepting how we wanted to present the arc of the past, present, and future of student affairs, it just immediately came to mind. Do we have any families that are doing this work or have done this work across time? All of us, I think, like to joke that really no one grows up saying I wanna be a student affairs professional. But, Cherry, you might be the exception to this rule. Oh, you're you're shaking your head no. We'll get into that for sure. But, Cherry, you're retired from the field now. Cherry, you're deep in your career in the field. We always like to start our show by asking our guests how they got to our current seat. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:16]: So, Cherry, yours being retirement. But can you tell us a little bit about your career arc into and through the profession? Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:04:23]: Okay. I guess it all goes back to the day when I was leader as an undergrad and very involved in the co curriculum. And I never really thought about student affairs even at that point because my ultimate goal at that time was to become a public school high school counselor. So I actually did a master's degree in counseling. And on the eve of my marriage to my husband, Kat's dad, I became aware of a position at a college in Delaware, Delaware State College, now Delaware State University, and they were advertising for a counselor. And Mike being from Massachusetts and me being from the Carolinas, we had kinda decided we wanted to live somewhere between the two geographic spaces. So I looked at it and I went in for the interview 2 weeks before our wedding and got the job. So I landed in a college counseling center quite by accident because it ultimately was not my goal. Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:05:24]: And before you knew it, I was observing the orientation program and I said to the dean of students who hired me, I've got some thoughts about orientation. Would you be willing to listen to them? He said, sure. So 2 days later, I had the title director of orientation slapped on my shoulders along with the counselor and that's what really kick started my career in student affairs. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:46]: That was a very busy week for you here. Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:05:48]: Busy. Yes. Yes. But pretty typical of my life as a whole. They're all pretty busy. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:55]: And, Kat, you are currently working at Christopher Newport University. Can you tell us how you landed in your current seat? Dr. Kat Callahan [00:06:00]: Yes. So, unlike mom, I did not have goals in college. I was an RA, and I played intramural sports. That was what I knew about student affairs, and obviously my mother was the vice chancellor of student affairs. Yet, I never drew those parallels. But I did not know what I wanted to do after college. So I took a year off, and I ended up teaching high school and coaching basketball as following my father's footsteps. And then about halfway through the year, I was like, you know, I really liked that RA job. Dr. Kat Callahan [00:06:28]: Maybe there's something to that. So went through student affairs, went through my graduate program, went through my entry level job, be one of the typical routes through residence life, and into my PhD. And in my PhD, transitioned to leadership education, leadership development. So that's how I landed as a senior lecturer in leadership studies where I am today. Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:06:48]: And, you know, it's interesting that I am one of a rare breed who never worked in residence life. I came through counseling, and as I've interacted with my peers over the years, almost everybody's been in residence life in one shape or another. I was never even an RA. So I'm a little atypical from that in that perspective. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:09]: You and I share that, Cherry. I did not serve as an RA in undergrad, and I did not have a hall director position or even an assistant directorship or directorship in residence life. I was more raised in the student involvement, civic engagement space, and health promotion, and then finally, student involvement, civic engagement space, and health promotion. And then finally, student conduct was kind of the primary thread through, how I got started in student affairs. But I did end up supervising residence life when I was in an AVP seat. So we are out there if you're listening, and you're like, how do I do this without ResLife? Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:07:36]: That's right. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:36]: Jerry, can you talk a little bit about what the profession was like when you first entered the field in terms of the value set that you were operating through, the priorities of the profession, that type of thing? Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:07:48]: Quite different from what it is today. There's no question about that. And I think the primary mindset was focused on how to get students engaged in their curricular life. It's always been there, but I think my supervisor at that time was born out of the civil rights movement, the women's movement. And that really bore the, I guess, the hallmark of student conduct and how students behaved. And so student affairs was leaned on to how can we get our students engaged in positive ways as opposed to protest and so forth. So we were more of a, I hate to use the word judicial, but I guess conduct focused. And my role in that and when I'm talking about my supervisor at that time, that was my supervisor at my second higher education job. Dr. Cherry Callahan [00:08:41]: At my first higher education job at Delaware State, it was really more focused on helping the students adjust to this new environment and getting them actively engaged in that new environment away from home and helping them understand the challenges that come with pursuing a college degree amongst a population where college degrees were not as common. Because as many people know, Delaware State is an HBCU, and I was somewhat of an anomaly in that environment because I was a young white female. But it really did focus on that adjustment period and that in loco parentis domain. And then as I transitioned a few years later into the position at the University of North Carolina from where I ultimately retired, there was a little bit of that left, but a lot of it had dissipated because of all of the social movements that were taking place in the early seventies. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:41]: And it's probably swinging back towards a more model now, especially from a student care perspective as we're seeing the mental health concerns of college students come more to the forefront of our work. So, Kat, I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about how you see the current state of the profession, especially in terms of what your priorities are in teaching. Dr. Kat Callahan [00:10:00]: So it's always fun with these types of conversations just because my specific area of knowledge within the student affairs field is the history of student affairs. So I teach history of, and so listening to mom talk about that evolution, and as we've learned from all of our history textbooks, it started within loco parentis, and it has evolved in a lot of different ways. And I think we know from history that things kinda circle back in different capacities. So how I teach my students today…

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Transforming Student Affairs Education: Insights from Dr. Amy E. French Dec 12, 2024

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Reflecting on Historical Context and Embracing Future Innovations In the latest episode of SA Voices from the Field, Dr. Jill Creighton hosts Dr. Amy E. French, Associate Professor at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), for a riveting discussion on the evolving landscape of student affairs. In this episode, Dr. French shares her professional journey, touches on the historical significance of student affairs, and details future innovations in integrative learning and social justice within the field. The Journey from Alumni Relations to Academia Dr. Amy E. French's path to academia is rich with diverse experiences and significant milestones, starting with her involvement in student government and advocacy at Kentucky Wesleyan College. This early exposure to leadership and activism paved the way for her continued studies in social justice at Loyola University Chicago. Transitioning from working in alumni relations and advancement, Dr. French was inspired by mentors like Dr. Candice Hinton to pursue a PhD in Higher Education Leadership, ultimately leading to her role as a faculty member at BGSU. Throughout the episode, Dr. French emphasizes the importance of listening to students, colleagues, and the community to drive program development. Her dedication to addressing student needs and fostering an inclusive environment is evident in her leadership of the College Student Personnel (CSP) program at BGSU. Program Legacy and Historical Significance The CSP program at BGSU holds a legacy built upon addressing student affairs' demands during tumultuous times, with the work of Gerald Saddlemyer as a cornerstone. Dr. French recounts the program's historical roots, including the commemoration of the Kent State shootings via sister statues. These events highlight the profound impact student affairs professionals have had in guiding students through periods of crisis. Dr. French shares how the program's history continues to shape its present and future objectives. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the BGSU CSP program plans to honor its legacy with an 18-month-long series of festivities, reflecting on the program's significant contributions to student development and higher education. Adapting to Post-COVID Realities The global pandemic undeniably altered the fabric of higher education, prompting a shift in student priorities and expectations, especially in residential life and Greek organizations. Dr. French discusses how these changes have influenced BGSU's program, pushing a curriculum revision focused on holistic professional development and training for students. Innovative curriculum updates are slated for the upcoming fall, aiming to keep pace with evolving student needs. This includes the integration of AI technology using 360-degree cameras for experiential learning, further emphasizing student development theories and practical applications in a rapidly changing world. Embracing Social Justice and Identity Development A pivotal aspect of the CSP program under Dr. French's leadership is a robust focus on social justice and identity development. Recognizing the importance of these elements, she advocates for a curriculum that starts with current student understandings of power, privilege, and oppression. This approach equips students with the skills needed to challenge oppressive structures and promotes an inclusive and equitable campus environment. The Role of Graduate Assistantships Graduate assistantships play a vital role in student development at BGSU, offering hands-on experience and professional growth opportunities. Dr. French highlights the support from administration in funding these positions, contributing to high student satisfaction and the overall success of the program. Additionally, she emphasizes that reflective practice is integral to BGSU's approach, with dedicated classes each semester that adapt to student needs and fill curricular gaps. An elective on campus politics will soon be introduced, helping students navigate advocacy and internal bureaucracy more effectively. Enhancing Student Affairs Through Communication and Collaboration Effective communication between graduate prep programs and practitioners is crucial for preparing future student affairs professionals. Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Amy French discuss this dynamic, with Dr. French shedding light on forums like the NASPA Faculty Institute and collaborations among Ohio program coordinators. These platforms focus on curriculum development, funding, marketability, and employability, essential factors in enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of student affairs education. Looking to the Future: Storytelling and Advocacy Dr. French underscores the significance of storytelling in student affairs, using personal anecdotes and historical context to illustrate the field's human aspect. By maintaining personal archives like thank you notes and embracing the passions of incoming students, professionals can stay motivated and inspired. She also stresses the need for student affairs to challenge outdated practices and remain open to new approaches. This openness to evolution ensures that programs stay relevant and impactful amidst changing dynamics within higher education. In closing, the podcast episode with Dr. Amy E. French is a testament to the transformative power of student affairs. By honoring its history, adapting to contemporary challenges, and embracing innovative approaches, the field can continue to support and empower students through their academic and personal journeys. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:00]: 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 ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 11, the past, present, and future of student affairs, and I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on essay voices, we welcome Dr. Amy e French, sheher. Dr. French is an associate professor in the school of counseling, higher education, leadership, and foundations at Bowling Green State University, where she also serves as coordinator of the college student personnel graduate program. She holds a bachelor's in political science from Kentucky Wesleyan College, a master's degree in social justice from Loyola University Chicago, and a Dr.ate in higher education leadership from Indiana State University. Dr. French's current research foundation includes cultural consciousness on college campuses, campus reimagination, and community connection within student affairs. Her favorite scholarly activity is the opportunity to teach brilliant scholars who strive to make a positive impact on students during their collegiate years and beyond. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:11]: When Dr. French is not on campus, she's often spotted walking and hiking with her dog, boss Chewy McScruff, in the parks across the country. Amy, welcome to SA Voices. Dr. Amy E. French [00:01:21]: Good morning. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:22]: Glad to be crossing time zones again. We were talking to you today from Ohio. You are currently an associate professor at Bowling Green, but the thing we're most excited to talk to you about today is the past, present, and future of graduate prep programs for student affairs professionals. You're still in, what's being termed the college student personnel program, which is a name I know that BG has held for a very long time. We'll get into all of that. But before we talk about your expertise in this area, we always love to start our episodes by getting to know our guests by asking, how did you get to your current seat? Dr. Amy E. French [00:01:54]: Oh my goodness. How did I get to my current seat? Well, I was very involved as an undergrad student at Kentucky Wesleyan College, a very small private school in Kentucky in Western Kentucky. And I was hyper involved in student government and student activities and pretty active as well as, I led several campus protests and did a lot of advocacy work. And from there, I actually went and got my master's at Loyola in social justice, not in student affairs. I sort of know about student affairs at the time. So I did some great work at Loyola and actually found myself working in alumni and advancement, a couple of small private schools after I graduated. And then that's kind of what led me into pursuing my higher ed PhD. And, actually, that was when one of my faculty members at the time, Dr. Candice Hinton, said, you know what? I think you should think about this faculty gig. Dr. Amy E. French [00:02:51]: I think this really would suit you and your personality, and I just think it'd be great. And so I kinda laughed at her at first, and then she was like, no. But I'm not kidding. And then so she planted the seed, and it took all of about 2 weeks for me to call her back and say, hey. You know what? About that thing, how do I do that? And so began my kind of pursuit into the faculty side of the house. So I went from alumni and advancement, working full time during my PhD program, and then eventually, actually became a graduate assistant for a couple years. And then a lecturer at Indiana State University, and then actually went up as an assistant professor and became an associate professor at Indiana State. And then Bowling Green, you know, gave me a shot, and here we are. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:35]: And you're going back through the P and T process now. Yes? Dr. Amy E. French [00:03:38]: Yes. Yes. All my documents are submitted. Everything is looking good. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:42]: Congratulations preemptively. I'm sure it's gonna be smooth sailing. Dr. Amy E. French [00:03:46]: Stay tuned for a hopeful party in April in Bowling Green. There'll be a party. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:50]: Well, you're currently directing the CSP program, as I mentioned, or college student personnel program, which is the higher ed master's prep program at BG, which has long held a reputation for being an incredibly well rounded, robust, well well reputationaled program in the field. So tell us about what drew you to be leading this work. Dr. Amy E. French [00:04:11]: Yeah. So I'll be honest. I was so excited after applying to the Bowling Green State position. I was like, oh, I don't know. You know, this is a big deal. And I'll be honest. When I went for the interview, everything kind of fell into place. It was what I was looking for professionally as a challenge. Dr. Amy E. French [00:04:27]: It was scholarly, invigorating, and I really liked the people and the students, of course. I mean, best of the best. And so that kinda drew me into Bowling Green. And then once I got here, of course, learning more about the history, I knew about its long standing traditions. But to really get some one on one time to interact with Dr. Carney Strange at the Black Swamp Festival, to, you know, sit and talk with Dr. Mike Coombs. And, again, for them to just pour in that programmatic history as a maritime faculty was really great. And then getting to work with Dr. Ellen Broido, we have a lot of fun. And so this is my 3rd year, and I've really been intentional about listening to the students, listening to the community, listening to the faculty, and working collaboratively to try to make some decisions to lead us lead us into the next 60 years. Dr. Amy E. French [00:05:19]: So we just celebrated our 60th anniversary as a program. Technically, it doesn't end until December, but it depends on who's asking and who's looking at the history books. But so I signed it for last year, but we're gonna celebrate for 18 months because why not? Who doesn't love a party? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:35]: So looking at the kind of longevity of the program as well as your role in carrying the program from the present into the future, what are some of the historical markers of, college student personnel program or higher ed masters that had been really important for higher ed students of the past? Dr. Amy E. French [00:05:54]: Oh, yeah. Of the past. Well, goodness. So Gerald Saddlemyer, which which we have several lectures here at Bowling Green State, but also I believe some NASPA and ACPA awards named after Dr. Saddlemyer. He really paved the way for the program here at Bowling Green State, and I think that was at a time when campuses were quite tumultuous, when there wasn't crisis management training, when our student affairs professionals were really in the line of literal fire. In some instances, I'm thinking specifically about, you know, Kent State and learning what we've learned now from Dr. Erica Eckert's work and learning from those student affairs professionals at the time and what they were going through and what they were wrestling with, I think speaks a lot to why student affairs became a professional endeavor. And so looking at how do we train folks to really support undergraduate students as they're transitioning, as campuses become more chaotic in some ways, but I think also just more demanding in general. And so I think that's really where it started was we recognized a long time ago that there's more to college than what happens in the classroom, and it really is about those developmental components. Dr. Amy E. French [00:07:03]: It's about being a good citizen. It's about learning to manage conflict. It's about all of those things about being a person in our democracy. And so I think that's really what started BG's program, was that initial realization that, hey, we need folks who understand college students. And it was also at a time when we were learning more about college students. Right? Student development theory was just starting to emerge as a field of study. And so I think those things combined really formulated this pretty awesome lightning in a bottle moment for the Midwest, really. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:39]: I'm going to give a shout out to Dr. Erica Eckert, as you mentioned. If you're a long time listener of the show, we did an episode with her a couple of years ago now. And if you're new to the show, I would highly encourage you to go back and listen. It's one of my favorite episodes we've ever recorded. We did a 2 part where Dr. Eckert and I talked about the history of the Kent State shootings that happened in the sixties. And then the second part of the episode is we had the 4 administrators who were responsible for responding to that incident on the show. And it was wonderful to hear their perspectives on what emergency management and crisis management sounded like at the time. If you can imagine doing this in an era before cell phones. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:15]: I believe one of them said that they had to run into a restaurant on the main street and find a phone, and they were literally printing flyers for students with information and all these other things. So I appreciate that that's part of the grounding of the BG program as well as looking at what those problems were in that era. Dr. Amy E. French [00:08:31]: Yeah. And we actually both programs came on board around the same time, and there's actually 2 statues, sister statues on our campuses honoring those who passed away from the Kent State shootings. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:42]: Now you've taken this program with a tremendous amount of history. You entered going, I'm going to listen a lot and try to figure out what to do with it. What was the state and priorities of the program when you inherited leadership? Dr. Amy E. French [00:08:54]: Yeah. I think coming out of COVID, our field looks different. Our studen…

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Redefining Student Affairs: Insights from Dr. Ainsley Carry Dec 05, 2024

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In the latest episode of NASPA's SA Voices From the Field podcast, Dr. Jill Creighton sits down with Dr. Ainsley Carry, Vice President for Students at the University of British Columbia (UBC), to discuss the current state and future directions of student affairs. Their conversation ranges from the importance of listening to students and adapting to cultural nuances, to the evolving role of AI and mental health support on campus. The Evolution of Student Affairs A Shift from Traditional Theories Dr. Ainsley Carry highlights that student affairs have undergone significant changes over the years. Historically, the field focused on career placement and leadership development, often driven by traditional theories like those proposed by Tinto and Chickering. However, Dr. Carry critiques these models for being outdated and restrictive. He argues for the necessity of freeing student affairs from these old theoretical constraints to better align with the evolving needs and cultures of modern students. From Leadership to Inclusivity The emphasis has gradually shifted from leadership, with its positional nature, to inclusivity in participation. Today's student affairs professionals recognize the importance of engaging students inside and outside the classroom, acknowledging the challenges in measuring qualitative learning experiences. According to Dr. Carry, the current trends in student affairs reflect a return to career exploration and identity development, rather than mere placement, recognizing the global nature of modern careers and the importance of early engagement through internships. Listening and Feedback Sessions Dr. Carry has introduced listening sessions at UBC, conducting over 100 sessions with thousands of student participants. These sessions are crucial for gathering feedback, understanding what works well, and identifying areas needing improvement. The methodology is simple but effective: asking students what's working, what isn't, what should be maintained, what should be stopped, and what other questions they have. This process ensures that student voices are heard and integrated into strategic planning. Enhancing Mental Health Support Reducing Wait Times and Expanding Access Mental health support on campuses has seen substantial improvements, as Dr. Carry points out. Universities have reduced wait times for counseling and expanded access through both in-person and virtual formats. Regulatory changes now allow cross-state counseling, and a greater number of individuals are pursuing careers in counseling, contributing to a robust pool of professionals ready to support students. Destigmatizing Mental Health Discussions Efforts are ongoing to destigmatize mental health discussions. Dr. Carry emphasizes that addressing mental health proactively is central to supporting students' overall well-being. Institutions are aiming to normalize these conversations, making it easier for students to seek help without fear of judgment. The Promise of AI in Higher Education 24/7 Student Services One of the most exciting topics Dr. Carry discusses is the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in student affairs. Just as calculators once transformed education, AI has the potential to offer 24/7 student services. This could address the common mismatch between student needs and the traditional service hours of university offices. AI can provide continuous support for academic, career, and mental health advising, particularly during after-hours when human staff are unavailable. Supplementing Human Interactions It's crucial to note that Dr. Carry views AI as a supplement, not a replacement, for human interactions. While AI can enhance the availability and efficiency of student services, the human touch remains irreplaceable. AI can manage routine inquiries and provide timely responses, leaving more complex and sensitive issues for human professionals to handle. Navigating Cultural Differences in Higher Education Adapting to the Canadian Context Moving to Canada in 2019, Dr. Carry had to adapt to the Canadian higher education landscape, which differs significantly from the U.S. context. One prominent difference he observed was the less prominent role of Greek life and a lower incidence of binge drinking. Moreover, Canadian universities have a more balanced approach to college sports, and there's a reduced concern about gun violence on campuses. Emphasizing Health and Well-Being In Canada, student health and well-being is a primary focus, especially considering the varying healthcare needs of international students. Dr. Carry underscores the importance of making career development resources accessible right from the first year and tackling affordability issues exacerbated by fluctuating international currencies. A Future-Forward Approach to Student Affairs Dr. Ainsley Carry's insights demonstrate a future-forward approach to student affairs, emphasizing the need to evolve with changing student demographics and cultural contexts. By integrating student feedback, enhancing mental health support, and leveraging AI, institutions can create more inclusive and supportive environments. As we look to the future, it's clear that student affairs must continue to innovate and adapt, always keeping the well-being and success of students at its core. As always, NASPA's SA Voices From the Field thanks its listeners for their support and encourages feedback, topic suggestions, and reviews to continue delivering content that matters. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:00]: 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 ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 11, the past, present, and future of student affairs, and I'm doctor Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on Essay Voices, we continue our journey with International Student Affairs Professionals by welcoming doctor Ainsley Carry. Ainsley joined the University of British Columbia on April 1st, 2019 as the vice president, students. Ainsley has responsibility for a portfolio that includes student health and wellness, center for student involvement and careers, center for community engaged learning, student housing and community services, and athletics and recreation. He also oversees strategic priorities, such as the university's well-being framework, sexual violence prevention and response office, and anti racism initiatives. The vice president's student's portfolio is responsible for a $300,000,000 budget, including more than 25 100 full time employees and 1500 student employees. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:05]: Ainsley's responsibilities encompass undergraduate and graduate students on the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Ainsley joins UBC from the University of Southern California where he served as VPSA from 2013 to 2019, and before that, Auburn University where he served in the same position from 2009 through 2013. Ainsley held a faculty role in the Rossier School of Education at USC and Auburn University's College of Ed. His higher education career includes stints at Temple University, the University of Arkansas, and Southern Methodist University. He's a 3 time graduate of the University of Florida where he earned his bachelor's degree, master's in counseling, and doctorate in higher education administration. Ainsley also earned an MBA from Auburn in 2011 and a master of studies of law from the University of Southern California in 20 19. Ainsley brings over 30 years of experience in college administration. He led several institutional initiatives to combat sexual violence on campus, prevent hazing, and respond to campus protests. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:55]: Yet Ainsley is most proud of his work to enhance the student experience. Ainsley wrote, throughout my career, I've come to realize that our greatest responsibility as academic leaders includes the health, wellness, and safety of all students. Issues of sexual misconduct, mental health, overconsumption of alcohol, and equity are public health matters. When any of these experiences negatively impact any student, their their learning experience is severely compromised. We must tackle these challenges with the same rigor to approach public health issues. Evidence based and prevention focused, there's no reason why UBC cannot be the healthiest campus in Canada. Ainslie begins his journey at UBC with a mission to interact with students daily and build academic partnerships outside the classroom. Ainsley, welcome to SA Voices from the Field. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:02:35]: Jill. It's so good to be here today, and thank you for having me. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:38]: I always love getting the opportunity to talk to other student affairs professionals who are global. And you have been both domestically state side and are currently global. So I'm really looking forward to digging into your wealth of experience on the past, present, and future of student affairs, especially bringing in that Canadian perspective. You're currently sitting in the VPSA seat at UBC, University of British Columbia. And the first thing we always love to do on our show is get to know you by asking you, how did you land in your current seat? Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:03:06]: So I'll go a little bit back. I went to school at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and then I went there to play football. So I was so much in love with the sport that that was my motivation for going to university. But while I was there, I fell in love with learning things. I realized that if I applied the skills that I learned in my sport and applied those skills in the classroom that I could learn anything that I wanted to. So slowly, my 3rd 4th year, my attention drifted completely academics. And while I was focused on academics, I had the chance to work with other students who were still trying to figure out their learning strategies. And that intrigued me so much that when I graduated from the university, I first took my initial passion going to corporate America and I went into retail and I hated that experience. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:03:50]: So it catapulted me back to the University of Florida. And I said, you know what? I enjoyed, I enjoyed helping people learn and helping them make meaning out of life. What degree program is that? And someone guided me into college administration, higher ed counseling with a student affairs focus. At the time, I didn't know it. I didn't understand it, but I knew the people that were most influential in my life were those Ired administrators, the deans of students, the vice presidents for student affairs. I remember Tom Hill was the dean of students at the University of Florida when I was a student, and then he's been this incredible pillar of the profession since then. So I earned my masters in higher administration and my doctorate in college administration and worked around the US at a number of different universities. Not gonna recall maybe about 10 years ago sitting now with my family and trying to imagine what's part of that future. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:04:41]: We wanted to have an international experience, we wanted to live somewhere else in the world, drive on the other side of the road, eat different food, develop completely different taste buds and perhaps even learn a foreign language. We wanted our daughter to be a global citizen and what would that look like? So we imagine all these countries we might live in Singapore, Australia, China, Hong Kong, like where the places in the world we wanted to go and if that opportunity came up, we would say yes. So I received a call from a recruiter at the University of British Columbia. So I thought, woah, here's a great school in Great Britain, of course. Well, when I went and did my homework on it, I realized British Columbia is not in Great Britain. It's not even in Columbia. It's in Vancouver, Canada. So I made the trip up here, took the interview, fell in love with the environment, the people, and the portfolio is amazing. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:05:33]: And I have a pleasure of working with an incredible group of student affairs professionals. So my journey was about saying yes to opportunities. That's how I ended up here at UBC beginning in 2019. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:44]: You remind me a lot of my friend, doctor Rafael Alex Moffett. He and I met when he was over in China and I succeeded him in a role over overseas in China. And, I think all of us who have taken that expat leap have that similar sense of adventure within us, but that global citizenship value as definitely something core to our being and and figuring out in the world. But I'm gonna say, Ainsley, you do not wanna drive on the other side of the road. I've been in the UK for about 6, 7 months now. I did drive for the first time. I thought it might die the entire time, So maybe don't put that one on the bucket list. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:06:16]: Gotcha. Good to know. Thank you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:18]: But you've been up at UBC for about 5 years now, riding it out through the pandemic in a different cultural context than the one that you come from, especially after having led in the US for so long. Can you talk to us about the first things that struck you as different in the Canadian higher ed context from maybe what you were expecting given your US training? Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:06:37]: Yeah. And I'll go pre pandemic. Prior to coming to UBC in Vancouver, I served as a vice president for students at Auburn University in Alabama. Enjoyed that Southeastern Conference. I'm an SCC graduate, so it was great to be in the conference and and be part of the energy and the atmosphere working and living in the SCC. And then after Auburn, I became the vice president for students at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. Also, a major institution, major college athletics, big Greek life, donors and alumni support was incredible there. Just really great solid institutions. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:07:11]: I came over the border north to Canada in 2019 and began my service as vice president for students here. So this was my 3rd vice presidency and I committed myself to arriving here and completely embedding myself in the new culture, listening, not making assumptions, suspending judgment about anything and really become a student of the environment. Like, let me learn it before I make any preconceived notions or make the mistake of copying what I learned somewhere else and attempting to paste it in a brand new culture. So I listened for my entire 1st year and learned so much and just have a great appreciation for the slight nuances and higher ed administration in Canada. Here's what popped out of me within my 1st year. At the end of the 1st year, some things were significantly different in my role as vice president. One, for example, I spent a lot of time at my prior institutions concerned with regard to issues of overconsumption of a binge drinking culture. So when there was Greek life and college athletics and big game days, alcohol was a part of the culture, and not a casual drinking way, in a binge drinking way. Dr. Ainsley Carry [00:08:21]: So my Saturday nights or Sunday mornings were consumed with responding to what happened the football game before. And sometimes that was an incredible drain on the student affairs team because we were responding at night to issues related to overconsumption of alcohol and students being transported to the hospitals. That had not been my experience in Canada. Canada is much more casual drinkers, so they consume alcohol, so…

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Celebrating Thanksgiving: Honoring Indigenous Lands and Voices in Higher Ed Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

As we reach the mid-season break of NASPA's SA Voices from the Field, Dr. Jill Creighton, our devoted host, takes a moment to reflect on the beautiful journey so far. Highlighting the incredible range of professionals, from undergraduate students to distinguished pillars in the field, Dr. Creighton appreciates every guest who has shared their wisdom and stories on the show.

Indigenous Awareness During Thanksgiving

In alignment with the American Thanksgiving holiday, Dr. Creighton emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the indigenous history of the lands we inhabit. By using resources like Native Land (native-land.ca), the podcast encourages higher education professionals to build a deeper understanding and empathy for indigenous communities. This approach aims to foster a more inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Ongoing Conversations and Future Episodes

Even as the podcast takes a brief hiatus, listeners can look forward to more enriching conversations slated for the upcoming weeks. As Dr. Creighton and her team prepare for the next leg of the season, they remain committed to exploring the past, present, and future of student affairs.

Listener Engagement

Dr. Creighton closes the episode by expressing gratitude to the podcast's loyal listeners and encourages them to share feedback and suggestions for future topics and guests. She reminds everyone that their engagement helps broaden the show's reach within the academic community.

Catch more insightful episodes of SA Voices from the Field after the Thanksgiving break, as we continue to delve into the dynamic world of student affairs.

Supporting Student Spiritual Development and Religious Diversity on Campus Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

On the latest episode of NASPA's Victors in Grad School podcast, host Dr. Jill Creighton engages with Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew and Dr. Renee Bolling to shed light on the often-overlooked aspects of religious and spiritual diversity on college campuses. This episode delves deep into how institutions can create more inclusive environments that respect and celebrate diverse spiritual identities. Their insights provide valuable guidance for educational administrators and student affairs professionals aiming to foster spiritual inclusivity. Student Spiritual Needs and Inclusivity Dr. Renee Bolling begins by emphasizing the fundamental role that spiritual support and expression play in students' lives. College students value having access to prayer spaces, meditation rooms, and dietary options tailored to their religious needs, signaling to them that the campus respects and acknowledges their faith. The presence of these facilities does more than meet basic needs; it profoundly impacts students' perceptions of inclusivity and belonging. Impact of Campus Climate on Religious Diversity The discussion then shifts to the broader implications of campus climate on perceptions of religious diversity. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew notes that events such as protests regarding geopolitical issues, like the Israel-Palestine conflict, can heavily influence students' perceptions of how their religious identities are valued on campus. He underlines the critical need for institutions to create environments that facilitate open, respectful dialogue around these complex issues. Demographic Shifts and Personal Spirituality A notable trend highlighted in the conversation is the increasing movement among students away from organized religion towards personal spirituality or secular identities. This shift challenges campuses to rethink how they provide spiritual support. Interestingly, their college experiences can either reinforce or reshape their spiritual commitments, suggesting that campus environments have a significant role in students' spiritual development. The Role of Student Affairs Professionals Student affairs professionals are at the forefront of fostering spiritual inclusivity. As Dr. Bolling points out, more public universities are creating religious and spiritual life offices, dedicated to supporting diverse religious expressions. These professionals are tasked with not only ensuring students' spiritual needs are met but also challenging them intellectually and promoting bridge-building activities. Advancements and Challenges in Spiritual Inclusivity The episode also highlights promising practices, such as providing transportation to spiritual or prayer spaces and enhancing bias reporting systems. However, both Dr. Bolling and Dr. Mayhew stress the ongoing training gap; fewer than 30% of staff in student affairs have formal training in managing religious diversity. They advocate for more comprehensive training programs to equip educators and student affairs professionals to handle spiritual diversity tensions effectively. Conclusion: Moving Forward with INSPIRES The INSPIRES index, discussed extensively in the episode, represents a significant advancement in assessing and improving campus climates for religious and spiritual identity inclusivity. Funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, INSPIRES provides institutions with a scorecard and actionable recommendations across seven domains, aiding in the creation of more inclusive campuses. Institutions interested in participating in the INSPIRES survey can access the index website, with the survey closing on December 16. In summary, this episode of SA Voices From the Field offers a comprehensive look at the multifaceted role of spiritual inclusivity in higher education. As colleges continue to evolve, ensuring that all students feel seen, heard, and respected in their spiritual identities remains a critical aspect of their mission. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:00]: 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 ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 11, the past, present, and future of student affairs, and I'm Doctor. Jill Creighton, she, her, hers, your essay voices from the field host. Today on Essay Voices From the Field, it's my pleasure to welcome 2 scholars from the Ohio State University. They're gonna be talking about the work they're doing with the INSPIRES index, which is an index that focuses on religious and spiritual identity. Our first guest is doctor Renee Bolling. Doctor Bolling is WorldView Research Director of the College Impact Labs Interfaith Projects at The Ohio State University and has over 20 years shaping the student experience in US and international p 20 education administration. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:53]: She chairs the NASPA Spirituality and Religion in Higher Education Knowledge Community, serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and mentors international EDD students through an HBCU. Her research interests include comparative international education, critical internationalization, educational leadership, global learning, and worldview diversity, all topics related to her dissertation, which received the best practices in research and scholarship award from the International Education Knowledge Community. Renee earned her PhD from OSU's Higher Education Education Student Affairs Program, a postgraduate certificate in religious studies and education from Harvard, an MA in counseling and human development from Walsh University, and a BA in sociology from the University of Akron. Our second guest is doctor Matthew j Mayhew. Doctor Mayhew is the William Ray and Marie Addison Fletcher Professor of Educational Administration. His research is focused on how collegiate conditions, educational practices, and student experiences influence learning and democratic outcomes, including moral reasoning, pluralism, productive exchange across worldview differences, and innovation. To support the study of college and its impact on student development and learning, he's been awarded more than $20,000,000 in funding from sources, including but not limited to the United States Department of Education, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Merrifield Family Trust, and the National Science Foundation. He's published more than 60 peer reviewed articles and journals as well as how college affects students volume 3. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:15]: He received his doctorate from the University of Michigan. Welcome to SA Voices, Renee and Matt. Hello. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:02:21]: Hi. How are you? Thanks for having us. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:23]: Really looking forward to talking to you both today about all of the work you're doing with the INSPIRES index. But before we jump into the research and how you're contributing right now to the the present and the future of student affairs, we always love to get to know our guests by asking you kind of how you've gotten to your current seat. So, Renee, let's start with you. Dr. Renee Bolling [00:02:41]: Fantastic. Well, I'm really happy to be here with you today and everyone listening in. I started off in higher education student affairs and residence life like many of us, and then I wound my way into, k twelve counseling and student support, and ended up serving overseas in an international school. That got me more and more interested in this facet of diversity, religious, secular, and spiritual, or also known as worldview diversity. And so some questions from practice actually drove me back to a higher ed student affairs doctoral program where I met doctor Mayhew and began working on the INSPIRES index and some other projects. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:14]: And, Matt, how about you? Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:03:15]: Wow. That was really impressive, Renee, I have to say. That was efficient and well done. I can go on for hours here, but I'll just say that I have a history with data and numbers and a history in student affairs. And those histories align with the journey I had through college. So I started at College of the Holy Cross for my 1st year, transferred to Wheaton College, then to Brandeis University, and then to the University of Michigan where I received my doctorate. And along the way, of course, those schools do identify differentially by way of RSSI or religious, spiritual, and secular ways of thinking about schools and who they serve. And so from those kinds of context and those experiences, I kinda came into the idea that college and university life should prepare students to have productive dialogue across all walks of life, including those we typically call religious. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:04:05]: And so I've practiced that in in not only my professorship, but also a long way. I was a resident director of a small college called Fisher College, Downtown Boston, and also I was the director of student life assessment at University of North Carolina at Wilmington. So my heart is in student affairs. I actually had a job in student affairs before becoming a professor of student affairs. And so all of those kinds of experiences blend together to inform my work. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:30]: I really enjoy the smallness of our profession sometimes. And just full disclosure for our audience, Renee and I have known each other for couple years now having met in that international education space. And Matt and I just met in the pre show chatter today, but we are connected to similar people within the profession. So I'm just gonna give a brief shout out to Ashley Staples, who I used to work with at NYU, who is I know a mentee of Matt's. So we're all interlaced in student affairs usually. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:04:55]: Absolutely. Hello. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:57]: And you all are at Ohio State or as an Oregon State alum myself, I I always have to give you all a little bit of the business for being the other OSU, but I'm sure that's not not a thing you all hear a lot. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:05:10]: Well, it's funny. No. We do, actually, because Oklahoma State also tends to have the same sort of introductory jokes and remarks. But remember, we are at the Ohio State. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:19]: So that might just irritate us a little bit. So That came out of here. Dr. Renee Bolling [00:05:24]: Well and to be specific, we're at the College Impact Lab in the College of Education and Human Ecology at the Ohio State University. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:31]: Well, the work that you all are doing with the INSPIRES index, I thought fit in really nicely with our theme, the season of the past, present, and future of student affairs, particularly with the present and the future. INSPIRES is an acronym, so I'm hoping you can start with telling us what it stands for and kind of how you got here. Dr. Renee Bolling [00:05:47]: It stands for the interfaith spiritual, religious, and secular campus climate index, INSPIRES for short, and it's really, an outgrowth of past research. It's a very much a research based assessment tool based on past ideals in research, which I I think doctor Mayhew can tell us more about in a moment. But its intention is really to provide benchmarking to institutions that they can use to improve practice for diverse RSSIs, and also to provide families, students, and the public with a public face facing tool that they can use for college choice to understand how different campuses are responding to and helping to support different students in this diversity. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:06:25]: That's exactly right. And thank you, Renee, for saying that. So I turned it over to Renee because I couldn't remember because I'm getting old. And my students call it seasoning, but my daughter calls it balding. I couldn't remember actually what INSPIRE stood, but I can give you some of the background and context, and that is Alyssa Rockenbach from North Carolina State, what used to be called Interfaith Youth Corps, but is now called Interfaith America. And I kind of started this partnership a long time ago to try to look at what religious and worldview identities, how they developed during college. And we've surveyed over thousands and thousands of students over hundreds of schools and talked to faculty and staff along the way. And we learned a lot. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:07:02]: And, basically, what the INSPIRES index does is it takes information from all of that research and and really distills it into one inventory so that we can say that campus x is a welcoming environment for Jewish students. Campus x might have some issues with being welcoming for Muslim students. And when we say that, it's not just theoretical. We've actually asked Jewish students and Muslim students, what makes you feel more welcome on campus? And then we turned those ideas into items on the inventory. So everything on the inventory comes from the voices of the very people we're trying to help. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:42]: What are some of the things that you're hearing are important for students who come from spiritual backgrounds, as they're looking at college choice? Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:07:49]: The number one thing I would say that kinda cuts across all the groups, and this surprises people a lot of times is, the idea of space for support and spiritual expression. So all students, even evangelical students and students who I don't have identify with any particular religion or non religious students, When they walk onto campus and they see that a campus provides prayer spaces for Muslim students that think, wow, this campus is welcoming toward all religious identities, even my own. And that came up over and over and over again with regard to how students were making meaning of what is welcoming for them. There are welcoming issues and factors for each group specifically. As an example, for Jewish students, having, kosher meals provided in every dining facility on campus is really important. Some institutions have them, but they're in different buildings across campus. And so, when Jewish students wanna have a meal with their friends and they don't wanna have to schlep across campus to friends, sometimes that compromises whether the the Jewish students can eat with their friends or not. And so that is something that Jewish students feel is very important for making them feel welcome is this idea that there are kosher meals at all dining facilities across campus. Dr. Matthew J. Mayhew [00:09:02]: And we have examples of each of those kinds of things for each group. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:05]: Let's dig into that a little bit. I think it's it's quite fascinating to hear that the signal for inclusion may not even be related to my own identities, but whether or not the university or the college is is kind of outlying where inclusion happens for someone who might not identify like me. What do you make of that? Dr. Renee Bolling [00:09:23]: Well, we do see it over and over again. For example, one of the things that we've noticed is that students are paying attention when another student is experiencing a negative incident on campus. They're watching and seeing how it's handled. They're watching to see how faculty respond. They're picking up on how they perceive other groups as being welcome or not, and that informs their own experience of the campus climate. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:46]: You all have been doing this work long before the campus protests began to erupt regarding Israel and Palestine ac…

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