SA Voices From the Field

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Thriving in Student Affairs: Boosting Wellbeing and Career Pathways Oct 22, 2026

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In the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, host Dr. Jill Creighton welcomes Dr. Hollie Chessman for a timely and essential conversation on the wellbeing and career pathways of student affairs professionals. As the field continues to encounter mounting pressures—from student needs to institutional demands—this episode delivers both a candid look at the challenges and practical pathways forward. If you're a higher education professional or anyone invested in cultivating thriving environments on campus, this is a conversation not to miss. Dr. Hollie Chessman brings invaluable expertise from two decades in student affairs as well as her research focused on wellbeing in the profession. Reflecting on her own journey—transitioning from housing and student activities roles to policy and research in D.C.—she shares unique insights into why so many early- and mid-career professionals struggle with burnout and how institutional practices impact wellbeing. Key findings from Dr. Hollie Chessman's research highlight that professionals who remain in student affairs for 12 years or more report significantly higher wellbeing than those newer to the field. This invites an important question: What supports, structures, and cultures keep professionals thriving in the long term? The episode discusses how factors such as autonomy at work, positive relationships, sense of purpose, salary, and even perceived health all predict a more positive work experience. Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Hollie Chessman stress that institutions bear real responsibility. Wellbeing is not just an individual's burden; it is shaped by the systems, policies, and leadership present on campus. They urge supervisors and senior leaders to engage in honest assessment of staff wellbeing, support career development conversations, and critically examine organizational cultures that may be contributing to stress and dissatisfaction. The conversation also delves into the broader context—how post-pandemic realities, changing student needs, and evolving workplace norms have affected wellbeing in the field. The episode is rich with encouragement for graduate students, supervisors, and VPSAs alike, offering both easy wins and complex challenges that, when addressed, can make a lasting impact. For anyone seeking actionable insights and inspiration to create a healthier, more supportive environment for student affairs professionals, listening to this episode is a must. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the latest research and practical strategies that can advance wellbeing on your campus today! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is Season 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to our next episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field. Today, I'm pleased to welcome Dr. Holly M. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:34]: Chessman, who is currently the Director for Retreat and Evaluation Services at the Association for Community College Trustees in Washington, D.C. She joined ACCT in August of 2026 after almost 9 years as Director and Principal Program Officer and as the resident college student mental health and wellbeing expert at the American Council on Education, or ACE. Dr. Chessman joined ACE in December 2017, bringing almost 20 years of professional experience in higher education. Prior to her current role at CCT, she was the Director of Research and Projects at the Council of Independent Colleges and a postdoctoral associate at ACE. She earned her PhD from George Mason University in 2015, prior to which she spent 17 years as a student affairs professional serving in various roles and institutions, including 10 years in housing and residence life. Her primary interests include college student mental health and wellbeing, student affairs professionals' wellbeing, graduate student choice, and organizational change and leadership. I'm really thrilled to talk to Holly today about her research about wellbeing and student affairs professionals. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:37]: Holly, welcome to SA Voices. Hi, Jill. It's great to be here. Thanks for inviting me. You've got so many great things to talk about today regarding the wellbeing of student affairs professionals. You've done some really great research in this area, and I'm looking forward to digging into some of that detail. But you are one of our colleagues who started in student affairs and now are working in more of an education-adjacent role in the policy and advocacy sphere in DC. And I think our listeners would really love to know how you made that transition and how you got to your current seat. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:02:08]: Absolutely. I'd be happy to talk about that. So I spent 17 years in student affairs. During my— I went to undergrad and got my undergraduate degree and then had an opportunity for an internship in our new campus recreation center that I helped run the referendum for as an undergraduate, and it paid for my graduate school. So I said, I'm going to go to grad school at it because I didn't want to sub because I graduated in December. I was going to be a K-12 English speech and journalism teacher. So I went to get my undergrad, graduated, and started working in residence life at Tulane University. And then I hopped from Tulane to Ohio at Lake Erie College as the director of campus involvement. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:02:47]: And then Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, and I had to go back to New Orleans to give back to the city that had given so much to me. So I went back and took a job at Loyola University where I was associate director of co-curricular programs, where I did student activities on the programming board and did other special projects for the Vice President of Affairs. And then I had an opportunity to work with my mentor at George Mason University. And also George Mason University had a PhD program. And so after some consideration, I applied for a job at George Mason and became the Associate Director of Residence Life at George Mason, where I worked full-time and also worked on my PhD. And that was a pretty big undertaking. And those of us who have done that can pretty much testify that you probably wouldn't recommend working full-time and working on your PhD, but sometimes that's the only way that we can afford to go to school. And so— Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:36]: I'll co-sign that. I did the same thing. It was a journey. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:03:39]: It was a journey, right? It's like you can get a quote unquote free PhD, but it comes at a pretty significant cost. So 5 years, basically with no nights or weekends to do much of anything. And so I graduated in 2015. And during my time working at George Mason, I learned that I really didn't want to be a vice president of student affairs or a senior student affairs officer. That was my initial goal. for getting the PhD. And I said, I don't think this is for me. I've been on call for 6 years dealing with fire, flood, blood, and drugs. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:04:08]: And I said, you know, I don't want to do that for the rest of my professional career, 'cause guys, residents of student affairs get called for the really serious stuff. And so I decided to look at other opportunities and my chair of my dissertation and a great friend and colleague, Jamie Lester, basically said, hey, there's this, this, this, assistantship opened up at American Council on Education, and it's a 9-month opportunity to do a postdoc with them. What do you think about applying? And I applied and I received it. And, um, I did 9 months at ACE, and then I had to find a job. And I ended up going to the Council of Independent Colleges for about almost 2 years. I ended up not being a fan of being locked in an office with spreadsheets all day. I'm an extrovert, so I found that being a research department of one was not, was not my forte. And then ACE had an opportunity that opened back up and went back to ACE to work on building out a portfolio of work on college student mental health and ended up broadening that to campus mental health because our vice president of research at the time felt like my experience with the student affairs and wellbeing work that I had done in my dissertation and my work with college students and their, and working in residence life for 10 years really gave me a good sort of foundation and to sort of build that work out at ACE for college presidents. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:05:27]: And so that's what I did. And just recently I left ACE and I came to the Association for Community College Trustees, and I've been here about 4 weeks. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:34]: Well, I'll give a shout out to Jonathan Fansmith, who we've had on the podcast a couple of times, one of Holly's former colleagues at ACE. And then Holly, can you tell us a little bit about what your current organization does? Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:05:45]: Sure. So the Association for Community College Trustees is a membership organization that helps community college trustees And they work— our office in particular works with community college trustees and with presidents to build a good, strong relationship, good governance relationship, so that they can really sort of steward our really important institutions of community colleges. And good governance really serves a significant portion of our country's students. And so having good governance really gives those opportunities to our students. Thank you. gives great opportunity for those who are, who are starting at community colleges and looking to further their credentials, either through certificate or through degree. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:27]: I think that brings us back to the core of the conversation today, which is you've spent a lot of your career supporting others or figuring out how others can be supported in the higher education sphere. And your research, when you did your doctorate, was really centered on the wellbeing of student affairs professionals. That comes in a couple of different dimensions, but that was both a doctoral dissertation and an article in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, or JSARP for short, which is the NASPA journal that is peer-reviewed and academically rigorous. So it's always, I think, a huge win to get an article published in JSARP. That one is a big one for us. But I wanted to talk to you about that research and more specifically around what we learned and how that's still relevant, because it's been a couple of years since the research was done. But the article you can find is called Student Affairs Professionals' Well-Being and Work Quality. If you want to go read the full article, it is published from January 2021. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:21]: one's special edition of JSARP. But Holly, can you tell us what prompted you to do research on the wellbeing work quality components of student affairs professionals? Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:07:31]: Sure. So during my time in student affairs, 17-ish years that I spent in student affairs, I noticed younger professionals burning out more quickly. I mean, you probably experienced this as a young student affairs professional as well, when you're wearing multiple hats and you're doing resident advisor training and RD training, and you're working 12 to 18 hour days for where you're on call and you don't have an opportunity to like really recharge until you gotta get up and go to work the next morning. I was noticing a lot of issues around some of our younger colleagues in the field and it was burnout was sort of the thing. But one of the things that I learned in my time at George Mason, which had a really big focus on wellbeing, they have a Center for Wellbeing at George Mason. They did an annual conference on wellbeing. What I learned about wellbeing in particular, I felt like was more applicable to what it was that we were looking at. Burnout is such an easy way to sort of talk about the issue. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:08:30]: And I've done work with folks who've done work on burnout, but I think wellbeing in particular, it's like, are you having more positive than negative? There's these different facets of wellbeing, like purpose and meaning, as well as engagement and some of these other core concepts that really sort of speak to why someone has a positive functioning and experience. And so that is, in my mind, directly related work quality. And so that was sort of one of the things I needed. I had an independent variable and I needed a dependent variable, but I needed independent variables. And one of those independent variables was our Work-Related Quality of Life Scale. And it was a validated instrument. And so when I created the instrument, I combined the Brief Inventory on Thriving, which was the sort of a wellbeing piece of the assessment, as well as the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale. And then asked some demographic questions and a question related to health. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:09:20]: And I put together a survey based on a framework that I had and fielded it. And I had over 2,200 responses in that survey. So to me, I was worried about having enough power in my sample to run the statistical analysis. And then when, so I was like, I put it in the field and I sat on my computer and I watched, you know, it was SurveyMonkey and I watched the SurveyMonkey count, you know, and I was like, I need 500, I need 500. And what ended up happening is it, it just ticked up and it kept ticking up and it kept ticking up. And then so For me, I think it really spoke to the need of this research in the field. People were more than willing to sit and spend the 10-ish minutes that it took to take the survey and be pretty— reveal some potentially some more vulnerable things about how they were feeling about their lives in that moment. And I'm grateful for all the folks that ended up taking the survey and sharing it with their colleagues to take, because it ended up being, I think, one of the first baseline studies for student affairs and their wellbeing. Dr. Hollie Chessman [00:10:19]: And while the data was collected in 2015, I think it's still relevant as it creates that baseline. And I use it when I give presentations now, when people, when we do, like I do presentations to different institutions that want to talk about, or maybe better understand the wellbeing of their student affairs department. And we can look at, okay, if we can see how people confidentially are sort of mapping out and what the, how people are feeling in the terms of their wellbeing department or within the larger institutional context. So it ends up being a good conversation starter to think about, well, what can we be doing to better improve our wellbeing of our student affairs professionals, because it is within the institutional control to help with that. Because systems are what impact wellbeing. It's not just the individual that needs to do the work, right? It's the institutions that have to sort of think about the systems and how our systems can better support our professionals on campus. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:11]: I appreciate you talking about it as a baseline measurement. And I think it's great to have benchmarked where we were as a field in 2015, before pandemic, before, you know, work from home came into our lives, before a numbe…

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Staff-Centered, Student-Focused: Elevating Student Affairs Workplaces Oct 15, 2026

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In the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, listeners are treated to a dynamic conversation with Dr. Jamarco Clark and Dr. Jason Lynch, co-editors of a special 2025 edition of the Journal of Education of Human Resources. Hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton, this episode delves into critical issues facing student affairs professionals, shining a spotlight on well-being, workplace culture, and the evolving definition of professionalism in higher education. One of the podcast's most engaging themes is the importance of workplace well-being—not just for students, but for the professionals charged with supporting them. Dr. Jamarco Clark emphasizes the need for a staff-centered, student-focused approach, arguing that when staff are empowered and cared for, student success naturally follows. Both speakers reflect on lessons learned during the COVID-19 era, noting that while much research emerged in response to pandemic challenges, the issues of burnout, compassion fatigue, and the complexities of balancing personal and professional boundaries remain urgent and relevant. The episode explores the multi-generational workforce in student affairs, discussing how differing views on professionalism and workplace expectations can impact collaboration and staff satisfaction. Dr. Jason Lynch and Dr. Jamarco Clark highlight how traditional concepts of professionalism—often based largely on appearance—are being re-examined, making room for more inclusive and flexible environments where effectiveness takes precedence over simply being "busy." Remote and hybrid work also come up as hot topics, with the guests candidly sharing their personal experiences navigating both the positives and challenges of work-from-home arrangements. Their stories underline the importance of trust, flexibility, and recognizing the diverse needs of staff—especially when responding to student crises and managing cyclical job demands. What emerges is a clear call for leaders in student affairs to proactively cultivate psychological safety within their divisions, to recognize staff contributions, and to intentionally prepare the next generation of practitioners. The dialogue is brimming with actionable ideas for supervisors, from empowering staff to take ownership of divisional projects, to focusing more on mentorship and less on micro-management. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to student affairs, this episode offers fresh perspectives and practical strategies for enhancing your own well-being and advancing your career. Tune in to be inspired, challenged, and reminded that supporting staff is not just good management—it's essential for the success of our students. Ready to rethink your approach to student affairs? Listen to the full episode and join the conversation on the future of the profession! TRANSCTIPT 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 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, where today we're going to be talking to 2 authors who helped co-edit a special edition of a journal focusing on the wellbeing of student affairs professionals in the workplace. Our first guest is Dr. Jamarco Clark, who serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Wichita State University, where he works collaboratively across campus to strengthen the student experience and position student affairs as a strategic partner in student success. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:51]: Prior to joining Wichita State, Dr. Clark served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield. He also is an active scholar and graduate faculty member teaching in doctoral and master's programs in higher education leadership. His scholarship focuses on workplace wellbeing, trauma-informed supervision, and the experiences of student affairs professionals with particular attention to how institutions support the people who support students. Clark is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and has been appointed by governors in both Illinois and Iowa to statewide service commissions where he contributed to efforts advancing civic engagement, volunteerism, and community service. Dr. Clark earned his Ed.D. from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a master's degree in strategic leadership from Mount Mercy University, and a bachelor's degree in educational foundations from Iowa Wesleyan University. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:35]: Our second guest is Dr. Jason Lynch, who is a passionate educator and innovative scholar-practitioner. He's a native North Carolinian and first-generation college student growing up in Whiteville, a small rural town in the southeastern region of the state. His scholarship and teaching are informed by his practical experience in functional areas, including housing and residence life, student conduct, leadership development, multicultural affairs, fraternity and sorority life, assessment and evaluation, and statewide system policy and governance. He is committed to equipping educators and educational leaders with the tools to provide transformational learning opportunities for students while also fostering the growth and wellbeing of staff, faculty, and leadership. His research interests explore the nature and impact of trauma within educational contexts, with a specific focus on secondary traumatic stress, organizational trauma, and trauma-informed leadership in postsecondary education. He's held multiple leadership roles, including founding executive editor for the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice editorial board and co-editor of the Trauma-Informed Practice in Higher Education published by Bloomsbury. Welcome to SA Voices, Jamarco. Dr. Jamarco Clark [00:02:35]: Hello. Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here with you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:37]: And hello, Jason. Glad to have you on the show. Dr. Jason Lynch [00:02:39]: I'm so glad to be here. Thanks for having me. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:42]: And today we are here talking, minus one of your co-editors, about an edition that happened in January of 2025 of the Journal of Education of Human Resources. And it was a special edition on workplace wellbeing and the student affairs professional, which just fits so nicely with our theme this season of enhancing the wellbeing and career pathways of student affairs professionals. Could not pass up this opportunity to talk to you all about this incredible curated volume of research that I don't know that a lot of student affairs practitioners check out this journal. So looking forward to digging into that. But before we get started with all of the goodness of the journal articles, we'd love to get to know you a little bit more. So, Jamarco, let's start with you. How did you get to your current seat? Dr. Jamarco Clark [00:03:22]: Absolutely. So I'm Jamarco Clark. I'm currently the Vice President for Student Affairs at Wichita State University. At the time of taping, been here for about 2 months. And so it's been a very busy start to fall semester. Prior to this role, I was at the University of Illinois Springfield as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and just was kind of in a space of we had accomplished some good work at UIS and knew that I'd like to get to a larger school. And Wichita State was one that checked a lot of boxes for me as it relates to what the university stands for, the way that access is created for students. And so, get into the process and, and really saw it as a place where I could see myself contributing to the great work that was happening and, and ultimately help enhance both the student and staff experience. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:05]: And Jason, how about you? How did you get to your current seat? Dr. Jason Lynch [00:04:07]: Well, so I'm proud to say this is the longest position I've been in. So, I started as a faculty member at App State in fall 2020. And prior to that, I spent about a decade as a student affairs practitioner, primarily in residence life roles. But as of this semester, I'm the new program director for our HESA program at Appalachian State. I help with curriculum and admissions and all that sort of stuff. My primary bread and butter is studying issues around traumatic stress in college environments, as well as on issues of workplace wellbeing. And all of it's kind of grounded in my professional experience prior to becoming a faculty member. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:43]: I love the theory to practice elements that you two were able to collaborate forward on with one of you being a practitioner and one of you being in the faculty. We also have a 3rd co-editor in this edition, Dr. Tammy Samuels. Would one of you like to introduce a little bit about her? Dr. Jason Lynch [00:04:56]: Yeah, definitely. So Tammy is a good friend. She and I used to work together at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to that, really, she was at Rutgers University, and a lot of her career path deals with career advising. But she recently graduated with her doctorate from USC and is really passionate about creating sustainable work environments. Her specialty area is kind And how did the 3 of you come together and decide you wanted to take on this project? Yeah, so I think that all 3 of us have this shared interest, and I think that there was a call for special topic issues in this particular journal. And I think that whenever— I forgot, Jamarco, if we had already been collaborating on something, but it just was sort of serendipitous in that like all 3 of us were doing some similar work and we're friends and we're like, well, we'll submit some stuff. Dr. Jamarco Clark [00:05:46]: But yeah, what Jason said, I think it's really important to recognize that this is a What Jason won't share is that Jason has done a phenomenal job of pulling in higher education, K-12 educators who are interested in this trauma work as it relates to looking at the wellbeing of the professionals. And so Jason has done a wonderful job of pulling folks together, and that's ultimately what led to it, right? He's, he's been a big name in the space as it relates to the work in the field. And so that opportunity came about and Jason pulled us together and we were able to work on this. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:13]: So thinking about this journal, I think this is, as I mentioned, a journal that not a lot of student affairs practitioners might have awareness of. Can you tell us all about what this journal is, what it focuses on, what type of research typically shows up here? Dr. Jason Lynch [00:06:25]: Yeah, well, so to be honest, before the call, I wasn't super familiar with it either. As with a lot of education journals, they have sort of a P through 20 focus just by the nature and volume of K through 12 organizations and research. It's kind of like the American Education Research Association. It's kind of like their journals where higher ed is kind of a small discipline in and of itself. So you'll find that most articles are probably K through 12 related. But I think that's why it was even more important for us to make this or or meet this call with research around higher education professionals. And it's geared towards the folks that are doing this staff support, human resources work. And I think we could elevate this topic more within our discipline in student affairs. Dr. Jason Lynch [00:07:06]: I think it's equally important that we need to meet our partners on campus that have a lot of influence over systems and structures and help educate them and present them with, with good research and suggestions for the field. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:18]: I think it's interesting the timing of this piece as well, because launching in January of 2024, And backing up, we know that these processes for publication can take months, if not sometimes years. And I would imagine there was a lot of influence of COVID in the COVID era in the wellbeing work that's in place in the articles. Can you talk about how that might have influenced and what you're seeing now as still evergreen from that particular point? Dr. Jamarco Clark [00:07:42]: Yeah, I think one of the things that I would add too is that back in 2020, Jason, myself, and a couple other practitioners were talking about that very topic. We did another webinar, I believe it was with SA Now, and it was really about how coming out of COVID And this is where my interest became during COVID outta COVID, all the things that were happening around that time. It was so often professionals, both K-12, higher ed, the question was always, what do the students need? I know students, and we never really got to pause to think about what we needed for ourselves. And so that's where my interest in this work really became. And I think we still see a lot of that today. And so it's something that, that continues to be timely and a lot of things are associated to it. It's the nature of the work, but I really like to invite people to pause and think about what they need. need in any given situation before they jump to taking care of what the needs are of the students, because that's wellbeing, really thinking about what you need in the situation as well. Dr. Jamarco Clark [00:08:36]: So I think from 2020 and even probably before up until now, it's still prevalent, it's still relevant as well, and I don't think it's gonna go away. And that's why it's important that we keep talking about it. Dr. Jason Lynch [00:08:47]: I think that when you kind of look at the list of articles and stuff too, like, well, and to your point around the publication machine, if you will, right? A lot of these articles are written kind of right after return to work era after COVID. And so even though published in 2025, a lot of the work was done and a lot of the research was based off of the lived experiences that were happening in the moment. But what I find fascinating too, and years after having this all published and going through it and looking back through these articles, all of it still applies. And so there's sort of this catch-22. They're like, well, I'm glad we did the work. And it's kind of like, well, did anybody listen to the work? Because I feel like there's a lot of hand-wringing sometimes around like, how did we get here? Why is this the way that it is? And I was like, well, People have been shouting from the rooftops for a while now about this. And I think to your point about being evergreen or timely, I think each one of these articles are still just as timely this year as they were in last year or even the years that they were written. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:43]: I want to talk a little bit about the content. There are 13 or 14 articles that were curated for this particular edition, and they range from retention to remote work to supporting staff practitioners that have identities of people of color or other marginalized identities that they might bring it with their everyday selves at work. There's also about understanding the workplace satisfaction for mid-level folks. I think that one's really important because the mid-level is the largest trench of student affairs professionals that we have and also a critical place for development for future leadership. There's also some really important work on how we show up…

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When Student Affairs Pros Become College Parents: Navigating Dual Roles Oct 08, 2026

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What happens when student affairs professionals become college parents themselves? The latest episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field" tackles this unique blend of personal and professional experience, yielding candid and relatable insights for anyone working in higher education—or embarking on the college transition with their own child. Host Dr. Jill Creighton welcomes Dr. Gourjoine Wade and Miriam Khalil, both seasoned student affairs leaders, as they reflect on their experiences sending their own children off to university. Their stories illuminate the challenges, emotional dynamics, and surprising discoveries that arise when the boundaries between "the job" and "parenthood" blur in profound ways. A core theme runs through the episode: The journey to college looks different for everyone, and no amount of professional expertise can fully prepare a parent for the emotional impact. Even though Dr. Gourjoine Wade had coached countless families through orientation, he shared that all of the professional advice went "blank" when it was his turn to drop off his daughter. Both Dr. Gourjoine Wade and Miriam Khalil note that their students—having grown up around campus life—were actually more prepared than many of their peers. This "insider knowledge" led to increased confidence for their children, demonstrating the subtle ways children absorb lessons from their parents' work. Another important discussion centers on the balance between empowerment and involvement: how do you, as an expert, step back to let your own child take charge? Both guests emphasized the importance of encouraging independence, coaching their students through processes without taking over, and resisting the urge to leverage professional networks for shortcuts. It's about trusting the process—and the staff—just as they encourage other families to do. The episode also confronts the role of privilege in the college journey, candidly acknowledging that not all families possess the same resources or insider knowledge. Dr. Gourjoine Wade and Miriam Khalil urge their student affairs colleagues to give grace to staff, offer support to fellow parents, and use their unique vantage point to enhance onboarding experiences for all. Ultimately, this conversation shines a fresh light on how lived experience as a college parent can deepen empathy, inform more intentional practices, and bring both greater transparency and humanity to the world of student affairs. If you're curious about how your colleagues are navigating college transitions with their own children, or simply want a heartfelt reminder of what families experience, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in and join the conversation! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts. Brought to you by NASPA, we curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to Student Affairs Voices from the Field. Today, we have a really unique conversation to share with you between 2 student affairs professionals who are also sending their own young adult children to university this fall. So you're going to hear from them both as the administrators that they are in senior leadership positions in student affairs, as well as their perspective as parents. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:47]: I really loved this dialogue. Our first guest is Miriam Khalil Yousuf Khalil. Miriam Khalil is a higher education professional with extensive experience in academic advising, student success, retention, and institutional effectiveness across the GCC region. She's advised diverse student populations across disciplines and partnered with senior academic leaders to advance student retention, accreditation, quality enhancement, and student engagement initiatives. Her expertise includes academic advising, the first-year experience, assessment, and data-informed decision-making to support student achievement. An active contributor to the student affairs profession, Midyem has authored and contributed to NASPA publications, including articles featured in the NASPA Global publication of 2026, and has presented at regional and international conferences. Miriam Khalil is the Regional Director of IACIS in the Middle East. Through her collaboration with NCADA, she has supported efforts to advance academic advising practices and professional development opportunities within the Middle East region. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:40]: She currently serves as the Director of Academic Advising at Northwestern University in Qatar. Our next guest is Dr. Gorjwan M. Wade, who is a pioneering collegiate executive, higher education loyalist, student success champion, first-generation advocate, and talent cultivator with over 2 decades of transformative and inspirational shaping student access, achievement, and institutional excellence. Currently serving with the Alamo Colleges District as Vice President for Student Success at San Antonio College, Dr. Wade integrates strategy, compassion, and innovation to drive meaningful outcomes, fueling enrollment and retention growth, advancing first-generation persistence, and cultivating inclusive campus cultures where all students can thrive to build lives that they want. A proud first-generation college graduate originally from Louisiana and now rooted in Texas, Dr. Wade is nationally recognized for his outcomes-driven, data-informed, and student-centered leadership that challenges higher education to reimagine pathways for access, belonging, and student success. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:35]: Throughout his career, he's designed scalable first-generation programs at HBCUs and HSIs, initiated enrollment and retention strategies that improved persistence and graduation outcomes at 4-year universities and community colleges, secured millions in grants and stewarded fundraising relationships to strengthen the student experiences at private liberal arts institutions, and amplified institutional impact through innovative digital storytelling nationwide. He's also deeply committed to developing the next generation of higher education leaders through mentoring and national service. Dr. Wade earned a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and a Bachelor of Public Administration with a minor in Political Science from Grambling State University. At the core of his kind leadership philosophy is an ongoing dedication to authenticity, transparency, inclusive excellence, and putting people first, with students and his team always at the center of the mission, anchored by a steadfast belief in the life-changing power of education, a belief he also champions as a board leader for Dollar Match, where he advances national efforts to close the college opportunity gap for first-generation students. A lifelong believer in the transformational impact of learning, Dr. Wade shares this passion for education with his wife, Shara, a dedicated K-12 education leader. Together, they emphasize the importance of learning, leadership, and service in their family, raising 2 wonderful daughters who inspire their commitment to building a better future through education. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:57]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field. So excited to have you here, Gourjwan. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:04:01]: I'm excited to be here. Thank you for the opportunity to have a conversation today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:04]: And Miriam Khalil, we're also very excited to have you in from Qatar today. Miriam Khalil [00:04:08]: Thank you. And I'm very happy to be here and looking forward to the conversation. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:13]: This is an episode that I've been looking forward to recording for such a long time because I've got so many colleagues that are in the same boat. And it's a conversation we've been having, I think, in the profession for a while, but capturing it for SA Voices, I think, is going to give it some new perspective. And the topic today is student affairs professionals who are also sending their own students to university for the first time. There's so many things that we think about as professionals on our end as we're preparing to welcome students. I know on my campus, we just welcomed a whole bunch of new students and their families. And I know we have expectations for the experience that we're delivering for the students and their families, and I'm sure you do too. But then being on the other side and being the family that's being received, it's gotta just be such a wild different experience. So that's what we're gonna dig into today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:02]: But before we go there, like to get to know you both just a little bit more. So, Gourjuan, starting with you, can you tell us how you got to your current seat in Texas? Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:05:11]: Absolutely. And thank you for everyone listening and having conversation with us today. So, I landed in Texas. Texas was not unfamiliar. Before that, I was in Louisiana. I was the AVP and eventually interim vice president at my undergrad alma mater, which was the same space that I did my work study. So, that's a whole nother conversation for another day. Ended up going to Texas Lutheran University as the VPSA. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:05:36]: And then here at San Antonio College as the Vice President for Student Success. Before that, I was actually teaching as an adjunct here, and my students kind of coerced me into seeking the opportunity, just hearing their feedback. And then fast forward, and here I am today. So looking forward to our conversation and getting a chance to talk about all the things dad and student affairs and sending my kid off. So. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:00]: Excellent. And Miriam, how about you? Hi. Miriam Khalil [00:06:03]: Thank you for hosting us. Well, prior to joining Northwestern Qatar in 2021, I was in the UAE where I was a senior academic advisor and an adjunct faculty in the School of Business and the School of Arts and Science at the American University in Dubai. So more than 10 years experience in academic advising, working with students from day one until graduation, and it's a profession that I really enjoy, although my background is in finance and banking, but I would always choose advising as a career. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:42]: So why don't you go ahead and tell us about your now adult children who are students at university? Who are they and where did they go? Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:06:50]: Well, I'll start. For me, I've got one daughter, well, 2 daughters. My now college student who is a musical theater kid, you know, we started the process, I believe, kind of late. You know, for me, I'm a first-gen college student 3 times. So we felt, my wife and I, like she was also a first-gen student, that we were going into the process a little bit more prepared than we were. And we found that to be grossly inadequate from all things scholarship to all things about housing, res life, which is my background is housing and residence life. I was like, yeah, we got this, we're ready, let's go. And I was not ready. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:07:27]: So we went on the college tours and all the things about a year and a half ago. She landed at the University of Texas at Arlington. pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater. We rolled up there early in August and dropped her off. And, you know, we were both just kind of looking, my wife and I, like, I think we're ready for her to go. And she was looking at us like, we're ready for you. I'm ready for y'all to go. And, and that was it. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:07:54]: You know, before the drop-off, you know, so many folks were like, you know, you're gonna cry, you're gonna be so intense, it's gonna be crazy. And we did not have those emotions. And I think for multiple reasons. One specifically, I think we had kind of prepared for it. You know, I have facilitated countless number of conversations at orientations, parent family orientations, talking about the transition and letting your kids go. And to be on that side of the spectrum now was really weird. So we dropped her off and she was good and we were good and we all rode off and, and that was it. And, you know, she came home for Labor Day, everything was great. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:08:28]: She drove home, drove back. It's good. So, you know, for me it was, that was my firstborn child. You know, I had shared her journey in social media spaces, so people were familiar with where she was going and how she got there. So it was just an exciting time. Uh, it was not sad, right? I think for us it was just about almost kind of like a congratulatory thing. Like we had all collectively gotten her to that space and letting her kind of go off and be her best version of herself. And it was like a joyous time. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:08:56]: So it didn't feel sad, still feel good. You know, she texts every now and then. Uh, I'm not one of those parents that are like, you better call me every day and check in. No, she texts, she checks in randomly. I'm good. So good to have her in her, her own space doing her own thing. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:15]: Ghorjawan, when you were in the process of kind of being on that receiving end of parent orientation from what is now UT Arlington, how was that experience knowing that usually you're the other person giving that presentation? Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:09:30]: It was kind of weird. Again, you know, so I've been in those spaces multiple times and But nowhere in this transition for me as a parent did I ever think about the things that I was telling other parents in orientation. It was like it all went blank. Like I, I had, uh, none of that stuff came to mind. None of the helicopter parents or, you know, the safety and security tips or the reminders to check in. None of that stuff came to my mind. It only came to me after I realized that she was gone. And then it was like, hmm. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:10:02]: How am I gonna prepare for her being gone? What do I need to do? And my wife and I, we just kind of played it by ear. And, you know, again, I think my wife who was on the K-12 side of the education spectrum, she was very much, you know, make sure you call me every day and tell me how your classes are going. And for me, it was just kind of like, ah, you know, just go out there and YOLO, live your best life, have fun, you know, make good choices and do all the things that you feel like you need to do. And I feel like we have prepared her to go out and be the best version of herself. So I, I've been really content with that. And when I think about those conversations with parents, um, the tears and the, can I put my head on your shoulder at those type of orientation type events? I was like, I don't have that. And, and maybe it's because I'm a practitioner and I've been prepared more than the average parent. But it was, it was almost like a foreign concept when I thought about, you know, how I emotionally had prepared to to let her go. Dr. Gourjoine Wade [00:11:00]: So it was just a weird thing. Very weird. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:02]: Miriam Khalil, how about you? Tell us about your student. Miriam Khalil [00:11:05]: So my firstborn daughter is the one going to university next week. Next week? Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:12]: Congrat…

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Enhancing Career Pathways & Well-Being: Insights from NASPA Strategies Conference Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

In the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field podcast, the conversation centers around one of NASPA's most dynamic offerings: the NASPA Strategies Conference. Host Dr. Jill Creighton is joined by Dr. Emma Spalding, Senior Director of Wellbeing Initiatives and Statewide Coalition Projects, and Whitney Platzer-O'Regan, Senior Director of Prevention and Safety Initiatives. Together, they explore not just the logistics and evolution of the Strategies Conference, but also the importance of holistic professional development in student affairs. A Conference with Broad Appeal and Deep Impact The NASPA Strategies Conference is unique in its ability to bring together five major content areas—Alcohol, Other Drug, and Violence Prevention; Mental Health; Peer Education; Sexual Violence Prevention and Response; and Wellbeing and Health Promotion Leadership—under one roof. This multi-conference environment means that professionals can tailor their experience, stepping between tracks and broadening their expertise far beyond their home specialties. Both Dr. Emma Spalding and Whitney Platzer-O'Regan highlighted the power of breaking down traditional silos and building inter-campus connections, a theme that runs throughout the episode. The presence of undergraduate peer educators is particularly valuable; their on-the-ground perspective not only energizes the conference but also ensures its relevance for today's rapidly shifting campus realities. Practical Tips and Professional Development For newcomers, the advice is clear: take advantage of NASPA's dedicated first-time attendee sessions and make strategic use of the conference app to maximize your experience. The episode also delves into creative funding advice and action-planning for those hoping to bring students to the conference, emphasizing how this investment can have ripple effects campus-wide. When the conversation turns to career pathways, Whitney Platzer-O'Regan and Dr. Emma Spalding remind supervisors and VPSAs that fostering professional growth—and prioritizing well-being—go hand in hand. Simple actions like encouraging PTO use and seeking out personal, not just role-related, professional development opportunities can significantly impact staff retention and satisfaction. Why Listen? This episode is a must for anyone considering attending NASPA Strategies or just wanting to recharge their professional batteries with actionable ideas. Whether you're a seasoned administrator or an emerging professional, the insight and encouragement offered by Dr. Jill Creighton, Dr. Emma Spalding, and Whitney Platzer-O'Regan will help you navigate both conference season and your broader career journey. Tune in for an energizing, informative discussion on transforming your professional development and supporting the well-being of everyone in your student affairs community. 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 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to another episode of SA Voices from the Field. Today we're featuring 2 NASPA staffers who are going to be talking to us all about the NASPA Strategies Conference. Our first guest is Emmis Balding, who serves as the Senior Director of Wellbeing Initiatives and Statewide Coalition Projects at NASPA. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:45]: She has been with NASPA for 7 years, and in her role, she oversees the Colorado Coalition of Campus Alcohol and Drug Educators, also known as CADE, and the Healthy Colleges Montana, or HCM. In addition, she works in the Inter-Association Wellbeing Collaborative, or IWC, representing NASPA along 20 other higher education associations. She also serves on the core team for planning the NASPA Strategies Conferences, and born and raised in Colorado, she still calls Denver home with her partner and pup. Our second guest is Whitney Platzer-O'Regan, Ed.D. Dr. Platzer-O'Regan serves as the Senior Director of Prevention and Safety Initiatives at NASPA. Whitney received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on student sense of belonging and engagement through a public health lens. She has significant experience working to reduce high-risk substance misuse on college campuses with functional area experience in student affairs, policy, student conduct, crisis response, peer education, and health promotion. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:44]: Welcome to our first-time guests on the pod, Whitney and Emma. Whitney, so lovely to meet you. Whitney Platzer-O'Regan [00:01:50]: Hi, thank you so much for having me. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:51]: And Emma, so glad to see you as well. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:01:53]: Yes, excited to be here with you today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:56]: Whitney and Emma are 2 of our NASPA staffers, and we love having our NASPA staffers here on the pod. They're here today to talk specifically about the Strategies Conference that's coming up. And NASPA Strategies is such a longstanding staple of the NASPA community. I feel like it's an important gathering point for specialists in our field in particular areas, and it's just a very accessible conference for those who want to enter NASPA but are a little bit like, I don't want to be with 5,000, 7,000, 10,000 of my closest friends at Annual. So we'll get into all of that, but we love to start with getting to know our guests. Emma, so glad to have you in the conversation today. Welcome. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:02:32]: Sure. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:33]: And I'd love to know from you, how did you get to your current seat at NASPA? And I specifically want to hear a little bit more about your work with Cade, just as a former peer educator and a former health promotion person in Colorado. It was so lovely to see that on your bio. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:02:47]: Yeah, wonderful. Similar to Whitney, I've had a winding path to get where I am, but it started in undergrad, as many of us do, of having a wonderful experience with some great student affairs professionals on campus and planting the seed that I maybe wanted to go into this field. I took a few years off after undergrad before I ended up going to get my master's in higher education at the University of Denver. And while I was there, a graduate assistant position opened up. The Bacchus Initiatives of NASPA— previously the Bacchus Initiatives was a standalone nonprofit that merged with NASPA in 2014. And one of the signature projects that we worked on was CAEDAR, the Coalition of Colorado Alcohol and Drug Educators. And so for the 2 years I was getting my degree, I I started with NASPA full-time and have been working here since then. So just over 7 years. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:04:02]: And alongside the CADE Coalition, I was able to work with our Healthy Colleges Montana, which is a coalition in the state of Montana that does similar work around health and wellbeing, but a focus and a foundation in commercial tobacco prevention. So I've definitely found my niche within higher education in this health and wellbeing space. Throughout my career at NASPA, I've had lots of opportunities for different roles and expansions, which is how I'm in the role I am today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:31]: I love that you referenced the Bacchus Network. Just for a complete throwback, I earned my peer health educator certification as an undergrad when it was called Bacchus and Gamma. So it's gone through many, many iterations over the years, but with the same core. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:04:43]: Yes, definitely. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:44]: Now, Emma, your current title is the Senior Director of Wellbeing Initiatives and Stateside Coalition Projects at NASPA. That's a lot of words. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:04:52]: You've described some of the portfolio that you're leading right now, but what Alongside the 2 statewide coalitions in Colorado and Montana that I mentioned, I help with our national and international wellbeing work. And so one of the keystones of this, besides the NASPA Strategies Conferences, which we'll talk about, is the Inter-Association Wellbeing Collaborative, which is a conglomerate of over 20 higher education associations that serve different parts of higher education coming together with the shared goal of moving forward wellbeing on campus and Specifically in a systems and settings approach. So really thinking about how we change the campus environment, not just for students, but also for professionals, the staff and faculty on campus. And so it's a big group project. So it's been a lot of herding folks, but I think that it's really cool to have NASPA be part of the model of bringing together associations so that campuses can see that they can break down silos and work across campus as well, because everyone has a role in impacting the wellbeing of the campus environment. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:58]: And that's a really powerful area to do coalition building around because our students struggle with a similar wellness set of items on each campus. And there are so many different ways to approach wellness from a public health strategy perspective in the university setting. It's such a great initiative that you're working on. Emma, I'm wondering when a member might work with you directly. Dr. Emma Spalding [00:06:18]: If any members are in Colorado and Montana and work in a health and wellbeing space, happy to have them be a part of the coalitions. It's a bummer we don't have coalitions in all 50 states managed by NASPA. Otherwise, I would work with folks that way. But the other opportunity is with the Wellness and Health Promotion Knowledge Community. So I get to liaison and work with the wonderful folks that are volunteer leaders for that knowledge community. And so currently our co-chairs are Samantha Smith out of Indiana University Bloomington and Amanda Waters out of University of Massachusetts Amherst. And so alongside them is a team of other folks, and that is a way that I get to connect with NASPA members most closely outside of our event at Strategies. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:02]: And Whitney, we're so glad to have you here on the pod. We're gonna ask you the same question. How did you get to your current seat at NASPA? Whitney Platzer-O'Regan [00:07:09]: It was a long and winding road. Was a transfer student to an out-of-state institution, and I got my degree. I got my BFA in graphic design. I really wanted to tour the world with bands and create t-shirts and merchandise and do all of that. But lucky or unlucky enough, I graduated in 2008, which wasn't the greatest opportunity in the job market. And so I was lucky enough to get a job at Duke University in their university libraries. But what I realized was that it was way too quiet for me. I wanted to be back in student affairs. Whitney Platzer-O'Regan [00:07:39]: I had found a home in my undergraduate experience as part of the programming board. And so I wanted to go back and do that. Through an arduous search process, I found a master's program that accepted me into higher ed and gave me a really great assistantship where I worked with amazing people in the Dean of Students Office. And it exposed me to a world, to the world of peer education and alcohol and drug prevention. And so professionally, I was able to really find development and intrigue and work that kept me on my toes through that topical area. And I was able to attend NASPA Strategies every conference season. That became my annual conference. And so I got to know people like Emma through that. Whitney Platzer-O'Regan [00:08:20]: I got to know people like David Arnold. And so as I thought about what that next step was after I got my doctorate, an opportunity popped up at NASPA to work in safety and prevention broadly. And so it really was the great next step for me to help institutions think about their prevention work, making sure it's evidence-based, and really talk to them about the power of peer education. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:41]: And Whitney, your full title is the Senior Director of Prevention and Safety Initiatives at NASPA. What does that mean broadly? Whitney Platzer-O'Regan [00:08:48]: My portfolio encompasses a couple things. Uh, any kind of AOD, alcohol and other drug prevention work, right? Making sure that people who are doing work in that functional area specifically are implementing evidence-based work, whether that is figuring out how to stop, start, or continue the work they're doing, right? Evaluate those pieces. My portfolio also encompasses the peer education program. Uh, we have a really strong leadership development program for peer educators called our Certified Peer Educator Program. It has a train-the-trainer component and subject matter trainings for undergraduate students around cannabis, mental health and wellbeing, and prescription drug misuse. And the portfolio that I oversee looks at the entire professional pathway, whether you're an undergraduate student, a new professional, mid-level, or even VPs who are looking to really solidify their alcohol and drug prevention work. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:09:42]: Now, the two of you come together to form a super team that is leading the work of NASPA Strategies. And this year, I understand Strategies is going to have some new flair to it. So I'm hoping we can start with what is the Strategies Conference for our members who may not be familiar? Dr. Emma Spalding [00:09:56]: Yeah, I can start us off. The NASFA Strategies Conference brings together 5 different conferences in one. And so folks have the opportunity to attend sessions in a variety of health, safety, and wellbeing areas. And so the 5 conferences that we host as part of this event are the Alcohol, Other Drug, and Violence Prevention Conference, the Mental Health Conference, the Peer Education Conference, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Conference, and the Wellbeing and Health Promotion Leadership Conference. And so by offering all 5 conferences as one event, we're able to have folks attend sessions that relate to probably one of the many hats that they wear on campus. And we know that folks are not working solely, often not working solely in one of these areas, but can get the professional development they need across all these content areas. Whitney Platzer-O'Regan [00:10:45]: And I'll just chime in that 2 years ago we brought what was formerly known as General Assembly under the conference's umbrella and renamed it the Peer Education Conference. And that's a really great opportunity for undergraduate students. We had almost 400 registered for the conference last year, and it's a really wonderful opportunity not only for students to come and learn from their peers, to present sessions for their peers, but to attend sessions from all of the other tracks. So it really is that next step opportunity for undergraduate student leaders to gain some expertise in topical areas, to connect professionally with peers and possible mentors from across the country, and really feel valued in their role as peer educators on campus. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:11:29]: I'm gonna emphasize something you both have mentioned, which is there are 5 conferences happening simultaneously, but you're not locked into one of the tracks. You can say,…

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Leading from the Middle: Insights for Student Affairs Mid-Level Professionals Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

On the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field podcast, host Dr. Jill Creighton welcomes the editorial team behind NASPA's new book, In the Middle: Leading as a Mid-Level Professional in Student Affairs. This conversation brings together C. Spencer Platt, Darryl B. Holliman, and Dr. Gigi Secuban for a rich dialogue about supporting, empowering, and reimagining what it means to thrive as a mid-level professional in student affairs. Main Themes: 1. Embracing Nonlinear Career Journeys: The editors bring decades of experience and candidly share their own career paths—often starting outside traditional student affairs roles and navigating into the field through academic advising, admissions, and cultural centers. A key message: there's no single "right" way to build a career in higher education, and each journey offers invaluable perspective. 2. The Importance of Representation and Networking: All three editors emphasize the necessity of building networks, not just for advancement but for mentorship and collaborative growth. Their own partnership was born from conference conversations, mutual aspirations, and the desire to uplift voices in the mid-level space, especially those historically underrepresented. 3. A Modern, Practical Resource: What sets In the Middle apart is its up-to-date take on pressing issues: political landscapes, diversity, equity, belonging, self-care, and evolving best practices in supervision. Mid-level professionals are encouraged to find themselves in the book—its chapters range from core competencies and intercultural resilience to the "politics in practice" of today's higher ed environment. 4. Permission to Grow—Or to Stay: A recurring refrain challenges the idea that everyone must "climb the ladder." It's okay—and sometimes ideal—to find fulfillment at a mid-level role. The editors encourage professionals to pursue authentic leadership and make choices based on passion rather than external expectations. 5. Prioritizing Well-Being and Authenticity: The panelists reflect on the importance of self-care, both for professionals and for those they supervise. They emphasize the value of kindness, community, and letting go of micromanagement—and remind us that supervisors can best lead others by bringing their whole, authentic selves to the work. If you're ready for honest insights and practical advice—whether you're a mid-level manager, aspiring leader, or simply interested in the evolving field of student affairs—this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear firsthand perspectives, learn about In the Middle, and find encouragement for wherever you are on your professional journey. 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 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back, listeners, to our next episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field. Today, we're introducing you to 3 editors of a brand new NASPA book called In the Middle: Leading as a Mid-Level Professional in Student Affairs. This book fits really nicely with our enhancing career pathways and wellbeing theme this season, and I'm really excited to introduce you to 2 new voices to the show and one returning voice. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:50]: Our first new voice is C. Spencer Platt, who is an associate professor of higher education administration at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Platt currently directs the Community College Leadership Alliance, and is the former director of the Center for Innovation in Higher Education at the University of South Carolina. He earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science from the University of Dayton and a baccalaureate degree from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Platt has over 20 years of experience in teaching, research, student affairs, community engagement, diversity, equity, and academic affairs on college campuses. His research typically focuses on diversity, equity, access, and excellence in education with an emphasis on underrepresented students, faculty, and staff experiences at predominantly white universities. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:30]: He has secured over $1 million in extramural funds for research through the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His research is published in numerous books and articles, including the Journal of College Student Development, AERA Open, and the Journal of Negro Education. He has co-edited 4 books, the one that we're talking about today, another called From Boyhood to Manhood: Deconstructing Black Masculinity Through a Lifespan Continuum, a 3rd book called Multicultural Education in the 21st Century: Innovative Research and Practices in Higher Education, and a 4th book, Comprehensive Multicultural Education in 21st Century: Increasing Access in an Age of Retrenchment. He has presented his work at numerous national and international academic conferences and institutes, including the American Educational Research Association, the Association for the Study of Higher Education, the International Conference on Doctoral Education, and the International Colloquium on Black Males in Education. He's a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a fall 1998 initiate of the Zeta Epsilon chapter at the University of South Carolina. Our second new voice to meet today is Dr. Gigi Secuban, who currently serves as the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. She brings more than 25 years of higher education experience, including the inaugural vice president roles for inclusive excellence at Texas State University and Ohio University. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:47]: Previously, Dr. Secuban held leadership positions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she oversaw the renovation of the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, and at the University of Arkansas, where she served as senior associate director for the freshman engineering program, director of the Multicultural Center, director of student affairs and diversity services in the College of Education, and Health Professions, as well as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Her work centers on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and belonging, DEIB, promoting student success, and fostering campus environments where all individuals are valued, supported, and heard. She's led initiatives focused on cultural and resource centers, inclusive excellence planning, DEIB fundraising and branding, and campus climate assessment. In March of 2026, Dr. Sukuban co-released a book with NASPA that we're talking about today, and she was also recently honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award for the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions recognition of her leadership and impact in higher ed. Dr. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:42]: Sukuban earned her Doctor of Education in Higher Ed Administration, Master of Science in Health Science, and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, all from the University of Arkansas. Soror Gigi is a proud 33-year member and Silver Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Initiated into the Kappa Iota chapter on April 11th, 1993, at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Sukuban has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to leadership and service within the sorority. She previously held membership in the Epsilon Epsilon Omega chapter in Central Illinois, where she served as chapter hostess and is a charter member of the Phi Alpha Omega chapter in the Northwest Arkansas area. She also served as a chapter advisor to the Kappa Iota chapter for 3 years, mentoring undergraduate members and supporting their leadership development. Dr. Sukuban was selected in 2021 as one of 25 fellows in the sorority's inaugural Executive Leadership Academy, further strengthening her leadership capacity and impact. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:32]: She has served as a voting delegate at multiple national and regional conferences, and she actively contributes to the development of others through her participation in leadership institutes like the Great Lakes Leadership Experience and by facilitating workshops at regional chapter meetings. Our 3rd guest today is a voice that you got to know in the spring of 2026, Dr. Darryl B. Holliman, who is also our current NASPA Board Chair. He is a distinguished leader in higher education with over 3 decades of experience in student affairs, academic administration and institutional advancement, governance and board relations, and human talent management. He's worked at several regional and nationally recognized higher education institutions where he supervised collectively over employees and overseeing budgets of more than $300 million. His extensive experience, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to student success and institutional excellence make him a transformative leader in higher education. His contributions continue to inspire and shape the future of academic communities. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:25]: Dr. Holliman has several articles and book chapters to his credit, and his research examines the way that disadvantaged groups develop and demonstrate their agency in educational systems, particularly within urban school settings. He is the co-editor of the book entitled From Boyhood to Manhood: Deconstructing Black Masculinity Through a Lifespan Continuum through Peter Lang Press. Welcome back, SA Voices. We are so glad to be here today with authors of a book that we're excited that NASPA has launched for you all. The book is In the Middle: Leading as a Mid-Level Professional in Student Affairs. And we're here today with our 3 editors, Darryl Holliman, Spencer Platt, and Gigi Sukuban. They are all with us today to tell us more about the journey of this book and how you might use it in your student affairs professional work. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:09]: So I'm so excited to welcome back Darryl. Glad to have you back on the show. C. Spencer Platt [00:06:13]: I'm glad to be back. Darryl B. Holliman [00:06:14]: Hi, NASPA family. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:16]: And Spencer, hello. First time on the pod. C. Spencer Platt [00:06:18]: Hi, Jill. Good to see you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:20]: And Gigi, glad to see you. Dr. Gigi Secuban [00:06:21]: Hi, everybody. It's nice to finally work with you, Jill, virtually, and nice to meet everyone. And thank you for joining us today. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:28]: Before we dig into the book, which has so many rich chapters, I'm so grateful to have gotten a chance to read a bit of it before our conversation. We always love to start off our episodes by getting to know you more as a person and a professional with the question, How did you get to your current seat? And we'll start with Darrell, who has been on the pod just recently as last year as he ascended to the NASPA board chair position. So Darrell, go ahead and refresh us on who you are. Darryl B. Holliman [00:06:53]: Absolutely. Hi, I'm Darrell Holliman. I'm the current board chair for NASPA. Started my career about 32 years ago. And what is interesting is I didn't take a traditional pathway. I actually started as an academic advisor on the academic side. I had a wonderful conversation with a young man the other day. Hey, Kevin. Darryl B. Holliman [00:07:13]: And was sharing with Kevin a bit of my journey. And so I did not get into student affairs purist work until about 10 years into my career. And I became the Associate Dean Director of the Paul Robeson Campus Center, which really kicked off my career from that point. So that's my story. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:33]: And Darryl continuing his service in the NASPA Board Chair role for about another half a year. We're about halfway through that North Star project. that we talked about in our last episode with him. And Spencer, first time on the pod. How did you get to your current seat? C. Spencer Platt [00:07:47]: Yeah, so I'm currently an associate professor at the University of South Carolina, but I started out in student affairs. I started out at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway, South Carolina, right beside Coastal Carolina, and worked there for a few months before heading to the University of Dayton for, for a master's degree, then University of Texas. to work in housing and eventually started a doctoral program, but, you know, worked in a number of different other capacities at the University of Texas before coming to the University of South Carolina. And I've been here since 2012. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:18]: What are you specializing in as a professor? C. Spencer Platt [00:08:20]: Higher ed is the field, but, you know, I do issues of equity and access. I do org administration governance issues. And a lot of my more recent research has been on faculty diversity, especially in engineering where it's been really difficult for, to diversify. And so we, we, we, we are thinking, you know, what helps engineering is likely to help everybody else, you know, if, if they're interested in trying to diversify their faculty. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:49]: Gigi, we're so glad to speak with you as well today. How did you get to your current seat? Dr. Gigi Secuban [00:08:53]: Hi everybody. So mine was similar to Darryl. I didn't know I wanted to do higher ed. And so my first job was actually in admissions. And so I was in on the academic side as well. And it all started with A director of advising had suggested that I go into higher ed. I just didn't realize that you could actually work in higher ed. I don't know where I thought all the people I worked with as an undergrad came from, but I started in admissions and started working my way through. Dr. Gigi Secuban [00:09:17]: So my first true student affairs job was really about 7 years later when I was director of the Multicultural Center. And then I continued to work at the University of Arkansas, total of 15 years. My last role was the College of Engineering, as Spencer had talked about. So I worked with engineers for about 5 years. And started my doctorate while working full-time as a single mom. And then after that, I decided I couldn't stay at Arkansas longer because I needed to expand my career. So, I went to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I was there for 6, and then Ohio University for 4, where I was the inaugural VP for diversity and inclusion. Dr. Gigi Secuban [00:09:54]: Took a jaunt to Texas before the anti-DEI bill. I was there for a couple years, and now I'm at Montgomery College in Maryland, in Rockville, Maryland, where I'm the inaugural vice president for inclusive excellence and belonging. So, that's where My son and I landed about a year ago. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:09]: How did the 3 of you determine that you wanted to work together to create this book? Dr. Gigi Secuban [00:10:13]: Oh my gosh. Let me just, I know Darryl will jump in, but we had been to a number of conferences and I don't know, Darryl, if it was the mid-level, but we were talking about it and the book had not been updated for a while. And so we were talking about with another colleague, Peggy, who was at, in Chicago, and we talked about how the book needs to be updated. And we'd always wanted to do a NASBA publication. We were all AVPs at the time aspiring to be VPs. And so we were even talking…

Full show notes at the publisher

Enhancing Careers: Inside NASPA's New Initiatives with Monica Nixon Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Kicking off an energizing new season of NASPA's Student Affairs Voices from the Field Podcast, Dr. Jill Creighton sits down with Dr. Monica Nixon, Vice President for Community Access and Professional Pathways (CAP) at NASPA, to unpack the evolving landscape of professional development, belonging, and career advancement in student affairs. This episode is a must-listen for higher education professionals at every stage of their journey, as it paints a vivid portrait of both the personal and institutional pathways that make our field dynamic and inclusive. Dr. Monica Nixon shares her winding and authentic career story, starting as a first-generation college student with an uncertain path, moving through roles in both public and private higher education, and now leading a critical portfolio at NASPA. Her experience building inaugural programs and her passion for equity, diversity, and professional development are front and center, illustrating how meaningful student affairs careers are often forged through curiosity, mentorship, purposeful pivots, and community engagement. The heart of the conversation centers on the CAP portfolio at NASPA, a newly conceptualized area dedicated to providing intentional access to leadership, learning, and professional communities. Dr. Monica Nixon illuminates how CAP is designed to serve a broad spectrum of professionals—across job levels, institutional types, and backgrounds—by offering clear career pathways, mentoring opportunities, and accessible resources. The episode highlights upcoming initiatives, such as a new skills conference focused on in-demand competencies and the continued evolution of digital and in-person professional development tailored to members' unique needs. Listeners will appreciate the practical guidance for getting involved with NASPA, whether you're a newcomer or a longtime member. From joining knowledge communities and steering committees to leveraging the soon-to-be refreshed NASPA website for curated resources, Dr. Monica Nixon makes it clear that there's a place for everyone to belong and grow. Her gratitude for NASPA's volunteer leaders underscores the importance of collective effort in driving innovation and support across the field. Throughout the episode, themes of intentionality, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership resonate. Dr. Monica Nixon offers tangible advice for supervisors and student affairs leaders: cultivate honest conversations about professional needs, support creative models for staff development, and embrace holistic approaches to wellbeing. Whether you're seeking inspiration, career advice, or a greater sense of community in student affairs, this episode is your invitation to jump in and explore what NASPA's evolving landscape can offer. Don't miss this illuminating discussion—tune in and discover how you can shape your own pathway while uplifting others in the profession. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:02]: 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 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Welcome back to Student Affairs Voices from the Field. We hope you had an incredible summer and we're ready to kick off our next season of SA Voices from the Field. Monica is our very own NASPA Vice President for Community Access and Professional Pathways, also known as CAP, where she leads a team focused on providing access to leadership and career opportunities, supportive communities and mentors, and professional development geared towards meeting the evolving needs across the career lifespan in student affairs. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:55]: Previously, she served in student affairs, institutional equity, and administrative leadership roles at St. Joseph's University, Seattle University, Colgate University, the University of Puget Sound, and the University of Virginia. Dr. Nixon earned her BA in English in 1995 and Master of Education in Counselor Education in 1999 from the University of Virginia. In 2013, she earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington, where her dissertation focused on the positionality and agency of women of color chief diversity officers in higher education institutions. Monica co-authored a chapter in the 2012 NASPA-published book Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Higher Education: I hope you enjoy our conversation getting to know Monica. Monica, welcome to SA Voices. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:01:37]: Thank you. I'm so excited to be here with you. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:39]: I'm so glad to have you here. It's been a long time coming that we have this episode. We've featured many a NASPA vice president over the last few seasons, and you are one of the newest NASPA vice presidents, having risen as a staff member to now leading a major part of the NASPA portfolio. So looking forward to learning about your journey and the new area that you're leading. And we always love to kick off our episodes by asking, how did you get to your current seat? Dr. Monica Nixon [00:02:06]: Oh goodness. I think like many people, we are Gen Xers. We found our way into student affairs. So it wasn't something that I thought was a career option. I came into college not necessarily knowing what I wanted to be. I tried a lot of different majors. I thought I might be a journalist. I thought I might be a teacher. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:02:22]: I thought I might go into publishing. And I really didn't know what I was going to do. And some of my friends were applying to law school. So I thought, okay. I'll apply to law school. And I was ready to go. And about April of my 4th year, my faculty advisor asked me to meet with him and said, I just have a question, Monica. And he had written my recommendation, so he knew me. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:02:43]: I'd been in a few of his classes. And he said, can you tell me why you want to be an attorney? And I must have just had a flabbergasted look on my face because then he asked, do you know any attorneys? And I said, you know, I really don't. I'd never interacted with a lawyer. Nobody in my parents' circle was an attorney. And so he said, why don't I have you meet with a couple couple of them. So I did, and the way they described their jobs was not what I thought their jobs were. This was the time of LA Law. I thought I was going to be fixing the rights of the world. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:03:09]: So I thought, I just need to pause. And so I deferred law school, and then I told my parents and my mother. I was a first-generation college student. My mom was a first-generation immigrant. Me pausing going to law school was not in the plan. And so I ended up taking an internship at the school where I went, which is the University of Virginia. It was in the executive vice president's office. I'd gotten to know him through my work as a student journalist, and I found that I'm really enjoyed the work. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:03:35]: And I also got to talk with a lot of my mentors in a little bit more of a collegial way. And, and so I was asking them about their work, and I realized they actually got paid to be there. They didn't just show up and they were in an office every day. I don't know why I didn't think that was an actual job. So anyway, I ended up going to grad school part-time whilst maintaining that role. So I started as an intern. I ended up as a chief of staff after about 9 months. I was— Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:00]: That's a huge jump. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:04:01]: It was a huge jump. I was 22 years old. I was learning so every single day. And I wanted to make good on the trust that the vice president had put into me. And so, I worked so hard, but I had this wonderful view of an institution at a very high level. So, institutional governance, athletics, working with the board, working with the state. And so, it was fabulous, and it was amazing, and it appealed to the learner in me. It appealed to the sense of purpose that I wanted out of my work. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:04:29]: I ended up going to grad school. Part-time. When I graduated, we had just started an orientation and transfer student and new student family programs office. And so I ended up working in that office. I was a part of the, the, you know, the task force that proposed that. And so I, so my first true student affairs role was in orientation. And, and that, you know, again, I got to work with the mentors who had really poured into me as an undergraduate student. And I got to then think about how do we design a program that introduces students and families families to all of what higher education can mean for them. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:05:07]: And so being able to start something new, it was wonderful. Working in orientation over and over again, I realized I need something— I like to create, I like new things. Doing the same thing each year didn't necessarily appeal to that. And so as an undergraduate student, I'd been really engaged with diversity and equity issues. I'd worked in the Office of African American Affairs. I'd been part of some different task forces. As an employee, I was also part of some of that work. And I realized that was also giving me a lot of, like, a sense of purpose. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:05:40]: And so I looked for jobs that, that could, where I could do that full-time. So as I looked for my first job search on a national scale, I searched for multicultural affairs jobs. And I also wanted to be in a different kind of higher education sector. I'd been in public higher education at that point for, well, I'd been in public education my entire life. So all of my schooling, my own education, the first part of my career. And so I thought, I wonder what I wonder what private higher ed is like. I wonder what working at a small school would be like. So I looked for multicultural affairs jobs at small institutions, and I ended up at a place that I'd never even heard of. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:06:17]: I actually interviewed at places that I'd never heard of, but I ended up at the University of Puget Sound, and I was in an inaugural full-time multicultural affairs role. So again, I got to start something new. I got to put in place structures that I wish I'd had as an undergraduate student and that I was hearing from students that they really wanted in terms of creating a sense of belonging and you know, a true sense that the institution, that they mattered to the institution. And so I got to do that. I did that for a couple of years. I had moved away from my family and was kind of missing them. I'd moved from Virginia to Tacoma, Washington, wanted to be closer to my family. So I ended up back on the East Coast. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:06:55]: I was at Colgate University for a little while. I worked in a couple of different kinds of roles, again, in student activities and also like a cultural center, directing a cultural center. As much as I loved being back on the East Coast, I had just fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest. And so I came back out to Seattle University to direct the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Spent 10 years at Seattle U, so I didn't think I would be out there for that long. And while I was there, I pursued a doctorate in higher education, educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Washington. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:26]: It's really hard not to fall in love with the Pacific Northwest if you've never been there before. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:07:31]: It's true. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:32]: Proudly, Washington is my home state, and there's every climate there except for tundra. So you get mountains, desert, rainforest. It's the only rainforest in the contiguous So from, from an environmental perspective, it's really, really hard not to love the PNW and it doesn't rain as much as people say it does. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:07:49]: It doesn't, though we don't like to tell people that. So, because then everyone will move here. No, I just came off a weekend of backpacking and I was reminded again of why I live out here. But anyway, I was at Seattle U, got my doctorate, was working as an assistant vice president of student development at Seattle U. And I had this moment where I realized again that The equity work that I'd been doing, it was a part of my role, but it wasn't central to my role. And I had actually been advised not to seek chief diversity officer positions as I came out of my doctorate by very well-meaning mentors who were concerned that I might be pigeonholed into— I'd done that work for 15 years. My dissertation focused on the experiences of women serving as chief diversity officers. And so the advice that I received at that time from some of my mentors who really know me well, was maybe think about something a little bit broader so that you have a more generalist background to bring to future searches. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:08:47]: So I did that for a couple of years, and then I realized I really do miss centering the equity work that I was doing. So I moved to St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, which is another Jesuit institution, and I was there as the chief diversity officer. Did that for a couple of years, and then a position at NASPA opened up, and I thought, I wonder— I had thought about association work previously in my career, but I was worried that I might miss the work that happens in building communities over time on a campus. And so I'd been engaged with NASPA. I knew the board chair at the time. I'd had the opportunity to meet the then-president, Kevin Krueger, and I thought this could be an interesting time to try working in an association. And so I started, so I applied and was fortunate enough to be offered the role to serve as the, I think the title was Assistant Vice President of Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:09:40]: And as had been the case at St. Joe's, I was, it was an inaugural So this is a theme, and I think the role changed quite a bit, and this happens with inaugural roles. An organization thinks, we're going to create this role, and then the first person who comes into it will help us develop it, implement it, figure out what fits. We were engaged in that work, and then the global pandemic happened, and our organization changed a lot in a pretty short amount of time. This happened across, I mean, obviously many, many sectors, including higher ed. And so our primary goal during that time was to stay close to our members. And so a lot of the work that I ended up doing during that period had to do with member engagement. How do we create, make sure that our members continue to feel that they belong, that they have access to the things that matter to them? And so as we were coming out of the pandemic, then stabilized as an organization, found some stability in the field, I think those threads of how do we help members create or feel a sense of belonging in the association? How do we make sure that all of our members feel that they can access opportunities, professional development, in ways that meet their needs. Dr. Monica Nixon [00:10:50]: That really then became the locus, the focus of the work that this role and portfolio has evolved into. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:57]: Well, Monica, I think this leads us nicely into what is included in the CAP portfolio within NASPA. It's a brand new area…

Full show notes at the publisher

SA Voices From The Field Is Back For Season 15 Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

NASPA's Student Affairs Voices from the Field Podcast is back for its fifteenth season, and hosts Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis are shining a spotlight on two vital themes: the many pathways a student affairs career can take, and the importance of well-being for professionals in the field.

This season's central message is clear—career advancement isn't just about climbing the ladder. As Dr. Jill Creighton highlights, growth can mean leading from your current position, embracing lateral opportunities, or redefining success on your own terms. These conversations encourage professionals to consider fulfillment, impact, and personal satisfaction as key measures of progress.

Equally important is the focus on well-being. Dr. Christopher Lewis stresses the need for both practical professional development and support for mental and emotional health. The show promises insights and strategies for finding balance and sustaining passion throughout a career.

Listeners will hear from leaders like Dr. Monica Nixon and learn about resources such as NASPA's new CAP initiative. Above all, the podcast invites listeners to reflect, connect, and chart authentic, sustainable career journeys—making this a must-listen season for anyone in student affairs

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 15, Enhancing the Career Pathways and Well-Being of Student Affairs Professionals. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton, she/her/hers, your SA Voices from the Field host. Hey, Chris, glad to be back with you.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:29]: Yeah, glad to be back. It is a New term, new fall, new season.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:34]: Your students just moved in. Mine come in a couple of days. How was your summer?

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:38]: It was very busy, and we've been working really hard to get ready for the students to head back in. And it's always exciting to be able to see them back on campus and see that energy return to campus as well.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:50]: I fully agree with you. And this year on my campus, we're doing something completely different and beginning with a first-year student retreat away from our campus. So that's been an incredible lift of the team that I'm working with to have this brand new experience. And I got to meet one of our students just the other day who told me they are super nerdy, geeked out, excited for this. So I hope that nerdy, geeked out excitement can stay with us here on the pod and energize our professionals that are listening going forward. But we're back with Season 15. Can you believe it's 15?

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:19]: I can't. It has gone by really fast and we've had so many amazing conversations over the years. And I am so excited for this season though, with our theme. It is, I think, going to really resonate with all of our listeners.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:33]: Many of you know that NASPA launched a new strategic plan recently at the last annual conference in 2026 spring. And so as we were talking with our great NASPA colleagues, Chris and I were able to land on a theme that both enhances the strategic plan as well as continues to bring forward your voices in ways that we haven't heard before. So our theme this year is going to carry forward the excellent work of the association. And this season, Season 15, is Enhancing the Career pathways and well-being of student affairs professionals. That's a lot of words. Chris, what are we talking about here?

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:09]: You know, I think for all of us, as we were looking at this, we were trying to think of all of us that are members of the association are at different places. And whether you're at the very beginning of your career, whether you're at the middle of your career, maybe you're a senior level, or maybe you're getting toward the end of your career, that there are things that we can provide as professional development professional development through the audio format to be able to enhance the experience that you have with the association, which is really what this strategic plan is all about. It's how do we enhance the experience that you are having with the association? And I am really excited about this plan that they are pushing forward and the work that they're doing right now. And I truly feel that this season is going to resonate well, as I said earlier, because of the fact that we're talking to people about things that are going to be meaningful, not only for their professional work, but also for their professional development.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:05]: We've already recorded a couple of episodes, and the theme that has already started to pop out for me, a theme within the theme, if you will, is that career pathways doesn't have to mean upward trajectory. There's lots of different ways that a career can progress. There's lots of different ways that a career can kind of move in advance, and that doesn't necessarily have to mean taking on higher-level titles or supervising more people or whatever it might look like to you. And so there's some really great conversations coming for you about what looks like to lead in your current place. Our very first episode is going to feature Dr. Monica Nixon, who is one of the NASPA vice presidents and one who we haven't heard from yet on the pod. She's overseeing the new area for NASPA called CAP, which is an abbreviation, which she'll share more about in terms of what that includes, what that incorporates, and how this new area within NASPA is supporting all of our career progression. So, something to look forward to.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:00]: Chris, anything else that we want our listeners to know?

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:04:02]: I would just say, as you're listening to this season, as you're thinking and reflecting back on your own experience within the association. If there are things that you have an interest in having us cover, if there are things that you want us to be able to think about as we're thinking about the entire year and moving forward, we want to hear from you. And I know we've said this before, but it means a lot to us when we hear your voices and we hear from you on the experiences that you're having, but also what you want to hear and what you want to learn from the podcast itself. So send us an email, savoices@naspba.org. We would love to hear from you and learn more about your own experiences.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:43]: And as always, we're very open to your casting suggestions. So if you would like to feature your own voice, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'll repeat that email one more time, savoices@naspba.org. Chris, I look forward to working with you on this season.

Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:04:57]: Same here. Looking forward to a great season.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:00]: This has been an episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field brought to you by NASPA. This This show is only made possible because of you, our listeners and our members. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us season after season. If you'd like to reach us here at the show, you can email us at savoices@naspba.org or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions. If you're interested in appearing on the show yourself, please do contact us.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:28]: We'd love it if you spend 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 from now. It really does help us in the student affairs community, as well as the podcasting community to help our show grow. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan Flint and New York University London for your support as we create this project.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:54]: Catch you next time.

Leveling Up: Raven Jemison's Guide to Authentic Leadership May 17, 2026

Show notes

In the Season 14 finale of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, powerhouse sports executive Raven Jemison joins Dr. Jill Creighton for a masterclass in authentic leadership, resilience, and self-advocacy. Whether you're an early-career professional or a seasoned leader, this conversation offers actionable insights you can carry into your next student affairs challenge. A Journey Shaped by Passion and Persistence Raven Jemison, now president of the Kansas City Current, didn't set out to break barriers in the male-dominated world of professional sports leadership. Originally on a path to optometry, she pivoted to sports business after following her heart—and a newspaper ad—to her first sales gig with the Florida Panthers. From there, her determination propelled her career through multiple leagues, culminating in her historic role overseeing the first purpose-built women's soccer stadium in the world. Leadership 'Cheat Codes' for Every Professional A highlight from the episode is Raven Jemison's discussion of her book, More Than the Cheat Codes to Your Own Seat at the Table. Drawing on the nostalgic spirit of old-school video games, she shares "cheat codes" for professional success. One standout tip? Every six months, take time to reflect on not just your daily duties, but the value you've added, and what new skills you need to keep growing. As Dr. Jill Creighton and Raven Jemison discuss at 08:52, this practice is just as relevant in higher ed as it is on the business side of sports. Boundaries, Balance, and Being Seen A recurring theme is the importance of protecting your peace, especially in high-visibility roles that demand constant energy. Raven Jemison candidly recounts a pivotal moment in her career when she asked for time off during an NBA All-Star event—a decision made from necessity, not fear, and met with unexpected support. Her advice? Set clear boundaries, advocate for your needs, and trust that your contributions—and your well-being—both matter (17:03). Building Genuine Connections and Communities Finding the right advocates, making friendships at work, and supporting others forms another pillar of Raven Jemison's philosophy. She urges professionals to know themselves first, then intentionally find and nurture supportive relationships, both inside and outside the workplace (21:18). Tune In and Level Up This episode is full of wisdom for anyone looking to move forward intentionally, serve students effectively, and lead with purpose. Listen to the full conversation for strategies you can apply today—your next professional "level up" may be just a podcast away! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 14 continuing our conversation on the value of Student Affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. Sheher hers your Essay Voices from the Field host. Hey Essay Voices. Welcome back and today we're bringing you the final episode from the 2026 Annual Conference episode Series. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:34]: Today we're featuring Raven Jemison, who was one of the keynote speakers at Annual Conference. And at the conference she sat down with Dr. Amelia Parnell, our NASPA president, to talk about her book and her journey. Raven is currently the Team President for the Kansas City Current, which is a women's Major League Soccer team, and she also wrote the book More Than the Cheat Codes to Own youn Seat at the Table the Raven was appointed the team President of the Kansas City Current in January of 2024. She oversees all business operations and led the club while opening the inaugural season in CPKC Stadium. She joined the club after spending the previous four seasons as the Executive Vice President of Business operations for the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. Off the court, her leadership enabled the Bucs to produce impressive growth across all revenue generating departments while focusing on operational excellence and efficiencies. Her sports career began in the NHL as an inside sales representative for the Florida Panthers. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:28]: From there, she worked her way up the corporate ladder with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball, San Francisco 49ers in the NFL before joining the NBA's Team Marketing and Business Operations department. Beyond her executive success, Raven is the author of the book More Than the Cheat Codes to Own youn Own Seat at the Table, which is a memoir that chronicles her rise as a queer black woman navigating and reshaping the traditionally male dominated sports industry. In 2021, she she was named one of AD Week's Most Powerful Women in Sports. She was notably a 2022 SBJ Game Changer and in 2025 she became a KCBJ Woman of Influence, one of 10 NKC Innovators and Influencers, and earned the Women leaders in sports 2025 most resilient award. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Raven, welcome to Essay Voices. Raven Jemison [00:02:17]: Thank you. It's good to be here. Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:18]: We're so grateful for your time and we know how busy you are running a major sports team and we're grateful to have you spend some time at the annual conference this year in your city of Kansas City as well as with us on the podcast now. And I see you repping the gear, Raven Jemison [00:02:32]: no question, every day, all day. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:34]: Well, for those of you who did not get to meet Raven at our annual conference, she is leading one of Major League Soccer's premier teams in the women's side of the league. And we just love to get to know all of our guests by starting with the question, how did you get to your current seat? Raven Jemison [00:02:49]: Yeah, I love answering this question, partly because it led me to write the book that I'm sure we'll talk about in, in a, in a minute. But I got here by being focused on the quote, unquote end goal, knowing that this is obviously not the end for me. Hopefully I have a lot more left in my career. But I actually started, went to college, thought I was going to be an optometrist and did all the things to become an optometrist except actually go to optometry school. I was accepted into optometry school and decided to defer a year because growing up as an athlete, growing up as the, the true tomboy that I still am today, loving sports, wanted to be in sports. Somehow I knew it wasn't going to be on the playing surface because I'm 54 on a really good day. But I always say I have 5, 10 energy and I figured okay, so there's no path professionally playing, so what can I do to just be close to the game, whatever game that might be. And sports business was creeping up kind of in the background. Raven Jemison [00:03:45]: I had done some internships at Auburn University where I graduated from, and it was just pulling on me. And I asked my parents if I could defer a year and I could defer optometry school and they said sure. I wanted to see if I could get a job in sports. Didn't know what that looked like, how I was gonna get there, but I was gonna do my darndest to get there. So I took the year, found one of my friends was in grad school in Miami at the time and I went to go visit her, opened up the newspaper and there was an ad for a career fair at the Florida Panthers. And I was like, don't know what career fair at the Florida Panthers means, but I know that there's all the sports teams will be represented and I'm just gonna give it my best shot. And this, this is a sign. So I went and bought an ill fitting suit from somewhere and hopped in line at career fair to talk to all four of the major sports teams down There. Raven Jemison [00:04:31]: And the last conversation of the day was the Florida Panthers. And I talked to their head of inside sales and convinced him that somehow I would be the best seller for him. Even though I'd never watched a hockey game live, didn't know anything about the sport. But I said that there was going to be no one that worked harder than me. So that was my first job in sports. $7.25 an hour deferred optometry school. Haven't looked back. As you can tell, I'm not an optometrist today. Raven Jemison [00:04:55]: So that was it. And I loved it. I love every minute of it. It was hard, but I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be. So, Florida Panthers to the Pittsburgh Pirates to the San Francisco 49ers to the NBA League office in New York, the Milwaukee Bucks after my stint at the NBA League office. And now the Kansas City Current. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:12]: You've worked for almost every major league sports league in the country? Raven Jemison [00:05:15]: Every? Yeah, every core four major men's sports. NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, and NFL. And now I'm in women's sports. The National Women's Soccer League, the nwsl, representing arguably one of the best teams in the league. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:28]: I was bummed I couldn't get to the stadium. The Current have, as far as I understand, the only dedicated women's soccer stadium in the U.S. that's right. Raven Jemison [00:05:36]: First ever purpose built stadium for women's soccer in the world here in Kansas City. We opened up in 2024. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:42]: So all of this rich experience. You have a book out, as you mentioned, which we'll talk about, but how did you end up at naspa? Raven Jemison [00:05:49]: It's a great question. I believe it was sequoyah. Mike reached out to our head of, Dani Welniak, who is an absolute rock star. And I got the email and I asked her, are you sure they're asking about the right person? Because not that I don't appreciate education, I obviously would not be here without it, but what am I gonna say that's relevant to them? And we had a conversation and we worked it out and it was a great conversation with Amelia on stage. And I would say the rest is history, but we're still talking today, so I love it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:20]: I could just see you and Amelia, like, immediately sparking in the best possible ways, she's just a rock star in higher education and. And has, I think, similar identity journeys to yourself. As far as what I've seen in terms of being a woman of color leading in predominantly male spaces, bringing other marginalized identities to the table, being collegiate athletes, all of these things. Raven Jemison [00:06:41]: Yeah, absolutely. We hit it off right away. We, we are still communicating back and forth. We definitely have to get some time off the stage. Cause she definitely is a kindred spirit for sure. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:50]: Absolutely. Well, we were loving seeing you on stage and bringing the perspective that you do in leadership. We referenced the book quite a lot on that day. And so for those if you who haven't checked it out yet, it's called more than the cheat codes to your own seat at the table, released in 2023. I love the COVID as well. Like the 8 bit video game reference and the artistry of yourself as a hooping person. It's great. Raven Jemison [00:07:13]: Yeah, that's a shout out to Zelda. I told the store before I released the book, but I was thinking about how to identify the cheat codes or how to actually theme out what the book should be in terms of making it easy to read and have people attracted to it. And immediately I thought about the cheat codes of leadership. Like how do you get. Not that you want to cheat your way, but what are kind of the, the back channel ways to figure out how to get that seat at the table. And Zelda kept coming up in my mind the Legend of Zelda. And, and I tell this story in the lead up to releasing the book, but I was the person that was trying to beat the Legend of Zelda the right way. Like doing the whole going through all the levels. Raven Jemison [00:07:54]: And then one of my friends way, way to my house and had the Nintendo Power magazine that had all the cheat codes. And I'm like, well, wait a minute. And they had moved on past the Legend of Zelda. They were playing other games. And I'm like, wait a minute now. No one told me this. No one told me that there was this entire world of cheat codes. So that is the tie to the cheat codes to own your seat at the table, but also the avatar on the front. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:16]: I love it. That speaks to my millennial heart. Raven Jemison [00:08:19]: Love it, love it. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:20]: The Nintendo Power flashback. But for me, it was Super Mario Brothers 3. That was the one. Raven Jemison [00:08:25]: I love that. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:26]: But Raven, I think one of the things that you brought to naspa, which was a much needed voice, was real pro tips for how to engage in leadership and what that means to do that authentically from your own perspective, your own voice. But also some real practical tips around how you are very reflexive in your own leadership journey. So I want to start with one of those most practical tips that you gave, which was about checking in with yourself every Six months. So can we start there? Raven Jemison [00:08:52]: Sure. So this was something I learned years ago. And I want to preface this by saying in no way am I encouraging people to, when they get a job, immediately think about the next job and not do really well at what they're hired to do and excelling in their current role. The six month exercise is more about how I capture accomplishments and not duties. So what am I doing to say this past six months, what did I accomplish? How did I add value to the organization and how can I speak to that from an elevator pitch perspective? If I get a chance with the CEO, and this was early, earlier in my career that I started doing this, if I get a chance with the CEO and they don't know me and they ask me what I do, I don't want to say what I do, I want to say how I add value. So it was an exercise that I just picked up and I wanted to look back six months, but I also wanted to look forward six months to say, if I don't learn X, Y and Z in the next six months, I'm not doing myself a service, I'm not doing my team a service, I am not doing what I need to do to stretch myself. So the six month exercise kind of was born out of me wanting to ensure that my time wasn't being wasted. Thus I'm not wasting, wasting the organization's time for whom I was working with. Raven Jemison [00:10:04]: And what comes of that? When you write down, you really think about six months backwards, six months forwards, you really start to tailor that resume to hit on your value that you add currently or the value you can add for someone else. And so that's why I wanted to preface with what I said, it's more of keeping that resume fresh every six months so you're not having to think about, oh well, what did I do at this job, now that I have to look for another job, you don't want to be caught flat footed either. So it's being able to look for another job and prepare yourself for another job is a byproduct of that six month exercise. But it's really articulating that elevator pitch and articulating that added value that that six month exercise does for me that Dr. Jill Creighton [00:10:44]: really resonated with the NASPA audience. Cause I remember when you were speaking about this on stage, I could hear audibly around me, people going, oh, I should do that. It's a really good idea. And the chatter kind of began at that moment. Raven Jemison [00:10:54]:…

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Meet Chelsea Peterson: Elevating Communications in Student Affairs May 10, 2026

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In the latest season finale of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field," Dr. Jill Creighton welcomes a new leader to the NASPA community: Chelsea Peterson, NASPA's inaugural Vice President for Public Relations and Communications. This timely and inspiring conversation is not just an introduction to Chelsea Peterson's impressive background—it's a deep exploration of what makes the student affairs profession so essential in higher education today. Dr. Jill Creighton and Chelsea Peterson delve into the ongoing evolution of student affairs, the importance of community, and the powerful impact these professionals have on students' lives. Chelsea Peterson shares her own winding professional journey: from her days as a student-athlete and college basketball coach to leading award-winning marketing teams in student affairs at WashU—and now, bringing her vision and expertise to NASPA. This theme of growth, self-discovery, and purposeful change is woven throughout the episode, reminding us all that career paths aren't always linear, and every step brings value. A major thread in the discussion is the vital role of community that NASPA creates for student affairs professionals at every career stage. Whether you're a brand new practitioner seeking resources and support, a mid-level manager looking for ways to give back, or a seasoned leader craving connection and professional renewal, NASPA has something tailored for you. Chelsea Peterson candidly describes the ongoing work to clarify and communicate these offerings, recognizing that needs differ across entry-level, mid-tier, and senior professionals. She shares hopes for even more personalized member engagement and visibility in the near future. You'll also hear moving stories illustrating the value of student affairs—like the first-generation student-athlete Chelsea Peterson mentored, who, against many odds, became the first in her family to graduate. These stories speak volumes about the transformational nature of the field: It's about creating spaces where every student can find support, community, and a sense of belonging. Finally, the conversation touches on the importance of advocacy for student affairs and the ways communication (even AI!) can help cut through the "noise" on today's campuses, ensuring student support services are understood and valued. If you're seeking an episode that spotlights inspiration, community, and practical insight—don't miss this thoughtful exchange. Tune in to gain encouragement, clarity, and ideas for how you can engage more deeply with the NASPA community! Listen to the full episode and join the conversation on Student Affairs Voices from the Field TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of Student Affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. Sheher hers your Essay Voices from the Field Host Hey Essay Voices listeners, it's my pleasure to bring you a new voice in naspa. Chelsea Peterson Chelsea has just joined the NASPA staff as Vice President for Public Relations and Communications and we're going to get to know her a little bit better today. She's a marketing and communications professional with over 15 years of experience in higher ed. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:45]: In this inaugural role, she'll lead strategic marketing and communications efforts, including increasing NASPA's brand awareness in public relations and membership spaces. Additionally, she will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership team, oversee the Association's Marketing and communications staff, and consult with NASPA stakeholders. She most recently served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Division of Student affairs at WashU in St. Louis. Joining WashU in the summer of 2018, she built the external relations functions within the Athletic and recreation departments before joining the leadership team of Dr. Ana Gonzalez, who was WashU's vice chancellor for Student Affairs. During her time at Wash U, Chelsea's marketing and communications teams have been recognized with over 25 national awards spanning digital communications, videography and brand. Alongside Dr. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:30]: Ana Gonzalez, she established the Student affairs and Marketing Communications Office, offering services to 28 departments and over 400 employees. Additionally, she oversaw the process for the division's rebrand and website overhaul and was highly involved in writing the strategic plan for the Student affairs division. Prior to Wash U, she spent over 10 years in collegiate athletics coaching and administration. She holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing Communications from Upper Iowa University, where she was a Division 2 basketball player. She received a Master's of Business Administration degree from Anderson University and just joined us here NASPA on December 3rd of 2025. Hey essay voices listeners, we are here already with our season finale episode and it's my pleasure to bring you a new voice in naspa. Chelsea Peterson Chelsea has just joined the NASPA staff as Vice President for Public Relations and Communications and we're going to get to know her a little bit better today. She's a Marketing and communications professional with over 15 years of experience in higher ed. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:27]: In this inaugural role, she'll lead strategic marketing and communications efforts, including increasing NASPA's brand aware in public relations and membership spaces Additionally, she will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership team, oversee the Association's Marketing and Communications staff, and consult with NASPA stakeholders. She most recently served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Division of Student affairs at WashU in St. Louis. Joining WashU in the summer of 2018, she built the external relations functions within the athletic and recreation departments before joining the leadership team of Dr. Ana Gonzalez, who was WashU's vice chancellor for student affairs. During her time at WashU, Chelsea's marketing and communications teams have been recognized with over 25 national awards spanning digital communications, videography and brand development. Alongside Dr. Ana Gonzalez, she established the Student affairs and Marketing Communications Office, offering services to 28 departments and over 400 employees. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:19]: Additionally, she oversaw the process for the Division's rebrand and website overhaul and was highly involved in writing the strategic plan for the Student affairs division. Prior to Wash U, she spent over 10 years in collegiate athletics coaching administration. She holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing Communications from Upper Iowa University, where she was a Division 2 basketball player. She received a Master's of Business Administration degree from Anderson University and just joined us here at NASPA on December 3rd of 2025. Chelsea, welcome to Essay Voices. Chelsea Peterson [00:03:47]: It's great to be here with you today, Jill. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:49]: We finally got the opportunity to meet in real life this last annual conference in Kansas City. It was so lovely to make the connection. And you've been with NASPA for how long now? Chelsea Peterson [00:03:59]: Since early December 2025 I guess. We're going up on what a whirlwind Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:04]: entry to the association to come in like right at the end of the calendar year and then jump right into the biggest event for naspa. But you've been around NASPA for a while? Chelsea Peterson [00:04:12]: Yeah, I have been around NASPA for a while. I will touch on the first point and say that President Amelia Parnell, Amy Shopkorn and the NASPA team made my transition during the highest volume time of year for naspa Seamless. It was super enjoyable to connect with our Board of directors in D.C. in early December to meet my Marketing and Communications team with the NASPA staff. It was wonderful work together to bring all of our NASPA members who could travel to Kansas City together in person. It was a wonderful time in community. It was great to meet you and I have been around NASPA for quite a while. In 2021 I made the transition at Washington University in St. Chelsea Peterson [00:04:49]: Louis that I'll refer to most likely as WASHU for the rest of the time anytime I mention it. When Dr. Ana Gonzalez became the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. In the summer of 2021, she recruited me from our Athletic and Recreation department to do what I was doing for that department for all 28 in the division of Student Affairs. And shortly after I started, actually before I officially started for Ana Gonzalez, she recorded. We did a recording for Justice Sotomayor for the NASPA membership. And that was my first introduction to naspa. Later that year, Ana ran for the Board Chair position and I've been very familiar with NASPA ever since. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:27]: Well, you're our brand new vice President for Public Relations and Communications here at naspa. This is a brand new position. It's never existed before. And one of the ways we like to use the podcast is to help members meet the staff. So we're going to be doing that today and kind of talking more about what members can expect from interacting with you and interacting with the team that you're leading. You've touched on this already, but we always love to start our episodes with how did you get to your current seat? You've touched on WASHU student affairs, athletics, but what's the journey? Chelsea Peterson [00:05:55]: I'm happy to share the journey and hello all NASPA members who are listening. I would be remiss of me as a PR communications person not to share my thanks and gratitude and our thanks and gratitude to Jill and Chris for recording this podcast. That's great. Quality, quality. I listen to it, I tend to download it and then listen to it while I'm driving or walking. And you'll learn so much about student affairs, different perspectives of our members, and how the NASPA community really comes together for one another on behalf of our students. So if you haven't listened, I highly recommend you check it out on any of your favorite podcasts Download spaces. My journey has been incredible. Chelsea Peterson [00:06:34]: I'm extremely grateful. That's what I'll start with. I grew up on a family farm in eastern Iowa. I am one of five and I grew up with a beautiful mother who was committed to education. And we never had conversations in our household about if college it was where we were going to go. And I never remember that being any different. We read books together in bed every night. It was the best part of my day as a childhood. Chelsea Peterson [00:06:59]: When I think about five being five, my favorite time of the day was grabbing books and jumping into the what seemed it was only a queen bed, but it seemed massive when you're five with all my siblings and each of us got to read our favorite book before going to bed. And so education was intertwined from the very Beginning of my life. I fell in love with basketball when I went to my first practice in fifth grade. I didn't want to go, but my mom said I was shy at the time and super tall for my age. And the idea of going out and doing anything athletic on a court with a bunch of other kids who I didn't know was overwhelming. And I remember my mom taking me out underneath this beautiful tree in our front yard and saying, I just want you to try it once. If you absolutely hate it, you don't have to go back. And I said, okay, I can do that. Chelsea Peterson [00:07:42]: Went to the practice, absolutely fell in love with basketball and basketball and really became a foundation for my life in terms of taking me to places and on journeys that I never anticipated. Fast forward. I became very good at basketball and earned a full ride scholarship to Upper Iowa University. I had a lot of opportunities coming out of high school. What I've learned later in higher education is I really didn't know the lens to go through all of those opportunities. And so really my decision to go to Upper Iowa over at the time like an Indiana university, which seems silly hearing this now, is that it was close to home as a full ride and I knew that the family that had supported me so much could actually travel to games there. It was a great opportunity for me. So I became a four year standout basketball player at Upper Iowa. Chelsea Peterson [00:08:30]: And between my junior and senior year of college I did an internship with Indiana Sports Corporation. A shout out to my Uncle John for his connections and really mentoring young people and providing opportunities through his business career and connections. And I fell in love with athletics. From there I graduated, I did a national search, I ended up Anderson, Indiana as the assistant women's basketball coach while I finished my Master's of Business administration. I was there for three years. Then I moved to Pella, Iowa. I was an assistant coach at Central College for one year and then became the head women's basketball coach there. My life really took a transition to a different path in student affairs when I attended a conference in 2015 that was hosted by Now We Coach, which does programming for our all women's coaches in the country. Chelsea Peterson [00:09:15]: And I was sitting in that programming and it was for women coaches across all sports and all levels. And I had this thought that hey, like I actually think after hearing this that I should feel differently about this programming specific for coaches and I'm not feeling the way that I probably should about this. I actually don't think coaching is my long term path here. And I talked to the Then executive director, who's a dear friend of mine, Marlene. And she said, yes, Chelsea, like coaching is, if you take a sewing box, coaching is you pick up a needle. It's as specific as the hole you put the thread through. Administration is the whole box. You get to see how all of these things are working together. Chelsea Peterson [00:09:52]: And I was, it hit me, I was like, I really want to go into administration. There aren't a lot of opportunities for full time coaches to go to full time administration jobs in college athletics. So this is Assistant Associate ads, Senior Associate ads. And so I did a national search and I ended up going to Women Leaders in College Sports, which now it's Women Leaders in Sports and they are based in Kansas City, they're a nonprofit. They do all programming for women in sports globally. And during that time, one of my favorite projects was the Women Leaders podcast. And we would literally bring in D1 athletic directors, commissioners, D3 athletic directors, athletic personnel from across the country. And I typically would ask the guest, hey, could I have 20 minutes of your time either before or after the podcast? And during that time I ask a lot of questions. Chelsea Peterson [00:10:41]: And I really found where it was that I found my professional home or what I thought would be my professional home in the college athletic landscape. And through that process, Washington University in St. Louis posted again, you'll hear a theme in my background, a first time position, the Assistan…

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Fostering Civic Discourse: Tools for Campus Leaders and Student Affairs May 03, 2026

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If you're looking to better understand the evolving landscape of civic discourse on college campuses—and why it matters more than ever for higher education professionals—then you won't want to miss the latest episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field." Hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton and featuring guest Jill Dunlap, this episode dives deep into the challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions for fostering constructive conversations and civic engagement in higher education. A timely conversation, the episode opens with Dr. Jill Creighton welcoming Jill Dunlap back to the podcast and noting the sea change in student affairs policy and engagement work since her last appearance. Jill Dunlap, who has been with NASPA for nearly a decade and now oversees policy and civic engagement, brings first-hand insight into how students are reacting to new policies, especially those affecting graduate student borrowing. As she shares, many students aren't fully aware of major policy shifts that could impact their future opportunities, underscoring the need for student affairs professionals to step up as guides and advocates. Central to their conversation is NASPA's upcoming "Civic Discourse on Campus Virtual Summit"—a brand new, fully online initiative designed to gather campus leaders, policy experts, and innovative practitioners to share tools, strategies, and research for nurturing robust civic dialogue in campus communities. Both Dr. Jill Creighton and Jill Dunlap stress the significance of equipping students to engage respectfully across political and personal differences, especially in a climate marked by polarization and the aftermath of the pandemic. Listeners gain an insider's perspective on what the summit will offer: keynote presentations, breakout sessions on measuring the impact of civic dialogue, facilitating deliberative forums, partnering with faculty, and more (06:12–13:14). Student affairs professionals at every level will find relevant content, whether they're administrating at the VP level or working directly in residence halls. Importantly, all sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing, making the summit accessible for busy schedules. This episode is packed with actionable ideas and authentic reflection on the responsibilities student affairs professionals share in shaping the next generation's civic life. As campuses brace for high-stakes election cycles, and as societal challenges spill over into collegiate life, the tools and support discussed here are essential. Whether you're a campus leader or an aspiring practitioner, tune in to be inspired—and consider joining the conversation at NASPA's Civic Discourse on Campus Virtual Summit this May. Listen now and get equipped for the important work ahead! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:01]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development for higher education professionals wherever you happen to be. This is season 14, continuing our conversation on the value of Student Affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. Sheher hers your essay Voices from the Field host. Welcome, Jill, back to SA Voices. Jill Dunlap [00:00:29]: Thanks for having me. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:30]: We are live at the annual conference, so for our listeners, you might hear a little bit of different audio quality because we're trying a new setup, but we're also here in person. I almost never get to see our guests in person, so I'm very happy to see you. Jill Dunlap [00:00:41]: This is so great. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:42]: We had you on the POD almost four years ago now to talk about some of the work that you were doing around Title ix. And now we're back to talk about a brand new NASPA initiative called the Civic Dialogue Summit. I'm really excited to learn more about that, but it's been a minute since you've been on the pod, and since then your role has changed. Can you tell us a little bit more about you and how you got to your current seat at NASA? Jill Dunlap [00:01:03]: Yeah, absolutely. So I started at NASA. Oh my gosh, I think it's going to be 10 years this November. So I've been here a minute, and since the time that I last spoke to you all, I have added policy duties and civic engagement to my portfolio. And that was just due to different staff transitions and sort of me saying, hey, I'm available and would love to do some additional duties while I'm at NASA. I also teach political science as an adjunct. And so it's a nice way for me to bring what I'm learning here to the classroom and vice versa. And what my I'm hearing from my students about some of these issues to the work that I do at naspa. Jill Dunlap [00:01:33]: So I it's a really beautiful blend of work that I am, I am fortunate to be able to do. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:37]: So when you're teaching, what are you hearing in the world of students that you're bringing back to naspa? Jill Dunlap [00:01:41]: You know, they like just sort of what they're tuned into and what breaks through in terms of policy. I'm doing a presentation this afternoon at the annual conference talking about the new limits on graduate student programs. Right. And so their understanding of that, I think, is at the very infancy and so thinking about, oh, wow, what how do we, as NASA and especially in the policy space, guide student affairs professionals with Letting undergrad students know this is going to drastically change what fields you can go into, depending on what resources you have financially to be able to pursue the degree of your choice. And so these are some really significant changes, and I think some of those haven't broken through yet to students at the undergraduate level. And I think it's our job as student affairs professionals to help them understand that. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:21]: We just did a great episode with Melanie Story, who is the president of NAFSA on some of these policy changes. And just then on Saturday, I was co teaching one of our pre cons for the Public Policy Division and we talked all about the OB3 federal financial aid changes. OB3 stands for the One Big Beautiful act, also known as HR1. But what Jill Dunlap is referring to is really all of this information around new borrowing limits and lifetime borrowing limits for graduate students. And there's a different cap for professional students. It's very confusing. The long story short is that most students will no longer be able to borrow for the full cost of attendance in their programs, which is going to have an incredible ripple effect on who can access that type of education or on what those programs can cost where the list is really long, not even really sure what the impacts are going to be in full yet. We do know that they're going to take effect this year, next year in 27, and the last rules will be introduced in 28. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:15]: So it's just going to be a very different landscape. Jill Dunlap [00:03:17]: And it's all the more important for students to have civic agency. Right. And to be able to understand this and understand the power of talking to policymakers about these things on the front end and also in the implementation phase of what's happening around us. So very timely. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:31]: So let's talk about the NASPA summit that you're leading along with a couple of campus partners called the Civic Dialogue Summit. So why don't we start with what the basics of what is it? Jill Dunlap [00:03:40]: Yeah, I think, you know, this work has been happening for a really long time. So I definitely don't want it to seem as though NASA's jumping in and like leading the charge on this. I think what we've done with this event, and it's the first time we've done this, especially in the virtual space, is really trying to bring together all the partners that are doing really great work because I think campus campuses sort of buzzy and at this point really kind of bipartisan and we're clinging to things that we can do that are not raising alarm bells for policymakers. And this is one of them. And so I think both sides agree, both, you know, political parties agree that students ability to have challenging conversations with people who think very differently from them is an important skill. And so let's like come together around that and take this moment where we have an opportunity to move forward on some of those things where we may not in other areas and give campuses and campus professionals just the tools and resources and awareness of who's working in this space so that they can develop really robust programs on their own campuses. And so I think this is the culminating event where we're doing that and we're bringing together some really important thought leaders in this area. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:39]: This sounds like a really great opportunity for campuses to participate. Where is this going to be held? Jill Dunlap [00:04:43]: It is online, so anybody can attend. And I know that there are folks with different travel restrictions. And so to me, there's a real equality of opportunity to attend this. It is on Friday, May 8, and I believe that it starts at 11 Central so that we are not too early for our west coast partners. And it runs all the way through into the afternoon. And so we'll have one keynote kickoff presentation and then there'll be a series of breakout sessions. So folks will have different options to choose from throughout the afternoon. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:11]: Can you talk a little bit about how much this might cost for members? Jill Dunlap [00:05:14]: Yeah, I think it's a really reasonable cost for folks to be able to come. Early registration runs through the end of March, and for members it is 1, 99, and it is 2. 99 for non members. And also because we really appreciate and value the work of students in this area, there is a student rate of 70, $79 for early registration. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:29]: What might I expect from the participant experience? Jill Dunlap [00:05:31]: I think you can expect, like I said, a lot of thought leaders in this space who are doing really important work and really from a broad range of perspectives. So thinking about folks who want to host deliberative forums and what does that look like and how do you measure the effectiveness of those two? How are we capturing data about the impact of students who are developing these skill sets? How do you scale some of this work so that you can run it across first year experience programs or in residence halls? There's a session focused on how do we partner with faculty to infuse civic discourse into a wide range of curriculum. It doesn't just have to be the 101 classes that we can really talk about, some of the debates in our chemistry classes and the different schools of thought and how do we just really infuse this skill set throughout a student's entire journey at an institution. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:06:12]: I'm just taking a look at the schedule and what I'm seeing are a lot of really great external higher ed partners. And I think normally with a lot of NASPA events we see people coming from different campuses, but this is really exciting to see common ground here from some other external folks who are bringing their skill set into our world. So can you talk a little bit about any of the partners that are presenting? Jill Dunlap [00:06:31]: Yeah, we've partnered with all of these folks before in different capacities. So we have in years past had a place based civic learning and democratic engagement conference. Some of these folks have presented there. I think the reason that these folks were selected is that they are just approaching this from a really robust and diverse array of perspectives. And so again, you know, there's some folks who are working with faculty, there are some folks who are working with measurement and data and scaling up. And so to me, each of the folks that are represented and coming to present, each of the organizations that will be there are just a demonstration of really important work that's happening at the national level. We do have someone coming from a campus as well to talk about how do you do an entire class on civic discourse. And I think some folks are like, I could do that at my campus. Jill Dunlap [00:07:11]: You know, I'm a smaller campus, like what do I need to know to make that happen at my institution? And so I think we have a really good mix of both the campus level perspectives as well as the folks that are working at scale across a wide range of institutions across the country. So I think it'll be a really nice marriage of those different perspectives in a one day event. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:07:27]: And this event is both breakout sessions and keynote sessions throughout. So attendees will have some sessions where everyone's together, some sessions where people, people get to choose between two or three topics. So if I'm an attendee and I really want to go to one and it's happening at the same time as another, can I access them? Jill Dunlap [00:07:44]: You sure can. That's actually also the beauty of a virtual summit is that all of the sessions will be recorded. And so anyone who registers, even if you can't attend on the day of, which I know I shouldn't say that, because the goal is that you would attend the day of, because I do think some of the breakout sessions will have engagement opportunities in breakout rooms. And so if you're wanting to come and hear what other campuses are doing or connect with other people that are doing this work and you're thinking, I didn't know that there were other people that did these same things at other institutions, or I know that that campus is similarly situated to mine. It would be a really great networking opportunity for those who attend live. But if you wanted to see all of the sessions and you can't, you know, physically be at all of them, they all will be recorded and they'll be on demand and available for a year after the actual live event for folks who register. Dr. Jill Creighton [00:08:23]: If I am new to naspa, how is this different than maybe some of our other virtual offerings? Jill Dunlap [00:08:28]: Yeah, I think sometimes we get very specific in the virtual offerings. And to me, this is something that is really the. The purview or the responsibility of everyone. If you are working with student government, you want them to have civically engaged conversations. If you are advising student organizations and they are bringing controversial speakers and you have a different student organization that wants to protest that. And again, not that we're discouraging that, but really everybody has a responsibility, I think, from student affairs perspective, to help students figure out how to engage with one another. It is not just faculty, it is not just in the classroom. We see the body of activities that students engage in outside of the classroom. Jill Dunlap [00:09:01]: And to me, civic engagement and civic learning and especially civic discourse is the job of everyone in a student affairs role. So for me, this event, I think, brings together enough information that will be useful to, for decision makers at like AVP VP level, but also folks who are working in the civic engagement office or are in a res hall and they're like, how do I get roommates to talk to each other? I mean, there's really some very i…

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