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Student Affairs NOW

Author: SA Now Productions

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The Premier Podcast for Student Affairs
40 Episodes
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Tragedy and loss are inevitable in the career of any Student Affairs professional. In this powerful episode, Dr. R. Bowin Loftin recalls the day he had to deliver heartbreaking news after a sailing tragedy, offering insight into the role of institutions in upholding dignity and healing in the wake of disaster. The post Here’s the Story: “When the Tide Turns: Grief, Honor, and the Role of a University” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
Dr. Zach Mercurio discusses his new book The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance. Zach comes from student affairs roots and focuses now on significance, meaning, purpose, and mattering at work. He describes how mattering differs from belonging and inclusion and how much mattering matters. He also shares a practical framework for cultivating mattering through three actionable practices: noticing, affirming, and needing. The post The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
In this month’s Current Campus Context, Heather Shea is joined by correspondents Dr. Felecia Commodore and Dr. Brendan Cantwell to make sense of four major forces reshaping higher education right now: sharp declines in international enrollment and heightened immigration enforcement; a proposed federal redefinition of “professional degree” that could limit graduate student borrowing and access to high-need fields; deepening budget cuts and staff reductions affecting student-facing roles; and major shifts in college athletics as NIL changes and recent legal cases raise new questions about equity, compliance, and institutional accountability. Together, they explore what these developments mean for student affairs educators, how institutions are responding in real time, and what to watch as the semester comes to a close. The post Current Campus Context: Chaos, Cuts & College Sports appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
In this episode of Student Affairs NOW, host Heather Shea talks with Dr. Jonathan A. McElderry and Dra. Stephanie Hernandez Rivera about their forthcoming book Shaking the Table: Survival and Healing Amongst Identity Center Practitioners. They discuss what it means to “shake the table” in higher education and why centering the voices of identity center practitioners is especially urgent amid increasing resistance to DEI work. The conversation explores themes of survival, healing, and the power of storytelling to sustain those doing this labor of care and resistance. The episode also offers a glimpse into their upcoming second volume, Still Shaking the Table. The post Shaking the Table: Survival and Healing Amongst Identity Center Practitioners  appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
When a residence hall went off the rails during the pandemic, Craig Allen didn’t send emails or wag his finger—he showed up with pizza, t-shirts, and presence. Hear how those small acts sparked a culture shift and reminded his team of the real power of connection. The post Here’s the Story: “Ship-Shape Shirley” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
Given the challenges higher education is facing right now, we need models of leadership that are mission-driven, student-centered, and nimble and adaptable. Dr. Brian Bruess, is the first president of both the College of St Benedict and St. John’s University. He is leading what they call strong integration and putting systemness into practice to bring a more interconnected and relational way of leading. The post Strong Integration and Systemness: Practicing Interconnected and Relational Leadership in Higher Education appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
In The Connected College, Elliot Felix talks about breaking down silos through a more connected structure and strategy for student success. He is joined by Dr. Daniel Maxwell, who has decades of student affairs experience to bring The Connected College to practical applications for student affairs leaders to improve the quantitative and qualitative student experience through more integrated approaches. The post The Connected College: Leadership Strategies for Student Success appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
Learning to release the pressure of the "shoulds" and leaning into authentic desires is not easy feat. This episode explores the courageous decision of releasing the rules and making the decision to embrace a life worth living.  The post Here’s the Story: “Living without the ‘Should'” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
This episode was inspired by the recent article by Drs. Shaun Harper and Oscar Patrón, Three Decades of Campus Racial Climate Studies and 25 New Directions for Future Research, which builds on the foundational work of Dr. Sylvia Hurtado. Together, their scholarship has profoundly shaped how we understand race, racism, and belonging in higher education. We’ll discuss how campus racial climate research has evolved over the past 30 years, what challenges and opportunities remain, and where this critical field is headed next. The post Campus Racial Climate: Past, Present, & Future appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
As the federal government shutdown continues, colleges and universities are grappling with its immediate effects on students and operations. Meanwhile, the proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence” is sparking debate about federal influence over campus policies and values. This episode explores how funding, freedom, and inclusion intersect in today’s political climate—and how student affairs professionals are helping students and institutions navigate these challenges. The post Current Campus Context: Shutdowns and Showdowns in Higher Ed appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
Vicarious trauma is real, it’s widespread, and it’s not the same thing as “needing more self-care.” In this episode, Dr. Jill Bassett-Cameron joins Student Affairs NOW to explain what vicarious trauma is, how it shows up in our work, and why student affairs professionals must stop ignoring or minimizing it. Dr. Bassett-Cameron offers a timely and validating conversation about how we can name, manage, and reduce the trauma we absorb through service. The post Understanding the Cost of Caring: Vicarious Trauma in Student Affairs appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
A student affairs professional navigating the challenges of living and working with long COVID is learning to reimagine both leadership and life. Balancing the demands of a high-energy, people-centered field with the unpredictability of chronic illness requires new rhythms of care, patience, and adaptability. This journey is less about returning to “normal” and more about creating a sustainable way forward—leading with vulnerability, modeling resilience, and redefining success through balance, boundaries, and community. The post Here’s the Story: “Navigating Work-Life with Long Covid” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
In this episode, we learn of a professional journey done with humbly. The importance of valuing feedback as wisdom and an opportunity to grow in all phases of life. The post Here’s the Story: “The Overflow” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
Dr. Kathleen Fitzpatrick discusses two of her books Generous Thinking and the companion, Leading Generously. She argues against critique for critique's sake, zero-sum thinking, and competitive individualism toward collaborative, mutually supportive, and generative ways of being, thinking, and leading. In this conversation, she shares why, what, and how of leading generously. The post Generous Thinking & Leading appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
In this special episode of Student Affairs NOW, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ACPA Coalition for Disability and 35 years since the passage of the ADA. Panelists Erin Mayo, Kat Hurley, Mike Kutnak, Antonia De Michiel, and Spencer Scruggs join us to discuss the past, present, and future of disability in student affairs and higher education. From challenging ableism to promoting universal design and inclusive practice, this conversation is a call to deepen our collective commitment to access and equity for all. The post Reflections and Forward Momentum: 25 Years of the ACPA Coalition for Disability & 35 Years of the ADA appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
In this September episode of Current Campus Context, host Heather Shea welcomes back Dr. Crystal Garcia and Dr. Brendan Cantwell for a timely conversation on the state of higher education. The discussion begins with reintroductions and updates on their current research projects, then turns to how scholars and practitioners can separate meaningful policy “signals” from distracting “noise” in today’s overwhelming news cycle. Together, they highlight underreported developments from the past month, consider what gives them hope as the academic year unfolds, and reflect on the challenges and opportunities shaping the months ahead — from looming federal deadlines to long-term structural shifts in higher education. The post Current Campus Context: Making Sense of the Signals Amid the Noise appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
W. Scott Lewis recounts a moment as a Vice President for Student Affairs when his role unexpectedly required hostage negotiation skills to support a student in crisis. Surrounded by FBI agents and campus police, Scott’s decisions were risky, maybe a little lucky, and deeply human—yet ones he’d make again in service to his students. Scott tells this story masterfully, balancing the real tension with his legendary sense of humor, underscoring the weight of leadership in Student Affairs. The post Here’s the Story: “One or None: Difficult Decisions I Would Make Again” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
No matter where he goes, the constant question is raised, "How did you get that job?". Finding the perfect higher education adjacent role is a unique and intentional journey. Learn as Paul Brown shares his journey on how he found joy at Roompact. The post Here’s the Story: “What Everyone Wants To Know: How I Got My Job” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
We are seeing the politicization of DEIB across higher education. Join Rev. Sam Offer, dr. becky martinez, and Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington discuss how campus leaders can lead through this shifting landscape with integrity and effectiveness. They touch on the context of culture change progress and pushback, performativity and sustainability, well-being for DEIB professionals, responding to students, and coalition building for us all. The post DEIB: Holding Together at the Crossroads appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
The New Science of Learning

The New Science of Learning

2025-09-0301:00:49

Dr. Todd Zakrajsek shares with us learnings from the science of learning and his newest book, Essentials of the New Science of Learning. He distills cutting-edge research in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and education to help students optimize their learning through many examples and stories. This conversation is helpful for our own learning, helping others learn, and powerful lessons about the value of struggle and even failure. The post The New Science of Learning appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.
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