If you’re searching for inspiration and actionable insights on leadership in higher education, you’ll want to tune in to the latest episode featuring Dr. Jhenai Chandler, hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. This engaging conversation shines a light on the complexity of change management and the importance of authentic leadership through times of uncertainty.

One major theme that emerges from their discussion is the necessity of adaptability in the ever-evolving landscape of student affairs. Dr. Chandler shares her personal experiences navigating institutional shifts, emphasizing that flexibility and open communication are key to both individual growth and organizational success. She discusses how leaders who prioritize empathy and transparency foster environments where innovation isn’t just encouraged—it thrives.

Another powerful topic is the need for intentional mentorship and community-building. Dr. Chandler highlights how finding and being a mentor can propel professional development in meaningful ways. She stresses that mentorship doesn't have to be formalized; often, those small, consistent connections spark the greatest impact. Listeners are reminded that building a supportive professional network sharpens resilience, especially when facing challenges unique to the higher education sector.

The conversation doesn’t shy away from discussing the personal side of leadership either. Dr. Chandler is candid about the importance of self-care and boundary-setting, particularly for those who often take on invisible labor within their institutions. She encourages embracing humanity within the professional sphere—celebrating wins, learning from setbacks, and bringing your whole self to work.

Rounding out the episode, the hosts and Dr. Chandler offer practical advice for emerging leaders. They underscore the value of continual learning and the importance of staying true to your values, even amidst external pressures. From candid anecdotes to strategic insights, this episode is packed with wisdom that will resonate with higher education professionals at every stage of their journey.

If you’re ready to be inspired and energized, don’t miss this insightful episode! The perspectives shared by Dr. Chandler, and Dr. Creighton, will leave you with actionable strategies and a renewed sense of purpose. Whether you’re a seasoned administrator or just starting your career, this dynamic conversation is sure to spark new ideas and meaningful reflection.

Tune in and join the dialogue today!

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 pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 13 on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. She her hers your essay Voices from the Field Host welcome to season 13 of SA Voices from the Field. This season is on the Value of Student affairs and I'm thrilled to open this season with Dr. Janae Chandler, who currently serves as the Vice President of Research and Policy for Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:42 ]:
That's us. Here at naspa, she's leading efforts to advance student success and equity through research driven policies. Previously, Dr. Chandler was Senior Director of College Completion Policy at TCUS, or the Institute for College Access and Success, where she oversaw the organization's advocacy and policy strategy aimed at improving college completion rates. Her work focused on enhancing institutional capacity to support student success, collaborating with state and federal policymakers, industry leaders and researchers to promote policies that advance equity in higher ed. Before joining TCUS, Dr. Chandler was a leader of Post Secondary Transitions at Education Strategy Group, where she worked with state and regional policymakers to improve advising practices, early post secondary opportunities, and mathematics pathways. She also led business development in college and career advising, ensuring that advising systems address the holistic needs of all students.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:30 ]:
As the Inaugural Director of the Florida Caribbean Louis Stokes Regional center of Excellence, Dr. Chandler conducted research to assess the impact of growth mindset interventions on STEM student success. Dr. Chandler began her career in advising at Tallahassee Community College, later holding leadership roles with both the Florida College System and the State University system. As a first gen college graduate and former parenting student, she's deeply committed to improving access to higher education and creating support systems that promote the success of diverse student populations. Dr. Chan Chandler holds an Associate of Arts degree from Florida A and M University, a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition Sciences, a Master of Science in Leadership from nova, a Master of Science in Leadership from NOVA Southeastern university, and a PhD in higher education Policy from Florida State University. Janae, welcome to Essay Voices.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:02:19 ]:
Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:22 ]:
It is season 13, the value of the Student affairs profession. I can't think of a better time to be having this conversation and for our NASPA squad to be meeting you. You've been with NASP. I think it's just about a year now.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:02:34 ]:
Yeah, August 19th made a year. So I just hit my what we call NASPiversary Happy NASPiversary. Yes, yes. It was a great day and I'm really proud to be a part of this association in supporting the professionals who just are doing phenomenal work, phenomenal work on campuses across the.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:02:53 ]:
You are one of our newest, I think actually the newest executive team member for NASPA on staff serving in the role of VP for policy and advocacy and research, taking over Amelia Parnell' old seat actually. So we know that you're working really hard to fill those shoes at a really challenging policy time. Can you tell us a little bit about how you got to naspa?

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:03:15 ]:
Yes. So I got to naspa. Really. I call it like a shoot my shot moment to be quite honest. I worked at TCAS as the Senior director for College Completion Policy where I oversaw all of this federal advocacy work related to college completion. And I work with members of Congress to work on designing and implementing federal policies that thought about the holistic needs of students. And even though I wasn't from the traditional federal policy landscape, one value that I brought to that work is I always thought about the practitioner. I always thought about their voices are missing in this work.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:03:52 ]:
We're designing things and we're not thinking about how this looks on campus or how students experience it. And so I was very proud to be a bridge between the practitioner and the policymaker. And so when I saw this opportunity come up at naspa, I thought it would just be a phenomenon, phenomenal experience to work with student affairs professionals and now bringing policy to our environment a little bit more and helping us be forward thinking about how we get to inform and shape policy. And so that decision, I didn't know what the climate was going to be. I didn't realize what we were going to be experiencing in 2025. But it really affirms my decision to come to NASPA. And I remember being at tables on campuses and being a part of policy conversations and not feel feeling equipped or empowered enough to engage. And that's what I want to dismantle.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:04:46 ]:
I want student affairs professionals to be able to engage in policy conversations and research conversations. And so I'm really excited to build our members toolkit more in these arenas.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:57 ]:
You mentioned you come from TCUs. Can you tell us a little bit about what that is and what TICUS does for higher ed? I believe it stands for the Institute for College Access and Success.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:05:07 ]:
Yes, correct. And so in the policy arena you'll have intermediaries or research think takes that really dive deep into research on particular topics. They are also a primary resource for state and federal policymakers and staffers to get information from. And we also provided a lot of advocacy through webinars, publications, obviously scholarly engagement. And so it was really an organization to shape the policy field around higher education and advancing equity and access for students and institutions.

Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:41 ]:
That background is going to be so valuable for naspa, especially as we're facing a really unique policy environment right now. I know it's kind of difficult to say, given that the policy world is what I would call a bit kind of unstable almost at the moment. What are we doing at NASPA right now? And I say that internally as a member of the Public Policy Division, but also as a person who's just kind of a bit of a policy nerd and knowing that we're seeing funky impacts that we didn't necessarily see even a year ago.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler [00:06:09 ]:
I'm so proud to say that our team has gone all in on policy research right