The SACSA Podcast

Join Dr. Michelle Boettcher for SACSA’s higher education current affairs interview podcast, SA Today. Michelle discusses the most pressing issues facing higher education with experts from around the southeast. In this episode of SA Today, we are joined by Ibrahim Bicak and Zach Taylor. Ibrahim and Zach recently published an article in the College Student Affairs Journal titled “First-generation college student financial aid: Results from a national financial aid jargon survey.” We're excited to learn more about their study!

In episode 8 of The First Five Years, we are joined by Dr. Anthony DeSantis who serves as the Assistant Vice President, Biscayne Bay Campus for the Division of Academic & Student Affairs at Florida International University. Dr. DeSantis, known to many students as Papa D, shares wisdom on how to connect with others on campus in lasting ways.

In episode seven of SA Today, we are fortunate to be joined by Dr. Kimberly Thornton of Texas Tech University. Dr. Thornton shares about the Red Raider Food Pantry and its operations during the pandemic.

In episode 7 of The First Five Years, we start a series on how to build genuine networks in student affairs. Networking to many seems like an abstract nightmare of talking to strangers. Here, we hope to deconstruct that idea of networking and talk through manageable ways to find support in the field. We started with Dr. Matt Clifford of Wake Forest University and strategies for how to find a genuine network in professional associations. Come for the knowledge, stay for an extended discussion of chicken salad.

In episode six, we are joined by The First Five Years co-host Erica Aguiar. Michelle discusses with Erica her work at the University of Florida with the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program.

In episode 6, we conclude our SA Moments series with stories from Bri Price, Dr. Susan Komives, and Lin Chun. We want to share that we recorded this episode before the latest instances of violence and police brutality in our country. In this episode we discuss student activism and supporting students of color. Thank you in advance for your engagement with these topics. Black Lives Matter, now and always.

On Episode 4 of SA Today, we are joined the Drs. Mary Alice and Matt Varga of the University of West Georgia. The Drs Varga share about balancing their new "co-workers" aka parenting and work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In episode 5, we are joined by Jessica Wiggins of Jacksonville State and Robyn Sanderson of Anderson University to discuss the balance of work as a student affairs practitioner with parenting during COVID-19.

In episode 5, the First Five Years team continues to find amazing SA Moments from around SACSA. In this one, we are joined by SACSA President Jason Cassidy who shares about a redemptive student conduct case. SACSA Vice President Fred Tugas joins and talks about the meaning of a student union renovation project. And, Mississippi State's Beca Spencer tells about an unlikely Homecoming King. Can't wait for y'all to listen!

Content warning - Honest discussion of mental health, including a mention of suicide, is included in this episode. The specific reference is at 18:20. On the next episode of SA Today, we welcome Ciera Durden. Ciera currently serves as the Associate Director for Multicultural Community Development in The Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center. We discuss with Ciera the process of moving Clemson's Pride Celebration online. Discussed at length is the tremendous Living Library Podcast featured in the online Pride celebration. The link to the Library is included below. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clemson-pride-living-library-podcast/id1508253251