HigherEdJobs Podcast

Courtney Swoboda, who received the 2024 HigherEdMilitary Spotlight Award, describes her career path as "random." But during a recent interview with HigherEdJobs podcast co-hosts Andy Hibel and Monika Sziron, we saw that she is a determined and forward-thinking leader making strides in veteran education. As the director of Military and Veteran Services at the University of Central Missouri, Swoboda and her team spend their days processing educational benefits for students through the U.S. Department of Veterans. They also oversee state and federal military tuition assistance and process military transcripts.   Swoboda launched a statewide organization, MOVES (Missouri Organization of Veteran Education Specialists) to help fellow educators solve common issues and learn from each other. In this episode, Swoboda described the group's role in shaping legislation to boost educational assistance for Missouri National Guard members. In addition to her academic career, Swoboda has served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for more than 11 years. She is currently an education and training manager and was previously an aircraft armament specialist.  Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

Have you ever helped your kids move to college? What emotions did you feel, and how did things go? In this episode, HigherEdJobs podcast hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin each describe their recent experiences of dropping off a child at college, from their personal and professional perspectives.Andy and his wife dropped off their youngest, and he said it was an idyllic experience. Their oldest child had previously set off for college in fall 2020 during the lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. He recalled the family waving at her through the front window of their house as she drove away by herself. Kelly and her husband dropped off their oldest son, the first to leave the proverbial nest. She found solace in talking with other parents who have gone through the first-time “drop-off” experience and in the university newsletter which provided tips for parents on what to expect. She said one of the best questions she came across about the process was: Can you prepare for this big event? "I don’t know if you are ever ready or can truly prepare," Kelly said. One of the newsletter's tips was to prepare for a variety of emotions. As my husband and I drove away, "there were tears," she added. "It was different from what I was trying to mentally prepare for, what it was going to be." Andy and Kelly want to express appreciation and thanks to all the staff, students, and leaders on campuses in the U.S. who helped make the move-in experience tremendous and smooth for students and parents. They make a huge difference for families going through major life transitions.Do you have an experience or advice that you’d like to share regarding dropping off or sending a child to college? Email us at podcast@higheredjobs.com If you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast, send us your idea, and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this Ask the Expert episode, HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski and Matt Trainum, vice president with the Council of Independent Colleges, respond to questions from listeners about the use of recruiting for roles in higher education.The questions they explore include how in-house and outside recruiting firms work at colleges and universities. Hermacinski said that outside firms search on behalf of the institution. Based on her experience as the head of human resources at Eureka College, she said they typically only use search firms for C-suite leadership positions, including president. Trainum said candidates must jump through a few hoops with the outside firm before talking with a decision-maker. That means they must create quick takeaways and concise pitches that can be easily relayed to on-campus contacts, he said.  Hermacinski is the head of human resources at Eureka College. She recently took part in CUPA-HR's Ignite program, which is sponsored in part by HigherEdJobs. The program connects a select group of early-career higher ed HR professionals with CUPA-HR, and key leaders in the association and the higher education human resources profession.Trainum is the vice president for networks and strategic partnerships with the Council of Independent Colleges. Have a question you want to hear answered on Ask the Expert? Send us your question, and we may discuss it on a future episode.

In this episode, Mary Guiden added "Firework" by Katy Perry to the HigherEdJobs Playlist for your higher ed job search. She found the lyrics inspiring while experiencing the ups and downs of a job search: "If you only knew what the future holds / After a hurricane comes a rainbow / Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed / So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road."  Guiden is the associate director of editorial strategy, special projects at HigherEdJobs. Do you have songs you want to add to the playlist? Email us at podcast@higheredjobs.com with your suggestions and why you think they belong on the playlist. 

Have you struggled to fit in when you landed a job on a college campus? In this Ask the Expert episode, Matt Trainum, vice president with the Council of Independent Colleges, responds to a listener who left the busy corporate world due to burnout and made a move into higher education. This person is having a difficult time adjusting to the "laissez-faire" attitudes of some department colleagues at a time when there are many external environmental challenges and opportunities. "Am I a bad cultural fit for my institution, department, or academia?" they asked. "After several years, I’m still previewing everything I’m about to say to avoid sounding like the 'private sector guy.' Will this self-censorship ever go away? Would I be a better fit in a business school?"Trainum said first, he appreciates when people state their truth, even during challenging times. He suggested that our listener "find his crowd." Others on campus likely feel the same way and are having similar conversations. Trainum also said the listener should pick their battles. It's easy to critique the environment you're in when you're not happy or feel like you're not in sync with others on your team. Figure out how to address the issues you want with your "crowd" and focus on what really matters to you.  Trainum is the vice president for networks and strategic partnerships with the Council of Independent Colleges.Have a question you want to hear answered on Ask the Expert? Send us your question, and we may discuss it on a future episode.

How do you define facilities management at a university or college? Winnie Kwofie, who has overseen facilities management teams in public and private higher education institutions, describes the field as integrating people and processes in one place. She is passionate about increasing awareness about the diverse and interesting roles in facilities management. Currently, on HigherEdJobs, there are 4,300 open positions listed. Kwofie helped launch "Women in Facilities in the Cal State U" system while serving as associate vice president of facilities development and operations at California State University East Bay. Women are underrepresented in the field of facilities management leadership, she said. The U.S. Department of Labor describes the field as "non-traditional," which could dissuade some women from applying for these roles. Through her research, Kwofie has seen first-hand how a lack of awareness about these roles contributes to unfilled positions and job seekers still searching for that perfect role.  Kwofie is a licensed civil engineer in the state of California and she recently successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, with an emphasis on educational leadership for social justice. She has held national, regional, and local leadership roles with APPA (formerly known as the Association of Physical Plant Administrators). Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your idea and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this episode, Matt Trainum with the Council of Independent Colleges responds to a question from a "seasoned" employee in their 50s. Our listener said they would like to get back into college recruiting but given their years of experience, they feel they are being passed up for roles that would be a good fit. "What positions should a 'seasoned' employee like me be applying for in higher education?" they asked.Trainum said that candidates should apply for jobs they're interested in, ones in which they can be successful. It's also important for job seekers to make the pitch and promote themselves to the hiring manager. In terms of the listener's question, he said he perceives that they're applying for roles that younger people typically might occupy. Trainum said this job seeker may feel that "the folks I see in this position don't necessarily resemble me." This can be painful for a job seeker, and it could lead to a sense of not feeling valued in a space in which they know they can contribute. "It's because of a factor that shouldn't be important," he said. Trainum is the vice president for networks and strategic partnerships with the Council of Independent Colleges.For more on this topic, listen to "Job Searching After 40," one of our most popular podcast episodes from June 2023.Have a question you want to hear answered on Ask the Expert? Send us your question, and we may discuss it on a future episode.

What if feeling like an imposter was not a negative thing? In this episode, RJ Jenkins, director of education at the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration, talks about imposter syndrome or what he prefers to describe as imposter feelings or a phenomenon. Typically, imposter syndrome is described as self-doubt among high-achieving individuals who overlook their accomplishments. It's common in academia, with some estimates showing that nearly 70% of academic professionals will experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers.When he’s experienced imposter feelings, Jenkins said he was pushing himself outside his comfort zone, trying something new, taking a risk, and growing. “And that has been the hallmark of my experience with imposter phenomenon, even today,” he said. In this episode, Jenkins described feeling like an imposter on day one as a first-year student at Columbia University in New York City. He shares his advice for higher ed professionals so they can better support their students and staff and feel better about themselves.Learn more in “How To Be An Imposter,” a TEDx talk from Jenkins from 2023. He was also the recipient of the 2023 HigherEdMilitary Spotlight Award. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your idea and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

How do you manage working while experiencing hard times in life?In this episode, the HigherEdJobs editorial team talks with hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin about managing an illness, supporting a family member, and caring for children and teenagers while working, among other topics. We were inspired to discuss this topic after reading "How to be Emotionally Present at Work When You Have Real Stuff Going on at Home," by HEJ contributor Eileen Hoenigman Meyer. As Meyer said, managing these situations or even weathering a crisis is an emotional and logistical undertaking.Her tips include to: lean into your routine, get clarity around what you need, and protect yourself.The editorial team featured in this episode includes:Mary Guiden, Associate Director of Editorial Strategy, Special ProjectsLeah Jackson, Assistant Director of Editorial Strategy and Writer, andMonika Sziron, Assistant Director of Editorial Strategy, Research and Coordination at HigherEdJobs and HigherEdMilitary. Cherwin leads the editorial team and is the director of editorial strategy. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your idea and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

Matt Trainum offers his advice on how to translate the skills you've acquired in higher education into a job in a new realm. At the highest level, you have to believe that you can do whatever job you're applying to during your job search, he said. As you look to make that move, conduct smart research and prepare yourself well for each stage you'll encounter. Self-reflection is also a great place to start if you're imagining exiting  higher ed and going into another industry. Translate is a key word, Trainum said. You've got to translate every word and every experience when you're presenting what you've done. Department chairs are similar to department managers in a highly-decentralized organization. But it's up to you to help the team you're interviewing with see that connection. Trainum is currently the vice president for networks and strategic partnerships with the Council of Independent Colleges. Have a question you want to hear answered on Ask the Expert? Send us your question, and we may discuss it on a future episode.