Student Affairs NOW

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of scholarly writing and publishing in student affairs. Our guests discuss how conversations about equity, representation, and access are reshaping whose knowledge is valued, as well as how emerging tools like AI are influencing authorship and intellectual labor. Together, we reflect on the responsibilities of authors and editors and offer practical insights for scholar-practitioners who want to contribute to knowledge production in meaningful and ethical ways. The post Modern Scholarly Writing: Equity, Authorship & the Future of Publishing in Student Affairs appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this powerful episode, Steven Herndon shares a deeply personal story of leading through profound loss, revealing what it means to hold both grief and responsibility at the same time. Together, we explore the tension between showing up and shutting down—when hiding our pain helps us lead, and when it quietly holds us back. At its core, this is a story about the people who step in, lift us up, and remind us that peace and purpose can still exist—even in chaos. The post Here’s the Story: “Leading with Peace and Purpose in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Brennan Cantwell, policy scholar on accreditation and federal regulation; Dimitri Morgan, student affairs researcher focused on learning and civic engagement; Felicia Commodore, scholar-practitioner on accreditation, equity, and DEI. They discuss accreditation pressure and DEI signals. They unpack accreditation risks for programs and enrollment. They debate academic freedom, student protections, ROI and how AI and career access reshape campus practice.

In this episode of Here’s the Story, Jonathan Manz shares a defining moment that challenged his sense of direction and purpose. Through an honest and thoughtful conversation, this episode explores how refusing failure can quietly reshape who we are becoming. The post Here’s the Story: “Failing at the Finish Line” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Interim leadership can be complex for the individual and institution. In this discussion, you'll hear a variety of perspectives on interim roles from different personal, professional, and institutional perspectives. You'll gain a recommendations for leaders and institutions considering interim roles to navigate them as effectively as possible. The post The Interim Leader’s Playbook appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Although plenty of evidence is out there about the impact of the environment on learning, community, belonging, and well-being, designing spaces is often an afterthought. These leaders think about this regularly from very different perspectives. Join this conversation rich with perspectives, new ideas, and great insights. The post Designing the Environment appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Renee Delgado-Riley, equity-centered assessment leader; Jennifer Nalos, higher-education policy and assessment strategist; Cindy Cogswell, data-strategy and organizational learning expert; Gavin Henning, professor and standards leader. They discuss connecting assessment to change management. They cover frameworks for measuring change. They explore building trusting cultures, centering students and equity, and sustaining momentum for continuous improvement.

Dr. Felecia Commodore, higher-ed researcher focused on policy and access, and Dr. Crystal Garcia, student affairs scholar centered on civic engagement and equity, discuss scrutiny of student voting data, the SAVE Act and FERPA concerns, funding stability amid tighter federal oversight, and proposed graduate loan caps with risks for diversity and professional pipelines.

In this episode, a retired housing director reflects on a career spent shaping residential communities—and the people who led them. She speaks candidly about encouraging resident assistants to stay in the field, even as the role has grown more complex, more visible, and more demanding than when she first started. Rather than offering nostalgia, she offers perspective. She acknowledges the challenges today’s professionals face while affirming that the work still matters—and that the field still needs people willing to lead with empathy and steadiness. The post Here’s the Story: “Reflecting on the Pictures on the Wall” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Sherry Taylor, clinical psychologist turned organizational consultant focused on resilient, equitable learning. Doug Haynes, emeritus professor and former EDI leader researching Black thriving and institutional change. Jude Burkamp, clinical psychologist and program co-chair integrating social justice into training. They explore why inclusive conversations matter, building trust and habits for dialogue, systems that support thriving, and urgency for embodied leadership.