A Higher Education

Ever wondered what it is like to make the jump to a Dean of Students position? We could think of no better guest to answer this question than Larissa Lilly of Northwest University. Expect to learn the joys and trials of a DOS role, the privileges of raising a family on a college campus, and how collaboration can be the key to both successful leadership and fulfilling friendships.

Episode Chapters:

1:06 Kara's big bike trip

7:21 Mark's summer in Yosemite

8:29 Guest introduction

12:07 Speed round with Larissa

17:26 Being a Dean of Students

30:16 The value of collaborating

44:49 Parenthood as a student life professional

54:03 Christian Student Leadership Collective

59:01 Larissa's recent sources of learning

Episode Links:

Northwest University EdD in Organizational Leadership

Christian Student Leadership Collective

Contact Larissa at [email protected]

Our work can be a number of things; chaotic… meaningful… tiring… inspiring… wild… exciting… and that’s just before noon.

This episode was recorded during a workshop session at ACSD 2024 to capture the stories that make our daily labor all these things and more. And through the sharing and hearing of these stories, we realize a restful sense of belonging and solidarity, knowing that we are not alone in the moments that cause us to ask ‘what the heck is my job?!’

Listen in as we hear stories collected from all over the country prompted by the kinds of questions you always want to ask a candidate during an interview but HR won’t let you.

From 2020, this is episode four of the inaugural season of A Higher Education.

From 2020, this is episode three of the inaugural season of A Higher Education.

In the spring of 2023, Asbury University experienced a spontaneous spiritual revival that culminated in over 50,000 people visiting their small Kentucky campus over the following weeks. We sat down with Dr. Sarah Baldwin, Vice President for Student Life at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, to discuss her experience leading the campus through that season. We also spent some time hearing her share about being a woman in pastoral roles and much more!

0:45 In which we celebrate both of us being ultramarathoners now

6:42 Dr. Sarah Baldwin and the speed round questions

10:10 Early career themes and roles

15:10 The experience of being a woman in spiritual leadership roles

23:19 The Asbury revival experience through Sarah’s eyes

31:56 The lessons learned from stewarding a campus through a public revival

39:22 Balancing a revival with the duties of a 9-5

44:17 Sarah gives advice related to handling hot-button topics responsibly

53:59 We wrap up with a word of encouragement from Dr. Baldwin to the listener

Are you anticipating that the 2024 US presidential election may bring tension to your campus? Do you dream of a world where your students have healthy and helpful political conversations that bridge gaps and consider alternative perspectives? Is there a part of you that wonders how to engage thoughtfully and faithfully in the current political climate? This episode with Kaitlyn Schiess, author of "The Liturgy of Politics" and "The Ballot and the Bible" may not answer all your questions, but it will certainly begin to answer many of them. Join us as we discuss the intersection of Christian faith, higher education, and political engagement in a manner meant to fortify your pedagogy for your students and your own personal approach.

Find more about Kaitlyn and her work at her website! She has a contact page available if you are interested in bringing her to your campus.

8:50 What can different types of Christian educational institutions learn from each other?

12:45 Hospitality vs Conviction

19:50 Advertisement for CSLC 2024

21:03 Challenges that our students face and how to help them overcome those challenges

33:22 How can we talk to the a-political student about politics?

40:19 What is the church's work and what is the government's work?

47:00 How to learn more about politics, locally and federally

52:10 Mark sits through an LA earthquake live on the pod

54:05 The pros and cons of politics on social media

58:30 Is it right to have convictions? How do we choose what we care about?

1:04:50 Navigating theological and Christian spaces as women and as people who support women

1:15:10 How can I know if I'm ready for a doctoral degree

1:21:15 What resources does Kaitlyn recommend for further learning?

Building cultural humility is a communal effort, and there is no defined end-point of having arrived as a perfectly culturally humble leader. This month, Joel Pérez introduces the idea of cultural humility - what it is, why it's important, and how to grow it. He talks about his own racial identity development, and concludes the episode with advice for individual professionals and institutions as a whole on how to employ cultural humility in their diversity efforts.

3:04 Episode Introduction

5:39 Guest Introduction

8:15 Joel's racial identity development

13:42 What is cultural humility?

19:50 Where do cultural humility and belonging meet?

26:00 The institutional cost of high functioning multicultural teams
30:14 Performative vs productive programming

34:15 Joel's advice for young and middle-professionals

40:23 Joel's advice for senior leaders

44:44 Who will benefit from reading "Dear White Leader"

Links:

Joel's consulting website

Website for Dear White Leader

Creativity is one of the most highly valued employee traits in today's work environment. Fortunately, creativity can be developed! Grab a paper and pen for this month's topical deep-dive into why creativity matters in our work, how it is possible to become a creative person, and what habits will grow your already creative mind. From the philosophical to the practical, this episode will encourage you to infuse creative habits into your own life and will demonstrate how to inspire creativity from your students and staff right alongside you.

0:56 Why is creativity important in our work?

9:40 Ad for ACSD 2024

11:18 Creative Habit 1: Idea

24:05 Creative Habit 2: Truth

36:34 Creative Habit 3: Simplicity

39:48 Creative Habit 4: Mastery

48:34 Creative Habit 5: Village

56:42 Creative Habit 6: Habitat

61:54 Creative Habit 7: Messiness

1:04:44 Creative Habit 8: Habit

1:10:34 Creative Habit 9: Overcoming Resistance

1:17:10 Summary and encouragement

Episode Links: Emerge by Don Perini on Amazon, Design Thinking, Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

Hosts on LinkedIn: Kara Martin and Mark Muha

It's March. We've been in the spring semester for a while and we still have a while to go. Is your soul eager for some rest? Join our guests Michael Burns and Mike McCarthy from UMHB this month as they share their excitement for the upcoming ACSD conference. They describe how our three days together will be permeated with pictures and practices of rest drawn from scripture. It might just provide the hope and anticipation you're looking for these days.

0:31 Detroit vs Everybody and running marathons

3:20 Guest introductions

7:20 Conference Theme: Rest

13:30 Conference Location: Belton, TX

16:42 Conference highlights and sneak peeks

19:35 Conference Plenary Speakers

22:20 Lead a workshop! Do it!!

27:20 Retreats and pre-conferences

31:23 Job Board Ad

32:01 Mike and Michael share their passion for seeing life change in students

38:54 Mike and Michael leave us with a word of encouragement

The links: Conference Information and Workshop Proposal Form.

Did you realize that how you onboard team members has a big impact on if they stay at your institution, or even in the field of Student Affairs at all? Our guest, Dr. Zach Mills of Baylor University, did the hard work on finding out the things that matter in terms of employee retention so that you didn't have to, and he's here to selflessly share the things he's learned with the rest of us. He also waxes poetic about what makes a doctoral degree so worth it. If you've been looking for that little nudge into the next degree, or have been seeking motivation for the degree you've already begun, this episode will provide it.

0:30 Episode introduction and Michigan sports

5:55 Introducing Dr. Zach Mills and his Ph.D. experience

7:16 Attracting and retaining university employees

21:23 How can you practically invest in current staff members?

32:00 Why everyone (who wants to) can and should pursue a doctoral degree

38:20 ACSD Scholarship Collective and ACSD 2024 hype

47:37 Zach's word of encouragement for you

51:59 Ways to get in touch with Zach and his work include LinkedIn, [email protected], and eventually his dissertation will be found on ProQuest.