Student Affairs NOW

Higher education leaders today face simultaneous crises, requiring new skills for effective leadership amidst volatility. In a discussion hosted by Dr. Anthony Edwards, Keith Edwards and Heather Shea emphasize the importance of adaptability, inner work, and strategic partnerships to navigate challenges, focusing on aligned educational outcomes and thoughtful AI use.

The post Leading through the Storm: Capacity and Clarity to Lead through Complexity appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Mark Butler breaks the myth of Alpha leadership based on wolves in captivity and redefines it as the behavior of wolves in the wild, where the Alpha focuses on protection, service, and responsibility. An expert in mental health, psychological safety, and leadership, Mark shares how leaders can be effective in leading teams, fostering well-being, avoiding burnout, and fostering psychological safety through simple practices any leader can utilize.

The post Redefining Alpha: Leadership for Well-Being, Engagement, and Success appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

Education abroad is not just “travel.” It is a high-impact learning experience shaped by the current realities of U.S. higher education: student mental health, belonging, political polarization, affordability, global awareness, career readiness, and the role of faculty and staff in helping students make meaning across difference. While co-leading an undergraduate education abroad program in Europe, Student Affairs NOW host Heather Shea connected with four students, a faculty co-leader, and a program assistant to discuss the importance of education abroad in a changing higher education landscape. Together, they reflect on identity, history, learning, and student development while exploring how education abroad can help students better understand themselves, others, and their place in an increasingly interconnected world.

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What if everything you've been told about picking the right college major is wrong? In Hacking College, Ned Scott Laff and Scott Carlson argue that the obsession with choosing the "right" major has left generations of students with what they call "empty college degrees." Find out how students can stop jumping hurdles and start hacking the college game.

The post Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Really Matter – And What Really Does appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, a higher education housing professional reflects on a career shaped by intentionally seeking joy in both everyday moments and unexpected opportunities. He shares how investing in personal passions and relationships sustains his energy and strengthens his effectiveness at work. He encourages young professionals to define success beyond burnout, recognize small wins, and build routines that prioritize purpose and fulfillment. His message is simple: joy isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create.

The post Here’s the Story: “Finding Joy” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

What does student affairs work really look like at a community college? From helping a first-generation student find their footing to supporting a working parent juggling classes and life, to guiding professionals with previous degrees to upskill and pursue different career paths- community college student affairs leaders and teams meet students where they are. Their work is hands-on, deeply relational, and shaped by a commitment to removing barriers and opening doors- it is truly love, justice, and humanity work. If you’ve ever wondered what makes community colleges feel so connected and responsive, this conversation offers a window into the educators who make it happen.

The post The Vital Role of Student Affairs in Community Colleges appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In these times of sustained and coordinated assaults on the mission and values of higher education, the Alliance for Higher Education is trying to bring a fragmented higher education industry together into a coalition with agency. Learn about the Alliance and how we can push back on the regressive legalism to help higher education move closer to our aspirations from our current realities.

The post Alliance for Higher Education: A Unified Voice to Protect Higher Ed’s Role in Democracy appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In this episode, Jackson Tidwell shares a powerful story of enforcing an unpopular policy that, in the face of a looming hurricane, proved to be lifesaving. What felt rigid and frustrating in the moment became a clear reminder that policies aren’t about control—they’re about care. It’s a compelling look at leadership, trust, and the purpose behind the rules we’re sometimes called to uphold.

The post Here’s the Story: “Policies have Purpose” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

In part two, authors Drs. Kristen Renn, Chayla Haynes Davison, Alex C. Lange, Cristobal Salinas Jr., and Rosemary Perez unpack the Student Development Theory in Action (SDTiA) model—the framework at the center of the book and a response to the need for more usable, practice-oriented theory. They explain how the model works, why it emphasizes developmental processes and context, and where educators have the most influence. This episode offers a clear, actionable way to connect theory to the real work of supporting students.

The post Student Development Theory in Action: Inside the SDTiA Model appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.

This episode tells the story of a higher education professional who, looking back, realizes that faith has quietly guided him through every stage of his life. Growing up in a close family environment, he learned resilience early while navigating challenging dynamics and moments of bias that shaped his perspective and purpose. What once felt like instinct or perseverance, he now understands as faith—an anchor that has influenced not only how he endured challenges, but how he leads, supports others, and shows up with intention in higher education.

The post Here’s the Story: “Faith is Resilience” appeared first on Student Affairs NOW.