Higher Ed scholars and faculty are near unanimous in their agreement—the job of being a college or university president today is as difficult as ever. With stressors from finances, to enrollment and state-wide politics, every day is a new adventure. For those whose presidencies are in states like Florida and Texas, the pressures on both presidents and trustees from governors and legislatures is even higher.

My guest today studies higher education from a policy and governance perspective. Michael S. Harris is a professor of higher education and Chair of the Department of Education Policy and Leadership in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University. He will serve as the SMU Faculty Senate President and Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees during 2023-2024. His primary research interests consider the culture, strategy, and behavior of higher education institutions. His work has been published in leading higher education journals such as The Journal of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, Higher Education, Innovative Higher Education, Higher Education Policy, and reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education and The Atlantic.

Michael and I have a wide-ranging conversation about athletics, politics, faculty oversight, and discuss his upcoming role leading the faculty senate at SMU, while throwing in a few thoughts on what a future in the Pac-12 might look like.