Student Affairs NOW Hope Circuits: Rewiring Universities and Other Organizations for Human Flourishing
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May 21, 2025 
Dr. Jessica Riddell, a Shakespearean scholar and professor at Bishop's University, dives into the pressing need for transformation in higher education. She critiques the status quo and presents ten innovative tools to foster hope and a thriving academic environment. Drawing on theatrical metaphors, she highlights the unsung heroes of student success and the importance of meaningful relationships. Riddell advocates for a mindset shift towards unlearning and relearning to navigate challenges, urging institutions to embrace vulnerability and collective efforts for transformative change.
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Broken Systems Demand Systemic Change
- Systems remain fundamentally broken in universities despite attempts to increase resilience.
- We must shift focus from individual resilience to addressing the root causes in the system.
Hope Is Active and Relational
- Hope differs from optimism; it is an active verb lived through relationships and decisions.
- Hope means challenging current reality toward a better possible future collectively.
Pause Before Reacting
- Slow down and pause during urgent times to avoid default reactive responses.
- Consider if a second, more thoughtful response is an option before acting in crises.
