HigherEdJobs Podcast

In this end-of-the-year roundtable episode, members of the HigherEdJobs editorial team reflect on several standout articles and conversations from the past year. They discuss burnout and well-being across higher education, including why self-care looks different depending on role, career stage, and personal responsibilities. The group also explores the idea of the “inner taskmaster,” sharing how unrealistic expectations and productivity guilt show up for many professionals. The conversation closes with a look at supporting military-affiliated students, focusing on how clear policies and campus awareness can make a meaningful difference during major transitions.

In this Ask the Expert episode, Dr. Yi Hao and Dr. Mallory Neil respond to a listener’s question about requesting support to attend a professional conference when funding is limited. They discuss how to frame the conversation around shared goals, prepare a clear and realistic proposal, and think through alternatives when travel is not an option. Yi and Mallory also explore options such as presenting, volunteering, virtual attendance, regional events, and external funding. The episode also considers the issue from a supervisor’s perspective, including transparency, equity, retention, and the role professional development plays in long-term growth within higher education.

In this episode, Dr. Laura Parson, associate professor of educational and organizational leadership at North Dakota State University, joins the podcast to talk about how empathy can shape daily life in higher education. Dr. Parson explains what it means to understand someone’s perspective, how self-awareness influences our reactions, and why timing matters when supporting students and colleagues. She also shares practical moments from campus life, including knowing when to pause, listen, and set a boundary. The conversation offers guidance for higher ed professionals who want to create a more supportive environment for the people they work with and serve.

In this Ask the Expert episode, HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski joins the show to discuss how candidates can assess an institution’s approach to work-life balance without asking the question directly. She shares different ways to inquire about weekly rhythms, busy seasons, team support, and leadership modeling. Kathleen also explains what inconsistencies, vague answers, or “family” language may signal, and why observing the communication style during the search offers important clues.

In this episode, Dr. Yi Hao, director of education and assessment at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, and Dr. Mallory Neal, director of industry and alumni engagement at Clemson University, discuss the “good enough for now” approach and what it means for professionals building careers in higher education. They talk about finding momentum without rushing, recognizing when adaptability turns into overload, and giving yourself room to pause without losing direction. Yi and Mallory also outline ways to identify skills worth developing, draw on campus networks, and use daily work as a source of growth. The conversation highlights practical steps that help early and mid-career professionals move forward with clarity and intention.

In this Ask the Expert episode, HR leader Kathleen Hermacinski returns to tackle a question many professionals hesitate to ask out loud: Who supports HR when HR supports everyone else? She talks through how her team uses daily “tailgates” to check in, think through tough situations, and build a stronger department culture. Kathleen also shares how to lean on peers across campus, what to keep in mind legally when talking through sensitive issues, and why outside networks can be a lifeline for HR professionals at small or mid-size institutions. The conversation digs into the difference between venting and real strategy, and how leaders can set the tone by showing that it’s okay to seek help.

This Veterans Day episode revisits conversations from the HigherEdJobs Podcast archive to explore how veterans continue their service within higher education. Through clips featuring student affairs leaders, HR professionals, faculty, and campus advocates, the episode highlights the lived experiences of veterans working and studying in higher ed, and the ways institutions can support their growth. Listeners will hear about creating strong peer networks, navigating the transition from military roles into campus leadership, building veteran-to-career pathways, and recognizing the value that military-connected professionals bring to academic communities. The episodes highlight ways institutions can translate appreciation into resources, relationships, and long-term investment, ensuring that veterans are supported not just in transition, but throughout their work and learning in higher education.Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve in our campus communities and beyond.

In this episode, Dr. Jeni Hart, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate studies at the University of Missouri, reflects on what it really means to be a scholar. She discusses how early experiences in her career shaped her understanding of credibility in academic spaces and how assumptions about institutional prestige can influence whose work is taken seriously. Dr. Hart encourages a wider view of scholarship that recognizes collaboration, teaching, mentorship, professional practice, and lived experience alongside traditional research. She also shares practical ways faculty, student affairs professionals, and graduate students can acknowledge their own contributions and support others in doing the same.

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Moore, dean of students at Naropa University, joins the conversation in celebration of Careers in Student Affairs Month. Drawing from nearly two decades in higher education, Dr. Moore discusses how student affairs professionals are adapting to serve post-traditional learners, balance rising care team demands, and use technology like chatbots to build connection at scale. He shares how curiosity, compassion, and innovation help sustain both staff and students -- and why creating meaningful community remains at the core of student affairs work.

In this Ask the Expert episode, a listener asks how to navigate a job search when a hiring process is suddenly paused. HR expert and longtime HigherEdJobs contributor Christopher Lee returns to explain why searches can stall, what that means for candidates, and when it makes sense to reapply. He shares several ways to follow up respectfully, keep perspective, and stay confident through the ups and downs of the search process.