HigherEdJobs Podcast

In this Ask the Expert episode, a newly hired human resources professional in higher ed asks how to get off on the right foot and for some do's and don'ts in their early career. Higher education HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski answers and offers her tips for success.  Do you have a job search question that you would like to submit to Ask the Expert? Send it to us, and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this episode Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, joins the HigherEdJobs Podcast to discuss 2025 outlooks on higher education and why job seekers, faculty, staff, admin, and all employees of an institution need to care about the business model, mission, and culture of their institution. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

Host Andrew Hibel talks with Professor Emeritus John Thelin from the University of Kentucky's College of Education.   Professor Thelin's teaching and research interests focus on the history of higher education and public policy. He likes to bring historical writing and research to contemporary discussions about significant, enduring higher education issues. In this conversation, Thelin and Hibel discuss Dr. Thelin's three most important events/trends that have happened in higher education history. Listen in to hear which events make the conversation!  Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In the second of three podcast episodes, Andy Hibel talks with Professor Emeritus John Thelin from the University of Kentucky's College of Education.  Professor Thelin's teaching and research interests focus on the history of higher education and public policy. He likes to bring historical writing and research to contemporary discussions about significant, enduring higher education issues. In this conversation, Thelin and Hibel discuss the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and how lesser-known institutions should receive more attention. They also talk about The Morrill Act of 1862 and the Morrow Plots, an experimental agricultural field at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Hibel is a co-founder of HigherEdJobs and serves as its chief operating officer. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this episode, co-hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin continue a conversation with Warren Zanes, music adjunct faculty at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. Zanes is the author of "Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska," which is now being made into a biographical film about singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bruce Springsteen.In this second part of the interview, Zanes discusses his left turn in life that led him to a career in academia, following his time in Warner Bros. Recording act The Del Fuegos. He also talks about the importance of vulnerability in the classroom, letting things break down before rebuilding, and how his sons have embraced higher education.  Read more about his book in an op-ed, "What We Can Learn From Bruce Springsteen's Great Left Turn," he penned for The New York Times in May 2023. Zanes has a doctoral degree in visual and cultural studies from The University of Rochester. He is a New York Times best-selling author, and a Grammy-nominated documentary producer. Hibel is a co-founder of HigherEdJobs and serves as its chief operating officer. Cherwin is the director of editorial strategy at HigherEdJobs. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In the first of three podcast episodes, Andy Hibel talks with Professor Emeritus John Thelin from the University of Kentucky's College of Education.  Professor Thelin's teaching and research interests focus on the history of higher education and public policy. He likes to bring historical writing and research to contemporary discussions about significant, enduring higher education issues. In this conversation, Thelin and Hibel reflect on their careers, share advice for starting a career in academia, and highlight trends and changes in higher education over the past 30 years.   Hibel is a co-founder of HigherEdJobs and serves as its chief operating officer. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this episode, co-hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin talk with Warren Zanes, music adjunct faculty at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University.  Zanes is the author of "Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska," which sets the backdrop for the conversation on taking the road-less-traveled in your career. The book is now being made into a biographical film about singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bruce Springsteen. In this first part of the interview, Zanes discusses the importance of taking risks in life and allowing yourself to be vulnerable, which can lead to the creation of great art. Read more about his book in an op-ed, "What We Can Learn From Bruce Springsteen's Great Left Turn," he penned for The New York Times in May 2023.  Zanes has a doctoral degree in visual and cultural studies from The University of Rochester. He is a New York Times best-selling author, Grammy-nominated documentary producer, and a former member of The Del Fuegos. Hibel is a co-founder of HigherEdJobs and serves as its chief operating officer. Cherwin is the director of editorial strategy at HigherEdJobs. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee responds to a listener's question about when to consider accepting a less-preferred job offer.The listener asks, "What is better for my career development and future prospects: to take an open position in a department outside of my professional interests, even if my time there is short, or to have a gap in my resume while waiting for the right fit"?Lee says choosing between having a gap in employment or taking a less-preferred position is a personal decision made in the context of circumstance and experience. One gap on your resume can be easily explained and may have less impact if your previous roles have been sound. Even if viewed as less-than-optimal, the new role provides income and potentially enriching experiences. Yet, if the employment is short and starkly different than what you've been doing, it may create doubts that warrant extra attention. Be prepared to tell your story favorably. Lee is a managing director with Storbeck Search, which specializes in education-related executive search. He spent nearly 30 years as a chief human resources officer at five public and private institutions, including William & Mary, Bates College, and the Virginia Community College System.Do you have a job search question that you would like to submit to Ask the Expert? Send it to us, and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this episode, co-hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin continue a conversation with Professor Claire Kamp Dush from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She has dual appointments in the Minnesota Population Center and the Department of Sociology and studies topics at the intersection of psychology, sociology, and public health.Kamp Dush discusses the job search process for graduate students and offers tips that apply to job seekers looking for their next role in academia. In this second part of the interview, she talks about dealing with rejection, doing homework before the on-campus interview, and what to include in your cover letters. Hibel is a co-founder of HigherEdJobs and its chief operating officer. Cherwin is the director of editorial strategy. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In this episode, co-hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin talk with Professor Claire Kamp Dush from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She has dual appointments in the Minnesota Population Center and the Department of Sociology and studies topics at the intersection of psychology, sociology, and public health. Kamp Dush, a first-generation college student, teaches a Ph.D. Job Market course and provides advice on the job search process for graduate students seeking their next role in academia. In this first part of the interview, she talks about the importance of promoting your work and accomplishments, authenticity and not letting rejection get the best of you during a job search. Hibel is a co-founder of HigherEdJobs and serves as its chief operating officer. Cherwin is the director of editorial strategy at HigherEdJobs. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear them discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.