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.

In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee responds to a listener's question about options for the timing of an interview. The listener asks, "When you are offered a variety of days and times by a search committee for an interview, which should I pick -- the earliest day and time that works for me? Or should I try to aim for the last available time they offer? In other words, does the timing of my interview have an effect on me being top of mind in the mix of candidates?" Lee says his response is based on anecdotal evidence, research and tracking interviews in previous higher ed roles. He said job seekers should keep in mind how they perform in interviews and the competition they're facing for the position. Lee is a managing director with Storbeck Search, which specializes in education-related executive search. He spent nearly 30 years serving as a chief human resources officer at five different public and private institutions, including William & Mary, Bates College, and the Virginia Community College System. If you'd like to read more on this topic, see Justin Zackal's "Is it Better to Interview First or Last?" on HigherEdJobs from May 2015. Have a job search question that you would like to submit to Ask the Expert? Send your question to us, and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

In the second episode of a two-part conversation, co-host Andy Hibel talks with Greg White, a nurse practitioner and associate professor at The College of St. Scholastica. In this conversation, White describes his recent experience as a subject matter expert working with Norwegian counterparts to train Ukrainian soldiers to be medics in the current war against Russia. He said that taking part in this mission is one of the few times in the last decade when he felt he had made a dent in something much bigger than any other work or training he's done. 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-host Andy Hibel talks with Greg White, associate professor at The College of St. Scholastica, where he serves as director of the Traditional Undergraduate Nursing Program.White enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2007 and has been deployed on missions worldwide, working as a medic or, at times, an administrator. He oversaw COVID testing and coordinated findings with the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis in the spring of 2020. White is a nurse practitioner who trains medics and nurses to ensure they are ready to deploy when the time comes. In this conversation, White discusses his current role and work in academia as well as the training he leads through the Air National Guard on how to respond to a mass casualty event involving chemical or biological weapons. He also describes his recent experience as a subject matter expert working with Norwegian counterparts to train Ukrainian soldiers to be medics in the current war against Russia.White was recognized with the Duluth News Tribune’s 2020 Florence Award for strength in empathy, innovation, and mission in nursing.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 Ask the Expert episode, HR expert Kathleen Hermacinski and Matt Trainum, vice president with the Council of Independent Colleges, respond to listeners' questions about salary negotiations during the job search process.Our listeners asked how to calculate your worth and how and when to mention salary during the interview process.  Hermacinski suggests tapping into the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which offers a look at salaries for various positions in higher education. Trainum says higher education associations, including CUPA-HR, offer salary data, too. Our experts say that you must consider the location geographically of the institution, the size of the school, and even the strength of the university's endowment.  Hermacinski is the associate vice president for Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator at lllinois Wesleyan University.  Trainum is the vice president for networks and strategic partnerships with the Council of Independent Colleges. Have a question you want to hear answered on Ask the Expert? Send us your question, and we may discuss it on a future episode.

In this episode, LeNaya Hezel, chief programs officer at the Warrior-Scholar Project, talks with co-hosts Andy Hibel and Monika Sziron about her career path as a military spouse and her work and research in higher education. In her current role, she helps develop educational experiences accessible to any enlisted veteran pursuing higher education.  Hezel talks about why higher education is a great career option for veterans and military-affiliated students. She also discusses results from her doctoral research studying how universities structure veteran and military-affiliated student resources on campus.Hezel previously served as director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Warrior-Scholar Project and was the inaugural Veterans Office director at Georgetown University. Hezel was a nominee for HigherEdMilitary's Spotlight Award in 2024, a 2021 Veterans Leadership Program scholar with the George W. Bush Institute, and a Pat Tillman Foundation scholar. Do you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast? Send us your ideas, and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.

On HigherEdJobs, there are almost 86,000 open positions at 2,200 institutions nationwide. The possibilities are endless if you're willing to relocate for a job. But what if you want to relocate to a specific region or state?In this Ask the Expert episode, Chris Lee responds to a listener who would like to move to Colorado. The listener wrote, "Should I use LinkedIn and professional associations or reach out directly to HR or other departments at universities where I might be a good fit?"  Lee said that job seekers must do their research, uncover resources, and network effectively to find a position in a chosen location. Lining up an informational interview can help you connect with the right people and seek their knowledge and advice.Lee is a managing director with Storbeck Search, which specializes in education-related executive search.Have a job search question that you would like to submit to Ask the Expert? Send your question to us and you might hear it discussed on the HigherEdJobs podcast.