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.

Courtney Swoboda, who received the 2024 HigherEdMilitary Spotlight Award, describes her career path as "random." But during a recent interview with HigherEdJobs podcast co-hosts Andy Hibel and Monika Sziron, we saw that she is a determined and forward-thinking leader making strides in veteran education. As the director of Military and Veteran Services at the University of Central Missouri, Swoboda and her team spend their days processing educational benefits for students through the U.S. Department of Veterans. They also oversee state and federal military tuition assistance and process military transcripts.   Swoboda launched a statewide organization, MOVES (Missouri Organization of Veteran Education Specialists) to help fellow educators solve common issues and learn from each other. In this episode, Swoboda described the group's role in shaping legislation to boost educational assistance for Missouri National Guard members. In addition to her academic career, Swoboda has served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for more than 11 years. She is currently an education and training manager and was previously an aircraft armament specialist.  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.

Have you ever helped your kids move to college? What emotions did you feel, and how did things go? In this episode, HigherEdJobs podcast hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin each describe their recent experiences of dropping off a child at college, from their personal and professional perspectives.Andy and his wife dropped off their youngest, and he said it was an idyllic experience. Their oldest child had previously set off for college in fall 2020 during the lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. He recalled the family waving at her through the front window of their house as she drove away by herself. Kelly and her husband dropped off their oldest son, the first to leave the proverbial nest. She found solace in talking with other parents who have gone through the first-time “drop-off” experience and in the university newsletter which provided tips for parents on what to expect. She said one of the best questions she came across about the process was: Can you prepare for this big event? "I don’t know if you are ever ready or can truly prepare," Kelly said. One of the newsletter's tips was to prepare for a variety of emotions. As my husband and I drove away, "there were tears," she added. "It was different from what I was trying to mentally prepare for, what it was going to be." Andy and Kelly want to express appreciation and thanks to all the staff, students, and leaders on campuses in the U.S. who helped make the move-in experience tremendous and smooth for students and parents. They make a huge difference for families going through major life transitions.Do you have an experience or advice that you’d like to share regarding dropping off or sending a child to college? Email us at podcast@higheredjobs.com If you have a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast, send us your idea, and you might hear it 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 questions from listeners about the use of recruiting for roles in higher education.The questions they explore include how in-house and outside recruiting firms work at colleges and universities. Hermacinski said that outside firms search on behalf of the institution. Based on her experience as the head of human resources at Eureka College, she said they typically only use search firms for C-suite leadership positions, including president. Trainum said candidates must jump through a few hoops with the outside firm before talking with a decision-maker. That means they must create quick takeaways and concise pitches that can be easily relayed to on-campus contacts, he said.  Hermacinski is the head of human resources at Eureka College. She recently took part in CUPA-HR's Ignite program, which is sponsored in part by HigherEdJobs. The program connects a select group of early-career higher ed HR professionals with CUPA-HR, and key leaders in the association and the higher education human resources profession.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, Mary Guiden added "Firework" by Katy Perry to the HigherEdJobs Playlist for your higher ed job search. She found the lyrics inspiring while experiencing the ups and downs of a job search: "If you only knew what the future holds / After a hurricane comes a rainbow / Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed / So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road."  Guiden is the associate director of editorial strategy, special projects at HigherEdJobs. Do you have songs you want to add to the playlist? Email us at podcast@higheredjobs.com with your suggestions and why you think they belong on the playlist.