Student Affairs NOW

In this discussion, JT Snipes, an Associate Professor and Chair at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, shares his journey through the trials of early academia. He candidly explores the weight of feedback and its impact on his teaching career. An unexpected encounter serves as a turning point, reminding him of the value in embracing personal growth. Snipes highlights the importance of community support among educators and students to navigate the emotional challenges of academic life, ultimately showcasing the power of vulnerability and resilience.

It’s a story about love, loss, and a beautiful friendship between two higher ed professionals and what it is like for one to move on after the loss of the other.

In this week’s rapid-response episode, Dr. Heather Shea is joined by Drs. Felecia Commodore and Brendan Cantwell to break down the latest developments in higher education policy and politics. They discuss the U.S. Department of Education’s historic layoffs, the detainment of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, and the federal government’s decision to withdraw funding from Columbia University and the University of Maine system. Correspondents discuss Why does this matter? And what can student affairs educators and higher ed leaders do to respond? Tune in for expert insights and actionable takeaways. PlayCurrent Campus Context: Education Cuts, Student Detainment, and the Politics of Funding Suggested APA Citation Shea, H. (Host). (2025, March 14). Current Campus Context: Education Cuts, Student Detainment, and the Politics of Funding (No. 251) [Audio podcast episode]. In Student Affairs NOW. https://studentaffairsnow.com/currentcontext-mar14/ Transcript Heather SheaHeather. Hello. Welcome back to current campus context brought to you by Student Affairs. Now the online learning community for 1000s of us who work in alongside and adjacent to higher education and student affairs, I'm your host, Heather Shea, and this episode was recorded at 5:11pm, Eastern Time on Thursday, March 13. As always, things might have changed by the time you listen, as I shared last week, this limited series is all about making sense of the moment. We're in higher ed is facing rapid changes, and each week we will bring in two experts to help us break down what's happening, why it matters, and what we can do within our spheres of influence. Our goal to provide not just news, but context, perspective and strategies for action. I also want to mention we have a rotating group of five experts contributing to this series, so you'll see some familiar faces over the next several weeks, and you can learn more about all of our correspondents on our website, Student Affairs now.com I'm excited today to introduce our two correspondents who will help us unpack the latest developments. First, Dr Felecia Commodore, an expert in leadership, governance and administrative practices in higher education, with a focus on HBCUs MSIs and black women in leadership. She is an associate professor in educational policy organization and leadership at the University of Illinois. Urbana Champaign, welcome Felecia. Felecia CommodoreThank you. Excited to be here talking through this time. To be alive Heather Sheaa lot. It's a time and joining us again this week. Thanks so much for coming back. Dr Brendan Cantwell, Brendan is an expert in higher education and Policy Governance and political economy of higher ed. He is a professor of higher adult and lifelong education at Michigan State University. Thanks for coming back and joining us for another day, for another episode. Brendan, Brendan Cantwellhey, great to be here. It feels like a year in between the week, Heather Shearight? Yeah, there this week is a lot of things have have happened, so I'm going to give a quick synopsis of three things that have kind of risen to the top of my list, and then we're going to unpack and discuss. So first of all, last week, we reported on Linda McMahon issuing a statement about the final mission. Now, earlier this week, the US Department of Education laid off over 1300 employees, really gutting the department, one of the largest cuts in history. I'm left with many questions, right? So what functions of the department remain? What responsibilities will shift to other agencies? What does this mean for federal financial aid, for education policy, for the office of civil rights enforcement, of the policies that the Dear Colleague letter laid out, which we discussed a little bit last week as well. That's issue number one. Second, I'm thinking about the detainment of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, in other words,

While attending the 2025 ACPA Conference in Long Beach, California, host Glenn DeGuzman invited random attendees to come in front of the camera and answer the following question: "What topic or issue is very important to you now and that you want to engage with more in student affairs?” The myriad of responses is a reminder of the diversity of people, places, and positions that make up our profession.

Brendan Cantwell, a higher education policy expert from Michigan State University, and OiYan Poon, a consultant focused on educational equity, delve into the shifting landscape of higher education. They discuss the implications of a recent Dear Colleague Letter on campus compliance and free speech. The conversation addresses the threats posed by government actions on race and gender education and emphasizes the importance of collaboration among student affairs professionals. Together, they explore the future of higher education amid ongoing political challenges.

Join us for a special episode of Student Affairs Now, recorded live at ACPA25 on Monday, February 17, where hosts Raechele Pope and Heather Shea sit down with higher education icons Dr. Lori Patton Davis and Dr. Shaun Harper. These lifelong friends and influential scholars reflect on their groundbreaking research, leadership journeys, and unwavering advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As we reflect on the current moment, this conversation offers timely insights and inspiration for student affairs professionals and educators.

Play We’re living in a moment where the ground is shifting daily—from policy changes and legal battles to funding decisions and challenges to the very foundations of our work to promote equity and access. The news isn’t just headlines; it has real consequences for students, educators, and institutions. That’s why, starting next week, Student Affairs Now is bringing you a weekly, rapid-response conversation to break down the latest developments in higher education. Each Friday morning, we’ll release a brief but essential discussion featuring two experts - scholars and thought leaders - who are paying attention to the shifting landscape of higher ed. Together, we’ll discuss: What’s happening right now? The critical issues making waves this week. Why does it matter? The implications for students, faculty, staff, and institutions. What can we do? How student affairs educators and higher education administrator can respond, advocate, and take action within their spheres of influence. In a time when funding, equity initiatives, academic freedom, and institutional policies are in flux, staying informed isn’t enough. We need context. We need perspective. And we need to talk about how to move forward. So, whether you’re a campus administrator, faculty member, student affairs educator, or just someone who cares deeply about the future of higher ed, we hope you’ll tune in. Our first episode drops next Friday, March 7—stay tuned, and we’ll see you then!

Join Sam Thornton, an Assistant Director at George Mason University, and his colleagues Wilson Deng, Em Nakamura, IC Ulep, and Yi Xuen Tay, as they delve into the dynamics of the Asian Pacific American Network. They explore vital topics like navigating parent-child relationships in Asian American families and the importance of mental health awareness. The conversation highlights community support, networking, and the reclamation of identity in professional spaces, emphasizing how these aspects empower diverse voices in higher education.

Jen Shah, with 30 years in student affairs, leads the discussion alongside higher education experts Brad Johnson, James McGee, and Jason Robertson. They explore the unique strengths and challenges of small colleges, including financial struggles and evolving family engagement. The group emphasizes the importance of innovative strategies and collaboration among faculty and support services to enhance student retention. They also touch on the vital role of care teams in navigating student needs, especially in the post-COVID landscape, and the significance of community in fostering student success.

Join Adriana Kizar, a USC professor focused on equitable outcomes, Elizabeth Holcomb, an expert in leadership change, Jude Paul Dizon, who champions multicultural affairs, Jordan Harper, devoted to student leadership, and Angel Gonzalez, advocating for minoritized communities. They discuss the Shared Equity Leadership model and its transformative potential in higher education. Topics include fostering collective responsibility, critical consciousness, the emotional labor of inclusion, and the courage needed to support marginalized students in challenging environments.