Get Ready For Student Affairs Voices from the Field - Season 13
Release Date: 09/18/2025
Navigating Policy Change: The Impact on Student Affairs in Higher Education
SA Voices From the Field
How do public policies shape the work of student affairs professionals in higher education? This week on NASPA's Student Affairs Voices from the Field podcast, we explore just that. This week host is joined by two seasoned experts: , Director of Policy Research and Advocacy at NASPA, and , Assistant Vice President for Student Life at the University of Florida and Chair of NASPA’s Public Policy Division. This episode dives deep into the complex regulatory and legislative landscape affecting campuses today. Throughout the conversation, Diana and Dr. James Tyger illuminate why public...
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From Student Affairs to College President: Dr. Joshua Moon Johnson’s Journey
SA Voices From the Field
On the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, sits down with , the trailblazing President of (Manchester, Middlesex, and Asnuntuck), for an inspiring conversation that’s sure to resonate with higher education professionals everywhere. From Student Affairs to the Presidency Dr. Joshua Moon-Johnson shares an authentic, winding journey to leadership that began much like many in student affairs: as an “overly involved” undergraduate seeking belonging. Coming from a multiracial, first-generation background, student affairs became a hub for discovery, community, and...
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Happy Holidays from SA Voices From the Field
SA Voices From the Field
Dr. Jill Creighton and Dr. Christopher Lewis talk about the past season and the holidays as they prepare for a short break and then the end of Season 13. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:02]: Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 13 on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. She her hers Your essay Voices from the Field...
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Balancing Perspectives: The True Value of International Students in Higher Ed
SA Voices From the Field
The latest episode of “Student Affairs Voices from the Field,” hosted by , delves into the complex and evolving landscape of international education, featuring the perspectives and expertise of , Senior International Officer at the University of Michigan-Flint. From the outset, listeners are treated to Dr. Zachariah Mathew’s personal journey—a career that began as a physical education teacher in India, transitioned into higher education in the United States, and flourished with a research focus on international student college choice. His story reflects how diverse experiences and a...
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The Unique Value of Community Colleges in Student Affairs
SA Voices From the Field
Student Affairs professionals often serve as the heartbeat of a college campus, shaping transformative experiences for students at every stage of their educational journey. In the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, host is joined by , Director of Student Services at Miracosta College’s San Elijo campus. Together, they deliver an insightful discussion on the unique value of student affairs—especially within community colleges. This episode masterfully details Colleen Maeder’s multifaceted career spanning both two-year and four-year institutions, public and...
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Why Student Affairs Matters: Unpacking College Value and Worth
SA Voices From the Field
If you’ve ever wondered about the real impact of student affairs in higher education—or if you’re searching for compelling ways to articulate its value—this episode of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field" is a must-listen. Host brings together three leading voices in our field—, , and —to discuss NASPA's groundbreaking report, The Human Dimension of College: Why Student Affairs Matters. More than ever, higher education is under scrutiny. Public questions about its worth, declining college-going rates, and increasing skepticism about return-on-investment are creating intense...
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Enjoy The Short Break!
SA Voices From the Field
Season 13 of "Student Affairs Voices from the Field," hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton, shines a spotlight on the value of student affairs through engaging stories from both fresh perspectives and seasoned experts. In the recent Thanksgiving break episode, and reflect on the whirlwind pace of the academic year and extend heartfelt wishes for rest and rejuvenation to their listeners. They express gratitude for the incredible guests featured so far and tease upcoming episodes with compelling new voices that will continue to explore the impact of student affairs work. A main theme of this episode...
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Navigating the Enrollment Cliff: Student Affairs & Enrollment Management Today
SA Voices From the Field
On the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, host explores the intersection of enrollment management and student affairs with special guest , Executive Director of Enrollment Management at the University of Michigan’s . If you’re curious about the challenges and changes facing higher education, this episode offers a timely and thought-provoking conversation. Facing the Enrollment Cliff The “enrollment cliff”—a predicted decline of about 15% in college-bound students—is front and center in this discussion. Dr. Tremblay walks listeners through the domino effect:...
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Global Perspectives: The Impact and Value of Student Affairs Around the World
SA Voices From the Field
In the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field, host Dr. Jill Creighton brings together members of the third cohort of the Global Master's Students Program, a unique partnership between NASPA, the European University College Association (EucA), and Lumsa University in Rome. This special episode showcases graduate students from around the world—including the Philippines, Belgium, Italy, Namibia, China, the Netherlands, Germany, Trinidad & Tobago, and South Africa—sharing their varied experiences, perspectives, and hopes for the student affairs profession. Thank you to...
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The Next Act: Exploring New Pathways in Higher Education Careers
SA Voices From the Field
If you’re looking for fresh perspectives on careers in student affairs—and a truly honest conversation about the journey ahead—don't miss the latest episode of Student Affairs Voices from the Field. In this episode, host sits down with , Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University and co-editor of the new NASPA book, . The central theme of the conversation is the evolving nature of careers in student affairs, especially as professionals face mid-career questions and disruptions in life. Dr. Amy Hecht shares her own journey, returning to her alma mater after years...
info_outlineThe world of higher education is constantly evolving, and with each shift comes new challenges and opportunities for those working in student affairs. The latest season of the podcast, Student Affairs Voices from the Field, brilliantly captures this dynamic landscape, offering a blend of professional wisdom, personal stories, and inspiration for everyone in the field—from newcomers to seasoned professionals.
Kicking off its highly anticipated thirteenth season, hosts Dr. Jill Creighton, Dr. Christopher Lewis, and invite listeners on a journey back to the roots of what makes student affairs so impactful. Titled “The Value of Student Affairs,” this season promises to shine a spotlight on the essential role that student affairs practitioners play in shaping campuses, supporting students, and enhancing the overall higher education experience.
Right from the opener, the co-hosts set an inviting and reflective tone. They recall how this project began during pandemic lockdowns and acknowledge the significant shifts they've witnessed in higher education since then. The podcast is not only celebrating over five years and nearly 200 episodes, but is also leveraging this milestone to dig deeply into the heart of what makes student affairs professionals invaluable.
What can listeners expect from Season 13? The hosts have structured the season around three core questions:
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When you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first, and why?
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Can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of student affairs come to life?
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What does student affairs need to do to be better understood and better seen in today’s educational environment?
Through these guiding questions and interviews with diverse voices from across the field, the podcast explores the unique challenges currently facing higher education—like measuring value in an era of rising costs and institutional change. More importantly, it highlights the powerful and sometimes overlooked stories of how student affairs professionals advocate for students, build inclusive communities, and adapt through periods of instability.
This season isn’t just for established leaders. The hosts actively invite grad students, early-career professionals, and those considering student affairs work to add their voices and stories. Their message is clear: everyone’s journey and perspective bring value to the profession.
If you’re looking for authentic, thoughtful, and hopeful discussions on what it means to work in student affairs today, this podcast is for you. Tune in each week, and join a community committed to supporting, learning, and growing together in the ever-changing world of higher education.
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Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:02]:
Welcome to Student Affairs Voices from the Field, the podcast where we share your student affairs stories from fresh perspectives to seasoned experts brought to you by naspa. We curate free and accessible professional development for higher ed pros wherever you happen to be. This is season 13 on the value of student affairs. I'm Dr. Jill Creighton. She her hers your essay Voices from the Field host.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:26]:
Happy September, Chris.
Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:28]:
Happy September to you too. It's a new year for all of us in higher ed, but and it's also it's just nice to be in.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:00:36]:
Fall for our friends on the semester system. I've been loving watching your move in day pics and it's just such a joyful time for higher ed. For friends on the quarter system, I hope your move in processes go really smoothly this year. But we're back for what is now season 13 of SA Voices from the Field. Chris We've been doing this show now for we're entering year five, a little over year five. We're just about to pass our 200th episode milestone. So much happening. So much of the profession has changed since we started the show.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:07]:
I remember you and I started working together in the midst of basically the first tendrils of lockdown, but we've also seen policy changes and governmental shifts and all these things. So we've decided this season to go with something to dig back into the roots of what we all bring to the table. And so I'll give a little Drum roll. Season 13 is what Chris.
Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:29]:
On the Value of Student affairs so we are going back to our roots to be able to really look internally, look within ourselves, but also look within the profession about what makes us who we are as a profession, as individuals in the profession, and more. And I'm really excited about this season. We're working really closely with NASPA on some amazing guests and we're gonna be bringing you a ton of value for you as we move into I can't.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:01:58]:
Imagine a more important time to be having this conversation, a time when in the US higher education is experiencing some instability as as a educational space, as a time when we're seeing more and more people measure the value of higher ed against the cost of higher ed. And with all of the changes in the U.S. department of Education, there's just so many conversations we're looking forward to having. So we have three theme questions this season like we've done in past seasons. And while we're going to be bringing you the content experts that you've come to know and love from the show we also are going to be focusing on the three questions, the Value of Student Affairs. First, when you think about the value of student affairs, what comes to mind first, and why? Second, can you share a specific story or moment when you saw the value of Student affairs come to life? And three, what do you think student affairs needs to do to be better understood and better seen in today's educational environment? So we look forward to bringing you the answers to these questions as well as that content expertise from your colleagues around the world. Can't wait to get into it. We've got 13 more episodes coming at you, as well as some special bonus things.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:07]:
Chris, anything you want to add about our upcoming season?
Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:03:10]:
You know, I'm just really excited because like I said, we've got some amazing guests that we're teeing up to bring to you. And if you have an interest in being on the show in the future, if you know of someone that you feel could be an amazing guest, send us an email@savoicesaspa.org we would love to hear from you in regards to your thoughts on guests for the future. But also if you've got questions or if you have things that you want to talk to us about, send us an email as well. Because we love hearing from you from your perspectives. We love hearing about the journeys that you're on and things that you're resonating with. And it helps us to be able to make the show even better.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:03:52]:
And especially if you are a new professional or a grad student studying student affairs, we really want to hear from you. We want to hear about what brought you into the field, what's keeping you in the field. If you're a mid level professional, we want to hear from you what has kept you persisting through these mid stages of your career. And if you're a senior level professional, we want to hear from you too. We want to know what is that drive that keeps you churning in this field that has so much reward but also right now has a lot of challenge. Our first episode of season 13 will drop on September 18, 2025. We're still every Thursday in your fe through the semester and we will speak to you so very soon.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:33]:
This has been an episode of SA Voices from the Field brought to you by NASPA. This show is made possible because of you, the listeners. We continue to be so grateful that you choose to spend your time with us. If you'd like to reach the show, you can email savoices@naspa.org or find me on LinkedIn by searching for Dr. Jill L. Creighton. We welcome your feedback and your topic and guest suggestions always.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:04:55]:
We'd love it if you take a moment to tell a colleague about the show and leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you're listening now. It really does help other student affairs professionals find the show and helps us to become more visible in the larger podcasting community. This episode was produced and hosted by Dr. Jill Creighton. That's me. Produced and audio engineered by Dr. Chris Lewis. Special thanks to the University of Michigan, Flint for your support as we create this project.
Dr. Jill Creighton [00:05:21]:
Catch you next time.