HigherEd Careers

"Engineering is a poorly understood profession," states this month's HigherEd Careers guest expert, Dean Gary May from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. May discusses the importance of highlighting engineering education and explores how colleges and universities can succeed in retaining and graduating STEM students. The partnership between the American Society for Engineering Education and President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and its mission to further awareness of engineering education is also discussed.

Expert:

Gary S. May, Ph.D.
Professor and Dean, Georgia Institute of Technology

Are you looking for a job? Don't underestimate the power of using your network in your job search. In this month's interview, we discuss the importance of effectively utilizing your network. Tips on properly utilizing your contacts through respectful and professional interactions are discussed as well as pitfalls to avoid.

Expert:

David Lewis
President/CEO/Founder of OperationsInc

Student conduct is a critical topic addressed on university campuses across the country. This month we talk with Dr. Jennifer Waller from the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). Topics discussed include resources available and tips for dealing with conduct issues as well as suggestions for success for higher education professionals working in the area of conduct administration and conflict resolution.

Expert:

Dr. Jennifer Waller
Executive Director for the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA)

Improving the success of students on campus, especially Native American students, is Karen Francis-Begay's passion. Our guest expert this month who is Assistant Vice President for Tribal Relations at The University of Arizona explores topics related to the Native American student in higher education such the importance of the recruitment, retention, and graduation of these students. She advises what campus administrators can do to help the Native population become more visible on campus.

Expert:

Karen Francis-Begay
Assistant Vice President for Tribal Relations in the Executive Office of the President at the University of Arizona

Is a sabbatical just paid "time off?" As we continue to discuss important faculty issues in our next HigherEdCareers interview, Dr. Edwin Dove explains the purpose of sabbatical leaves, also called professional development awards, at the University of Iowa. He discusses the award process as well as the benefits received on behalf of the faculty, university and the community from these professional development awards.

Expert:

Edwin L. Dove, Ph.D
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa

This month we explore the topic of tenure in higher education and ideas surrounding it. Why was the tenure system created, what purpose does it hold and in what direction is it headed? Dr. Gregory Scholtz from the American Association of University Professors discusses these questions and shares enlightening information on the sometimes controversial subject.

Expert:

Gregory Scholtz, Ph.D.
Director of the Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance at the American Association of University Professors

There is an abundance of information that is necessary to successfully prepare and ultimately manage university budgets. Each college may approach the process differently but with the proper questions asked, appropriate forecasting completed, and institutional support provided the process is manageable. Our expert this month, George S. McClellan, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment at Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne discusses the intricacies of the budgeting process.

Expert:

Dr. George S. McClellan
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)

An academic advisor does more than tell a student where the bookstore is or in which class to enroll. An advisor is responsible for supporting students and partnering with them so they can make informed decisions and create the right goals in order to excel. Dr. Joshua Smith discusses the top qualities that will help academic advisors be successful in this role in our next HigherEd Career Interview.

Expert:

Joshua S. Smith, Ph.D.
Dean of the School of Education at Loyola University Maryland

With the number of students taking online classes increasing, the need for instructors to be versed in the world of online teaching also increases. What are some best practices of online teaching? Do MOOCs have a place in the higher education learning market? How will the virtual classroom evolve? These questions and other useful topics are discussed in this month's interview with online teaching expert, Dr. Rena Palloff.

Expert:

Rena M. Palloff, Ph.D., LCSW
Owner of Crossroads West

Sculpting glass can be similar to molding a career as an art professor. It takes time, dedication, creativity, patience and, of course, special techniques both in the classroom and the studio in order to be successful. Professor Chad Holliday, this month's HigherEd Careers Interview guest, discusses his passions of being a professional artist as well as teaching art and spreading awareness to our colleges and local communities.

Expert:

Chad Holliday
Assistant Professor of Art at West Texas A&M University

Dr. James Reilly has traveled to many different places - Antarctica, the deep ocean waters and even into space as an astronaut with NASA. However, his most recent expedition has led him to the position of associate vice president of strategic relations, STEM programs, for American Public University System, where he previously served as dean of the school of science and technology. Dr. Reilly shares his interesting background, discusses the world of online learning, as well as offers inspirational words and career advice for all to consider.

Expert:

Dr. James Reilly
Associate Vice President of Strategic Relations for American University Public System

How is a successful balance between academics and athletics reached on campus? Our guest this month, Beth Goode, senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at Stanford, explains how her university focuses on developing a student-athlete as an overall person, which means cultivating and strengthening values to succeed both in the classroom and in the student-athlete's chosen sport. She also shares the ins and outs of working in the highly competitive, but exciting field of intercollegiate athletics.

Expert:

Beth Goode
Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, Stanford University

When we started HigherEd Careers interviews years ago, we aspired to find experts who can help members of our community reflect, shape and act on their career plans. This month we are proud to share one of our most inspirational and practical interviews featuring leadership and ethics professor Susan Madsen of Utah Valley University. Her insights provide a detailed current look at women in higher education leadership as well as the characteristics of women leaders.

Expert:

Dr. Susan R. Madsen
Professor of Management, Orin R. Woodbury Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Utah Valley University

There are many factors that help a new student flourish when arriving on campus and remain prosperous once there. New student programs aid in the successful transition for students who are eager to start their new experience and continue successfully through their college journey. Dr. Cynthia Hernandez of Texas A&M University discusses what makes these programs effective as well as the roles that students, parents, administrators and faculty all play in the transition to college.

Expert:

Dr. Cynthia L. Hernandez
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Texas A&M University

Why is it important to understand religious diversity on campus? In this month’s HigherEd Careers interview, Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson discusses topics surrounding multifaith college communities. Also highlighted are opportunities on how to educate a campus on different faiths and traditions in order to promote people coming together from varied spiritual backgrounds.

Expert:

Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson
University Chaplain, Director of the Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life, and faculty member at Brown University

Our military students and veterans are some of the best and the brightest on campus. They often make the highest quality students because of their maturity, dedication and military training. However, many experience challenges in adjusting from military life to campus life. Retired Lt. Col. C. Andrew Griffin describes what life is like for veterans on campus and what staff and faculty can do to make their campus military friendly and a supportive environment in which all students can thrive.

Expert:

Andrew Griffin
Director of Military and Veterans Affairs at Northern Arizona University

For many institutions, gone are the days where the mission of the career service office is "placement." Instead, colleges and universities are focusing on "career education" which teaches students how to manage and take responsibility for their career paths. This month, our guest expert, Andrew Ceperley, discusses this theme and other important topics related to career services on campus.

Expert:

Andrew Ceperley
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Experiential Learning & Director, Career Services Center University of California, San Diego

What does it mean to be leading and transformative in the area of health care and higher education? How will proposed governmental cuts affect biomedical research at medical schools and teaching hospitals? What do hiring trends look like at medical universities? Our guest this month, Dr. Mark Sothmann of the Medical University of South Carolina, addresses these questions in this month's HigherEd Careers Interview.

Expert:

Mark S. Sothmann, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Medical University of South Carolina

As graduate education continues to evolve, institutions must be willing to adapt, be it through teaching methods, curriculum changes, use of technology, or in other ways in order to meet the needs of students, higher education communities and societal demands. Our guest this month, Dr. Douglas James, from Duke University, describes the importance of implementing 'best practices in graduate education.'

Expert:

Douglas James, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at Duke University

Many can argue that a global experience strengthens an education. Through international education, students can grow personally and professionally by learning to appreciate and embrace differences while exploring key professional components of their field. Read more on this topic in this month's HigherEd Careers Interview.

Expert:

Meredith M. McQuaid, J.D.
Associate Vice President and Dean for International Programs for the University of Minnesota System

What makes a successful relationship between a community and a college campus? In this month's HigherEd Careers, the balance between the "town and gown" is discussed. Kim Griffo, the executive director of the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA), explains common issues and trends as well as tips to foster successful relations between colleges and the communities in which they reside.

Expert:

Kim Griffo
Executive Director of the International Town and Gown Association

Moving into a faculty leadership role can be a challenging opportunity for many, and as our guest this month says, research shows that it often comes without a lot of training. Dr. Don Chu, dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at California State University, San Marcos, discusses strategies to succeed in this role, whether it is the first time as a department head position or if it is a role currently held. He discusses being able to "see over the horizon" and being a "selfless servant" as key traits for effective chairs as well as the chair making connections between the talents of the faculty and the needs of the majors, the campus and the constituents served by the unit.

Expert:

Don Chu, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at California State University, San Marcos

As our guest this month says, "Fish where the fishing is best." So, is fundraising in higher education about finding the right fishing hole? How has the economy changed the development goals of colleges and universities and has it affected the attitudes of donors? Dr. Mack answers these questions and gives us his take on the current state of fundraising in higher education and where success lies in this month's interview.

Expert:

Dr. Bruce Mack
Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Nevada, Reno

What does the future hold for law school faculty members? In this month's interview, we are fortunate to have the perspective of Lauren Kay Robel, a Val Nolan Professor of Law and Interim Provost and Executive Vice President at Indiana University Bloomington. Dean Robel discusses how the law professor market has changed and potential trends for the future. She also touches on topics such as the role of tenured legal professors, the increased need and importance of adjunct professors as well as female faculty moving into more leadership positions.

Expert:

Lauren Robel, J.D.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Val Nolan Professor of Law

The area of Campus Activities is more than just bringing concerts and movies to campus and planning social events. Our guest this month explains that the role of Campus Activities also includes the important tasks of leadership development and professional growth. Dr. Rouse shares information regarding the work her association does to strengthen student growth, as well as tips for tackling interviews and the idea of remaining open to new possibilities in higher education.

Expert:

Dr. Sandra Rouse
Director of Education and Research for the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA).

For some, the role of faculty unions can be viewed with debate. This month, we explore the early history of faculty unions to their place in today's higher education community. Do they help or hurt faculty? Can faculty be viewed as management? Dr. Timothy Reese Cain, Assistant Professor at the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, answers these questions and discusses reasons for formation beyond salary and tenure, perceptions of faculty unions, definition of academic freedom and the potential direction of faculty unions.

Expert:

Timothy Reese Cain, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

How do female science faculty think about their career? This month, our expert, Paula K. Kleintjes Neff, Ph.D., Professor of Biology at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire, discusses her career as a female entomologist, researcher, teacher, advocate and role model. Dr. Kleintjes Neff shares her views on how opportunities for women science have changed, what can still be done to improve the face of women in science and thoughts on how women can successfully balance their personal life as well as being an accomplished scientist.

Expert:

Paula K. Kleintjes Neff, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire

We often receive feedback about professionals who are experiencing a career transition. So, taking this into consideration, we thought it would be interesting to show an example of a higher education professional who recently went through a transition in his career route and what he has experienced and learned through this path.

Expert:

Douglas Geiger, Ph.D.
Vice President of Student Affairs at Manhattanville College

As Aristotle once said, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts." This month we examine how collaboration on a college campus can lead to success, specifically in the area of online learning at a community college.

Expert:

Dr. Calandra Davis
Assoc. Professor of Mathematics and Department Chair for Mathematics and Comp. Sci. at Georgia Perimeter College

Expert:

Barbara Obrentz
Director of Marketing and Chief Public Information Officer for Georgia Perimeter College

In our final part of the "Making College Accessible" series, we discuss the financial aspects of attending college. The issue of affording college is on the forefront of many students' minds, and with potential changes to the Pell Grant system, affording college could be an even bigger issue for many. This month, our guest, Dr. Kienzl, discusses the role of the Institute of Higher Education Policy and how it helps students with accessibility to college, some interesting projects he has worked on, and his insight into financial aid and funding policies in higher education.

Expert:

Gregory Kienzl, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Evaluation

Continuing with our "Making College Accessible" series, this month we are discussing the topic of First Generation College Students (FGCS). We are fortunate to have as our expert guest Ms. Cynthia Demetriou, Director for Retention, Office of Undergraduate Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ms. Demetriou discusses the challenges and opportunities that FGCS students may encounter and shares her insight into helping these driven students succeed. She suggests that by focusing on their strengths, establishing mentoring relationships, encouraging community involvement, and developing other opportunities to feel connected on campus, this will result in higher retention, happier students and ultimately successful graduates.

Expert:

Cynthia Demetriou
Director for Retention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

HigherEd Careers will be doing a special series addressing the topic of "Making College Accessible." Our guests will be discussing critical issues surrounding making post-secondary education open to all who desire it. These individuals include students of minority populations, the unique opportunities and challenges associated with first generation college students, and the issues of financing higher education for economically disadvantaged students. Through these interviews we will also examine how staff and faculty at our colleges and universities manage these key issues today.

Expert:

Neil Horikoshi
President & Executive Director, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund

This month, we welcomed Dr. Margaret Merrion, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan University, to discuss issues related to the area of fine arts and her thoughts on the future of this culturally important area to higher education and our communities. Budget issues, curriculum relevancy, the connection of K-12 arts education and higher education, employment statistics and the highlights of working in this field are all discussed in this month's interview.

Expert:

Dr. Margaret Merrion
Dean, College of Fine Arts, Western Michigan University

As our campuses continue to become more racially and ethnically diverse, the subject of respect in the classroom becomes increasingly more important.

Expert:

Dr. Shari Saunders
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

There are many varying definitions of the terms adult learner and non-traditional student. A fact that can be agreed on, however, is that the number of students falling into these categories has been on the rise over the past several years and at most institutions, this demographic outweighs the number of traditional students who enter directly after high school. Are colleges and universities recognizing this change, and what are staff and faculty doing to help adult learners and all students succeed with the increasing pressures of balancing personal and academic lives?

Expert:

Karen Haley
Assistant Professor, Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are relevant and play an essential part in today's higher education. However, how has the role of HBCUs changed over the past several decades? This month, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Alvin Thornton, the Senior Advisor to the President for Academic Affairs at Howard University, who addresses issues related to HBCUs. Dr. Thornton discusses the significant role these institutions have played, and will continue to play, in local communities and higher education communities throughout the United States.

Expert:

Alvin Thornton, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor for Academic Affairs to the President of Howard University

Working in the fraternity and sorority system has numerous rewards, such as fostering a student's academic achievement, helping in their personal growth, and guiding them in their career path, but it can also come with challenges, such as drinking and hazing on campus. Our guest this month, Monica Miranda Smalls, the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at the University of Rochester, addresses some of the key topics on campus today and tips on enhancing your career in Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. Also discussed in our HigherEd Careers Interview are initiatives taking place in Greek Affairs through the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors.

Expert:

Monica Miranda Smalls
Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs

The daily life of a college student may be filled with numerous tasks, from attending class, studying, socializing, sports, work and often much more. In the hustle and bustle of juggling all of this, health issues may be not always be in the forefront, but are obviously important. In this month's HigherEd Careers interview, we are fortunate to discuss health issues on campus with Michelle Burcin, Director, Healthy Carolina, University of South Carolina, Columbia. She shares her thoughts on top health concerns, from stress, to nutrition, to alcohol and smoking on campus, and offers ideas for staff and faculty on how to recognize and address these issues.

Expert:

Dr. Michelle Burcin
Director, Healthy Carolina

Accreditation can be compared to a litmus test for the quality of a higher education institution. Since the facets of accreditation are many -- from legitimizing institutions to determining eligibility for funding -- should it feel guilty about the strong role it plays in quality assurance? This month we talk with Associate Professor, Kevin Kinser, Ph.D., from the University of Albany, State University of New York about the history, current functions, and the future of accreditation in both the nonprofit and for-profit worlds of higher education.

Expert:

Kevin Kinser, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, University at Albany, State University of New York

This month we speak to Tim Ranzetta, founder and president of Student Lending Analytics (SLA), about student loan reform and student debt. In the news and on the Senate chamber’s floor, the topic of student loan reform and mounting student loan debt has been front and center. The future of higher education and careers in higher education depends greatly on how institutions and Congress handle student loans in the coming years...

Expert:

Tim Ranzetta
Founder and president of Student Lending Analytics (SLA)

Is online learning the wave of the future? How are proprietary institutions different than traditional universities? What is all the recent press regarding for-profit institutions? The answers to these questions, the addressing of misconceptions and much more are discussed in this month's conversation with Gary E. McCullough, the President and CEO of Career Education Corporation. The colleges, schools and universities that are part of the Career Education Corporation offer education to over 116,000 students across the world in a variety of career-oriented disciplines. We examine the aspects of online education and for-profit education and how it affects students, faculty and administrators in today's market.

Expert:

Gary E. McCullough
President and Chief Executive Officer, Career Education Corporation

This month, we speak to three experts on the topic of "cool." How can an institution's image impact faculty recruiting? The panel is comprised of Paul Baldasare, President of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, a small liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina; Jason Cook, Vice-President of Communications and Marketing for the Texas A&M University System, a large research university with tens of thousands of students all across the state of Texas; and Tom Gariepy, District Director of Marketing and Communications for Maricopa Community Colleges, which has ten campuses throughout central Arizona with nearly 250,000 students.

Expert:

Paul Baldasare Jr.
President, St. Andrews Presbyterian College

Expert:

Jason D. Cook
APR, Vice President - Marketing & Communications, Texas A&M University

Expert:

Tom Gariepy
District Director of Marketing and Communications for the Maricopa Community Colleges

HACU is a national organization that represents more than 450 colleges and universities that collectively serve two-thirds of the more than two million Hispanic students in U.S. higher education across 32 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. HACU works to advocate for increased access to higher education for Hispanics, as well as working toward improving the quality of higher education that people receive. HACU is active in helping Hispanic higher education professionals network, interact, and work toward improving both their careers and the institutions in which they work.

Expert:

Antonio R. Flores
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).

It seems every year that state funding of higher education becomes an even more critical part of the operation of our state-supported institutions and programs. This year is no different, with so many states facing critical budget issues due to decreased revenue from the recession. What does this mean for higher education and your career?

Expert:

Paul E. Lingenfelter
President, State Higher Education Executive Officers association (SHEEO)

The privilege of having a career in higher education is helping students learn. The enrollment management professionals at your school are responsible for formulating and implementing a plan that attracts the best students to your institution. This month, we were able to gain many insights into this critical role by sitting down with an accomplished professional in the field, Steven Klein, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at Angelo State University.

Expert:

Steven D. Klein
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, Angelo State University (TX)

An important step in the career of many higher education professionals starts with a postdoctoral position. These positions provide the necessary experience, mentoring, and networking opportunities for a person's career. For this career topic, we reached out to Cathee Johnson Phillips, executive director of the National Postdoctoral Association for a conversation regarding "postdocs" and advice for people who are looking to obtain a postdoctoral position...

Expert:

Cathee Johnson Phillips
Executive Director of the National Postdoctoral Association

The second session of the 111th Congress does not suffer from a lack of legislation. It is obvious that any health care legislation from this Congress will affect all careers. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act may not receive the media attention of its health care counterpart, but it may be no less important to careers in higher education. It appears on Sunday, March 21, these two bills will collide and be jointly voted on...

Expert:

Representative Rubén Hinojosa
United States House of Representatives

Most scientists agree that being a successful researcher is a very challenging career. We know careers in Academia can be challenging. What happens when you try to do both? This month we chat with one of the leading Tuberculosis researchers in the world, Dr. Scott Franzblau at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Franzblau shares his insights on funding his institute's scientific research, working in Academia and how to best position yourself to participate in the research process...

Expert:

Scott G. Franzblau, Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Institute for Tuberculosis Research, University of Illinois at Chicago

Twitter. Blogger. LinkedIn. A few short years ago, none of these Social Media sites would have been at the top of your list as career tools. However, many people today include them on their lists but still are not sure how exactly they fit into their academic job searches, let alone their careers. We spend some time this month with Rick Klau who heads up Google's Blogger product. In addition to learning about Rick's "Niner" love and how he was a blogger for a future President, we were privileged to get Rick to share his deep knowledge about how people communicate on the internet and his insights into how it can help you in your career and job search....

Expert:

Rick Klau
Business Product Manager for Blogger at Google

This month's HigherEd Careers focuses on a topic that is vital to every person on campus - Emergency Preparedness. At some point in your career, your professional skill in handling an emergency situation may be required...

Expert:

Michael Schultz
President of ACUHO-I, Director of University Housing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

We are delighted to offer a very thoughtful HigherEd Careers chat this month with David King. Dr. King has been a faculty member of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government since 1992 and is the faculty director for its Newly Elected Members of the U.S. Congress program. We had the pleasure of chatting with him about the Obama Administration and Higher Education. His thoughts are very practical insights into what we might expect from our federal government over the next four to eight years and its impact on our colleges and universities...

Expert:

Dr. David C. King
Faculty Lecturer, Harvard University